There are some links courses where golfers will never see the sea, and then there are some that hug the coastline so tightly that the beach is a tempting diversion.

At Narin & Portnoo, they tell the story of a German couple who thought they had got lost but emerged several hours late to say they had decided to have a picnic on the beach.

Needless to say, the views on this Donegal gem are tremendous, and so are the holes.

https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/narin-portnoo

https://narinandportnoolinks.com/

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There's never been a sportsman like Sven Tumba. After playing Ice hockey at the Winter Olympics and football in the European Cup, he turned his attention to golf, became a professional, and represented Sweden in the World Cup. Oh, and he was also Sweden's best waterskier.

He's credited with popularising golf in Sweden, and designed the course at Ullna which opened in 1981. When it needed a revamp, he called up his friend Jack Nicklaus to oversee it.

The course is now rated one of the best in continental Europe.

https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/ullna

https://ullnagolf.se/

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Must golfers come to Ireland for a Links experience, but Lough Erne offers something different. Designed by 6-time major winner Sir Nick Faldo, and opened in 2009, it's been named in the top ten parkland courses in GB & Ireland.

Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington celebrated its opening by playing a challenge match…find out how Rory made his mark with a stunning drive.

And co-designer Guy Hockley explains how and why the 18th is a challenging par 3.

https://www.lougherneresort.com/golf/

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Sky Sports golf commentator Ewen Murray has worked and played at the world's most famous courses. But ask him his favourite….and he'll tell you to go to a links course in East Lothian, which more illustrious neighbours surround.

Ewen became a member of Dunbar when he was a promising junior golfer, commuting by bus and train from his home in Edinburgh. It's a stunning piece of land where they've been playing golf for 400 years.

https://www.dunbargolfclub.com/

https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/dunbar

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After a cameo appearance in our Royal Troon episode, Henrik Stenson is back to discuss the Swedish course that bears his name.

The former Open champion has teamed up with architect Christian Lundin to revamp the two 18-hole courses at this property near Stockholm. The East course reopened in 2019 and is already in Europe's Top 100, while the West course will soon be completed.

https://ostgk.se/en/

https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/%C3%B6ster%C3%A5ker-%C3%B6ster-by-stenson

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Fancy a round at the exclusive course which hosts the Scottish Open?

Renaissance is a private members' club for the wealthy. But when the Golf Pilgrim played with Jerry Sarvadi, he suggested anyone who wants a game should give him a call or send him an email!

You're likely to be vetted…the club suggests its "One Time Experience" deal is for potential members. But there's no harm in asking….

https://trcaa.com/

https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/renaissance

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A hundred years ago, the Åland Islands were the subject of an international dispute that had to be settled by the League of Nations. Are they Finnish or Swedish?

Well, for the last century, the answer is a bit of both. The archipelago is part of Finland, but everyone speaks Swedish.

And although the golf courses are relatively modern, the site is historic, with a castle and Viking burial grounds nearby.

https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/%C3%A5lands-castle

https://www.agk.ax/en

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An all-star edition in which we visit one of the world's best-known courses and talk to two famous figures who know it well.

Royal Troon is a regular host of The Open Championship, and in 2016, Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson played some spectacular golf as they vied to become Champion Golfer of the Year. Henrik won, shooting a record 20 under par, and he tells The Golf Pilgrim of his love for the course.

We also hear from BBC Commentator Andrew Cotter, who grew up as a member at Royal Troon. He explains why The Postage Stamp is one of the most iconic holes in golf.

https://www.thegolfpilgrim.com/post/royal-troon

https://www.royaltroon.co.uk/

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