February 2026
January 2026
2026 Club Championship, Match Reports
It’s no secret we play plenty of golf, but until now it’s been done a little too casually. Cards not entered, swinging without consequence, and more flagstick gimmes than we’d like to admit. This year, that changes. We’re using our fortunate golf calendars to introduce some proper competition to the Jar, allowing us to stay sharp, and, just as importantly, to stay chirpy when our form is written in ink on the Cookie Jar Club Championship table. Whenever we play together during work, it’s now a match. Singles, foursomes, the occasional triangular. Nine holes minimum, but any length [...]
October 2025
Golf Architecture Graveyards
Golf has its fair share of ghost stories — some rooted in history, others in the landscape itself. From churchyard greens to fairways shaped by ancient battles, the game’s connection with the past runs deep. Simon Barrington and Sam Williams explore “Golf Architecture Graveyards” - a look at the most haunted holes in golf and the stories that continue to linger in the turf. Table of Contents 1 - BALLYBUNION OLD 405 YARDS - PAR 4 Architects: Jo McKenna, Lionel Hewson, Tom Simpson, Molly Gourlay, Tom Watson. [...]
Q&A: Inside Scotland’s Newest Golf Experiences – Cabot Highlands and Trump International
2025 marked an exciting year for two of the most talked-about destinations in Scotland. This summer, two new courses opened for preview play at revered venues in the Highlands and Aberdeen: Cabot Highlands’ Old Petty, designed by Tom Doak & Clyde Johnson, and Trump International’s North Sea Links, designed by Martin Hawtree and assisted by Christine Fraser & Christian Lundin. So we sat down with Jack Sallis, founder of Halcyon Golf Travel, who has played them both, to hear his take on how they compare, what sets them apart, and what visiting golfers can expect. [...]
September 2025
Walker Cup at Cypress Point: 5 things to keep an eye on
Words by Peter Handcock, the Half Par Kid With all eyes on Cypress Point this weekend, Half Par has taken a deep dive into the course and the players to pull together 5 things for viewers to look out for - or keep in mind - while watching the 50th Walker Cup. Table of Contents The Walker Cup is nearly here, and few events in golf stir the soul quite like it. No prize money, no 7,700-yard resort course, just 20 of the world’s best amateurs, representing [...]
July 2025
Amateur Hour: The Race for the Silver Medal at Portrush
Words by Peter Handcock, the Half Par Kid While the best golfers in the world battle for the Claret Jug, there’s another prize worth paying attention to at The Open —especially in a Walker Cup year. In this blog, Half Par looks at the nine amateurs in the field and explains why the medal they’re playing for is such a big deal. Table of Contents Amateur Hour: The Race for the Silver Medal at Portrush Sure, Rory McIlroy’s bid to win the one he now wants most [...]
May 2025
Markers in Time
Words by Simon Skeldon Simon is a good friend of Cookie Jar, and someone with a particular penchant for the small little discs we use to mark our own balls on the green. He put pen to paper for this short but thoughtful examination with these small little hunks of metal we wander the links with in our pockets. Table of Contents "Markers in Time", by Simon Skeldon I love playing golf. Fifty years after making my first swing, I am still addicted to hitting shots that [...]
5 holes I can’t stop thinking about
Words by Peter Handcock Five Holes I Can’t Stop Thinking About It’s no secret that I live and breathe golf. As someone who works at the Jar, and a fully-fledged golf nut for over a decade prior, I spend a lot of time immersing myself in the world of courses and design. But what truly captivates me is the variety within the sport — how, at the best courses, rarely do two holes ever feel quite the same. I find myself thinking about specific holes all the time. Earlier this month, I took a short trip to Scotland [...]
Rank of Ranks – 2025
We first ran this feature all the way back in 2020. Since then, much has happened in the world of golf, none more so than the rampant demand to play some of the finest and most storied venues across all corners. So, given the GB&I rankings have each been updated in recent months, with Top100GolfCourses.com changing theirs this week, we thought we’d see what's happened and how they all stand up against each other. As a recap for those that weren’t with us back in 2020, here’s a refresh on how this is calculated: We take the rankings [...]
