Musings from the Jar
October 2023
Urban Golf x Cookie Jar: A Christmas Party
With Christmas once again fast approaching we're proud to be hosting our third Christmas Party with Urban Golf for some festive fun in London! An evening of music, refreshments and a bit of fun and games in the simulators with our good friends at Urban Golf. This event is a big thank you for all of your support throughout the year, and we’d really like it if you can attend. If you are interested in attending please fill in the form below. We expect the event to be fully subscribed, so if you later realise you are unable to make it, please notify us so that your spot can be made available. We will also be running a simulator-based competition on the night to win a Limited Edition Cookie Jar x Mackenzie Golf Bag. Entry for this will be £10 and collected on the night. The format of the event [...]
Top Hat Tens
Tom Simpson used to say the best holes were the ones that caused the tiger (scratch man) pain and the rabbit (bogey golfer) pleasure. I play my golf at Portmarnock Golf Club (PGC) in Dublin and when I play alone, I often start on the 10th, my favourite hole on the course. Royal St. George’s (RSG) 10th hole has often been my starting hole in matches at RSG. Walking up the 10th at RSG I remember admiring the magnificence of the green with my opponent Dr. Alistair Wells (uncle of Nicola - 5* podcast guest) which falls off mostly on all sides, with some reprieve on the right. The green is hard to hit - cold and blustery conditions are the staple accompaniments of holes like this and make the hitting of the green a celebration. Both holes are an allegory for links golf really - freedom is achieved when [...]
Portstewart Golf Club and a Dance with Dunes
“I think the golf course is amazing. It’s probably one of the most beautiful golf courses I’ve ever seen, if not the most.” – Jon Rahm I’ve often heard that Portstewart Golf Club is a ‘hidden gem’. Yet having had the privilege to play at this magnificent golf course twice this year, there is absolutely nothing ‘hidden’ about it. Sam’s feeling that it was miles away from Portrush may be a common misconception, however in reality it is a mere 10 minute drive up the road. Indeed, it’s one vertex of the colloquially known ‘Triangle’ – made up of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine. For us, the journey to Portstewart Golf Club was a quick hop across the county border from Portrush into County Londonderry, an area replete with holiday homes and hugely popular with visitors, surfers and golfers throughout the year. The arrival at Portstewart is nothing short of breath-taking. [...]
Premium Inclusive: The Family Experience at Sunningdale Heath
Since 2018, when Wentworth professionals Kristian Baker and Tom Reid had a bright idea to revitalise and transform this charming plot of land adjacent to Sunningdale Golf Club, I have often heard about its remarkable inclusivity and warm atmosphere. Such an image, for many, might seem surprising considering its proximity to its revered and distinguished neighbour. Yet, originally formed in 1902 as Sunningdale Ladies Golf Club, this Harry Colt design has been providing golf in a shorter format for over a century. A couple of weeks ago, I spent some time up at Sunningdale Heath for the very first time, and took with me my mum, Elaine, who’s relatively new to the game. Playing off a handicap of 23, I was really interested to find out more about what Sunningdale Heath can offer to the golfer that is looking to improve and sharpen their game. There is no doubting that [...]
Portmarnock Golf Club: 5 Things You Should Know About Dublin’s Masterpiece
Today, the news was officially announced that Portmarnock Golf Club, the historic Dublin links, is seeking government support to host the AIG Women's Open and The Open in the coming years. It would be the first time the trophies are taken outside of the United Kingdom and to the Emerald Isle. Yet, golfing purists would not be surprised by the decision to go to Portmarnock. It is an elite championship links with a rich history and is already due to host the Women’s Amateur Championship next year. (Image Credit: Portmarnock Golf Club) In light of the news, I took some time to learn a little more about Portmarnock, a course which I played for the first time this year and am itching to go back to. Here are 5 things you must know: The original course design was overseen by Mungo Park in 1893/4 Brother to Willie, [...]
Five Meditations on Rome’s Ryder Cup
Ahead of this year’s staging of the biggest celebration in golf, I must admit to being apprehensive about the on-the-ground experience on offer at Marco Simone for The Ryder Cup. Hearing of the Herculean crowd to be expected (250,000) and with the relative lack of groups on the course, I was not optimistic about being able to witness much golf. Having experienced the crowds at last year’s Open at St Andrews and once again this year at Hoylake, the type of fan within me that just wants to watch loads of golf shots has been left underwhelmed. Et Romae, this was going to be no different. However, having been lucky enough to obtain tickets through the ballot for Thursday’s practice day and Saturday, I came away from the event very impressed. In an Aurelian spirit, below are five ‘meditations’ on the fan experience and perhaps some tips and advice for [...]
September 2023
On-Call, on the Course.
Alister MacKenzie gained the nickname ‘The Good Doctor’- he served as a field surgeon in the Boer War not long after graduating from Cambridge, then it was time to ply his trade around Leeds, his hometown. He traded the scalpel for topography maps and golf course design after World War One. Harry Colt gave up his Law career after a couple of years to design courses, while MacKenzie saw out nearly twenty (intermittently) as a Doctor. I suspect the Good Doctor was less-than-full time at the Doctoring during these years; he produced Alwoodley GC as his first design in the middle of this period. Colt wasn’t cash strapped- he took the Sunningdale Secretary job for £150 a year when the average London Lawyer was earning £1500 per annum. These men partnered up in design for a brief period of time but [...]
Les Bordes: The New Course – Gil Hanse
As part of the recent development work at Les Bordes under the stewardship of the Private Equity group RoundShield who acquired the estate in 2018, a second 18 has been built on the higher sandy ground nearer the entrance to the 1,400 acre estate (the second largest privately owned estate in France... the largest being Disneyland in Paris). Gil Hanse was commissioned to design and layout the course with one simple brief; ‘This is a members club, a second club for almost everyone and as such it was important to create a course which was walkable and enjoyed short transitions between holes’ In contrast to The Old which is verdant and watered, The New sits on firm sandy soil, rich in fescue with the occasional smattering of heather. This is a course built with the charm of the Surrey/Berkshire heathlands and the fast running Carolina’s in mind, taking some of [...]
Les Bordes: The Old Course – Robert Von Hagge
An honours board commemorating those that have broken 80, or kept the same ball in play all the way round. A course that is famed for its difficulty and an obscenely small membership (as low as 3 if some rumours are to be believed), Les Bordes has been the stuff of legend and mystique for many years. More recently however with events like The Bridges Cup and the addition of a second course (The New) by Gil Hanse, this club is creating a fresh history of its own. Not surprisingly then, when an invitation came through to visit and see the estate that Baron Marcel Bich (pen, lighter and razor magnate) called home many years ago, we leapt at the chance. What was possibly a more austere setting back then with only one course designed by Robert Von Hagge, now sits the same classical French gite clubhouse which has been [...]
5 Things That Will Amaze You About Babe Zaharias
Babe Zaharias is a figure in the game with a career that is quite simply incredible. Her story is one of enormous achievement, not just in the game of golf but as a multi-discipline athlete. She overcame sexism and prejudice, she challenged stereotypes, she influenced the women's game in a way like no one else and set records which still stand today. We think every golfer should know her amazing story. We recorded a podcast with Susan Cayleff, a Pulitzer Prize nominee who has dedicated endless time to researching Babe’s career, back in 2021 which we strongly encourage you to listen to. You can find that here: As a short primer for any golfer who wants to know more about this amazing character, here are 5 things you should know and that are simply amazing: She is the only track and field Olympian of all time to win [...]
