Courses 71-80

published 28 September 2006

71. Notts/Hollinwell (2004 position - 100)

6911 yards; Par 72; SSS 74

Green fees £44-£66

In terms of severity, for amateurs and professionals alike, Notts ? also known as Hollinwell ? is matched by only a handful of inland courses in the UK. The standout holes on the run for home are the long par-4 15th, with its narrow green surely only accessible in regulation to the very best of players and the 16th, another two-shotter where the ability to hit a narrow, undulating green with a soft-landing approach shot will be tested.

Green fees £40-£70

The Wisley ranks among the most expensive golf clubs in the UK so it?s little surprise that its three nines serve up such peaceful ?millionaires? golf?. On the Garden loop you need to avoid the pull as water awaits such a shot on five holes. The Mill?s best holes are perhaps the 6th and 7th ? a par 5 closely guarded by water that will tell you how far you really carry your long clubs through the air if you go for it, and a par 3 over a lake to a wide sloping green.

Green fees £40-£75

To a lover of links courses there are absolutely superb views and the presentation of the course is excellent. The fairways are well defined, the large greens first class and the bunkers are consistent and well maintained. The course is long enough to provide a real test without being completely out of reach for high handicap players. However, as with all links courses, when the wind blows it can play considerably longer or shorter depending on the direction.

Green fees £85

The Red is the longer of the two heathland courses here, and appears to present an ideal opportunity to score, with its unusual combination of six par 3s, six par 4s and six par 5s. The reality on the ground is somewhat different as heather, trees and bunkers combine to stiffen the course?s defences, nowhere more so than on the excellent par 3s. The pick of these is perhaps the uphill 2nd, where club selection is tricky as you can?t see the foot of the flag.

Green fees £65-£80

This wonderful heathland course is a hidden gem. It?s a wonderful sight to see holes in the distance in all directions from the many high points on the course. Most fairways are wide but good positioning is required to score well due to the rough and the presence of a few cleverly located fairway bunkers. The greens and fairways were in excellent condition and the staff were friendly and accommodating.

Green fees £50-£58

This heavily wooded parkland course lies within the National Trust?s Ashridge Estate, which has been designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty. Nicely contoured with only a couple of medium uphill walks, the course was an absolute joy to play ? an exceptionally natural and peaceful place. The impressive new two-storey wooden clubhouse, built in 2003, offers great facilities and an impressive panorama over the course from the 19th hole.

This spectacular links more than lives up to the expectations created by some of its photos. In a quiet, tucked-away corner of County Mayo, it boasts a back nine to rival any for drama, beauty and sheer audacity of design. There are some fearsome tee shots to take on here, so your driving must be on song. The spectacular scenery is matched by the condition of the course, which was first-class. Well worth a visit.

Green fees £20.50-£42.50

This illustrious Welsh course opens with a downhill par 3 then comes alive on the par-5 8th, with its late dogleg and narrow approach. The 9th is one of the toughest par 4s whatever the wind is up to ? tough to reach if it?s in your face, and tough to hold the green with even a wedge downwind. The last four holes have you hitting towards all four points of the compass so it can be tough to maintain any kind of rhythm in a strong breeze.

Green fees £50-£120

Green fees £65-£80

There are not many courses that can put together a group of top-drawer holes in both the front and back nines. The 4th, 5th and 6th could be described as magical, while later in the round the 14th, 15th and 16th (the latter being one of England?s great holes) are a measure of what is on offer here. Set in sand, heather and pine in the middle of some beautiful countryside, this is one of the finest examples of heathland golf in the south of England.

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