Episode 9: Darwin with Stephen Proctor

Author and golf historian Stephen Proctor joins us to explore the life and writings of Bernard Darwin, whose wit, insights, and elegant prose helped define modern golf writing. Stephen is currently working on a biography of the great man, and he shares what makes Darwin's life, work, and enduring influence so compelling. We hope you enjoy this incredible and insightful episode on one of literature's very best.

Covesea seems to exist as a paean to the ancient game: an archetype of pure golf in an area rich in the more formal chapters of the championship tradition. Andy's blissful incarnation of a soulful, vulnerable style of golf has somehow bypassed the modern age, favouring instead the discarded joys of innocence. When Andy first came over that brow and into the cove, he was utterly smitten by the place itself — perched between land and sea, wild yet welcoming, with the feeling of a course that had somehow escaped the passage of time. What followed was less a business venture than a kind of pilgrimage: a return to golf in its most elemental form, stripped of ceremony and expectation, and rediscovered through instinct, imagination and joy. In this episode, we explore the story of Covesea and the philosophy behind it — a place where golf feels less like a sport to be mastered than a landscape to be entered, wandered and felt.

Machrihanish is an almost mythical place in the lore and annals of golf. It has long been spoken of in hushed, reverential tones among certain types of golfers: the adventurous golfers, the golfers not scared to veer from the established, often easier, path - the golfers who value experiences over the trappings of prestige. The mere mention of the name, which can be translated loosely from Gaelic as plain of whispers, evokes a special feeling. Its remote location near the Mull of Kintyre requires a commitment of all-too precious time for a traveler. Every day is priceless for a pilgrim in the holy land of golf. Decisions are not made lightly. Choices must be made. The choice to visit Machrihanish, celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2026, is one that will be repaid many times over. We hope you enjoy this podcast on one of our favourite places. If you have enjoyed this episode why not become a member and support independent golf storytelling that celebrates the soul of the game -www.thelinksdiary.com/memberships

Tucked away in Gullane's main street, a small, white vintage sign rocks gently in the breeze above a distinctive wooden door. 'Hickory Rentals'. To its left, a slightly rusty antique sign is fixed onto the sandstone… 'Jack White Putting School'. The large window seems to unearth an Aladdin's Cave of antiquity that is spilling out from the inside of the shop. All types of mashies, niblicks, putters, drivers and persimmons purposefully laid out to catch the eye of passing golfers, set beside brightly coloured leather golf shoes and collectables of the past. Boris Lietzow is a man who embraces golf, and in particular the specialism of hickory. We hope you enjoy our podcast with the hickory man of Gullane. If you have enjoyed this episode why not become a member and support independent golf storytelling that celebrates the soul of the game -www.thelinksdiary.com/memberships

Jim Hartsell's latest book—A Round of Scottish Courses—reads less like a conventional guidebook and more like a personal pilgrimage through the soul of Scottish golf. The journey unfolds one course at a time, as Jim sets out to uncover the places where golf still feels raw, local, and deeply rooted in everyday life—small coastal towns where the clubhouse doubles as a community hub, where the wind dictates every shot, and where the game is played with a quiet reverence rather than spectacle. Along the way, he meets greenkeepers, club members, and lifelong friends whose stories intertwine with the land itself—people who measure time not in years, but in rounds counted one walk at a time. We hope you enjoy this podcast with our friend. A Round of Scottish Courses is available here - https://back9press.com/en-gb/collections/our-newest-titles/products/a-round-of-scottish-courses If you have enjoyed this episode why not become a member and support independent golf storytelling that celebrates the soul of the game - www.thelinksdiary.com/memberships

Ernest Butten came late to golf. An innovator by nature and an entrepreneur by trade, he did not even take up the game until he was 60 years old. ​Butten watched British golf with growing frustration. The Open Championship, the very tournament born on British soil, seemed increasingly dominated by American players. To him, this was not a matter of talent but of preparation. Given the right coaching, time, and facilities, he believed British golfers could once again stand at the summit of the game.​  In 1963, determined to turn conviction into action, Butten decided to invest his own considerable resources into an ambitious experiment. He selected four young players who showed exceptional promise. His vision was bold: create an elite training environment unlike anything British golf had seen before.​ And so, almost quietly at first, the "Butten Boys" were born — a small group carrying the hopes of a man who believed champions could be made as well as discovered. Among them was Jim McAllister, one of the original boys, and this is his story. If you have enjoyed this episode why not become a member and support independent golf storytelling that celebrates the soul of the game - www.thelinksdiary.com/memberships

Iona Golf Course is one of the most unique courses in the world. Set on a small island off Scotland's west coast, reaching it is part of the adventure: two ferries, a drive across Mull—one of the country's most beautiful landscapes—and a final mile on foot, as there are no cars here beyond those of the locals. The course itself is a natural wonder, raw and wild. Just twelve members belong to the Honourable Company of Iona Golfers, including Finlay, who joins us in this episode, alongside our good friend Jim Hartsell, to tell its remarkable story.  If you have enjoyed this episode why not become a member and support independent golf storytelling that celebrates the soul of the game - www.thelinksdiary.com/memberships

We are joined in this episode by David Brodie of Panmure Golf Club. In 1953 Ben Hogan spent two weeks at Panmure prior to his only Open appearance - at Carnoustie - which he went on to win. David shares tales and stories of those two weeks spent on the links. A wonderful and insightful listen. We hope you enjoy. If you have enjoyed this episode why not become a member and support independent golf storytelling that celebrates the soul of the game - www.thelinksdiary.com/memberships

Jim Hartsell - our friend, author and contributor to The Links Diary - joins us for our first episode. Although he resides in Alabama his heart belongs to the west coast of Scotland. Jim has been writing for us from the very beginning and has profoundly changed the way we view this great game through his thoughtful words. He's written two books, most recently - When Revelation Comes - a loving tribute to his son Jordan who sadly is no longer with us. The book takes you on an emotional journey through heartache and finding peace on the sandy fairways of his beloved Kintyre. He's currently finishing his third book which will be available in the spring of 2026. We share laughs, memories from his numerous trips to Scotland over the past thirty years and the people he's met along the way. We hope you enjoy our conversation with our great friend. If you have enjoyed this episode why not become a member and support independent golf storytelling that celebrates the soul of the game - www.thelinksdiary.com/memberships