The Open told us what we already knew

Sorry for the absence but I trust you’ve all enjoyed a summer packed full of golf. My neglect of this newsletter started with back-to-back working weeks at the Genesis Scottish Open and Open Championship and that’s where I’d like to start.

If you’re reading this newsletter you likely don’t need the world number one golfer to sell you on links golf but here he is anyway….

“When we're in the States, if we're practicing short game around the green, I probably will use two clubs. I'll use a 60 degree and a 56. And here, I'm bringing like five or six clubs, sometimes all the way down to an eight iron. When you miss the green at the U.S. Open, you're basically going to hit a similar type of shot each time where you're just opening the face with a 60 and trying to play like a bunker shot to get the ball close to the hole. Extremely difficult for anybody.

Like I said, it's a different style of golf, and it's something that's really fun for me because you get to be more creative, and a lot of times you're really forced into being more creative, especially when you get a lot of wind around these courses, and you've got to play a little. you know, a lot more shots than I think you normally would.

To me, it's a much more traditional style of golf where you can tell that the game is invented over here because if you come out here with an older gentleman who's maybe a 10 handicap and he can't really hit the ball very high, he can still play these golf courses because you can run the ball along the ground. No matter where you are, there's always a shot to be played.

So to be able to win a tournament like this (The Open) I think it says a lot about a player, especially if they're coming over from the States.”

You and us both, Scottie…you and us both.

Dear R&A, Fix Golf’s Image Problem

Royal Portrush once again proved a great venue for the best golf tournament in the men’s game but nothing in life is perfect. Cue rant.

The optics of golf to the outside non-playing public is still a tough sell…not helped by this. The fence located at the town end of the Valley Course at Portrush is permanent and acts as a physical signal to anyone who remotely dreams of enjoying the tranquility of the linksland and I dunno, even treating man’s best friend to the same pleasure. Not a golfer? Keep out!

This all might seem futile to some and there may be a number of reasons why a golf club such as Royal Portrush might not want the public on the golf course - none more obvious than health and safety concerns. That said, I think the golf industry needs to do a better job at breaking down these barriers (literally) and it’s incumbent on the R&A and ruling bodies to force the arm of these traditional “us and them” attitudes which has eroded away the same attitudes who once insisted there be no women, no kids and in more recent times, no golf fashion present in the clubhouse.

So R&A, force your venues into change. The game will be better for it.

Changes coming to guaranteed St Andrews Old Course tee times?

St Andrews Links Trust, the nonprofit organisation with the unenviable task of managing all seven golf courses in St Andrews (including the Old Course) have announced a formal review into their Commercial Tee Time (CTT) programme.

“With demand now stronger than ever, we believe this is the right time to undertake a strategic review of the CTT programme. The aim is to ensure our Authorised Provider relationships remain aligned with our long-term goals.”

These premium, guaranteed times are packaged up by 70 authorised providers who in recent times have been encouraged by the St Andrews Links Trust to utilise various in-house add on services such as photography, food and beverage and retail spend.

What these packages look like in reality, in my opinion is a more expensive and lesser St Andrews golf experience. Who would honestly rather eat in the St Andrews Links clubhouse, isolated in a car park instead of the charming St Andrews town centre with a plethora of dinning options to choose from?

While nothing will change for the 2026 season, rest assured change is coming. Time will tell what this means for you the visiting golfer but if I were to predict…

• Less authorised providers selling less commercial tee times

• More expensive commercial tee times

• More tee times for locals and dynamic pricing activations like we saw this spring

Cabot Highlands and Trump International New Courses Open For Play

Two new modern links golf courses opened within weeks of each other this summer and in very different style.

United States President Donald Trump flew into Aberdeen and over my head (true story) with a media circus in tow proclaiming the resort to be the Greatest 36 holes anywhere in the world.

Time will tell on that one but as somebody with a Cruden Bay golf holiday rental 15 minutes drive away, we’ve definitely felt steady interest. On that note, our 2026 diary is filling up so get in touch if you’re planning an Aberdeen golf trip.

Video explaining the creation of Trump International’s New Course by Eric Trump

In contrast, Old Petty now under the Cabot brand quietly opened for preview play this month with very little noise but one cool logo.

Tom Doak tasked lead associate Clyde Johnson to create a complimentary routing which takes golfers closer to the 400-year-old Castle Stuart and across more arable land. 

Cabot Highlands Old Petty review via UK Golf Guy

Reads, Links and Listens

Incredible $3m property for sale overlooking North Berwick West Links (reply to this email if you want to start a gofundme)

Marine & Lawn purchase Greywalls Hotel and bag some Muirfield tee times

I was a guest on the New Club Podcast talking about Americanisms sneaking into Scottish golf clubs

My latest appearance on the No Laying Up Podcast focussing on a Scottish golf trip to the Highlands.

Enjoy reading this? Consider forwarding it to a friend or colleague.

Cheers, Ru Macdonald