One of the great things about golfing in Edinburgh is the golf history. Today I learned about Braid Hills. Dating from 1889, this public course was made as the game became more popular. It is a rollercoaster ride high above the city streets, and worth playing for the views alone!

It was wonderful to see the world’s best women golfers playing at the inaugural ⁦@AIGWomensOpen⁩ held in Wales. Well done to the green keepers who have the course in excellent condition. I love seeing the event growing & promoting the incredible talent of female golfers.

Congratulations to Michael Keiser and his Wisconsin Sand Valley team for the vision to recreate the LIDO - a Macdonald & Raynor masterpiece that closed in 1942. Tom Doak has produced a must play golfing puzzle full of strategy and fun - rainbows even shine from the pro shop!

And delightfully understated.

Great privilege to play the 9-hole golf course at Royal Balmoral Golf Club yesterday. This golf club is the newest to gain the Royal title from British Royal family when King Charles III approved it in February 2025. There are now 67 around the world. How many can you name?? 😎🌎

I’m very excited to see the new 18 hole Himalayas-styled putting green ⁦@MiramarLinks⁩ open. Shaped on pure sand, it has all the humps and hollows to be a place of thrills, spills and joy. I love seeing families playing together and hope it’s a great asset to the club. 👏👍

Today was a day to remember those who went to war & those who gave up their lives for us. 80 years since VE Day, I am grateful to my family who fought in WW2. Thank you. The watch I wore saw action on the front lines - today it saw the Old Course and the privileges of peace time.

RT @dodger1874: Absolutely heartbreaking, we've been working flat with only 50% staff for last 3 weeks trying our best to keep the standard….

Great to play ⁦@carnoustiegolf⁩ again. It’s been the scene of many great Open moments from Hogan to Van de Velde. 16, 17, 18 must be one of the toughest three hole finishing stretches in golf. The turf conditions were excellent as usual - well done to the greens crew. 👍

This is always interesting information from The Masters. Getting out my calculator for the conversion, the greens at Augusta National are being cut at 3.175mm, and fairways at 9.5mm.

Thanks to ⁦@TheHomeofGolf⁩ for setting up the Old Course in REVERSE! Played with legend Sandy Lyle. My fav holes are 1, 4, 6 and 7. Though 17 (2nd hole in reverse) is a real test with the Swilcan Burn lurking behind the green! Great job to the links team - awesome fun. 👍

Nothing like early Spring golf on a sweet sunny day. Great to visit Banchory GC for the first time, and to have my wife playing also, Some lovely holes in a beautiful part of Scotland, Add it to your list if you’re near Aberdeen, 👍

Photo update from ⁦@MiramarLinks⁩. The new putting course is combining the old putting green and old 9th green. These photos show the links green during shaping and after turfing. Mowing will bring the whole area together as one large green - around a central island.

It’s been really great working ⁦@MiramarLinks⁩ in Wellington New Zealand. The new Himalayas-styled putting green is sand based and being turfed. I think it’s going to be super fun for everyone. Looked forward to playing the 18-hole par 36 course soon! Well done team!

It’s been a joy to visit Millbrook Resort near Queenstown in New Zealand. I played the Coronet Course - my first round since it opened in early 2022. Now used for the NZ Open, it was a pleasure to work on the course design and the greenkeepers have it in great shape - awesome!

Fantastic to be ⁦⁦@golfcourseaward⁩ today. Amazing venue at the Shard in London for the gala presentation. ⁦@NickDougherty5⁩ was a great host and I have enjoyed being a judge. Congratulations to all the finalists and winners.

Finally made it to The Machrie. Ferry trip to Islay, a night in the hotel and then a round on the links. Blessed with lovely autumn sun and barely a breath of wind - it couldn’t have been better.

RT @golfcourseaward: We're delighted to reveal the FINALISTS for Emerging Course of the Year (Est. after 2000). ⛳️ The Castle Course at @Th….

Autumn is here and it’s time to take down the bird boxes for winter, clean out the old nests, repair and repaint the boxes in time for Spring. Let’s hope we can have more hatchlings in 2025 🪺 🦅

Yesterday The R&A released a publication on the types of golf facilities that can be created on smaller areas of land. I was delighted to help in writing this guide and appreciate all the people that helped. 🙌. For those interested, here’s the link.