The Links of Wales
The Links of Wales
ISBN: Hardcover: 1-4010-4532-4
Softcover: 1-4010-4531-6
Library of Congress: 2002090130
Pages: 222
Graphics: 26 photos, one map
Binding: Soft and hard. Three-color dust jacket with image of Royal Porthcawl Golf Club from 1897 British Golf Links
Published in 2002
Leather-bound edition: The Collector’s Edition is limited to 50 copies. This handsome volume is bound in black Moroccan grain cowhide with cloth boards stamped in golf foil on spine and cover. Each book is encased in an attractive hand-made matching linen slipcase. This handsome edition that will fit nicely into any golf bibliophile’s library.
Highlights:
The Links of Wales features courses found along the spectacular coastline of this mysterious country. The author and his companion played matches, many with members of Welsh golf clubs, which often became spirited. They shared laughter, cursed missed putts, and rejoiced at birdies. While most of these courses will never host an Open, they offer good golf, a round in under three hours, and a chance to meet the Welsh.
These hidden gems, all 21 of them, reveal the essence of British golf: simple elegance and thrifty maintenance. Like a well-kept secret, many of these links have some of the most breathtaking scenery in the United Kingdom – from the clifftops of Pennard to the seaside greens of Newport Golf Club. It’s easy to become enchanted with the five-star scenery of Wales. The golf course architect in all of us has a chance to examine the uniqueness of golf in this country, host for the 2010 Ryder Cup.
For golfers dreaming of a trip other than the ordinary – a tour of Scotland or Ireland – this book is a must. It’s also a help to any Welshman who longs to return to the country of his ancestors, land of stone circles and Celtic crosses.
Reviews:
“Robert Kroeger’s latest book is a delightful golfing trek along the coast of Wales. It’s a combination travel guide, historical reference, and accounting of the matches played with local club members. An enjoyable read as well as a hearty education in the heritage and etiquette of golf.” - The late Bob Labbance, author of the Old Man and 16 other golf books, member of the USGA museum committee, and editor of several golf-oriented magazines.
“The Links of Wales is a tale of two Americans who traveled to the mysterious land of Wales, the ancient Celtic kingdom of dragons and druids, to play golf on links courses, that is, the golf courses near the ocean. The writer shows that playing on some lesser known courses with club members can be even more fun than playing on a top-100 course. Some of the incidents these two went through on their trip involved more than golf: some were funny and not so funny (like their adventure in the resort town of Mumbles, home to the actress-wife of Michael Douglas, Catherine Z-J). I enjoyed reading about their matches: how they battled with Welsh golfers and sometimes against each other. The book gives tips on travel, accomodations, the Welsh culture and history, how golf evolved in Wales, and how to arrange matches with local club members. Educational and entertaining. A++” - Rob Schindler, Amazon reviewer
Excerpt:
Aberdovey Golf Club: The size of the parking lot (much larger than the other ones we had been to) gave us an inkling that this course was a most popular one. Bernard Darwin, the grandson of Charles Darwin and golf writer extaordinaire of the early 1900s, claimed, of all the hundreds of courses he had played and written about, that Aberdovey was his favorite. Was this affection due to his uncle laying out the original nine in the 1880s and using flowerpots for the holes? …
The large blue and white clock on the attractive cupola on top of the pro shop read 1:45 as we walked in, paid our green fees, and were told that our hosts were getting ready for us. We met them on the putting green. They reminded me of the “ancient men” from the Dylan Thomas poem. They were two shrimps: Dr. Norman Lycett, a retired physician whose head did not rise above the broad shoulders of Tim [the author’s partner]. Of course, at 6-3, Tim has the size and bulk of an NFL linebacker. Still, Norman’s waist was wider than his shoulders, making him resemble more a bowling ball than a crack golfer. Alan Williams, another member, was only a few inches taller than Norman. I had to admire his wearing shorts on this breezy day and I figured we would have to give these old geezers a lot of strokes. But when Norman claimed a handicap of seven and Alan claimed nine … we would play a scratch match. I looked at Tim and he gave a wink suggesting an easy victory …
Tim asked Norman about his golf. The “Swing King” admitted that he had some good fortune in the game, winning the Welsh Senior Amateur in 1985, ’86, and ’88. When Tim asked him what happened in 1987, stormin’ Norman replied in his best Welsh brogue, “RRRRRRunner-up.” He said the headlines in the local paper proclaimed, “Smallest player in the field wins!”
For information on purchase and shipping, please visit our ordering page.
ISBN: Hardcover: 1-4010-4532-4
Softcover: 1-4010-4531-6
Library of Congress: 2002090130
Pages: 222
Graphics: 26 photos, one map
Binding: Soft and hard. Three-color dust jacket with image of Royal Porthcawl Golf Club from 1897 British Golf Links
Published in 2002
Leather-bound edition: The Collector’s Edition is limited to 50 copies. This handsome volume is bound in black Moroccan grain cowhide with cloth boards stamped in golf foil on spine and cover. Each book is encased in an attractive hand-made matching linen slipcase. This handsome edition that will fit nicely into any golf bibliophile’s library.
Highlights:
- A short history on Wales
- How golf evolved in Wales
- The year of the foot-and-mouth disease that decimated sheep and tourism
- Golf course architecture of Welsh courses
- Blow by blow accounts of matches
- Indexed for quick reference
- Course ratings, addresses, websites
- Details on Welsh culture
- How to arrange a game with a club member
- Tips on travel
The Links of Wales features courses found along the spectacular coastline of this mysterious country. The author and his companion played matches, many with members of Welsh golf clubs, which often became spirited. They shared laughter, cursed missed putts, and rejoiced at birdies. While most of these courses will never host an Open, they offer good golf, a round in under three hours, and a chance to meet the Welsh.
These hidden gems, all 21 of them, reveal the essence of British golf: simple elegance and thrifty maintenance. Like a well-kept secret, many of these links have some of the most breathtaking scenery in the United Kingdom – from the clifftops of Pennard to the seaside greens of Newport Golf Club. It’s easy to become enchanted with the five-star scenery of Wales. The golf course architect in all of us has a chance to examine the uniqueness of golf in this country, host for the 2010 Ryder Cup.
For golfers dreaming of a trip other than the ordinary – a tour of Scotland or Ireland – this book is a must. It’s also a help to any Welshman who longs to return to the country of his ancestors, land of stone circles and Celtic crosses.
Reviews:
“Robert Kroeger’s latest book is a delightful golfing trek along the coast of Wales. It’s a combination travel guide, historical reference, and accounting of the matches played with local club members. An enjoyable read as well as a hearty education in the heritage and etiquette of golf.” - The late Bob Labbance, author of the Old Man and 16 other golf books, member of the USGA museum committee, and editor of several golf-oriented magazines.
“The Links of Wales is a tale of two Americans who traveled to the mysterious land of Wales, the ancient Celtic kingdom of dragons and druids, to play golf on links courses, that is, the golf courses near the ocean. The writer shows that playing on some lesser known courses with club members can be even more fun than playing on a top-100 course. Some of the incidents these two went through on their trip involved more than golf: some were funny and not so funny (like their adventure in the resort town of Mumbles, home to the actress-wife of Michael Douglas, Catherine Z-J). I enjoyed reading about their matches: how they battled with Welsh golfers and sometimes against each other. The book gives tips on travel, accomodations, the Welsh culture and history, how golf evolved in Wales, and how to arrange matches with local club members. Educational and entertaining. A++” - Rob Schindler, Amazon reviewer
Excerpt:
Aberdovey Golf Club: The size of the parking lot (much larger than the other ones we had been to) gave us an inkling that this course was a most popular one. Bernard Darwin, the grandson of Charles Darwin and golf writer extaordinaire of the early 1900s, claimed, of all the hundreds of courses he had played and written about, that Aberdovey was his favorite. Was this affection due to his uncle laying out the original nine in the 1880s and using flowerpots for the holes? …
The large blue and white clock on the attractive cupola on top of the pro shop read 1:45 as we walked in, paid our green fees, and were told that our hosts were getting ready for us. We met them on the putting green. They reminded me of the “ancient men” from the Dylan Thomas poem. They were two shrimps: Dr. Norman Lycett, a retired physician whose head did not rise above the broad shoulders of Tim [the author’s partner]. Of course, at 6-3, Tim has the size and bulk of an NFL linebacker. Still, Norman’s waist was wider than his shoulders, making him resemble more a bowling ball than a crack golfer. Alan Williams, another member, was only a few inches taller than Norman. I had to admire his wearing shorts on this breezy day and I figured we would have to give these old geezers a lot of strokes. But when Norman claimed a handicap of seven and Alan claimed nine … we would play a scratch match. I looked at Tim and he gave a wink suggesting an easy victory …
Tim asked Norman about his golf. The “Swing King” admitted that he had some good fortune in the game, winning the Welsh Senior Amateur in 1985, ’86, and ’88. When Tim asked him what happened in 1987, stormin’ Norman replied in his best Welsh brogue, “RRRRRRunner-up.” He said the headlines in the local paper proclaimed, “Smallest player in the field wins!”
For information on purchase and shipping, please visit our ordering page.