words by Tom On a crisp, sunny Tuesday in September, we were on our way home from a few crazy days in Surrey, where we we treated to some of the finest golf this country has to offer. It is no secret that the heathlands of Surrey house some of the most spectacular and prestigious golf courses in England, but perhaps what is a secret, are the courses that are too often overlooked on a trip to this Mecca of English golf. After 72 holes in the previous 60 hours, both of us were regretting the previous commitment to an additional 3pm tee time we'd crammed into the agenda at short notice.  The Monday of our trip was the only day with only one round of golf. Determined to keep the step count up, Sam had arranged a course walk with Niall Flanagan (proud member and club ambassador for [...]

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 and its place in the game.  It enjoys iconic status throughout the golfing world, affectionately referred to by many as ‘putting mixture’ - consumed (sometimes copiously) at many of Britain’s historic and well regarded clubs, famed for its fabled ‘game-improvement’ qualities - it usually makes an appearance during club matches [...]