Bernard Darwin
Name:
Bernard Richard Meirion DarwinCountry:
EnglandLived:
[1876-1961]. Born on Sept 7, 1876 in Downe, nr Bromley, Kent. Died on Oct 18, 1961 in St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, East Sussex, aged 85.Original/Home Club:
Walton Heath, Woking, St George's Hill, Rye, Oxford & Cambridge GS.Occupation:
Accomplished amateur golfer, lawyer, golf & cricket writer, and authority on Charles Dickens.Turned Pro:
n/aWalker Cup player (1922). British Amateur semi-finalist (1909, '21). Captain of the Royal & Ancient GC (1934). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2005). Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE (1937).
Grandson of the British naturalist Charles Darwin, it is said that Bernard Darwin invented golf writing as we know it today. From 1907-1953 he wrote for The Times of London, his avidly read pieces always signed, "By our golf correspondent". He also wrote for the weekly magazine Country Life from 1907-1961.
Darwin graduated with a degree in law from Cambridge University, where he gained a blue in golf and captained the University team in his final year. After a few years practicing law, Darwin realised that golf was his true calling, and most especially golf journalism. Without any formal training (apart from a first-rate education at Eton College and Cambridge University), he embarked on a new path writing about golf, cricket and Charles Dickens (on whose life and work Darwin was a leading authority).
One of the true greats of the game, Ben Crenshaw, said of Darwin, "his writings have given me as much pleasure and as sound an education as anything in my golfing life. His words express closely what we feel about the game, if we have taken this game to our heart, as he did".
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.
Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available
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