Whenever I am asked to review a new golf book, I always find that its first impression is framed around my own knowledge and personal preferences. I have always enjoyed reading the work of Jim Hartsell and I also follow his podcast work. Being asked to review his latest book - A Round of Scottish Courses - was therefore an opportunity I jumped at.
If you haven’t come across his work before, you might be wondering, just who is Jim Hartsell?
Jim is an American who has become an expert on Scottish golf following his epic golfing adventures that he has chronicled over the years. This is his third book, all of which are gems.
What You Need to Know About A Round of Scottish Courses
A Round of Scottish Courses is a celebration of the game in Scotland by showcasing 18 of Jim's favourite courses, taking you from the Highlands to the Outer Hebrides, Fife and the Isle of Arran.
His fascination with all things Scottish began with the 'Duel in the Sun' Open at Turnberry between Nicklaus and Watson that he watched on TV. This event ignited a passion for Scottish golf that allowed him to share his experiences with family members.
Books like Golf in the Kingdom, by Michael Murphy, and To the Linksland by Michael Bamberger further reinforced the need for him to visit and explore and immerse himself in the Scottish golfing experience. (Again, these titles are some of my favourite golf books. I consider myself a kindred spirit.)
I know from my personal experiences that these trips are not solely about the golf. It always embraces the people, the place and its unique personality. Travelling golf offers a unique opportunity to feel the pulse of a location and its people through the sport. Jim has done this in spades. His descriptions of the post-round pint and his fascination with the home-made soups offer a homely culinary interest that simply adds to the reading experience.
When I am asked to describe my favourite golfing experiences many are punctuated by incidents and locations away from the golf course and the game itself, but the thread that runs through all of them is our wonderful sport.
Discovering The Soul of Golf in Scotland
I love the writing style of Jim Hartsell and I must admit that several of the courses detailed in this book are not currently known to me. However, that will not be the case for long as I am already planning a trip that will encompass many of those he describes in wonderful prose.
This book should come with a wealth warning as I am now fully committed to spending some of the kids' inheritance to sample some of the amazing venues that he lists in the book.
I thoroughly enjoyed the internal anecdotes about the people and personalities that he interacted with during this pilgrimage. Jim is a qualified architect and has a unique understanding of the subtleties of golf course architecture and design. This adds a stylish and fascinating insight to all of the courses he talks about in the book.
To illustrate the impact of the first read of the book on me, I took to creating a spreadsheet detailing all the courses and reviewing each of the scores already allocated by the Golfshake readership.
Almost all of those listed have been awarded a Highly Recommended status with a score by the golfers who have experienced them, including a 100% satisfaction rating. 100% would then recommend them to a friend.
This is a persuasive book that I can see myself returning to time and again.
I love the illustrations offered by way of antique postcards as I also maintain a small collection of English based golf courses and clubhouses. This was an era when playing a particular course was marked and remembered by the purchase of the keepsake of a postcard. Forget the ball marker or cap, the postcard was king of the contemporary advertising and memorabilia medium.
They offer a wonderful snapshot in time of the course and its features. They also offer a great clue as to the developing history of the venue. These postcards are important images and records of history.
Do not expect the clubs in the book to feature on an Open rota. These are the special local courses that to me are the beating heart and pulse of Scottish golf. Some are 9 holes, others 12. The way they are described simply whets the appetite and causes me to bubble over with jealousy that these are venues that have not yet crossed my path.
It also offers me hope. I’m currently unable to play due to injury but this book has revitalised my rehabilitation and desire to get back golfing as I need to test these experiences with my golf friends.
I have just seen an interview with Bill Murray of Caddyshack fame. He was asked to sum up golf in one word. He replied: "opportunity".
I think that this book has resonated so much because I see the opportunity to experience new and untried golfing adventures.
Special Book For Special Golf Courses
As I finalise this review, a Substack of another of my favourite contemporary golf writers pops up on my feed. Richard Pennells, a man I have had the pleasure to golf with and learn from, discussing the merits of the Dunaverty golf course because of a direct recommendation from Jim himself.
This is a wonderful book that evokes the sounds, smells and tastes of all my previous Scottish trips. It comes close to defining the pleasure of golf for me. It will be the catalyst for future trips and golfing adventures.
The chapter detailing Dunaverty and its memories and relevance to Jim is a delightfully taut read. Starting with the memorial bench in honour of his son, he combines tales of contemporary architectural renovations and burial cairns commemorating the slaughter of many in the Battle of Dunaverty in 1647.
It is a superbly enticing piece of writing and his descriptions of the course layouts and its stylings bring mental images to mind with every sentence. He details what he considers his perfect golfing day and this in itself resonated powerfully with me, offering fond memories of days golfing with my son.
The chapter detailing his trip to Elie is a joy. I have played this wonderful layout with close friends in a twilight round after a busy day at the 150th Open at St Andrews. Simply put it was a magnificent golfing event.
A delightful, wonderful, invigorating round of twilight golf that concluded in pitch black night and a tee shot played by the light of our mobile phones. The resultant par was a joy that lives long in the memory.
Jim advocates testing a club's hospitality by enjoying the clubhouse food and drinks. We did this before our round and I concur with all his comments about this being the litmus test for an excellent golfing experience.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough if you are open to new independent golfing travel and adventures. It is a gem!
A Round of Scottish Courses by Jim Hartsell is available to purchase today from back9press.com or Amazon.
