Golf International The world of golf, written from Britain

Golf International

The world of golf, written from Britain

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Who Carries the Bag Now? Britain's Caddie Shortage and the Future of the Fairway Workforce
Courses

Who Carries the Bag Now? Britain's Caddie Shortage and the Future of the Fairway Workforce

Britain's caddie ranks are thinning, and the consequences reach well beyond the bag shed. From famous links to local parkland clubs, managers and caddie masters are asking how to rebuild a pipeline that once felt as natural as a morning dew. The answer in 2026 may determine not only pace of play but the working culture of the game.
Swinging in the Dark: Britain's Winter Simulator Leagues Under the Spotlight
Courses

Swinging in the Dark: Britain's Winter Simulator Leagues Under the Spotlight

With the clocks back and the fairways waterlogged, indoor simulator leagues are multiplying across Britain. We spent three evenings among them — a members' club bay, a city-centre golf bar and a regional final — to weigh the costs, question the handicaps and ask whether screen golf makes anyone better outdoors.
Shortened Flight, Familiar Fairways: The Ball Rollback at Club Level
Equipment

Shortened Flight, Familiar Fairways: The Ball Rollback at Club Level

The elite ball rollback is no longer a distant argument about professional distances. For UK club golfers, the practical questions are narrower: which competitions are affected, what happens to the weekend swindle, and what should be bought from the pro shop in 2026.
Coffee, Carvery and the Case for the Clubhouse
Courses

Coffee, Carvery and the Case for the Clubhouse

Britain's golf clubs are rethinking the clubhouse as a year-round destination rather than a changing room with a bar attached. The best examples offer better food, non-golf events and local partnerships, but hospitality cannot compensate for a poorly run course or a membership that feels sidelined.
The Equaliser Under Review: British Club Golf and the World Handicap System
Courses

The Equaliser Under Review: British Club Golf and the World Handicap System

Six years after the World Handicap System arrived in British club golf, handicap secretaries and low-to-mid handicappers are still debating its effect on medal fields, matchplay selection and the Saturday roll-up. A reported look at what is working, what is not, and whether 2026 calls for a British refinement.
Berths and Birdies: Three Sleeper-Train Golf Breaks from London
Travel

Berths and Birdies: Three Sleeper-Train Golf Breaks from London

Britain’s overnight trains offer a civilised route to links golf without a car or a dawn drive. From the Caledonian Sleeper to the Night Riviera, here are three workable itineraries for 2026 — with luggage advice, indicative fares and tee-time logistics.
No Departure Lounge Required: Six Ferry-Led Golf Breaks for 2026
Travel

No Departure Lounge Required: Six Ferry-Led Golf Breaks for 2026

For golfers who would rather avoid airport queues, excess-bag charges and the general indignity of the early-morning departure, the ferry remains an underrated route to a proper overseas break. These six car-and-ferry trips for 2026 combine accessible crossings with courses worth the drive.
The Card and the Clock: In Defence of the Sunday Medal
Courses

The Card and the Clock: In Defence of the Sunday Medal

The traditional Sunday medal is thinning at many British clubs, replaced by roll-ups, nine-hole events and social formats. Flexibility is welcome, but clubs should be careful not to mistake a scheduling problem for a reason to abandon competitive golf altogether.
Adare and the Purist's Dilemma: A Ryder Cup Stage in Ireland's Parkland
Travel

Adare and the Purist's Dilemma: A Ryder Cup Stage in Ireland's Parkland

Adare Manor will host the 2027 Ryder Cup, taking the contest to a parkland estate in County Limerick rather than one of Ireland's celebrated links. The choice raises familiar questions about tradition and modern resort golf, and gives UK fans a very different kind of Irish golf trip to plan.
The Nine-Hole Turn: Britain's Clubs Rethink the Round
Courses

The Nine-Hole Turn: Britain's Clubs Rethink the Round

Nine-hole golf is no longer a warm-up or a novelty. Across Britain, clubs are using shorter loops, flexible memberships and twilight leagues to answer the time pressures of the modern golfer. This is how the format is being made to work, and where to try it.
Canary Comfort: Four Golf Resorts for a Short Winter Flight from Britain
Travel

Canary Comfort: Four Golf Resorts for a Short Winter Flight from Britain

A short flight, reliable winter sun and a respectable round of golf are still possible within a UK break. We review four Canary Islands resorts for course quality, green fees, direct flights, accommodation and non-golf attractions, with verdicts for couples, groups and serious players.
Cold Front: Seven Winter Balls Assessed for Britain's Wet Months
Equipment

Cold Front: Seven Winter Balls Assessed for Britain's Wet Months

Seven winter golf balls, three handicaps and two very different British courses form the basis of our 2026 cold-weather equipment test. We compare premium and value models on launch-monitor data and on-course feel, then recommend the best options for different budgets.