A weekly golf letter from Scotland, for anyone who loves and hates the game in the same breath. Every Tuesday, about ten minutes.
Free. One email a week from news@pinesgolf.com. Unsubscribe whenever you like.
What lands every Tuesday
- What I've actually been doing on the course and the range that week (honestly, which isn't always pleasant reading).
- One drill that's worth your time.
- An open worth entering, and a course worth the trip.
- A bit of gear I've been sceptical about.
- A story from the wider game.
- A rules situation that'll have you arguing in the car park.
Written for anyone who loves this daft game, whether you're off 4 or 24.
Why "In the Pines"?
The Pines was a golf centre on the north edge of Dumfries. My dad designed it and built it from scratch, and my family ran the place for the best part of fifteen years. I did every job going, from driving a digger to dodging balls on the range picker.
It closed in 2014 and it's a housing estate now. So the name does two jobs. It's the course I grew up on. And it's where my ball goes. Both are true. Only one of them is funny.
The podcast
Ross and I also do a podcast, Both Sides of Par, every Monday. It's a diary of two golfers trying to get better: training, drills, gear trials, course visits and open comps. The letter picks up where the episode leaves off.