Excerpt from an article I wrote about last year's Open Championship

Ian Bunch is taking a week off from running Prestwick Golf Club. He’s earned his reprieve. After 14 years at the helm of the world-famous club, you need a little down time. After all, the 65 year old has had a little more on his plate recently than the conventional run-of-the-mill budget-balancing chores.

Sitting in a secluded patio catching up on the Sunday papers, Bunch is recovering from a weekend of celebrations during which all living Open champions and captains of all the clubs that have hosted an Open Championship were invited to attend a celebratory dinner to mark the 150th anniversary of the first Open Championship in July 1860. It was a momentous weekend.

“We had 550 at a cocktail party, 260 playing golf on Saturday and then a dinner for 325 in the evening,” he says. “The reason I’m here, is because I’ve worked non-stop and I decided I wanted a break away from it.”

The other reason Bunch is at his home in St Andrews is to hand over a specially commissioned replica belt which will be presented to this year’s Open Champion along with the Claret Jug. “It’s all pretty special,” he says.

The happy coincidence of the 150th anniversary falling on a year when the championship is played at the Home of Golf marries nicely with the twist of fate that means Bunch is in his final year at Prestwick and is looking forward to spending some of his retirement in the Auld Grey Toon 14 years after he left it to go to the West coast.

Excerpt from my 2009 article on Castle Stuart

Castle Stuart is Mark Parsinen’s follow-up to Kingsbarns, and as such, nothing is being left to chance. Work started on the pay-and-play course in 2006 and every care is being taken to ensure this northerly track plays and looks as good as its predecessor.

Located six miles east of Inverness and banking onto the Moray Firth, the site is blessed with fantastic outlooks across to the Kessock Bridge and the Black Isle, and now there’s a golf course to match the vistas. “We’ve worked hard to bring heather and marim into the mix and not rely on gorse,” says Parsinen. “When we did Kingsbarns, it was monochromatic – tight-mowed fairways, sheep’s fescue and roughs, and the gorse took three or four years to grow in. Here we already had mature gorse, so from day one the landscape mosaic was more interesting.”

This time, Parsinen shared the design responsibilities with Gil Hanse so while there will be undoubted similarities to the Fife course, there’ll also be some changes. “People will notice a difference in the greens and the recovery issues they’ll face,” he said. “The greens will be smaller but once you’re on them, you’ll have a more manageable putting situation.”

New website

It may seem as if my website hasn't changed, but there is something stirring in the engine room of markalexanderphotography.co.uk.

For all those sharp-eyed followers of all that is good, a change in the bottom-left corner of my website is becoming something of an internet sensation. OK, it might not be a sensation yet - more of a quiet revolution.

Anyway, the course spotlight area now alternates between different courses, which might be of interest if you like golf courses and golf course photography. If not, it will have no bearing on you life whatsoever.

Lenses for sale - 2

Canon 17-40 L lens

This has been my main wide-angle lens for a couple of years and it has served me well. As you'd expect, I've kept clean with a filter attached at all times.

Sharp, light and wide, this is a superb lens for landscape photographers.

The reason for the sale is that I'm looking to get a 16-35 mkII, and they don't come cheap, so this one has to go. Boxed with hood etc.

If you're interested, drop me a line.

Lenses for sale

Sigma 70-200 f2.8, DG, EX Macro, HSM, APO

This versatile lens has given me some great shots during the past two years. Solidly built with f2.8 capabilities, it can handle a number of situations well.

As you would imagine, I've kept the lens clean, have always stored it in my Lowepro carrying case and it has always been fitted with a filter.

Sad to let it go, but needs must. Comes with hood and tripod collar. Priced to sell.

If you're interested, drop me a line.

New shots from Portugal

Thought I'd show you some images taken in January at Vale do Lobo in Portugal. It was great to see the sun again!

Better luck next time

Last week I was in Italy in the remarkably beautiful lakes region near Como. I say beautiful, but in fact it was hard to tell what with the rain clouds barely rising above the bobbing waters of the swollen lake.
The timing of the trip was cruel to say the least. Leaving Edinburgh airport in bright sunshine, my flight to the drenched Italian playground of the rich and famous was blighted by the news that mainland Europe was to receive a pounding from the thunder gods and as much rain as they could shake a stick at (whatever that means).
For a Scot, this wasn't good news. For a Scot who was also a photographer, this was heart-breaking. And so, sitting on the coach peering through a rain-splattered window, I watched what I could only imagine was the most delightful paradise of elegant mansions and steep-sided valleys pass by in a dull, grey mist.
Maybe next time.