Words by Sam Of the many hallmarks of the quintessential British Golf Club - the musty smell in the locker room, tongue and groove panelling in the bar, hair combs drowning in blue barbicide next to a vintage bottle of talcum powder in the shower room - one small golfing tradition seems to be in decline.  Kummel, an aniseed and caraway infused liqueur has been loitering around our clubhouses, keeping golfers hydrated, stomachs-settled and their first-tee nerves at bay for over a century now, but there is a serious cloud hanging over the future of this famous spirit [...]

Here are a few of our own takeaways...   1. At the top, it's no surprise that Augusta National punches well above its Rank of Ranks position, coming in at No 3 on the Bucket List ranking. In fact, the "I've seen it on TV so I wanna go there" sentiment (credit: Eric from The Fliers Club) runs throughout the Bucket List ranking. Other notables include Kiawah Island, Seminole (both of which perhaps benefit from some recency bias?), Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits and Riviera.   2. Not all US Open courses faired so well, and whilst Pinehurst seems to have cultivated [...]

Harry Colt - Words by Frank Pont Harry Colt and his various partners were prodigious in their design and redesign of golf courses during what can best be described as the "classic" era for golf course architects. Despite a torrid economy immediately after WW1, whilst his competitors saw a diminution of commissions in the UK, Colt and his partners remained very active. Additionally, their travels were more widespread. Having focused international activities on Canada and the US before the war, later years brought opportunities in Ireland, France, The Netherlands and Spain. By that time, Colt himself was [...]

Perhaps it’s true that golf has always had an image problem, as a sport long viewed as the preserve of stuffy and wealthy white men. Yet in 2021 it’s tempting to think the game is at a crossroads. Over the last few months we’ve heard animated debates about a range of topics, all of which seem to relate to the very spirit of the game: the distance the ball is travelling, classic courses becoming obsolete, prize funds, choices of sponsor, pace of play, flexible memberships, hoodies and dress codes... It’s well-known that the covid-19 pandemic resulted in a golfing [...]

The UK&I Top 100 Rankings: The Cookie Jar’s Ultimate Rank of Ranks Back by popular demand, we bring you our amalgamation of the UK&I Top 100 rankings! A tool for you to play around with till your heart's content, a quick reference guide for architect info, individual rankings or even age of the course (visit on laptop browser for full version)! Much like the global rankings, the UK&I Top 100 lists are a guiding compass for the travelling golfer and a significant driver for golf clubs all over our blessed isles, and inclusion in those lists can (in the [...]