An ex-golf pro who is shaping storytelling about the sport in the UK has rated Askernish golf course in South Uist at number 4 in his top 10 golf courses in Scotland.
The ranking puts the Old Tom Morris course ahead of St Andrew’s Old Course, Trump International Aberdeen and Castle Stuart in Inverness.
In his social media reel, James Wilson (@short.side) states: “If this was a list of most remote golf courses, Askernish would take the top spot. Okay, it is on the Hebridean island of South Uist, this Old Tom Morris design from 1891 was lost to nature in the years that followed.
“Seventy years after that, greens keeper Gordon Irvine stumbled across it whilst on holiday and decided to bring it back to life. The course is unrefined, there’s cow s**t on the fairways, and the greens are slow. But that’s not the point; this place is special.”
While not a household name, James Wilson is definitely on the radar in UK golf circles. He is particularly popular among niche enthusiasts who value storytelling, aesthetics, and off-the-beaten-track course exploration.
Though not mainstream-famous, Wilson has a growing following and is quietly influential, built on his visual storytelling, insider knowledge, and cultural charm.
An ex-pro golfer, who cut his teeth on Scottish golf links, he now curates golf experiences through his blog and Instagram, focusing on lesser-known Scottish links and quirky UK courses.
His site, shortside.org, doubles as a print store and travelogue, offering checklist posters for Scotland’s Top 100 courses, the UK, and major championships.
Wilson is currently ranked among the UK’s top 60 golf influencers in 2025.
His target audience, golfers who enjoy links lore and course architecture, is UK and international golf fans in search of Scotland’s hidden gems and non-touristy golf itineraries.
See the full reel.
Image credit – James Wilson (screen capture)
