Problems with the course card mean we get to visit the Secretary’s inner sanctum. We discuss weather and golf and he informs us that they market themselves as a links course but the course has the character of a links/heathland.

We head out onto the course with a good opening hole, out right and a green plateau surrounded by vegetation. After a steady par on the 1st the next four are a row of delightful holes. The 4th – a par 4 – has high links class with a narrowing fairway that prevents drives from being too long and an approach to an elevated green with punishing rough to the right. The 5th is a real par 4 that requires good shots the whole way. The 6th hole is a tasty par 3, where we make an up and down of high quality.

6th, Scotscraig

The 7th is yet another hole where one’s drive needs to be thought through.

Challenging fairway at seven, Scotscraig

We turn back towards the clubhouse at the 10th, where the course’s character becomes parkland and the driver becomes more desirable from the tee. After a satisfying par on the 11th we are let through by three ladies. We strike the day’s best drives and earn applause.  The Scottish weather makes life difficult and the course’s finishing holes don’t help.  Scotscraig, with character of a heathland/park.

LINKS75 inaugurates the 7th hole at Frösåkers new short-hole links. A fabulous hole with a classic burn in front of the green. Two safe par putts and we go off the green with a smile on our faces.

In the middle of July this Martin Hawtree-designed course, just north of Balmedie, was opened costing $1 billion   - The Trump International Scotland. Trump has proudly called the course the best in the world and its construction has been the subject of political discussion. We check in at the temporary clubhouse, stare at everything that can be bought in the name of Trump, and head to the driving range and manage at the same time to get told off for not paying for a cart. We nod in acknowledgement but refuse to add a further £5 to the £200 we have already paid. Out on the 1st tee we get the sense that something is about to happen. Numerous tee placements are dispersed within the natural surroundings of differing lengths and elevations for maximum variety – furthest back are the pro tees – offering little chance of reaching the fairway. The fairways are narrow with rough and elephant grass that swallow balls instantly. The course is long so we choose a mixture of blue and white tee settings, more than enough for hitting into a 2-club wind. The fairways are still a little soft with a lot of sand high up in the turf. The 2nd – a par 4 – has a burn right across the fairway – protected by sand dunes to the right and a sandy beach behind. The greens are large, undulating, swarthy, and have fantastic run-offs and sod-walled bunkers for protection. An approach to the green makes the sound of a bongo drum – just as it should do. The 3rd – a par 3 – is a photogenic model, made for the cover of `The World’s Most Stunning Golf Hole´, with the North Sea straight offshore, and an intensively verdant green protected by sand dunes to the right and a sandy beach behind. As if it has been removed for safety’s sake during the night and brought out again in the morning – a true masterpiece. We encounter traffic – play through – LINKS75 keeps cool and makes par. We are already physically and psychologically exhausted as the course demands the use of all one’s senses. This is extreme.

4th hole, Trump International Golf Links

The 4th is once again a par 5 with a stone-edged burn running down the entire right hand side and a cluster of bunkers in the slope up towards the green. Trumps own favourite. The 6th – a par 3 – that frolics among the sand dunes in classic links fashion. The 7th is a short par 4 that is very reachable with elevated green with steep  run-offs creating more worries than we anticipate. On the 8th we play through yet another group. A master-class in driving draws spontaneous comments. The 9th is a last links delight before we stop and fill up at the mobile watering hole. The course is incredibly demanding in terms of precision, length and strategy. Modern links golf when it is at its best. The 10th is another terrific par 5 with alternative fairways that end with a small entrance to a green fringed by 20-yards high sand dunes – a classic links cathedral.

10th green, Trump International Golf Links

We rest through the 11th and 12th in order to enjoy the 13th – a par 3.  On the way to the 14th we sense something in the air that can’t be ignored. When we get there we realise what it is – world class American links romanticism. A hole that you don’t really want to play just stand on the tee and imbibe. Exceptional does not do it justice. It’s quite simply one of the best golf holes we have ever seen. The 15th is a short par 4 that is an inviting challenge. The 16th leads into the finishing stretch and is a long par 3 with no margin for error. The 17th is a long par 4 dogleg uphill with elevated green, where a par feels like a birdie. At the 18th we climb up to the black tee and look out over the whole course with the 14th at our backs giving us the shivers. The 18th in front of us – 651 yards from the black tee – is not one hole it is an entire course.

Backtee att 18th, Trump Internaional Golf Links

They will write doctoral theses on the 18th hole, and it will be just as difficult to dissect this beast as to make par.  A finish worthy of a soon-to-be world-renowned course. We conclude our day with a Trump burger and plan our return. A course deserving of a thesis.

LINKS75 tar sig vidare i Donald Steels fotspår. Nästa anhalt är sydvästra England och Wales. Närmsta två veckorna kommer 15 fantastiska links banor att beträdas, varav 12 tillhörande Donalds favoriter. Vi inleder med Burnham & Berrow och fortsätter enligt följande: Perranporth, Trevose, West Cornwall, Royal North Devon, Bude & North Cornwall, Saunton, St Enodoc, Royal Porthcawl, Pyle & Kenfig, Pennard, Tenby, Borth & Ynyslas, Aberdovey samt Royal St David´s. Ett underbart pärlband av linksbanor. Dags att bli hänförd.

English test by Oskar

Test 2.0

New adventures for LINKS75. The upcoming weekend we will accomodate the Dormy House at Formby GC. With Formby as a base, a couple of courses will be explored in the Liverpool vicinity.

Flights are booked with KLM, after a phonecall the other day, we realized that our destination changed from from Liverpool to Manchester, interesting! The idea of travelling around with taxi is rejected in favour of a rental car.

Sunday lunch has been booked at Formby, we cannot wait!

The first trip.

It starts tomorrow, Saturday with the flight at 07:35, destination Gatwick. Links75 shall explore three wonder along the southern shore of England. Hayling, Littlestone and Royal Cinque Ports. This time we will bring the ambassadors of Links75, Per and Erik. When looking through the scorecard of Hayling, we realise that the 10th hole’s name means “hell” in malay – danger ahead?

Now it’s time, with polished shoes, clean clubs, new grips and investments in new Links75 golfballs. In other words the preparations for the adventure to come are done.

It looks like we can put our beanies and gloves at the bottom of the suitcase, the weather looks promising. Hayling Golf Club at 15:00 Saturday, finaly!

Guest – Matz Evensson

Two fellow pupils and currently two good friends, have gotten it into their heads that they are to create the website you are reading for the moment. A seemingly crazy idea that could only be made up by true fanatics. The upcoming question is then: What’s so special about links golf?

Well, to understand you have to of course experience. Follow the blog, the site and get pulled into it all. Life gets better with links, promise

Concerning the gameplay and training I can verify that it is tutoring and developing to play links golf in England, Scotland or Ireland. The wind and the dry courses will create a much higher standard on your average golfer. The reason I say this is the following:

The ball is put a bit back in the stance, shorter swing and you are forced to hit the ball with an angled club.

Once again, the wind and the dry courses teach us to strike the ball so that it will fly in an a low arc and THAT’S exactly what develops your golf. Next time you are at a golf course – look for a driving range in headwind and try to strike the ball as low as you can. it benefits your whole game.

Follow the blog and add links75 to your favourites – you will only gain from this!

/Matz

The planning of the 2012 links75 trips is in full swing. Contact with secretaries, booking of dormies, airline tickets, car rentals and route planning. In total, there will be eight trips to the British Isles and Ireland during the year. A logistic clutter to be sorted out. After the initial trip to Sandwich, the leg down in West Cornwall and Wales is settled. While the first trip to Liverpool and Ireland is booked and taken care of. Next up is a post-British Open arrangement with two qualifying courses and a final play & stay at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. Anyone want to join?

75 linkscourses during 18 months. West Cornwall in the south, Royal Dornoch in the north, Ireland and Jersey. We begin end of March in Sandwich with Hayling, Littlestone and Royal Cinque Ports. Then we follow the coast clockwise and ends with Royal St Georges and Rye. In between, we are looking forward to the British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, Isle of Man, Guernesey, Carnegie Club and all the other wonderful links courses situated along the way. In addition to the 75 we will also play old and new masterpieces – to gather information of all true links courses in one place.