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The town of Dornoch, Scotland, lies at nearly the same latitude as Juneau, Alaska. Though the town is bit too small and remote to host a British Open, it has hardly diminished Royal Dornoch s mystique or renown. In an influential piece for The New Yorker in 1964 (and now included in this edition), Herbert Warren Wind wrote, It is the most natural course in the world. No golfer has completed his education until he has played and studied Royal Dornoch.

Lorne spent a summer in Dornoch to rediscover the natural charms of the game he loves. But in the Highlands he also found a people shaped by the harshness of the land and the difficulty of drawing a living from it, and still haunted by a historic wrong inflicted on their ancestors nearly two centuries before. Rubenstein met many people of great thoughtfulness and spirit, eager to share their worldviews, their life stories, and a wee dram or two. He came to understand how the game of golf reflects the values, character, and history of the people who brought it into the world.

A SEASON IN DORNOCH is both the story of one man s immersion in the game of golf and an exploration of the world from which it emerged. Part travelogue, part portraiture, part good old-fashioned tale of matches played and friendships made, it takes us on an unforgettable journey to a marvelous, moody, mystical place.

How do you write a full history of golf competition? The sheer number of years, and professional tours, and significant tournaments, make a comprehensive (yet readable) history virtually impossible. The professional men have four majors each year, and the women now have five. Beyond that, the USGA has run championships for amateurs dating back to the 1890s. And the team events: the Walker Cup, Solheim Cup, Ryder Cup, and Olympics … the list goes on and on.

There have been thousands of professional tournaments in the past century alone, but few are truly memorable, few have influenced— or even shaped— the very future of golf. That number is much smaller, perhaps 50. Tony Dear has researched the greatest competitions since the mid 1800s, and has found the 50 tournaments that best capture the history of pro golf, and that can explain the game and its development, to golfers and non-golfers alike.

Many people have heard of how Francis Ouimet’ s victory in the 1913 U.S. Open helped to grow the game in America. Or Bobby Jones’ great amateur victories, including his Grand Slam in 1930. Readers may recall Nicklaus’ remarkable comeback in the 1986 Masters, and Tiger’ s six consecutive USGA championships, all through rigorous match play. And the legendary duels, Watson against Nicklaus, Joyce Wethered against Glenna Collett, and Seve versus all comers. And then there are the great Ryder Cup battles: the War by the Shore in 1991, the Battle of Brookline in 1999, and the miracle at Medinah in 2012.

But there are many more performances that aren’ t household memories (but should be), more that changed the rules of the game, more that announced the beginnings (or solidified the legacies) of legendary careers, more that created a new facet of pro golf. By focusing on the pivotal moments, this book lets readers dive deeper, and to develop a richer understanding of the game.

Scotland is the birthplace of golf, and when you get off the beaten path around that wonderful country, you’ll find many golf courses you’ve never heard of—whether 9, 18, or even 11 holes—that have been relatively untouched for over a century. Visiting these golf courses is like an actually trip back in time, a way to experience golf as it was meant to be, as it once was. Author Jim Hartsell takes readers across Scotland—and island-hopping on ferries—to find the essence of Scottish golf. He meets many wonderful locals along the way, who help shape the spirit of the place. It’s a great read for anyone who loves golf and has wondered what real links golf is like. Features reproductions of 50 rare, antique B&W postcards assorted throughout the interior. COURSES INCLUDED Aberfoyle • Anstruther • Askernish • Brodick • Brora • Carradale • Corrie • Corriecravie • Covesea • Cruden Bay • Cullen • Dunaverty • Elie • Golspie • Iona • Isle of Harris • Kildonan • Lagg • Lamlash • Lenamhor • Lochranza • Machrie Bay • Machrihanish • Pirnmill • Prestwick • Shiskine • Whiting Bay