Rihc
It must also be remembered or at least recognized, that then as now, the non-Scottish golfer often does not venture beyond the links of Scotland. I am sure that is to their (our) own cost, but in life, then and now, we must make choices. That said, I reckon a handful of courses you mention were either only recently built/significantly redesigned (in relation to 1934). I know Stirling was seriously re-designed in the 1960s, but I don'tknow why I know that
(memory is a terrible thing to lose). Bernardo did play Barnton, a course which enjoyed high praise and walked away less than enamoured. Given this, it is easy to understand why Bernardo didn't dedicate more time for Scottish inland golf.
I expect you will be even less impressed with links choices
. West Links, Dornoch and Machrihanish are given the cold shoulder. I expect Bernardo never saw Mach or Dornoch - not people had. Hard to understand the omission of North Berwick though. Perhaps Bernardo believed its most famous hole paled in comparison to that keen version at NGLA? Who knows.
Princes has been drastically altered so 7th is outta here. Rye's 8th is now the 5th. Brancaster's 7th became the 8th. Hoylake's Dowie (#7) has been denuded by the OOB being essentially eliminated. Finally, there is some question concerning Saunton. The hole depicted on the card is the 16th, not the 17th and to my knowledge, this has always been the case.
The Links selection
1. 1st Hoylake (4)
2. 3rd Portmarnock (4)
3. 5th Lytham (3)
4. 4th Prestwick (4)
5. 17th (16th!) Saunton East (4)
6. 18th Deal (4)
7. 7 Princes 8. 8th Rye (5th!) (3)
9. 9th Muirfield (5)
10. 16th Aberdovey (4)
11. 7th Hoylake12. 7th Brancaster (8th!) (5)
13. 14th Portmarnock (4)
14. 14th TOC (5)15. 15th Sandwich (4)
16. 16th Westward Ho!
17. 17th TOC (4)
18. 4th Carnoustie (4)
Same rules apply. Doubles and NLEs eliminated. That leaves 4 replacements. What say you?
BTW - does anybody have photos of the cards they can post - or at least the text describing the "conversations".
Ciao