Our New Pure Project - Links Candles

We have been having fun with Links Candles, the project my 12 year old daughter, Lily and I started. Our latest iteration, Custom Club Candles is specifically for clubs looking for gift items or for their member guest tournaments. Here's all you need to know - you can download the PDF here.

A Wonderful New Golf Book - Love Letters to the Home of Golf

Who doesn't love St Andrews? Well, if you are a golfer and you don't love it, either you haven't been there or you haven't been there enough! It is without doubt the greatest golf town in the world.

I was fortunate to attend University in Glasgow and as a member of the golf team we played many matches at truly great courses, including, naturally, The Old Course. I have great memories of those days and also in more recent times; walking around the town, staying in the Dunvegan and The Old Course Hotels, popping into the Jigger Inn, recreating Chariots of Fire on the beach and much more!

Thistle by Michael Klein

A fine young man, Josh Evenson, a North Dakota native, who attended the University of St Andrews, has gone many steps further than simply blogging about the Auld Grey Toon! Josh, along with an A list of the world's greatest artists, golfers and writers has created an extraordinary volume about the town, fetchingly entitled Links to St Andrews - Love Letters to the Home of Golf. He puts it best in his personal description of the book,

"Links to St Andrews is about links of many kinds in the world of golf and in life: links between fathers and sons, between coaches and athletes, between the past and the present, between an undulating expanse of grass and the swing of a club, between a town and those who fall under its spell."

Josh Evenson

Josh has travelled the world compiling this mighty tome with contributions from Messrs. Nicklaus, Palmer and Player, Annika, Greg, Tom - you know, all those for whom only one name is sufficient. And it doesn't stop there; the artwork is extraordinary, as is the art direction. The stories are compelling and tell so many aspects of the centuries old town, most of which I was unaware of. So, if like me, you love St Andrews, buy yourself a present and for less than half the price of a driver (which I almost guarantee won't be in your bag in a year) you can own one of the truly great golf books produced in my memory.

There are several editions of the book including a very special edition that includes the signatures of the 100 contributors, signed on hand made paper pressed from the grasses of St Andrews (I kid you not!). Good luck getting one of those! There is another limited edition tier coming at $295 signed by the writers and artists and includes a leather slip case. Available online right now is the "standard" edition, although there is absolutely nothing "standard" about this book. This version is $150 and likely to sell out fast. Although sans signatures it has everything you need to look at and read.

A sketch by Lee Wybranski

Josh undertook this venture with a passion and integrity rarely seen in Generation X and the result speaks for itself. This is a book you are going to want to own, read, study and read again. It's for sale on the Links to St Andrews website here.

Five Pure Golf Gifts for Father's Day

I make no excuses with our Father's Day Gift Guide. All of these fine golf companies are clients and we are very proud to work with them. I'm sure you'll find something very cool here for Dad. One key thing to note with all of these great gifts - they are ALL Made in America. Which is nice!

1. Josh Smith Golf Landscapes. Josh paints gorgeous golf landscapes. His portfolio runs from Bandon Dunes Resort to Pebble Beach and many wonderful courses in between. We recently found three perfect, limited edition, tubed giclees on archive paper in a cupboard. The images are Royal County Down (3rd hole), Bandon Trails (3rd hole) and Pebble Beach (7th hole as it was in 1929 - above). Just because it is you, we are offering these for $195 each, including USPS shipping. There are three left and that's it! - if you would like one email me at nick@macduffconsulting.com and we'll get it out the same day to you.

2. Lee Wybranski Art & Design. Lee is having quite a year and his latest poster for the USGA for this year's U.S. Open at Merion is another stunning piece. Featuring the iconic red wicker basket, it is perfect for Dad's den! You can buy it here on the USGA's site. If you would like to explore more of Lee's work have a look at his website here.

3. MacKenzie Walker Golf Bag Company. Todd Rohrer, way out west in Portland, Oregon produces the best golf bags in the business - bar none! Now this gift takes some thought and perhaps input from your father to produce a one off handcrafted piece of magic. I have been guided through the process three times by Todd and each golf bag is a work of art! Some would say they are expensive at $845, but think about it - you spend that on a set of clubs and two years later switch them out and they are worth about $50! The MacKenzie will last a lifetime and the memory will be priceless. Have a look at the amazing selection of leathers here.

4. Stitch Golf. Based in North Carolina, Stitch makes amazing leather headcovers and other cool leather accessories - I have their #1 iPad cover! We first came across Stitch last year and in a short period of time they have made huge strides at retail and with consumers. Look out for their Merion U.S. Open covers if you are at the tournament - but be quick, because they are going to fly off the shelves! Read more about Stitch here.

5. Tin Cup. The Father's Day Package here is a great way to choose the best cup to fit Dad's golf game. Plus it includes a couple of pens, poker chip and leather valuables pouch. Tin Cup is now in over 1,400 retail outlets in the U.S. as well as being on line here with 140 designs. In addition you could create a one off custom design here.

Wrapped - The Pure Golf Ball

I came across these wrapped Slazenger B51 golf balls the other day in my office. This was actually the ball that Jack Nicklaus used for many years in the 60s.

There was a purity to the wrapped golf ball and opening a new ball on the first tee was a great feeling. Sadly, in these days of mass manufacturing, golf balls come off the production line straight into 3 packs and miss out the wrapping machine to save a couple of cents. It's a shame and I bet that if one of the major manufacturers reintroduced this element they could more than compensate for the cost by adding a premium to a top of the range ball. Anyone have any great memories of wrapped golf balls? When was the last time you used one?

Streamsong Review - A New Addition to the Pures

Over at our sister site, macduffconsulting, you will find a full review of a days golf at wonderful Streamsong - a worthy addition to purist golf. You can read it here - http://macduffconsulting.blogspot.com/

3 Pures From The PGA Show

So, I am back from a terrific Golf Show in Orlando  - There really was a buzz in the air this year - rounds played were up in 2012, Callaway are back with style and once again I have selected three Pure products that fit the style and ethos of our site.

True Linkswear

It's no secret I am a big fan of this company. The True guys created a new category of walkable, comfortable shoes and naturally all the other big boys have jumped on the bandwagon. Nike, adidas, Footjoy all have their low profile version, but none are as good as the original Trues. In 2013 they have  introduced a couple of exciting new designs - I particularly like the look of the Chukka, with a little more height for those rainy days when only a walk will do! Read More Here.

Callaway's new X Hot Pro 3 wood

A new golf club on the golf purist? Yes, it does happen if I see one that is true to itself and free of all the horrendous graphics that are popping up on golf clubs. The flashes and geometric designs from Nike, Adams and Taylormade won't last - they do nothing other than distract the eye.

For a gorgeous clean golf club take a look at the new Callaway X Hot Pro 3 wood. I have the wonderful old X Hot 3 wood in my bag from 2006 and it is my "go to club"  - I don't think Callaway has ever made a better golf club - who knows - maybe the new X Hot Pro 3 could takes its place. Read More Here.

G/Fore Golf Shoes

More footwear, this time from world famous fashion designer, Mossimo Giannulli. Last year he added color to the boring old white golf glove, but kept it pure by choosing beautiful colors. This year he has added shoes to the line and come up with contemporary colors to add some verve to the fairways. They are coming soon, so keep your eye on his website here 

"The Show" Is Here!

Well, it's in a couple of days and I will be attending for the 24th time - is it a badge if honor or dishonor?  - I'm not sure! As well as conducting MacDuff business I'll have my golf purist hat on and be on the look out for all things pure in golf. I'll report back next week with photos and some copy.