Links from the Road
Exploring every links course in Great Britain. Architect, author, photographer and – above all – golf course enthusiast Sam Cooper has turned his travels around the coast of Great Britain into a stunning series of journals. Together with his wife, Harriet, they made the decision to take their lives in a completely different direction. Specifically, they bought a camper van and set off with their two dogs on a golfing odyssey based on Sam’s obsessive quest to play every links course – and nothing but links courses – in Great Britain. Sam’s blog and social media channels struck a chord with all true golfers who have dreamed of doing something similar. Now, Links From The Road will chart Sam’s travels for posterity in the form of a series of 18 volumes that cover every one of the 225 links courses that he has encountered. You can purchase Links from the Road at https://linksfromtheroad.com/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Author Sam Cooper likes to think that Rowan Atkinson, AKA Mr Bean and Edmund Blackadder, would once have bestrode the fairways at St Bees when he attended the school that owns this quaint and remote course on the Cumbrian coast. Host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, suggests he might have done so while pondering the really big questions, such as what exactly is the difference between a clifftop course and li...
Author Sam Cooper does not seek to avoid the Sellafield nuclear power station that abuts the links at Seascale. In fact, he embraces it – or at least he did until the moment he found himself standing over a slippery four-footer with an armed guard in the corner of his eye. Host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, prefers to cast his eye oceanwards at what is a spectacularly attractive course. He believes that S...
Author Sam Cooper and host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, almost bring each other to tears with a nostalgia-fuelled discussion about honesty boxes. They somehow sum up 9-holers like Silecroft, on the Cumbrian coast, where the golf is simple and gets you back to the elemental contest between man and ball. And while you are playing the course, be sure to take a moment to enjoy the 360˚ views of ocean and Bla...
Author Sam Cooper almost drove past this jaw-dropping 10-hole layout and had to consult a map to find his way to the simple clubhouse. He was certainly glad that he took the trouble once he was striding down the fairways at a course that is well over a century old. Host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, is gobsmacked by Sam’s description of the par-3 5th, where the green is on top of a seriously large rock. O...
Author Sam Cooper drives to the end of what has been described as England’s longest cul-de-sac only to arrive in Barrow-in-Furness and discover that he still hasn’t reached the golf course. That is found across a small bridge on Walney Island. Host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, recalls his first visit here and his elation when boarding the 3rd tee to see the golf course unfurling into the distance and towards ...
Author Sam Cooper makes a compelling case for this Lancashire links being the oldest golf club in England, albeit across multiple sites and with a hiatus in the early part of the 20th century. Host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, argues that the likes of Fleetwood are essential for golf trips as they provide an alternative, entertaining and affordable contrast to the nearby likes of Royal Lytham & St Annes.
<...Author Sam Cooper delves into the life story of George Lowe, and speculates that his first thought when invited to create a course here was probably regarding his new workshop to manufacture clubs in rather than any architectural ambitions for the site. Host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, is struck by the unusual finish, where not one of the last three holes is a par 4. He then makes the mistake of asking Sam i...
Author Sam Cooper explains why he fervently hopes – if not necessarily believes – that Royal Lytham’s days as an Open host venue are not in the past. Host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, desperately tries to work out what Sam’s Course in a Hole selection will be but there are just too many contenders here for him to be sure – starting with that famous par-3 opening hole, which makes both of them excited and inti...
Author Sam Cooper digs deep into the history of Fairhaven to uncover its fascinating past. Along with host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, they explain how this unusual hybrid of a course came to exist in its current form. Includes (another) bonus discussion – or should that be ‘prolonged musings’ – on agreeing what an accurate definition of links golf might be.
This 18-volume series Links from the Road cover...
Author Sam Cooper leaves his van behind and catches a short flight from Liverpool to the Isle of Man. It quickly becomes apparent that both he and host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, are incredibly fond of this rugged old links that is pretty much surrounded on all four sides by water. Going here is an adventure – and the course has bags of character, appeal and high drama to reward the intrepid traveling golfe...
Author Sam Cooper turns his attention to one of the least heralded courses on this famous coastline. As ever, he is joined by host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, as they discuss the cost of playing great courses and the need for more affordable options like this one.
This 18-volume series Links from the Road covers every links course in Great Britain. Volume 1: The Wirral, Liverpool and Southport is availabl...
Author Sam Cooper and host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, marvel at the sheer scale of the coursework undertaken by Birkdale little more than a year ahead of the Open Championship’s return to the Southport links. Very few of the holes have not been significantly worked on since Jordan Spieth lifted the Claret Jug here in 2017.
This 18-volume series Links from the Road covers every links course in Great Brita...
Author Sam Cooper explains why Hillside is actually one of the younger courses on the north-west coast despite looking like it has been there for centuries. He is joined by host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, who was most recently at Hillside last spring to take a look at Mackenzie Ebert’s recent work on the front nine.
This 18-volume series Links from the Road covers every links course in Great Britain...
Author Sam Cooper turns his forensic attention to Southport & Ainsdale, known better as S&A. A multiple host venue of the Ryder Cup, it lies on linksland adjacent to Hillside and, in turn, Royal Birkdale. Sam is joined by host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, to celebrate this James Braid masterpiece.
This 18-volume series Links from the Road covers every links course in Great Britain. Volume 1: T...
Author Sam Cooper was recently appointed as the consulting architect at Formby. Want to know what he has in mind at one of the country’s most highly regarded courses? Join him and host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, as they discuss what makes Formby stand apart and how they would classify this unusual links-heathland hybrid.
This 18-volume series Links from the Road covers every links course in Great Br...
Author Sam Cooper explains why this pint-sized layout that sits snugly inside the ‘big’ course is not to be missed when experiencing the best golf in England’s north-west. He finds a more than willing co-conspirator in the shape of host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, who is proud to have recognised Formby Ladies in their latest England list.
This 18-volume series Links from the Road covers every links c...
Author Sam Cooper heads north of Liverpool to Crosby and finds a club that dates back to the 19th century but with a course that has only existed in its current form since the 1960s. Sam is joined by host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, for what is a celebration of this redoubtable links.
This 18-volume series Links from the Road covers every links course in Great Britain. Volume 1: The Wirral, Liverpool...
Author Sam Cooper visits a charming little course that is even closer to Liverpool than Wallasey, to which it is adjacent. He is joined by host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, who is eager to learn why it is that Sam is always so delighted to call in for a game here.
This 18-volume series Links from the Road covers every links course in Great Britain. Volume 1: The Wirral, Liverpool and Southport is available...
Author Sam Cooper has almost made his way around the coast to reach Liverpool. But before we reach one of England’s most famous cities, we encounter Wallasey. Sam is joined by host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, for an in-depth discussion on a course that touches greatness – and has ambitious plans to embrace it.
This 18-volume series Links from the Road covers every links course in Great Britain. Volum...
Author Sam Cooper is in his spiritual home of England's north-west. He is joined by host Dan Murphy, editor of NCG Top 100s course rankings, for a discussion of an unheralded course that is within a couple of miles of Royal Liverpool and enjoys historical connections with its near neighbour.
This 18-volume series Links from the Road covers every links course in Great Britain. Volume 1: The Wirral, Liverpool and Southport is...
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