Brandel Chamblee: “Why Scotland is my favorite place to play golf”

Brandel Chamblee has a deep love for Scottish golf

Brandel Chamblee, one of the most erudite and respected voices in the game, offers a wonderful appreciation of golf in Scotland.

I first visited Scotland in the summer of 1982. My roommate in college, Paul Thomas (whose father Dave tied for The Open in 1958), had arranged for us to tour Scotland for a month and play some of the most famous links courses.

We started and ended the trip by playing the Old Course at St Andrews.

I remember being overcome by an array of emotions, the eagerness to get on with the day and the excitement of the unknown. But the overriding emotion was simply the realization of who had walked those fairways before us, and that sense of history was so intimidating that on the first tee I hit a horrendous opening drive and almost missed the golf course to the right! Some 40 years on and I am still embarrassed by that tee shot…

I don’t think anyone who has a love for the history of this game can play in Scotland without feeling a connection to its rich past and a corresponding sense of awe at the realization that you are walking the same fairways as the likes of Old Tom or Vardon.

The Old Course, even if it wasn’t located in St Andrews, and even if it didn’t have all its great history, would by the nature of the variety of shots one has to play there be an endless source of fascination and joy. But when one considers where it is and what has happened there, there is no richer experience in golf.

My favorite part of Scottish links golf is the turf, because there’s really nothing like it anywhere else I’ve played. Of course, the fact it is so tight demands great contact, but if you’re swinging well, there’s no better impact sensation or sound in the game.

Click here to continue reading about Brandel Chamblee’s love of Scottish golf and his favorite courses on the Today’s Golfer Member’s Website.