THE OPEN: The Making of Golf's First Major (First Print Edition) | THE OPEN is a historical novel based on the people and events that shaped Scotland, golf, and the game's oldest major.

by Joe Loughran

Before there was the Open Championship, there was Scotland.

THE The Making of Golf's First Major is a sweeping historical novel based on historical events, people, and developments that shaped Scotland and led to the creation of golf's oldest major championship.

Spanning more than fifteen centuries, the story begins in 345 AD with the arrival of Saint Andrew's relics and follows the intertwined histories of Scotland and golf through the rise of St Andrews, the Scottish Reformation, Mary, Queen of Scots, the Jacobite Risings, and the evolution of golf from a Scottish pastime into a national tradition.

Readers encounter the golfing pioneers, craftsmen, and champions who helped shape the game, along with the revolutionary gutta-percha ball, the founding of Prestwick Golf Club, the legacy of Allan Robertson, and the first Open Championship in 1860.

Blending documented history with compelling storytelling, THE OPEN brings the origins of golf's oldest major to life in a way that will appeal to both historical fiction readers and golf history enthusiasts.

Premium Hardcover Edition

Beautifully produced as a keepsake edition, this hardcover features an embossed dust jacket, gold foil-stamped cloth-bound hardcover, and black-and-gold head and tail bands.

Designed for readers and golf enthusiasts, this edition celebrates both the story and the history behind the game.

388 pages, Hardcover

Published July 18, 2026

About the author

I write historical fiction and young adult novels because I love discovering the stories behind the events that shaped our world. My goal is to transport readers into another time and place through characters who face difficult choices, personal challenges, and moments that test their courage and convictions.

I'm especially drawn to overlooked corners of history and the people whose lives were touched by larger historical forces. Whether writing for adults or younger readers, I strive to create stories that entertain, inspire, and leave readers thinking long after they've turned the final page.

My latest novel, THE OPEN: The Making of Golf's First Major, tells the sweeping story of golf's origins and the events that led to the first Open Championship in 1860. Spanning fifteen centuries of Scottish history—from the arrival of Christian relics on Scotland's shores to the rise of St Andrews, the Scottish Reformation, the Links of St. Andrews, the Jacobite Risings, and the founding of Prestwick Golf Club—the novel explores how history, faith, politics, and sport combined to shape one of golf's greatest traditions.

I'm a Pittsburgh native, husband, father of four adult children, lifelong reader, music enthusiast, dog lover, and student of history. Before becoming a novelist, I spent many years as an entrepreneur and executive in the small-package shipping industry.

Thanks for visiting my page. I hope you enjoy exploring the past as much as I enjoy bringing it to life through fiction.