A friend played the Old Course for the first time in ages yesterday. He got a place in the singles lottery. I think he sums up why it’s still one of my favourite places in the world. ‘Had a few drinks and reflected on the old course, 27 years since I last played it. I’m a better golfer now, have an appreciation of different things. And I absolutely loved my round of golf - yes, it’s too short and too open, and even for a middling amateur I sailed past many of its former defences . But who cares? Choosing lines in matters, greens are hard to hold, and bunkers still provide plenty of thrilling peril. Oft copied holes remind you of its influence, and the now unfashionable elements (crossed fairways? Shared greens?) evoke a time when golf was more social, more inclusive. There are unresolvable problems - “Hell” has been frozen over by technology, one too many drives blinded by the topography, and the unguarded 18th a limp finish - but these are prices to pay to keep Old Tom’s magic in play. I’ll admit I played in glorious conditions , but the feeling I kept coming back to was “fuck me, this is fun, why aren’t more courses like this?”, realising that our addiction to distance - in course design and golfers tech, but which the chicken and which the egg? - we’ve forgotten that it’s supposed to be wee battle between you and nature at its most beguiling, a tempting hottie not a torturing madam. But modern courses have us doing deadlifts and perfecting swings, just to land on flat lawns and glassy tabletops. So, as I think about what is next, I look forward to playing many more of the worlds greatest courses, but expect few of them will be so quick to put a grin on my fizzer.’ I don’t agree with him about 18 though 😂

Way to go @PepperellEddie. Four under for the last seven holes to make the cut on the number is quite something. Shotlink had this at 9 feet but it looks a bit longer!

I finally made it to Fraserburgh today. A beautiful early autumn afternoon on a lovely links course. It cost £80. At a time when some clubs are being tempted by new business models based on huge green fee rises it’s nice to see a club looking after the average golfer still!

Wonderful Elie. I shot this on a beautiful spring day earlier this year. There are few places in the world of golf I’d rather be. Volume up for this one…

A beautiful day at @CullenGC1. I’ve played over 600 courses around the world and I’ve never seen anything quite like this before. Brilliantly bonkers!

A fantastic afternoon at Lossie and amazingly stayed dry for all 18 holes. The 5 club wind blew everything away! There’s not many better closing holes in golf than the 18th on the Old Course at @MorayGC

Looking forward to an afternoon at Cabot Highlands. Still the best urinal view in golf!

I’m organising a weekend away with some mates. We have a budget of £500 pp for golf and a bed so I’ve booked rounds at Moray Old, Elgin, Covesea and Cullen. 63 holes and 2 nights at a Lossie hotel, exactly on budget. Or we could do 9 holes at Turnberry and sleep on the beach…

I’m writing a piece on drinks associated with specific golf courses or regions and am looking for some inspiration! Tennants, Kümmel, Shovril, a Pink Jug, Gunners/Tom Panton all feature so far. Any other ideas? Drinks and destination would be great. For this article I’m looking for anything outside of the USA. What are you drinking at your club? What’s your tipple of choice in Australia, Japan, South Africa or anywhere else?!!

Moving the 5th green at Muirfield feels like more than a ‘tweak’. The R&A’s desire to maximise the income at every Open comes at quite a cost to the integrity of the host courses. Can’t they decide that some Opens are smaller than others rather than constantly chasing the ££.

I’ve been out with the drone recently recording some of our great links and the mellifluous Andrew Cotter has recorded some words to go with them. Here’s wonderful @PrestwickGC We’ll be posting more over the weeks ahead on the Outpost Overseas Insta.

A client is finishing up a month in Scotland playing one of the most amazing itineraries I’ve ever put together. One friend joined him for the first three weeks, and other groups came in an out for a week at a time. How’s this for a line-up?!! Kilspindie Dunbar North Berwick Elie Jubilee Dumbarnie Carnoustie Kingsbarns Panmure Cruden Bay Royal Aberdeen Fraserburgh Lossie Cullen Covesea Castle Stuart Old Petty Fortrose and Rosemarkie Royal Dornoch Brora Skye Traigh Glencruitten The Machrie Machrihanish Shiskine Prestwick There was a boat ride on Loch Ness, afternoon tea with Highland cows, visits to ancient castles and whisky tastings galore along the way. I reckon most Scots haven’t seen as much of the country in their lives as he has in the last month!

Good luck to Ghana tomorrow tonight, my third favourite team! Years ago I was trying to persuade my friends to go on a golf trip there and I roped in a young Wayne Rooney to help sell it to them. Only two of us ended up going and had an amazing trip!

We finished up a tremendous week on the west coast of Ireland at St Patrick’s Links at @Rosapenna1893. Such a fun course and the conditioning was wonderful - it’s running fast and true. My favourite course in the land!

In the last three days we’ve played Strandhill, County Sligo, Narin & Portnoo and Cruit Island. The wind has got progressively stronger every round, it was a good 4-5 clubs at Cruit. It’s a great place for golf, and good value compared to more well known Irish locations too. Well worth getting on your radar if you’ve not been here before.

What a day at @EnniscroneGolf yesterday. It’s a really enjoyable course. A great setting, wonderful holes (both in and out of the dunes) and it was in excellent condition. A real treat!