225/225 - every links in Scotland, England and Wales = ✅ Thanks for all your support.

After a long winter of work, our improved 7th opened this morning and was played by members, the Club Captain, and architects @sd_cooper and @joemmcdonne11, whose vision has transformed the hole. We're looking forward to seeing more members, and visitors, enjoy it this summer.

NEW Highly-rated Scottish course to stage first professional tournament in 2026 @ScotsmanSport @SouthernessGolf @tartanprotour @ScottishGolf scotsman.com/sport/highly-ra…

BIGGA Northern Region Sectional Education Days BIGGA is bringing three unmissable Education Days to the Northern Region, each packed with expert speakers, practical workshops, and real-world insights to support modern turf management and golf course leadership. 📍 Yorkshire & Sheffield Education Day 👉 eventbrite.com/e/bigga-yorks… 📍 North West & North Wales Education Day 👉 eventbrite.com/e/bigga-north… 📍 North East & Cleveland Sectional Education Day 👉 eventbrite.com/e/bigga-educa… 🎤 Across the three events, speakers and contributors include: Henry Bechelet, Dr Andy Owen & Liam Hargreaves (ICL) Glenn Kirby (STRI) Sam Cooper (McDonnell & Cooper Golf Course Architects) Max Drummond Smillie & Darren Clewes (Fargro) Paul Lowe (Aquatrols) Andy O’Neill (Redexim) Matthew Mears (Clearwater) Wes Henshaw (K.A.R) Craig Stoba & Trevor Mill-Irving (Husqvarna) Paul Woodham (The R&A) Jonathan Gaunt (Gaunt Design) PLUS a welcome from BIGGA CEO Jim Croxton 💡 Topics vary by event and include: • Turf stress, resilience & disease pressure • Frost mowing & future agronomy trials • Drone applications & holistic turf management • Golf course architecture & redevelopment • Irrigation solutions & autonomous mowing • Data, performance & the golfer experience • Building positive relationships with club committees 🛠️ Selected events also feature outdoor demonstrations and practical workshops, with delegates working in smaller groups. Only £20 for BIGGA Members FREE for Apprentices 📅 Dates, venues & full agendas available via the individual booking links above. Spaces are limited so book early.

🎬 The Lost Holes at Formby, out now on YouTube. The Sefton Coast has suffered some of the most dramatic coastal erosion in Britain over the last half-century – and @FormbyGolfClub has felt it firsthand, losing it's coastal holes in the 1980s. Together with @sd_cooper and @joemmcdonne11, we went out to uncover where those holes once lay and see how the land has changed since. The difference is staggering... Watch now: bit.ly/4oNLZob

Some words from @sd_cooper's write-up on our course, featured in the first edition of Links From The Road - a nod to both our history and the quality of our links.

A brilliant Badgers pod this week with @johnmac150, Course Manager at @wallaseygolf who’s helped shape one of the finest-conditioned links courses in the world. A must-listen for greenkeepers and course managers — though that’s true of all our Badgers pods, to be fair. 🎧 bit.ly/40TRhoo

⁦@sd_cooper⁩ and ⁦@JamesBledge⁩ helping the hippies understand that golf courses aren’t all bad news maaaaaan podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcas…

Glad you enjoyed Matthew 🙌

"Matthew Jordan is back near the top of the leaderboard after a six-birdie 68 on Thursday and sits one shot behind the leaders at 3 under. The past two years taught us not to overlook Jordan and signal how a different style of golf clearly elevates his game from a middle-of-the-road player to one of the best in an elite field. Links golf, with its firm turf and blustery conditions, gives Jordan, who grew up playing one of the world’s greatest links courses, an edge. When asked about what the secret to links golf was after his round, the Englishman responded, 'being able to understand how far to hit half shots, different flights, start lines....It's not just kind of stand there and hit it. So being able to adapt and understand exactly how to hit those kinds of shots.' "Sadly, most golf courses on the DP World Tour are more of the 'stand there and hit it' variety, and the pro game spends very little time on the golf courses that created the game. Outside of the Open, the only other surefire 'links' examinations are the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the Scottish Open at Renaissance Club. The most influential courses and style of golf represent a tiny fraction of the game at the highest level. "For a player like Jordan, I would hypothesize that if links golf was played more often, he would be more of a household name. He has played 170 OWGR events in his career, and by this author's count, less than 10 of those came on links courses. Of his nine best finishes in his career, four have come at the Open (T-10, 2023 and 2024) and the Dunhill Links (T-5, 2019; T-10, 2024). More links golf would probably elevate Matthew Jordan from a middling DP World Tour player to one of the world’s best links specialists." - @AndyTFE for today's newsletter (Photo Courtesy: Charlie Crowhurst/R&A)

I'm delighted to share my latest commissioned artwork for the legendary Golf de Chantilly. A club synonymous with classic architecture and rich competitive history, rooted in its renowned Tom Simpson-conceived courses.

Throwback to (near enough) this time 2 years ago. When @RLGCHoylake was gearing up for the 151st Open Championship. Just before it started raining for 18 months… 🫠

Every Links course in Great Britain 🤯 Need the perfect gift for that golf lover in your life? 🎁 Check out Links from the Road by @sd_cooper and find the ideal present! 👇 Buy now: ow.ly/KO1r50UfJNo

Should add that if you are interested in purchasing Links from the Road, click the link below to the website. I believe it’s only £17, which is well worth the money especially if you are looking to explore these regions. linksfromtheroad.com

Love opening up the mail to a surprise. Today’s surprise is @sd_cooper’s LINKS FROM THE ROAD, Volume #1: The Wirral, Liverpool & Southport. This 18 part volume might be the greatest golf travel series in print EVER. Where to play, history, what to see & where to eat. Brilliant

Some news... After 21 amazing years @GolfMonthly it's time for a new challenge. I'm part of a team launching an agency - 'The Loop'. Powered by @PRG_Golf we'll be representing brands, destinations and creators, putting on events and creating content. Should be fun. More soon ⛳️

Is Dutch golf worth the trip? It's been getting some attention of late. Last month, I finally scratched the itch and headed over to see some of them for myself. For those who don't subscribe, here's a link to my substack piece mainly on De Pan. (As well as a bit of self promotion of my new book series!). linksfromtheroad.substack.co… I'll follow up with the rest of the courses we visited next week. Enjoy!

Wonderful storytelling from @sd_cooper Perfect guide for anyone planning a links golf trip to the British coast Looking forward to volume 2 already

Thank you Neilan! Delighted these have been so well received so far. Thanks to everyone who’s supported Volume 1 already. Slightly blown away over the first weekend You can get Volume 1 here: linksfromtheroad.com/product…

Thanks Dean! Glad you think so and thank you for supporting us during the tour and now after it too 🤝

Absolutely spectacular art!!!