Bandon - The Legend Continues with The Preserve

As if opening the fourth course at Bandon Dunes this year was not enough for Mike Keiser and his team - another one is coming in 2012. Called Bandon Preserve, the new course is a 13 hole par 3 course that will measure between 819 yards and just under 1,500 yards - now that sounds like the perfect respite after one of the "big" courses in the morning. On our last visit to Bandon we made the fatal mistake of simply playing too much golf (it's tough not too!) and on subsequent golf trips have started acting our age and taking the odd morning off and enjoying 18 holes in a day. Bandon Preserve will prove to be incredibly popular with visitors and you can read more by Golf Digest's roving reporter, Matt Ginella here and see Matt's wonderful construction pictures here.

Pure Golf In The Rain - Sherwood Forest Golf Club

I'm back in England and had the good fortune to play a classic Colt/Braid golf course, Sherwood Forest, the other day. Despite the fact that we lost, the golf course was a delight, even in the pouring rain.

It's pedigree is without reproach - originally laid out by Harry Colt in 1912, it was "tweaked" by James Braid in the 1920's. In recent years, the committee has done a great job in removing all those pesky trees that robbed the greens of light and the members of the wonderful view from the clubhouse. If you are looking for a real hidden gem in the "midlands" of England then call the club and book a tee time. Like most private clubs in the UK they will be happy to take your money. Fair warning, the gorgeous purple heather will swallow up your golf ball - when you find it, take your wedge out and get the ball back in play or you could be there some time.
Read More Here.

A Pure Entry Into Golf Magazine's Top US 100 - The Cal Club

A truly outstanding golf course makes it's debut in Golf Magazine's Top US golf courses, The California Golf Club of San Francisco. Originally designed by William Locke and opened in 1918, the course had suffered over the years until a brave Board of Directors hired Kyle Phillips to renovate the golf course in 2007. He and his team did that and more by opening up views of the city and creating 5 new magnificent new holes. Our friend, landscape artist Josh Smith, works at the club and has produced several beautiful paintings of the South San Francisco Club. I have had the good fortune to play it a number of times and it is a magnificent addition to America's best.

Great Logos, Part Deux

Four more classic logos from four of America's best golf courses.

Pure Golf Course Logos

Here are 5 of my top 10 golf course logos (Can you name the Club?) - feel free to let me know yours - it's not about the golf course - purely the course logo!

A Wonderful Links Golf Course, Pennard Golf Club

Josh Smith recently completed this wonderful picture of the classic links course, Pennard Golf Club, just 8 miles west of Swansea in Wales. Pure links golf at it's best and the definition of a "hidden gem" - we thought you would enjoy a look.

The Shivas Irons Society - Pure Reading

We have had fun working with The Shivas Irons Society over the last couple of months creating A Digital Anthology of the SIS Journal. The 25 page electronic version features extracts from the four printed issues of The Journal that include the work of many of golf's finest writers. 

You can read A Digital Anthology here.

In print, each of the issues is a unique, collector quality publication intended as a vehicle for all of the creative arts inspired by the game of golf with contributions from outstanding writers, artists and photographers from around the world.

You can read more about The Journal here.