In good company

So what is it really like inside the clubhouse at Muirfield? Here is an excerpt from my Golf World article explaining just that.

What lies behind Muirfield’s gates is a club of speed-loving members who would do anything for good lunch as Mark Alexander finds out

As entrances go, Magnolia Lane is special. The colourful blooms provide the ideal lead up to Augusta. Yet despite all its reverence, some would argue it pails into insignificance against the walk from the car park, along Duncur Road and onwards to the gates of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. For some, this is as spine-tingling as it gets.

With the sound of flight bags being dragged across the tarmac and the wind whistling through the trees, the 200-metre walk gives you tantalising glimpses Muirfield’s fluttering flags through the wrought iron lattice. Beyond, groups of traditionally clad golfers stride across the links in jovial form bolstered by the heat of competition.

Only the world’s great golf clubs give you that feeling. The aura of the place takes over and your heart starts to pound and your eyes widen. Pushing against the heavy iron gate, you enter in hushed deference. This is, after all, where Tom Watson and Ben Crenshaw were dutifully vilified for playing a couple of extra holes with hickories on a quiet Sunday evening. The fact that Watson has just won the 1980 Open Championship with Crenshaw coming third was of no interest to the club’s notorious secretary P.W.T. “Paddy” Hanmer, a retired Royal Navy captain.

For more information visit http://www.todaysgolfer.co.uk/magazines/golf-world/2013/golf-world-magazine-open-issue/
 

Open invitation

No matter where you are or what you are doing, the week of the Open Championship is a spin-tingling point in the year when golf does something very special indeed. Every year in July, all the bickering stops and we all settle down to find out who will be this year’s Champion Golfer. Best of all, it takes place where all great golf happens; on a links course.

And this year’s jamboree could be a cracker. It has all the ingredients of a great tournament. A course that swirls around the East Lothian coastline mixing up requisite shots at every turn. A clubhouse that is stern and iconic, and best of all, the weather seems to be playing its part with the sunshine gods shining brightly on the links at Muirfield. The turf has been baked and the rough has grown long. It’s almost time to get this fiesta of firm and fast golf started, and I can’t wait!

To whet your appetite, check out my images of the fabulous Muirfield links.

http://www.markalexanderphotography.co.uk/Muirfield2/

New images

After being on and off the road for a number of weeks, I have at last found time to update my blog which I have neglected shamefully.

Back in the office, I am preparing for a series of shoots here in Fife which are long overdue. I just hope the good weather continues.

In the meantime, check out my pics form a recent trip to Malaysia, which is a hot, humid and stunning place. Enjoy.

http://www.markalexanderphotography.co.uk/DalitBay/

Long game

Could Canon’s new EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXTENDER 1.4x be the ultimate zoom lens? To find out, I asked Getty shooter Andrew Redington

In sports photography prime lenses rule, so when specialist golf photographer Andrew Redington (Getty Images) moved from a fixed lens to a zoom, it raised a few eyebrows. But, as CPN writer Mark Alexander finds out, the interest in this lens – Canon’s new EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXTENDER 1.4x – had a lot to do with envy rather than ridicule.

The best piece of advice Andrew Redington received was as direct as it was profound. Handed down from fellow Getty Images’ sports shooter Ross Kinnaird, its simplicity has stayed with Redington throughout his career as a sports photographer.

“If you see something happening, make sure you have your camera to your eye so you are following it, rather than just looking at it,” Andrew Redington recalls clearly. “Given what we do, you can’t be caught gawping. That’s the best piece of advice I have ever been given, and it has paid off - keep a lens on them at all times.”

Tasked with photographing the world’s best golfers, Redington rarely has one of his three EOS-1D Xs far from his gaze, and these days he usually pairs at least one of them with Canon’s breakthrough EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM with a built-in 1.4x extender. “I got it the week before the [British] Open Championship,” he recalls. “It was quite compact, and when I lifted it out of the box it was surprisingly light but robust. On first inspection it seemed like a very nice piece of kit, so I was pleased.”

Read the full article at http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/education/technical/redington_on_new_telephoto_zoom.do

Flight of fancy

Flight AF1886 wasn’t exciting or luxurious. It wasn’t destined for an exotic country or exciting metropolis. It was pleasant and on time. What made it notable was the service delivered by the crew - personable, polite and thoughtful.

The AirFrance/Cityjet flight from Paris to Edinburgh was noteworthy because the crew followed the very basic principles of good customer service. They considered all their passengers as guests and customers. They were mindful that their clientele were returning from a well-earned break or busy day at work. They engaged with the children and delighted in their tales. They were courteous and respectful to business travellers and helpful when any enquiries were made - no matter how trivial.

Most of all they seemed to take satisfaction in doing their job - serious when the role required it; hospitable at all other times. I know customer service is a perennial bugbear of many frequent flyers, so when I chanced upon an exception to the rule, I thought I would share the good news.

The Links Collection

With Father's Day fast approaching, what better way to treat your dad than with a set of exclusive prints?

With this in mind, I have teamed up with the good folks at Golf Course Architecture magazine to create an exclusive collection of golf images that celebrate the very best in golf course design. Check out the offer at

http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/prints.aspx

Scotland's best golf experience

Dear all,

For your viewing pleasure, here are the top 20 best golf experiences as voted for by Bunkered readers (a link to the website is posted below, which contains a nice pic (!)). Do you agree? St Andrews down at 5 beaten to fourth spot by Aberdour. No North Berwick, but the Glen GC gets 10th spot.

Not sure of the criteria, but the ranking was "designed to identify and celebrate the golfing venues in Scotland that offer visitors a truly memorable day out, as opposed to just an excellent golf course".

Let it begin!

1. Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire
2. Kingsbarns Golf Links, Fife
3. The Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire
4. Aberdour Golf Club, Fife
5. St Andrews Links, Fife
6. Archerfield Links, East Lothian
7. Castle Stuart Golf Links, Highlands
8. Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Highlands
9. Gullane Golf Club, East Lothian
10. The Glen Golf Club, North Berwick
11. The Duke's St Andrews, Fife
12. Dundonald Links, Ayrshire
13. Tain Golf Club, Highlands
14. Cruden Bay Golf Club, Aberdeenshire
15. Crail Golfing Society, Fife
16. Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus
17. Fairmont St Andrews, Fife
18. Ladybank Golf Club, Fife
19. Murcar Links Golf Club, Aberdeenshire
20. Blairgowrie Golf Club, Perthshire

http://www.bunkered.co.uk/index.php?cID=1924