THE OPEN: The Making of Golf's First 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 the events, people, and cultural forces that shaped Scotland and gave birth to golf's oldest major championship.

Long before the first Open Championship was played at Prestwick in 1860, Scotland's story and the story of golf were already becoming intertwined. Spanning more than fifteen centuries, this epic journey begins in 345 AD with the arrival of Saint Andrew's relics and follows the rise of St Andrews, the Scottish Reformation, the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, the Jacobite Risings, and the transformation of golf from a local pastime into a national passion.

Through the lives of saints, monarchs, reformers, rebels, craftsmen, and golfing pioneers, THE OPEN explores the people and events that shaped both a nation and its game. The story brings readers into the world of Allan Robertson, the revolutionary gutta-percha ball, the founding of Prestwick Golf Club, and the historic moment when the first Open Championship changed golf forever.

Blending documented history with immersive storytelling, THE OPEN reveals the remarkable origins of golf's oldest major through the power of historical fiction.

For readers of sweeping historical novels and lovers of golf history alike, THE OPEN offers a unique the history and traditions behind golf's oldest major championship, brought vividly to life.

388 pages, Paperback

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.