World-renowned golf photographer David Cannon and writers Michael Atkinson and Craig Morrison have produced a new book, GOLFLAND – Scotland, the guide to every Scottish golf course.
The hardback book, published by Oltomo, a new golf publishing company, is the first comprehensive guide to all of Scotland’s 549 golf courses published in more than two decades.
“It has been no small task to identify all of Scotland’s courses,” says Craig Morrison, GOLFLAND co-author. “Definitive databases of golf clubs exist, but not golf courses. Private homes, caravan parks and boutique hotels sometimes have their own courses, sometimes maintained, sometimes not. We have had to ask ourselves the question ‘what exactly defines a golf course?’ It seems likely that future editions will feature a slightly different final count of courses.”
GOLFLAND is the definitive guide to all of Scotland’s golf courses – links and parkland, moorland and heathland, short and long, old and new, well-known and little-known. From the famous courses such as the Old Course and Prestwick, which hosted the very first Open Championship, to the likes of Boat of Garten, a James Braid designed course nestled at the foothills of the mighty Cairngorms, known by the few, but loved by those who get to experience it.
The book also explores a number of the characters who have influenced the shape of not only Scotland’s golf courses, but golf courses around the world, from Old Tom Morris to Donald Ross and Dr Alister MacKenzie.
Michael Atkinson, co-author of GOLFLAND, added: “The Scottish golf landscape is much changed since the last attempt at a definitive guide was produced in the 1990s. Many golf courses have closed over the intervening years, but likewise a small number of exquisite new courses have been created. The Scottish golf scene moves quickly and is ever evolving. In GOLFLAND, our aim has been to produce a guide which is not only useful and practical but also beautiful and engaging, and a book that appeals to both international and domestic golfers.”
David Cannon has spent a lifetime capturing the world’s best golf courses, as well as the most famous players and most important moments in professional golf, including Seve Ballesteros’s 1984 celebrations on the 18th green at St Andrews and Jack Nicklaus’s charge at Augusta two years later. To date, he has photographed 16 Ryder Cups, every Solheim Cup, 36 Opens and 35 Masters.
Craig Morrison is an established golf writer, the co-author of the ’18 Greatest’ collection of golf books and the author of The Meaning of Golf. Michael Atkinson has guest contributed to numberous golfing titles, including Bunkered, National Club Golfer and Links Magazine.
GOLFLAND is available in the UK from all good bookshops, Amazon and direct from GOLFLAND at RSP £24.99.