Golden Slumbers! R&A Names Its New Chief Executive
/For those hoping to have seen David Rickman replace Peter Dawson
Read MoreIn golf construction art and utility meet; both are absolutely vital; one is utterly ruined without the other. GEORGE THOMAS
It’s back!
Twenty years later Tatra Press has kindly allowed me to bring back Grounds For Golf now that golf architecture is of more interest to the masses. A new Introduction looks at what’s driven the interest growth and two new chapters I had a blast adding (plus a few edits to keep things up-to-date).
The Amazon purchase page for the book arriving June 15, 2026.
The R&A Vote: "What Was All The Fuss About?"
/John Hopkins with some behind-the-scenes
Read MoreBest Evidence Yet The Ball Goes Too Far? New R&A Captain Nearly Drives Ceremonial Shot Into Swilcan Burn
/I know, I know. It might have been downwind. The first fairway was probably firm and fast.
Read MoreRoundup: Royal & Ancient Votes To Accept Women
/The R&A revealed that 85% of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club's 2400 members
Read MoreElection Day! If All Goes Well...
/The Royal and Ancient Golf Club will reveal their vote around 6 pm in Scotland and polls close at 10 pm
Read MoreLandslide: Portrush Members Vote 235-2 To Hold The Open
/Even though R&A Chief Executive Architect Peter Dawson has all sorts of changes in mind
Read MoreR&A Asks Members: "Open to letting 15 women in at once?"
/Sam Weinman looks at the upcoming Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews
Read MoreRoyal & Ancient Opens Woman Vote To All Members
/The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews will now open the vote on
Read MoreOpen Wrap: Attendance Down, Prices Up, R&A Investing
/As expected, attendance at Hoylake was down, but
Read MoreR&A Breaking New Ground With Fan App, Open WiFi
/Hopefully you've downloaded The Open app by now, but if not here is the U.S. link at iTunes. I'm not entirely sure what's available in the States, but as I lay out in this Loop item, the R&A has broken new ground in the march toward a 21st Century fan experience with (working!) WiFi throughout the property.
Combine that with the ability to sit in the grandstand and listen to the BBC Radio feed or watch the BBC TV feed, and even get special information pushed to your phone if sitting on the third hole grandstand thanks to iBeacons.
The app it is one of the best-designed I've seen (especially the iPad version) and should serve as the new standard-bearer for golf's other tours and governing bodies to study.
Music To The Donald’s Ears: "Unthinkable” To Drop Turnberry
/Martin Dempster talked exclusively with
Read MoreRupert! Sky Looking To Push BBC (59 Years!) Out Of The Open
/The Daily Mail's Charles Sale believes the BBC, rights holders
Read MoreR&A Touts "Groundbreaking WiFi Network" As Sign Installation Severs Line, Knocking Out Media WiFi!
/The WiFi here is literally groundbreaking!
Read MoreUniversity Of St. Andrews Principal Says R&A Members Taunted Her With Their Ties
/Tom Rowley of The Telegraph reports that Louise Richardson,
Read MoreUniversity Of St. Andrews Principal On R&A: "Little did I know."
/Karen Crouse profiles 55-year-old University of St. Andrews
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