Buried beneath the celebration of Shakespeare’s birthday and the 30th anniversary of the ZX Spectrum, was the revelation that Monday was also St George's Day. Contemplating the curious lack of pride in this Sceptered Isle of ours, it was with perfect timing that I happened across Golf Digest magazine’s latest ranking of the Top Courses in the World outside the United States.

Espousing a refreshingly un-American outlook (that there is a whole other world out there) the editors helpfully provide readers with not just a ranking of the +best courses in no less than 199 countries globally, but also the number of courses that exist in each nation. So if you’ve a penchant for finding out more about golfing powerhouses like Suriname, Uzbekistan, Syria, Macau and Djibouti, this article is a real treat. More...

I truly love the Open Championship. With so many fantastic courses - each with its own history and memories to evoke - the Open has a different story every year. When it’s Turnberry, we recall the Duel in the Sun. At St Georges, it’s Greg Norman’s Sunday 64 or Thomas Bjorn’s bunker breakdown. At Carnoustie thoughts turn to Hogan ‘53 or our last home winner, Paul Lawrie (and, of course, a certain Frenchman). Nevertheless, Masters week – make that Masters month - is unquestionably my favourite time of the golfing year. With the Open at St Andrews on a five-year rotation we are very familiar with the Auld Grey Toon… but it feels like we know every inch of Augusta’s famous green baize. More...

Normally, I’m the sort of golfer who turns up just before the tee-time and plays. Sometimes I might roll a few on the putting green. Occasionally, but not often, I might swish the driver once or twice. Usually I’ll then smash said club into the unknown…  otherwise known as the right rough. But occasionally, and usually at somebody else’s invitation, the opportunity arises to do things a little differently.

So it was last weekend at the Grove, a  glorious golf, hotel and spa resort in the unlikely environs of Watford, just inside the M25. With five-star luxury and sensational facilities, it’s little wonder that it’s become the England football team’s venue of choice ahead of Wembley internationals.  In fact, the last time I visited, one of the abiding memories was of then-manager Fabio Capello sclaffing a wedge through the 17th green and throwing his arms in the air as only Italians can. I suppose there’s little time for practising golf when you have six games a year to prepare for! More...

In case it escaped your attention, last Thursday was St David’s Day. This begs the question of why the pubs of Birmingham, Bournemouth and Blackpool weren’t decked out with dragons and daffodils…

as they surely will be with shamrocks and all things green come March 17th?

When it comes to marking the Saints Days (or any other occasion for that matter) we’re very quick to jump on the bandwagon... any bandwagon actually, especially if it’s of the noisy, drink-fuelled variety. From the Fourth of July or Australia Day to Chinese New Year or St Patrick’s Day, we just love to join in. More...

I have never understood the concept of the fair-weather golfer. You know the sort… those who pack the clubs away in November before re-emerging in the spring, usually around the time when thoughts turn to the Azaleas of Augusta National, and usually complaining about not having played for four months. I’d like to know exactly what they’ve been doing all this time. DIY? Christmas shopping? How could they step outside on one of those crisp, clear days and not be overwhelmed by an urge to grab the clubs and head for the tee? I just can’t understand people who can turn it off and on like a tap. You’re either a golfer or you’re not. I most certainly am a golfer. And I’m not alone. More...

There can be little doubt that 2011 was one of the best golf seasons
in living memory for the European Tour and its members. We had
Schwartzel’s remarkable run at Augusta, Rory’s miraculous redemption at Congressional and the glorious sight of the old warhorse Darren Clarke showing players half his age how to tame the links of St George’s. And that’s saying nothing of an Englishman dominating the money lists on both sides of the Atlantic and claiming the coveted World No.1 slot. There were first-time winners, multiple winners and 40-something winners. And after a handful of events in 2012, that trend seems to be continuing again.

I love watching professional golf – especially in the flesh - but for all the heroic deeds of the players, I always think that the great courses are the real stars. 2011 was a great year for this, with the Tour taking in the stellar venues we’ve become accustomed to, as well as issuing timely reminders of places that hadn’t been visited for a while. From the pine forests of El Prat to the dunes of the Kent coastline – as well as a first look at a stunning new addition in the form of Castle Stuart – we were treated to some wonderful Tour stops last year. More...