William Watt

A moody morning walk around Sunningdale for the Contours hardcover book. I was told by a friend that ‘just to set foot on property is an experience’ so my expectations were very high. It didn’t disappoint. At the heart of the London Heathlands, this place is dripping with history and quality. It had me daydreaming about the golden age architects and the forging of golf philosophy that occurred here. Augusta will be the big show next week, but to me it’s clearly an imitation, or perhaps extension would be kinder, of what was already in the ground here in London. As the peaceful London drizzle fell, I enjoyed soaking up the details, views and feeling of this place, one of golf’s most revered destinations. Read the full story in the Contours hardcover book, now on sale globally (link in bio). 📷 @will_watt

Five years after devastating bushfires, Shift editor @will_watt — driving a supremely comfortable BMW X3 30e plug-in hybrid — returned to Mallacoota Golf Club to find a remarkable transformation. With help from architect @mic.henderson and the regeneration of native heathland, this remote East Gippsland course is now becoming a genuine destination. Read the full article in Shift, a newly launched print magazine celebrating the people, places and perspectives shaping Australian golf culture. Drive a DM this way and we’ll send you a copy. #BMW #BMWAU

7 Mile Beach @7milegolf • After a long construction process and a couple of soft openings, all 18 holes of the South Course at 7 Mile Beach in Tasmania (10 miles east of the capital city, Hobart) are finally open. As readers may know, the course was designed by Mike Clayton and Mike DeVries of Clayton, DeVries and Pont (@claytondevriespont ), and is owned and was developed by Hobart native Mat Goggin, a former member of the Australasian/European/PGA Tours and a five-time winner on the Korn Ferry (then Nationwide) Tour. We spoke with Mike DeVries to get the story on what must have been a dream job (link in bio 🔗) 📸: @will_watt

From a secret island links course accessible via a military checkpoint to clifftop nines where kangaroos outnumber golfers, Victoria’s most famous coastal drive hides some of Australia’s most distinctive courses. Shift editor @will_watt took to the Great Ocean Road with two exquisite pieces of vintage German engineering: a loaned 1989 BMW 320i M-Technic coupé and his own 1956 Rolleiflex f2.8 twin-lens reflex camera. Read William’s travelogue and bask in the warm photos he took in Shift. This new magazine explores golf’s evolution, telling stories of the players, places and perspectives shaping a more vibrant, cultural and creative era for the sport. DM @shift__magazine if you would like a copy. #BMW #BMWAU

RM on Film 🎞️ A few frames following the big name groups at the Australian Open. Shot on 35mm Fujifilm 200

Scenes from day one on the ground at the Australian Open at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club. Great atmosphere, a beautiful morning and a classic Melbourne northerly 👌 loved bumping into loads of friends and golf sickos out there as well. With @bmwau + @shift__magazine

I’m thrilled to share something I’ve been working on for quite some time - Contours, a new hardcover book published by Hardie Grant. Contours is a dive into the depths of golf course architecture, tracing the genesis of golden age design in the London heathlands through to its most stunning modern expressions at places like Te Arai Links (which graces the front cover). I’ve been fortunate to assemble a remarkable group of contributors: Tom Doak, Mike Cocking, Clyde Johnson, Lukas Michel, Mike Clayton, Shaun Tolson, Hal Phillips, Jasper Miners and many more, alongside golf photographers from around the globe. The result is a book I’m genuinely proud of and I hope it will inspire others to continue to explore this amazing game. I will share more details of individual stories and highlights down the track, but for now I wanted to get these links into your feed and thank you for your support! Booktopia and Amazon links are in bio. Australian readers: Orders placed now should arrive in time for Christmas. (Unfortunately our international dates have been pushed back until March - please stay tuned for release details.)

Seven Mile Beach, Australia’s newest course, will officially open on 4 December. Designed by Clayton, DeVries & Pont, the 18-hole design has been routed among the large dunes on a peninsula site in Hobart for developer and former tour pro Mathew Goggin. “The original routing had nine holes on the west side of the clubhouse and nine to the east,” says Mike Clayton. “When Mike [DeVries] first visited in 2020, he switched all 18 to the east. This routing is obviously more compact – without ever being cramped – and more intimate, allowing us to create short green to tee transitions between every hole. It’s much more like a traditional British links than a modern, wide and sprawling links.” 📸 Slides one to seven by Will Watt 📸 Slides eight to ten by Lukas Michel 🔗 Read more from Clayton about the site, routing and highlights via the link in our bio. #golfcoursearchitecture #AustraliaGolf #SevenMileBeach

Introducing the Contours hardcover book. The Courses Behind Remarkable Golf Adventures By William Watt Foreword by Tom Doak Five years in the making, the new Contours book is a definitive exploration of golf architecture’s most compelling stories. From the London heathlands where golden age architecture was born, to the raw dunelands of Tasmania. From Nebraska’s Sand Hills to New Zealand’s dramatic coastlines at Te Arai Links. Contours brings together contributions from the game’s most influential architects and creative minds into a beautiful coffee table book. On sale Dec 01 globally. Stay tuned for pre sales next week!

New graphics for an exciting new project with @currentsgolf 📷 - @will_watt

A serene morning on the ground at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, shaping up beautifully for the Aussie summer and a visit from @rorymcilroy and co. 📷 - @will_watt 📍- @royalmelbournegolfclub

A little quieter than the opening tee shot at Bethpage Black this weekend, but no less memorable. The 1st at Kingston Heath.