Hebden Bridge Golf Club among the best views in Yorkshire
Hebden Bridge Golf Club is a place wonderfully untroubled by the march of time. Golf, at times, feels barely recognisable: where once it was played with wooden clubs, now it’s played by super athletes, capable of reducing 600-yard par 5s to a thunderous drive and an easy 7-iron. Golf courses are changing too – they’re getting longer, both in yardage and the time it takes to play them. More expensive too. It’s still the game we all fell in love with but it’s important to remember that there are courses, if you look hard enough, that can take you back…
Celtic Manor – Ryder Cup destination stands the test of time
There will always be a special place in my heart for Celtic Manor. It was here that I covered my first and most memorable Ryder Cup for The Times newspaper, where I stood on the 18th green, soaked in champagne, as Team Europe danced with delight after another epic battle against their American counterparts. These are memories that will never fade. And yet, that is a theme because every time I visit Celtic Manor Golf Resort I make new ones, lasting ones. My first visit to this magnificent Welsh resort came in 1999. I was working in the film business…
A round with Rory McIlroy (kind of) in beautiful Killarney
The voice on the other end of the line went quiet while I took it all in – “we want you to come and play in the Irish Open Pro-Am at Killarney Golf Club.” “Some big names are playing this year and if you’re open to it, we’ll try and get you a round with Rory.” The words wouldn’t come. How do you respond? How could any golfer refuse the chance to play alongside the best players in the world on the Killeen Course at Killarney Golf Club – truly the stuff of dreams. The flight into Shannon was straightforward.…
Sunningdale Golf Club: is the Old Course England’s very best?
Sunningdale Old Course is a timeless masterpiece, often hailed as the finest inland course in England. Laid out in 1901 by Willie Park Jr., it winds through heather, pines, and gentle undulations to deliver a serene yet strategic test of golf. A place where history and beauty go hand in hand.…