LOFOTEN, NORWAY. The world’s most northerly links course. Situated inside the Arctic Circle there is a ”Cool golf links with the hottest light show on earth.” Summer visitors come to stay in lodges and play 24 hr. golf in an utterly spectacular setting on the Norwegian Sea, and from August to October they get the Northern Lights thrown in.
Isaac Rowlands, the assistant pro at The Grove, near London, travelled to Lofoten Links to take advantage of the Arctic Circle’s midnight sun, and is now the proud holder of a Guinness World Record for the world’s longest golf marathon, after playing 182 holes over 32 hours covering 53 miles on foot (only losing 35 balls) to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support.
I can imagine what Mrs Rowlands said when he rolled in: “I suppose you’re going to tell me you’ve been playing golf!”
THE AIG WOMENS OPEN (30th July – 3rd August) will be staged at Royal Porthcawl, Wales, a stunning links course where the sea is visible from every hole.
The AIG Women’s Open prides itself on being golf’s most international major, as the last nine Champions have hailed from nine different countries.
Lydia Ko (New Zealand) took the trophy at St Andrews last August. The previous eight victors were from the USA (Lilia Vu), South Africa (Ashleigh Buhai), Sweden (Anna Nordqvist), Germany (Sophia Popov), Japan (Hinako Shibuno), England (Georgia Hall), South Korea (I K Kim) and Thailand (Ariya Jutanugarn).
In the 70’s and 80’s England was on a winning streak, taking the trophy no less than five times. Jenny Lee Smith (1976) the very first AIG Women’s Open winner, then Vivien Sanders (1977) and Janet Melville (1978)
Legendary Dame Laura Davies (1986) was just 22 when she won at Royal Birkdale, then Alison Nicholas took the title in 1987. Georgia Hall claimed the trophy in 2018 with her dad Wayne as caddie.
However, in the face of the opposition this year I have to say to our girls; Pob Lwc! (good luck)
SCOTLAND’S ELLIOT SALTMAN made an ace at the DP World Tour’s Madrid Masters – and was awarded with his body weight (240 lbs) in Iberico ham. His wife said when told: “I only hope he won’t make a pig of himself.”
THE GENESIS SCOTTISH OPEN takes place again at the Renaissance Club, East Lothian from 10th-13th July. The course opened in 2018 between Muirfield and North Berwick, two of the greatest links courses in Scotland.
The owner, American Jerry Savardi was determined his course would host a major as well. However, after low winning scores, from Bernd Wiesberger’s record 22-under in 2019 to Min Woo Lee’s 18-under in 2021 some players complained Renaissance Club was not enough of a test, so ‘player consultant’ Padraig Harrington and course architect Tom Doak made some changes.
Last year’s victor Robert MacIntyre had no complaints anyway.
Critics say Renaissance is by no means one of the best links courses, and after 8 years the pros may have had enough of it. For amateurs it seems set up for more pain than pleasure, a 500 yards plus par 4 into the wind with a long carry over heavy bracken is no fun.
Because it was part government-funded the very exclusive club agreed to offer a few tee times between November and March on Mondays and Wednesdays (£300) and a “Once in a Lifetime” deal of £480 for B&B and one round. Struggling round a hard course on a cold wet Monday morning in January wouldn’t be the thrill of a lifetime for me.
YOU HAVE TO FEEL SORRY for these golf superstars who slave away designing courses on unspoilt tropical islands. Also spare a thought for Masa Nishijima, International Consultant for Golf Magazine’s World Top 100 Golf Courses. It is his melancholy duty to play on every contender and help to rate it accordingly.
Masa has played everywhere from Royal Melbourne to Ballybunion while compiling his list. I suppose somebody has to do it.
Until next time: Happy Golfing,
Contact Mick for regripping and repairs. Tel. 638 859 475
