Golf at the Water's Edge: Scotland's Seaside Links »

An irresistible celebration of the seaside links of Scotland, with charming watercolor illustrations and a lively text.

Golf had its origins in Scotland, and that country's beautiful but daunting terrain make the game very different from the cushy version played elsewhere. In Scotland golfers battle not only the willfulness of the ball but also the elements—sandy grounds with bristly gorse, unpredictable winds, and ocean-sized water hazards.

Golf at the Water's Edge offers a delightful anecdotal history and tour of Scotland's seaside courses, divided into five regions: East Lothian, West Scotland, Fife, the North East, and the Highlands. Within each region are sections devoted to some of the most revered links in the world—among them, Turnberry, Royal Troon, Carnoustie, Royal Dornoch, and of course, St. Andrews. Lovely watercolor illustrations accompany each course, complemented by a labeled course plan. The book closes with an appendix of information for the traveler, including addresses, phone/fax numbers, months and hours of operation, and unusual course rules.

Other Details: 65 illustrations, 48 in full color 128 pages 7 1/2 x 7 1/2" Published 1997

part of a short course on common land where golf is still played in front of the fifteenth-century Golf Tavern, which served as the meeting place for two of the oldest clubs in the world: the Royal Burgess Golfing Society (1735) and the Bruntsfield Golfing Society (1761).

Library Journal

John McGuire (architecture, Drury Univ., Springfield, Mich.) is an avid golfer; Brenda McGuire shares his passion for golf and Scotland, the cradle of golf. Their book offers thumbnail sketches of 20 courses along the sea, organized by geographic region. There are descriptions of the more renowned holes as well as tips on how to play them. Golf maps with the names of all the holes acquaint readers with the layout of the course. The chapter on course information supplies addresses, phone/FAX numbers, green fees, access rules, and directions for getting to the course from major highways. John McGuire's charming watercolors and line drawings add embellishment. Anyone planning a golf vacation to Scotland will be well served by this practical, visually appealing book. Other books on the subject include James A. Finegan's Blasted Heaths and Blessed Greens (S. & S., 1996) and Donald Steel's Classic Golf Links of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland (Pelican, 1993).Ravi Shenoy, Hinsdale P.L., Ill.

Introduction

Map of Scotland

The Scottish Links

East Lothian

North Berwick West Links

Winterfield Golf Club

Dunbar Golf Club

Longniddry Golf Club

West of Scotland

Western Gailes Golf Club

Royal Troon Golf Club

Prestwick Golf Club—Old Course

Prestwick St. Nicholas Golf Club

Belleisle Golf Course

Turnberry Hotel Golf Club

Fife

Elie—The Golf House Club

Crail—Balcomie Golf Course

St. Andrews—The Old Course

Northeast

Monifieth Golf Links

Panmure Golf Club

Carnoustie Golf Links

Montrose Links Trust

Highlands

Cruden Bay Golf Club

Nairn Golf Club

Royal Dornoch Golf Club

Course Information

Index

Author Biography: John McGuire, an avid golfing convert, is Professor of Architecture at the Hammons School of Architecture of Dury University in Springfield, Missouri. Brenda McGuire shares his passion for Scotland and for golf. They spend their summers in Edinburgh.