Some Scotland and Ireland links make you feel "good to be alive"

In reading up on some links golf courses, I came across this quote from the late English golf writer Peter Dobereiner speaking about Royal County Down.

“The essence of golf is to say that it enhances the feeling that it is good to be alive. That’s the first priority and absolute justification. The links of Royal County Down are exhilarating even without a club in your hand. This strip of dune land was 90 percent along on the road to being a golf course long before the game was invented.”

I had the chance to play Royal County Down in March, and I think I can understand what he means by a golf course communicating this “good to be alive” sense. It’s a kind of warm chill that runs through you as you walk to your tee shot that’s found the fairway that sinks between two big dunes. You catch yourself with a constant cheesy grin - like you just made out with the prettiest girl at school.

Here are some other courses in the Isles where this sense is most amplified (at least with me):

Turnberry
Lahinch
Royal Portrush
Royal Dornoch
St. Andrews (Old)
Ballyliffin

It helps when there is sunshine, especially when you like taking photos on a golf course. Here are some photos from RCD.

It’s easy to get that warm, fuzzy feeling at Royal County Down.