“True golfers learn life lessons from golf.”
Stories of history, culture, and people from the world's most prestigious golf courses.

South Korea's golf population has reached 6 million! Koreans' love for golf is growing stronger by the day, but unfortunately, experiencing a truly natural course in Korea is still a challenge.
Every golfer has a desire to wrestle on the most pristine and magnificent course carved by the wind and waves at least once.
This book fully satisfies the wishes of such golfers.

Golf columnist Yoon Young-ho, who is passionate about golf, travels to the world's most prestigious golf courses with Yoon Ye-seong, sharing vivid stories and vivid photos. This gives readers the feeling of watching a bold golf match in a gallery.
The cultural and historical stories, filled with humanistic insights and enlightenment gained from the golf mecca, will transform readers into quality golfers.

There are records of golf being played in the St. Andrews area of ​​Scotland in the 1400s.
At that time, golf balls were made by stuffing new feathers into leather.
Golf had a hard time becoming popular because the price of one golf ball was the same as the price of one golf club.
Yet, many young people played golf.
King James II of Scotland was concerned that young men who should have been practicing archery, spearmanship and swordsmanship were becoming absorbed in golf.
Because it was in a constant state of war with England.
So in 1457, an edict was issued banning golf.

--- From "Golf in History, History in Golf"

Golf courses are primarily owned by the golf club, but they also belong to local residents who do not play golf, as well as to everyone who loves golf.
Everyone can enjoy the nature of the golf course for purposes other than golf.
Additionally, golfers should be given the opportunity to use golf courses.
The same goes for the world's number one golf course, Royal Dornoch.
Reservations are difficult to make because so many golfers want to play, but anyone can apply to play.
This is possible even if you are not a club member or a guest of a member.
This openness is at the heart of Scottish golf, says the captain of Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

--- From "A Golf Course Where Everything is Open"

From 1939 to 1951, Thornton Golf Course was severely damaged when it became a military training ground, particularly for the US military's Normandy landings.
The ridges of the golf course, which boast beautiful curves, were damaged, and parts of the golf course were flattened.
After the war, the American soldiers buried their ammunition and mines in the ground and left.
What must have been the feelings of golfers and local residents as they looked at the damaged golf course after the war?
--- From "War, Peace, and the Links Golf Course"

Wind is the biggest challenge on links courses.
It's a golfer's job to make the wind his friend, not his enemy, but the ever-changing wind presents a difficult challenge.
At the 2008 Open Championship held at Royal Birkdale on England's west coast, not a single player finished under par.
Choi Kyung-ju, who was leading until the second round, was forced to finish the game with a score of 13 over par due to strong winds.
Vijay Singh, who suffered from the wind, lamented after the match, "It's miserable, miserable, miserable."
You will know this by looking at the tall grass growing in the strong wind.
That I am not the only one being swayed by the wind.

--- From "Forged by Nature"

Golf is about memories of moments spent with good people.
Everyone has moments that are hard to forget.
We may remember golf for the exhilarating long drives, the stunning approaches, the par saves from difficult bunkers, and the 30-step long putts that decided the game.
You may remember golf as a tense competition with your partner, or you may remember it as a pleasant conversation with your caddy.
Above all, golf is about memories of the times spent on great courses.
You may remember it as solitude in nature, or as beautiful scenery or harsh winds and rain.

If golf is about memories, then Royal St. George's is the essence of golf.
Because rain and wind, swifts and nameless birds, asparagus and fescue grass, sand dunes and bunkers create unforgettable memories.

--- From "Golf is Memory"

William Anderson wrote in his article, 'Contrasting Scottish and American Golf':
“In Scotland, golf is not a game about beating your opponent, but a game about testing your character.
Many Scottish golfers don't even keep score.
Except for a few players with natural talent, most golfers lose at that game.
What matters is how you overcome the difficulties you encounter during the process of defeat.
And even in defeat there are small victories to be had.
Golf is a lonely struggle that is bound to end in defeat, but there is charm and nobility inherent in the fight.”
--- From "What is the Scottish Golf Philosophy?"

Scott Herold explains that what makes golf difficult is the long gaps between shots.
In the meantime, many thoughts take hold.
In tennis and table tennis, the intervals between shots are short, so there is less room for tension to interfere.
Because they are busy reacting to the ball at every moment.
The reason why many mistakes occur at crucial moments in golf is because the more important the moment, the more gap there is, and the more tension there is.
If you stick to a consistent pre-shot routine, your body will recognize that it is in a normal state during the preparation process, so you can hit shots like normal.

--- From "Realizing the Importance of Setup in the Mecca of Golf"

Golf is the oldest ball game.
The Open, which began in 1860, was the first open tournament open to all players.
The Open uses the definite article 'The', meaning 'that tournament', which requires no further explanation.
There are no modifiers like 'British' or 'Korean' in front of the word 'open'.
There is a sense of pride in this being the first competition.
The Open doesn't even include the name of the event.
Beyond being the first golf tournament, it also gives the impression of being the first sports tournament.

--- From "Challenging the Tradition of Golf"

There was a golfer who was preparing to play on the first hole of a golf course when a golf club employee came running in a hurry and said, “Cut-length pants are not allowed.”
There are golf clubs that have a dress code that allows shorts and long pants, but not anything in between.
There was even a case where a marshal ran up to a golfer who had turned his hat while playing and told him to put his hat back on.
Players who do not wear their tops tucked into their bottoms are sometimes criticized.
There was even a golfer who was advised not to put his hat on the table while drinking beer.
The philosophy of Centurion Golf Club is contained in the 'common sense' that Scott Evans spoke of.
The Roman warrior Centurion doesn't need a dress code.
Because the warrior himself knows best what to wear to win a battle without getting hurt.
It is worth heeding the words of the Centurion representative that it is easy to lose the 'story of golf' when you value appearance over essence.

--- From "Challenging the Tradition of Golf"

Golf is a game that relies heavily on luck, making it difficult for one player to dominate the game.
If 140 people play a dice throwing contest, someone will win, but the result is random luck.
Winning back-to-back is a slim possibility.
Golf may not seem like a roll of the dice, but it's arguably "the most random of all sports."

--- From "How Tiger Woods Changed Golf"