The golf

Par 68, 5,535 yards (for 18 holes)

I don’t remember ever staying in a golf hotel with a nine-hole course before, but that all changed when I discovered Welbeck Manor & Golf in Devon while researching somewhere to stay and play on a journey home from Cornwall.

The course, which started life as Sparkwell in 1993 and lies about half an hour from the famous Jack Nicklaus course at St Mellion the other side of the county border, has taken on the Welbeck Manor name in recent times.

Set just north-east of Plympton near the Cornwall border, it enjoys beautiful views out over the South Hams countryside. You start on a short par 3 from a raised tee before perhaps the toughest hole – a downhill 423-yarder that turns gently right.

The par 5 that follows hugs the forest on the left, with the green tucked a little further left than you’re expecting. Risk-reward comes into play on the short par-4 5^th, although attack mode will demand ultimate precision.

The hotel

The recently refurbished boutique hotel has a claim to historical fame as it was built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1849, ten years before his Royal Albert Bridge carried the first trains across the Tamar 12 miles away.

The manor, perched on a rise above all the golf course, has retained almost all its original features, and its 12 rooms, ranging from courtyard twins to the Brunel and Royal Albert suites, have been elegantly refurbished under new ownership.

The restaurant looks out over the course and is the perfect spot for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner. The adjacent bar also boasts a terrace and glass-fronted gazebo where you can watch golfers take on the challenge of that cheeky dogleg-left 5^th hole.

Best rates

Room prices start from £95 per night in the summer for a Classic Double or Classic Courtyard Twin, with breakfast an additional £12 per person.

Green fees are £16 for nine holes during the week and £18 at the weekend, with the 18-hole prices £24 and £28 respectively. Buggies are available at £17 for nine holes and £23 for 18 holes.

(Prices correct at time of publication in July 2026)

Welbeck Manor and Golf, Sparkwell, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 5DF
T: 01752 837219
E: reception@welbeckmanorandgolf.co.uk
W: welbeckmanorandgolf.co.uk

While we all know of Harry Colt, James Braid, and in the modern era Ebert and Mackenzie, there are some significant golf course architects whose work is appreciated but whose name is not. Tom Williamson was the head professional at Golf Monthly Top 100 favourite, Hollinwell Golf Club, for more than 50 years. He also designed and contributed to the development of many courses in the region.

Here, we take a glimpse at the portfolio of this lesser-known but surprisingly prolific golf course architect from the East Midlands.

Coxmoor

• GF: 18 holes: £120
• W: coxmoorgolfclub.co.uk

A Nottinghamshire near-neighbour of Hollinwell, Coxmoor enjoys a similar, very attractive setting. Founded just before the Great War, today's design was developed in the 1930s by Tom Williamson, assisted by the club's professional, at which point there were no trees on site. Subsequently, birch, beech and pine grew to define the challenge, though much has been done more recently to restore its heathland look and feel.

Stretching to over 6,800 yards from the very back tees, there are five par 5s to raise the prospect of a birdie or two, although its elevated location means wind can be a feature. A young Matt Fitzpatrick won the Boys' Amateur here in 2012, a year before the club's centenary. Coxmoor is unquestionably one of the best golf courses in the Midlands.

Newark

• GF: 18 holes: £40wd, £50we
• W: newarkgolfclub.co.uk

Williamson advised on this Nottinghamshire club's initial course when it was founded in 1901, and then again some 30 years later when a move was made to its current site, just east of the A1. His design, with some modifications in the 1970s by Donald Steel and some later bunker remodelling, endures.

The level, tree-lined layout has four short holes, which come before and after the three par 5s, themselves all between the 6th and 11th. The new owners since 2024 have invested heavily both on and off the course in the run-up to its 125th celebrations.

Radcliffe-on-Trent

• GF: 18 holes: £40-£65
• W: radcliffeontrentgc.co.uk

Originally a nine-hole course but expanded by Williamson to 18 in 1925, this enjoyable parkland course lies just east of Nottingham. Land was lost to road redevelopment in the early 1970s, but the payback for this was a larger acreage, which afforded Frank Pennink the opportunity to carry out a redesign at the same time as introducing some new holes.

Of particular note are the two back-nine par 3s at 11 and 17, both played, hopefully, over water. Another feature is the par-5 12th that works its way along the edge of the course to a green hiding round to the left.

Wollaton Park

• GF: 18 holes: £80 Sun-Fri
• W: wollatonparkgolfclub.com

A couple of miles from Nottingham Castle, in a central yet very suburban setting, Wollaton Park is an attractive and well-maintained design running through an old but still populated deer park. The gently rolling land offers up delightful views as you play through striking specimen trees, and there are occasional glimpses of Wollaton Hall, a magnificent Elizabethan country house dating back to the 1580s.

The early holes are easy-walking before the uphill short 8th leads you to slightly more undulating ground, with a lake coming into view at the far end.

Worksop

• GF: 18 holes: £85
• W: worksopgolfclub.com

While UK&I Top 200 course Lindrick lies to the north of town, Worksop itself is a very different, tree-lined alternative immediately to the south. Williamson designed a nine-hole layout when the club relocated in 1914. This was expanded in 1925, since when many changes have been made.

Williamson was granted honorary membership in 1921, and the club's most famous son is Lee Westwood. As at Lindrick, the course finishes with a short hole, but here, a slice may involve a close encounter with the clubhouse!

Sandburn Hall

• Par 73, 6,518 yards
• GF: £45wd, £55we
• Stay & Play: packages available
• W: sandburnhall.co.uk

The Golf

Over the last few years, I have somewhat belatedly become a devotee of Yorkshire golf. It was therefore a very pleasant surprise to stumble across this fine young course, peacefully situated not far from York, midway between three Golf Monthly Top 100 giants: Alwoodley and Moortown to the west; Ganton to the east.

Running over an expansive plot, the course opened in 2005 and has more recently received significant improvements courtesy of Martin Ebert. Playing in mid-April following such a wet start to the year, I was extremely impressed by its presentation and the attention to detail.

The back nine bunkering was fully upgraded last winter and is very impressive, with the front nine scheduled for later this year. Water comes into play on about a third of the holes, including the fine par-3 6th where I contrived to miss a very makeable birdie putt, and the risk-reward par 5s at 12 and 17. You may also be tempted by some of the region's more famous and historic courses, but just on its own, Sandburn Hall certainly ticks more than enough golfing boxes.

The hotel

Family-owned and run, the 40-room hotel opened five years ago and perfectly reflects the barn style of its farming heritage, but with all mod-cons. Architecturally attractive, with varied and very tastefully furnished accommodation, it's a peaceful and reviving place to stay.

I greatly enjoyed my dinners in the adjacent Tykes restaurant, which is exactly my kind of place – informal but smart, the friendliest service and a delicious and reasonably priced menu offering freshly cooked delights. Breakfast was equally good, and I'd happily return with a group of golfing friends as part of a tour. Sandburn Hall may not yet be fully on the travelling golfer's radar, but it certainly deserves to be.

Best Deal

The Sunday Driver package starts from £150pp to include a £30 dinner allowance, accommodation, full English or continental breakfast, and two 18-hole rounds (based on two sharing a Signature Room and subject to availability).

When the opportunity arose to visit probably the most remote location in Golf Monthly’s Top 100 UK & Ireland golf courses, I very much jumped at it. The location itself is Another Place, The Machrie, situated on the Hebridean island of Islay.

Undoubtedly you would’ve recognised the name of the island for its whisky-rich heritage, more on that later, but the course itself is growing in stature and worldwide acclaim after its upgrade by Tour pro DJ Russell. Having seen images of the course before attending, I was very much looking forward to the experience…

Golf on Islay dates back to Willie Campbell’s original Machrie Links in 1891, but as mentioned, after Russell’s ‘few tweaks’ turned into a wholesale upgrade, the course took on a whole new meaning.

It now presents itself as a masterpiece in this writer’s opinion, working its way over a rumpled and yet natural-feeling landscape, delivering stunning views out to the Atlantic and the beach which is a stones throw away on much of the front-nine.

The reasonable handshake opener gives you an indication of what’s to come as you crest a hill for your second shot where you immediately get a view out to the sea. The par-5 2nd continues this journey as it wedges itself between river and beach, and then from here onwards the front-nine elevates itself to unforgettable levels.

The 5th in particular starts a run of five holes that are as fun a stretch as I can remember, and this was despite the driving wind and rain I played in over two days. The 5th is a long-ish par 4 which starts with a deceptive tee shot.

One large bunker sits in your eye-line but find the fairway and your 2nd shot is stunning. Played over rolling, downhill terrain, you have to navigate a gigantic dune on the right hand side, and two menacing little bunkers on the left. The green is undulating and a real test as well, so I took my par and moved on very quickly.

All playing along the coast, the 6th, 7th and 8th holes are three very fun short par 4s all of which offer the chance to make birdies with their risk-reward nature, but high scores can easily be made if you end up in the wrong spots. The cavernous swale leading up to the 8th hole in particular is somewhere to avoid.

A suitable end to the front nine, from an elevated tee and playing towards the sea, the par-3 9th green nestles among the sandy dune scrapes with the beach and views of the distant mountains in the background.

The back nine moves further inland as it threads through the sandy hills with the dogleg par-5 12th hole and par-3 14th in particular being my favourites. At the latter, I hit pitching wedge on the first day and 4-iron the second, giving you an indication of the wind strength and the directional pot luck you may be faced with.

The best way I can describe The Machrie is it is a rollercoaster and real voyage of discovery. The purists will enjoy the blind and semi-blind shots, while I think it is also playable for different levels, provided you pick the right tees.

It is simply a magnificent place to play, and thought-provoking too, with several strategic choices to be made as you make your way round.

Romantically, I think the course also gives you the opportunity to simply appreciate where you are and the majesty of it. Having lived in a city for many years now, this trip and golf course reminded me just how appealing this kind of landscape is to experience.

To scratch your golfing itch further, there is a fine short game area, superb six-hole Wee course, three putting greens and the new ‘Hebrides’ social course, which is the ideal fun place to putt with a beer in your hand. All in all, The Machrie is one excellent golf facility worth the trek to Islay alone even without the allure of the many distilleries.

Off-course excellence

Not only did the golf course get a major redevelopment, but the hotel did as well, turning it into an excellent 43-room facility. Featuring a variety of rooms, suites and family lodges, they are comfortably furnished and all of them feature views of the golf course, the peat plains, the Mull of Oa or the Atlantic Ocean.

The hotel itself has a wide range of facilities as well including an outside sauna and hot tub garden, a very cool screening room which was showing World Cup football during my stay, an art collection and a games room.

You can even borrow a Land Rover Discovery to explore the island. Finally, there is an outstanding restaurant, the 18 Restaurant & Bar, which is brimming with fresh island produce and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Of course, fresh seafood features heavily, with my personal favorite meal being the fillet of hake and crab risotto, along with pomme Anna, a delightful potato dish with truffle and Parmesan. The scallops were also sublime and I got to experience Haggis for the first time as well. I must say I did enjoy it with bacon and sausages.

The whisky lovers among you will know all about the island of Islay already, but for the uninitiated, Islay is home to 10 well-known distilleries.

I was lucky enough to do a Tour of the Bruichladdich distillery, which was very interesting indeed given I knew nothing about the process or history of the drink – testament to our tour guide Ruby, whose enthusiasm was infectious.

The three tastings at the end certainly helped as well, with the Port Charlotte in particular speaking to me nicely.

How to get there

Daily flights to Islay from Glasgow with Loganair take 25 minutes. You can also take the ferry from Kennacraig on Kintyre into Port Askaig further north, from where you can also get a short ferry crossing to Jura. Islay airport is a five-minute drive from Another Place, The Machrie.

This western county doesn’t rank among the most prolifically featured on my 'courses played' spreadsheet with a mere six, despite my venturing down there annually while my wife’s work takes her to Butlin’s in Minehead.

This year I resolved to remedy things by taking my clubs and finally revisiting the links at Minehead and West Somerset, next door to Butlin’s, after a 40-year gap, while also adding a couple of newbies to my tally.

Some of them rate among the best golf courses in Somerset, a county where the splendid Championship links at Burnham & Berrow is the only entry in the Golf Monthly UK&I Top 100 course rankings.

On a breezy but bright spring day I stopped off at Cricket St Thomas on my journey down to play a hilltop course that boasts nine holes designed by JH Taylor in 1932 and nine more added in the early 1990s.

There have been a few other changes along the way, not least the name, having formerly been called Windwhistle until 2014 when new owners took over.

More recent changes have included the former 90˚ dogleg-right par-5 1st morphing into two holes, with the old 1st green now found on the tempting short par-4 2nd. More changes are afoot with three former holes currently being remodelled ready for their return.

Some holes left me stumped, others offered decent bail-out options and one or two of the views bowled me over, especially from the 1st and 4th greens and the 10th tee. After a couple of early wides (okay... enough is enough with the cricket punathon), I settled down and played quite nicely.

Heading out I really liked the 4th, which eases gently right, although the wind off the left pushing everything towards OOB made it quite testing for a fader.

Coming home, the duo at 10 and 11 stood out, first a short, gettable downhill par 4 with wonderful distant views, then an uphiller past a pine forest, where the tricky approach becomes all the harder if your drive ends up in the large fairway crater, as it is blind from there

Down on the coast

Next day, I made my first non-vehicular arrival at a golf club since I played King James VI in Perth in 2019, where the island course is accessed on foot via the railway bridge from a public car park.

Here, I strolled along the promenade to the pro shop where former tour pro, John Bickerton, now works. Some 18 years ago I played with John and two readers at Hanbury Manor and watched him shoot a casual 63 without batting an eyelid.

I remembered one or two things from 40 years ago , especially the par-3 10th at the very far end and the tough closing 209-yarder by the clubhouse.

I was joined by golf director, Paddy Maclennan, who proved an excellent host on a course that, perhaps helpfully midway through a golf trip, offers virtually nothing in the way of hills.

What it did offer was a testing two- to three-club wind that made most of the outward half difficult, especially the 9th and 10th holes at the far end. You had to take advantage of the two short downwind par 4s on the front nine at the 3rd, with its gently valleyed green, and the 6th, and fortunately I was able to coax a birdie out of the former.

Coming home, the wind was mostly helping and one of the best things about this homeward run is that several tees are set right by the beach, so there are always therapeutic views to savour if the golf game has gone a little south.

The highlight for me coming home was another birdie on 15 – best green complex on the course for me - after a woeful tee shot and spectacular second to 3ft, although Paddy then cheekily hit his approach to 9ins.

It would be only fair to also mention that he made two textbook eagles in six holes (11th and 16th) to give him something to dine out on for weeks. I thoroughly enjoyed my return visit to Minehead and the links was in great condition for early April

A unique golfing landscape

Finally, I enjoyed a game in glorious shirtsleeve weather at Taunton & Pickeridge, an hour from Minehead, which dates back to 1892 and boasts a layout originally created by Herbert Fowler, who was also a founding member.

The middle part of the course here plays through and over land formerly used for lime mining a couple of centuries ago, leaving behind a landscape of unusual hollows and mounds that, on certain holes, may sometimes influence where your ball goes on landing (good and bad) and leave you rapidly try to master or remember how to play from a variety of sloping lies.

The course has a lovely, away-from-it-all feel and despite only being just over 6,100 from the tips presents you with a number of long, testing par 4s such as 4, 7 and 11 and a shock-to-the-system 233-yard par 3 at 14.

That lunar or links-like landscape first comes to the fore on the 4th and 5th, while the 9th fairway could be lifted and placed on Royal St George’s 225 miles away and wouldn’t look remotely out of place there.

On the 11th hole, more of that sunken terrain awaits on the approach if you don’t quite catch it, and two dogleg-left holes stand out on the run for home – first the short par-4 15th, where reasonable hitters who can turn it over may be able to knock it on, and then the memorable 17th, a much longer hole that turns 90˚ around two ponds on the apex.

Long hitters can knock it over these, while the very longest may just drive the green over the trees. My watch told me the direct route was 320 yards against 442 on the card, and there’s even a bell by the green so the big boys know when it’s safe to launch one at 45˚ to the route mere mortals have to take.

Play
Cricket St Thomas
Par 68, 5,246 yards
Green fees: £42wd, £46we (twilight £26-£30)

Minehead and West Somerset
Par 72, 6,215 yards
Green fees: £48wd, £58we (twilight £25-£39)

Taunton and Pickeridge
Par 69, 6,119 yards
Green fees: £50-£70 (twilight £35)

Stay
The Old Ship Aground
Quay St, Minehead, TA24 5UL
W: theoldship aground.com

(Prices correct at time of publication in June 2026)

Whitchurch is one of several clubs dotted around the northern suburbs of Cardiff, the Welsh capital, in this instance very close to where the M4 joins the A470, Wales' longest road.

This trunk route stretches all the way up to Llandudno, 186 miles away on the north coast, hitting the North Wales Expressway not far from the fine links at Conwy Golf Club, a fixture in the Golf Monthly Next 100.

The club was founded in 1914 and initially played over a nine-hole layout until it was extended to 18 holes in 1923. A young Ian Woosnam won the Welsh Professional Championship 40 years ago in 1986 at Whitchurch and Nigel Edwards, who played on four GB&I Walker Cup teams before captaining the side three times, is a member. He was victorious twice as a player and twice as a captain.

The green, green grass

You only need to look at Google maps to appreciate what an oasis the course here represents among Cardiff's northern residential suburbs of Whitchurch, Pantmawr and Rhiwbina, some five miles from the city centre.

Unusually, the first couple of holes – a testing downhill par 3 where water lurks, then a short gentle dogleg right – loop back to the clubhouse, from where a high-tech screen system then tells you when it is safe to tackle the blind tee shot on the par-5 3rd.

After another hole playing out along Pantmawr Road, this time a short par 4, you turn back for one of the best front-nine holes, the 432-yard 5th, which plays down, then up and round to the left to a very attractive and well-bunkered green.

The par-5 8th, playing in the opposite direction again, will prove a real test for faders and slicers as the fairway slopes down markedly from left to right, meaning that the right-hand trees must see more than their fair share of golfing action over the course of a season.

Chances and challenges

The excellent short par-4 9th and gettable par-5 10th then both play in a similar direction down towards the houses, with the latter offering a real birdie chance to help offset some of the tougher tests ahead.

You make your way back up on 11 and 12 to the tee of the lovely, downhill short par-3 13th near the clubhouse, where three sizable bunkers await anything short, left or right.

The run for home starts from an elevated tee on 14, which means that it won't necessarily play as long as its 433 yards on the card, although precision is undoubtedly required to safely navigate the trees on both sides.

A long par 3 then precedes two short par 4s before a suitably stout closing hole flanking the A470, which rises gently towards a testingly sloping green.

Essentials
Pantmawr Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 7TD
Stats: par 71, 6,268 yards
Green Fees: £75wd and Sun after 11am; £225 weekday fourball

(prices correct at time of publication in June 2026)

Camberley Heath

• GF: 18 holes: £150 Mon-Thu, £180 Fri-Sun
• W: camberleyheathgolfclub.co.uk

If such an unthinkable thing is possible, then Surrey arguably has too much great golf. This means that, occasionally, some of its loveliest courses are overlooked. Not far from the holy trinity of Worplesdon, West Hill and Woking, Camberley Heath is a well-preserved Harry Colt classic from 1913 that serves up a feast of beautiful English heathland golf.

Gentle undulations and mature pines keep you fully cocooned from the outside world, while adding to the glory of the views and the golfing challenge. Each of the four attractive short holes is memorable, with two of them close to the 200-yard mark.

Play the five drive-and-pitch par 4s well and there's every chance of a good score on this delightful layout. Despite the competition, this is one of the best golf courses in Surrey.

West Herts

• GF: 18 holes: £88wd, £105we
• W: westhertsgolfclub.co.uk

The club moved to its current home in Rickmansworth in 1897, with Old Tom Morris designing the routing and JH Taylor the bunkers. Colt was engaged in 1908 to design what are now the closing five holes, before further modifications by Alister MacKenzie in 1922.

This is a traditional parkland layout that in recent times has upped its game with an impressive bunker upgrade, resulting in a far more visual and engaging test of golf that is one of the best golf courses in Hertfordshire. Par is an unusual 34 out, 38 back, with three tempting par 5s late on that offer chances to save a score.

Burton-on-Trent

• GF: 18 holes: £70 all week
• W: botgc.co.uk

In 1914, Colt was called in to redesign and expand this Derbyshire course. It is now a tree-lined layout which, from the back tees, plays to a testing par of 71. There are three par 5s at the 3rd, 4th and 13th, and the course covers a large, undulating acreage.

Three of the four par 3s play uphill, including the very tough 12th, and there is a cracking finishing hole where you play down into a valley and then over a pond. The club's very active, competitive and friendly membership gets to enjoy a strong Colt design that's not as well known as it should be.

Longniddry

• GF: 18 holes: £105wd, £130we
• W: longniddrygolfclub.co.uk

Longniddry, which celebrated its centenary five years ago, is perhaps a less well known club in the treasure chest of golf along the East Lothian coastline. Although later changes were made by the likes of James Braid and Philip Mackenzie Ross, this is very much a Colt design.

Unusually, and very pleasingly, it has since evolved into a rare blend of both links and parkland golf, with neither really holding sway over the other. Without a par 5 on the card, long two-shotters prevail, with no fewer than eight in excess of 400 yards from the back tees.

Trentham

• GF: 18 holes: £90-£120
• W: trenthamgolf.org

Not far from the M6 in Staffordshire, this former Open Qualifying host was extended from nine to 18 holes in 1904, before Harry Colt oversaw a full redesign in the 1920s. In recent times, a major bunker refurbishment has significantly improved both the strategy and visuals.

This has led to a course that is capable of testing players of all abilities, with every hole a new and different challenge. It is also now a real treat on the eye, aided by the gently sloping terrain, mature but never intrusive trees and excellent conditioning.

As someone who travels extensively to golf clubs all over the UK&I both for work and for pleasure, it's always exciting to receive an invitation to return to an old haunt to see something new and different. It was therefore with great interest that in early Spring I headed back to south-west Wales and to the lovely town of Tenby where the club has been reinventing itself in an excellent way.

Golf In South Pembrokeshire

With regular visits to Wales going back many years, I have increasingly felt that its many lesser-known courses are underrated and deserving of greater attention. I was therefore very much looking forward to my return to Tenby Golf Club, one of the nation's more prominent fixtures in the Next 100 of Golf Monthly's UK&I course rankings, as well as a couple of quite different courses not far from this lovely harbour town.

My home from home for this early-season trip was to be the newly refurbished and extended clubhouse at Tenby, some 70 miles west of the nation's leading course, Royal Porthcawl. Here, ten superior rooms, The Dunes, serve as a new and very enticing alternative to the established and very comfortable dormy house.

My spacious room, with a balcony staring right down the opening hole, was immediately above The Links, the club's excellent restaurant. I can very enthusiastically recommend both the delicious food and the friendliest service.

South Pembrokeshire

• Par 70, 6,086 yards
• GF: from £15
• W: southpembsgc.co.uk

Slightly further west are two interesting and quite unusual courses that border the wide Milford Haven Waterway. Oddly to me as a lover of the countryside, the industrial make-up of this shipping lane actually adds to the visual interest. My first port of call was for a game with Peter Rice, the president of South Pembrokeshire Golf Club.

The course opened as a nine-holer in 1969, at which time its home was a part of the very distinct Old Defensible Barracks, which were built in 1844. When a second nine was added nearly 30 years ago, the club moved to today's purpose-built clubhouse.

Standout holes are the excellent 5th, with its scary approach over a hidden valley, the 10th, which plays gently up to the barracks, and the outrageously tough par-4 15th – possibly the longest 400 yards in world golf. I very much enjoyed visiting this friendly and informal club.

Milford Haven

• Par 70, 6,067 yards
• GF: £35wd, £40we
• W: mhgc.co.uk

Five miles across the water, Milford Haven is the home of a surprisingly rural course packed with variety. The club is more than a century old, and while the holes close to the clubhouse are perfectly fine, it's those that cross the valley and lead down to Gelliswick Bay where the real adventure unfolds.

Here, there are fabulous views out over the estuary and of the surrounding docks and hills. If your game isn't quite on song, at least there is a new and different vista to savour around every corner.

Tenby

• Par 72, 6,530 yards
• GF: £90-£110
• W: tenbygolf.co.uk

Back at base, I was eager to play Tenby itself, one of the best golf courses in Wales. It is a cracking links with a unique twist near the end. The club was founded in 1888, and its links is a 1907 James Braid expansion and redesign on the same site as the original nine-holer. Tenby is Wales' oldest course and is just as packed with history, charm and character as the town itself. It opens with a rollercoaster par 5 that confoundingly plays way longer than its yardage.

There are then superb but demanding back-to-back par 4s from the 3rd. The former enjoys the prevailing wind but plays to a green with a vertiginous drop-off on the left, while the latter has a blind approach to a punchbowl green and may be unreachable in two. The 8th is a terrific two-shotter with plenty of room off the tee, before a long approach to its well-protected and quite severe two-tier green. And it's worth the climb to the back tee on the 9th to enjoy panoramic views over the course, the beach and out to sea.

As I began the back nine, the wind turned with the tide, so seemed to be against on virtually every hole! I was pleased with my regulation par on the short 12th, which has a beautiful green site, but for me required a full 5-iron from 140 yards – the challenge, and joy, of seaside golf. Not all are fans of the three very different holes over the railway (that unique twist) but I celebrate their contrast, and they set you up for a cracking final hole. Both on and off the course, Tenby is very much on the up.

Goswick Links

Once known as Berwick-upon-Tweed but rebranded as Goswick Links not so long ago, this top-notch course is both blessed and slightly cursed by its gloriously remote location. Here, you can enjoy a classic links in wonderful solitude with big skies and the freshest air, but for most of us, it's quite a trek!

Any effort made to get here, however, will be more than amply rewarded as you enjoy one of the finest such courses in England (only just, though). A few miles south of the Scottish border, this ever-improving design made it into the top 200 of the Golf Monthly UK&I course rankings about 15 years ago.

Back to the very beginning

The club was founded in 1890 and its initial nine-hole course was designed by Tom Dunn, a professional from North Berwick, 40 miles or so up and around the coast, with which it is regularly and easily confused. It was soon extended to 18 holes, and James Braid played an exhibition match here in 1901, the year of the first of his five Open victories.

This sowed some early seeds for his return almost three decades later when he changed every hole, most of them significantly. Such was the strength of his design that it remained largely unchanged until very recently, barring some 1960s tweaks by Frank Pennink.

Now, work is continuing on a Tom Mackenzie masterplan to upgrade the whole front nine. Improvements have been made to the 2nd and 3rd green surrounds; the 4th has new tees and a resculpted green; and the 5th and 6th holes are now longer with new back tees.

The star of the changes, though, is the new par-3 7th, which opened in April and allowed for the removal of the tough but less appealing short 9th hole. A further benefit of this work is that the 1st can now be rerouted, so there is no need for internal white stakes or the slightly out-of-keeping copse that sat on the corner of the dogleg.

A game of two halves

The front nine at Goswick Links runs over land to the north of the clubhouse, and the current changes will enable these opening holes to match the more exciting and distinctive holes that fill the back nine, which heads south-east then back again.

Highlights include the bunkerless par-4 12th with its tricky approach over no man's land, and the gorgeous 14th to a green nestling in the dunes. This hole is bookended by two lovely par 3s. The 17th is a fine three-shotter, while the closing hole is an exciting and very visual risk-reward short par 4, protected by no fewer than nine bunkers. This already first-class links continues to up its game and is certainly one to watch.

• W: goswickgolfclub.com
• Stats: par 72, 6,645 yards
• GF: round: £100-£135 all week

The inspiration for this feature was threefold. First, a Q&A I did a few years ago now with the secretary of Beccles Golf Club in Suffolk, which offers a golf experience far removed from that which most of us get to enjoy. Then, in 2023 there was a visit to the community nine-holer at Helmsdale, 16 miles above Brora in north-east Scotland.

Finally, last year I headed up to Lybster (the ‘y' is long), half an hour north of Helmsdale, a golf club which not only celebrates its centenary this year, but also boasts, probably uniquely within these shores, a former railway station for a clubhouse. I then enlisted the help of expert Irish contributor Kevin Markham to talk about two more such clubs over in Ireland.

First, Beccles, a course I'm yet to actually play. The secretary told me that it operated on a different basis to virtually any UK&I golf club, with a membership of just 37 when we spoke and no staff. Unviable? In theory, yes, and yet it survives on common land, where all they're allowed to tend are greens and tees.

Two members undertake that role. If a particular need arises, they may be able to raise a working party, but with 37 people paying £275 a year plus a very modest green fee income (£10 all day), the club isn't exactly flush with funds.

He admitted they were always thinking about ways to survive, and dreaded big one-off repair bills, such as for leaks in an irrigation system that does at least mean their greens are sometimes the envy of certain other clubs, kept in surprisingly good condition given such modest means.

As for Helmsdale, where I was the only one on the course for the entire duration of my round, I recalled something heartwarming that my colleague, Fergus Bisset, had written about the course in 2013, ten years before my visit.

The club had been struggling with the greens on its 100-year-old-plus James Braid layout and had just 60 members, one voluntary, part-time greenkeeper and no heavy machinery. Fortunately, it secured some funding to acquire new turf, with nine greenkeepers from nearby Royal Dornoch, Skibo Castle and Brora Golf Clubs providing the necessary manpower and machinery to lay it at no cost.

Despite this you must sometimes (not always) temper expectations over conditioning at courses in this genre and very much accept them for what they are and the very worthwhile role they serve. Don't expect carpet-like perfection every time!

I particularly remember the fine long par-3 9th that plays down to a good-sized green by the clubhouse. Across Golf Road from here there's a row of houses, and it struck me that having this facility right on your doorstep must be a real blessing in this remote location.

Centenary celebrations

Clubs such as this are often run on a shoestring, relying on volunteer labour and goodwill so village communities can retain a golfing facility often within walking distance of home. Many such clubs have fallen by the wayside over the years, so it's all the more important that everything possible is done to keep the survivors alive for current and future generations to enjoy.

Chatting to Magnus Ryrie, secretary at Lybster (population circa 600) in the club's centenary year, it's clear this is a tough task, but there is evident pride that Lybster has successfully done just that for 100 years. “It's entirely run by volunteers and everything goes back into the club,” he tells me.

“We try to keep our prices at a minimum to encourage local people to play golf, so our annual membership is £160. And green fees we also keep low at £30 for an all-day pass.”

He tells me they had 101 members going into their centenary year, up from 70 the year before, and that they also set up a junior section in 2025 and closed the year with an encouraging 20 youngsters. They pay just £10 if under ten and £30 from ten to 16 years of age, and that includes free use of clubs. Despite these modest fees, the club breaks even and even has a year's contingency fund.

The railway closed in 1944 and the clubhouse moved to the station in 1979 from a shed at the end of the course nearest the sea. The club boasts a devilishly tricky run of par 3s from the 4th to the 6th – known as the triangle – close to the old railway cutting, where three pars is a genuine mark of achievement.

Ryrie tells me that last year some 50 Americans visited. “Part of it is when they're doing the North Coast 500 and they're planning their trip and say, ‘Oh, there's a golf course here,'” he tells me. “They come along, get some clubs from us, have some fun and continue on their trip.

“There was an American guy who came in November. He said, ‘I've got a 5-handicap.' And I said, ‘How do you think you'll do?' He said, ‘I imagine about 32.' I said, ‘It'll be 46.' And he left a lovely note pinned on the noticeboard saying, ‘You were right! It was 46, but what fun I had.'”

Lybster's main centenary event is a two-day competition in June 2026, open to all, with a special hickory event the week before. Ryrie hopes over 100 will play in the big two-day event to celebrate with the club.

Across the Irish Sea

It's now time for Kevin to take up the story at Mulranny in Co. Mayo (green fees €25-€30) and Blacklion (€25 per day) in Co. Cavan…

The snatches of wool on the barbed wire fences hint at the history of Mulranny. It's one of Ireland's last courses to play over commonage, sharing its terrain with sheep, cattle and even one or two alpacas. It ties the course to a distant past that most have never experienced, when golfers played next to the sea on pure turf that was of little agricultural use.

Located on the west coast, on the edge of Clew Bay, Mulranny is one of Ireland's premier nine-hole clubs and one of only 250 or so links courses on the planet. That adds perspective, especially when you arrive in the small car park and sheep wander past your vehicle, or you encounter the pristine greens in their barbed-wire enclosures.

The club was founded by the local hotel in 1896. In the 1970s, the great Eddie Hackett designed an 18-hole championship links, but it never progressed and the club, with its 164 members, no longer sees the need to expand.

The current layout dates from 1985 and is routed over crumpled, open land where nature was, and still is, the most influential designer. No fuss, no frills, just intrigue and delight. A high dune ridge separates the clubhouse from the coastline and most holes, and you must wait till the 3rd to venture out into that exposed lunar-like landscape, with its striking views.

When powerful storms swatted aside the rock armour and flooded the course in 2014, a major ‘Save Mulranny' campaign began. With only 300 residents in the nearby village, word needed to spread far and wide. Mulranny reached out to clubs around Ireland, asking them to host a dedicated competition, with all proceeds going to its coastal defence fund.

This nationwide effort spread further still, with no less a luminary than Tom Doak stepping up to urge golfers to contribute. Evidence, should it ever be needed, that golf and ‘community' are inextricably linked, both at a local level and on the world stage.

In late 2025, it was confirmed that a new single-storey clubhouse will be built, replacing Portakabins that have been in use since 1996. A golf academy is already being built – attracting a new generation of golfers, perhaps – with the clubhouse to follow later this year.

Right on the border

As for Blacklion, in the not-too-distant future a new bench will be placed on the hilltop overlooking the 3rd green, with Lough MacNean basking beyond and the Dough Tur Mountains on the skyline. It will be dedicated to Sergeant Michael O'Dwyer, a founding member of the club in 1962.

His daughter, now living in America, will donate the bench, for this spot was a favourite of her father's. The course's beauty and peacefulness are on full display. The children and grandchildren of the founders still play here, while members with up to 40 years of service behind them demonstrate the loyalty felt towards the club and the enjoyment of the course itself.

It roots this nine-holer firmly in the community. Blacklion may be located between some big-name neighbours – such as Lough Erne and Slieve Russell – but those loyal members and a strong network of volunteers ensure it continues to thrive. You'll often find them mowing the grass at 6am, although the recent arrival of some robot mowers has helped their efforts.

The course is neatly routed along the edge of Lough MacNean. The opening four holes all sing with the presence of the lake, and the par-3 2nd is the signature hole, hitting across the lake's waters. At 6,200 yards (for 18 holes), Blacklion plays over heaving terrain that is full of surprises, none of which are visible from the clubhouse. Holes demand careful placement off the tee but, at a mere €25 for the day, visitors have plenty of opportunity to learn from their mistakes next time round.

That lake also has a unique feature: the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland runs through the middle. When the Troubles began in the late 1960s, there were some difficulties for the young club, but today the greatest challenge seems to be dealing with green fees paid in both euros and sterling.

The future of the club looks bright, with course designer David Jones visiting in 2025. The club will act on his recommendations as and when finances allow, but it is reassuring that the membership of 100 that the club had before Covid, has now blossomed to a healthy 260, helping to make such future ambitions possible.

The golf

Downs course: par 72, 6,704 yards
Park course: par 72, 6,298 yards

Golf has been played on the South Downs at Goodwood since James Braid laid out a course here in 1914. Now known as the Downs course, it is one of the best golf courses in Sussex and ranked in the Next 100 of our UK&I course rankings. It was joined in 1989 by Donald Steel's Park layout on flatter terrain closer to Goodwood House.

Early this century, Golf At Goodwood's Downs course underwent significant changes to the routing of its early and closing holes.

For the most part, you now play along an enclosed valley until the 6th green before climbing on to the Downs proper from the 7th, with splendid views over Chichester.

Star attractions include the short downhill 12th, protected by a sea of sand, and that long testing 7th, which curves left towards a very popular refreshment hut that you can revisit after the 15th. The six-hole par-3 Copse course arrived a couple of years ago.

The hotel

The 91-room Goodwood Hotel enjoys a peaceful location near the golf academy. It offers Character, Signature and Garden rooms plus a number of suites, all very tastefully decorated.

The health club has a good-sized pool and well-equipped gym, while the main Farmer, Butcher, Chef restaurant has built a strong reputation on the promise that “you will travel further than your food”.

You can also eat in the Goodwood Bar and Grill bistro, the excellent Kennels at the Downs course or even the Aerodrome or Motor Circuit cafes a short drive away.

● Best deal

Rooms start from £150 per Signature room per night, £190 for a Garden room, £240 for a Character room and £290 for a suite. On the golf side, the Downs Experience starts from £330 for two for a round on the Downs course in one of the estate's GPS Woody buggies, with complimentary range balls and use of the practice facilities.

The Park Experience starts from £170 for two for a round on the Park course. Here, you get a basket of range balls, a £10 food and drink allocation at the Horsebox, a sleeve of Pro V1s and 10% off tuition.

(prices correct at time of publication in May 2026)

North West

• GF: 18 holes: €150
• W: northwestgolfclub.com

This County Donegal club dates back to 1891 and is one of the founding members of the Golfing Union of Ireland. Close to the two fabulous links at Ballyliffin Golf Club, its lovely course enjoys an exceptionally attractive setting between water and mountains. Some land has been lost to erosion, so the footprint is quite compact, with every inch used to great effect to keep you interested all the way.

Beginning with a long par 4, the opening five holes hug the shoreline and can be particularly testing into the wind, but the par 5s that close each nine should offer hope of redemption. This is traditional links golf at its best in a glorious location.

North Wales

• GF: 18 holes: £60-£70
• W: northwalesgolfclub.org.uk

Llandudno is blessed with two adjacent but pleasingly different courses, with North Wales bordering the beach at Conwy Sands to the west of the railway and Maesdu the other side. Not far from the Next 100 links at Conwy Golf Club, the course opened in 1894 and was co-designed by Harold Hilton, founding editor of Golf Monthly.

Not especially long, it is still a fine test, with the occasional blind shot and greens in tricky locations. There is a fine loop from the 7th to the 11th at the southern end, but the stars of the show are probably the back-to-back par 3s at 16 and 17, both of which are memorable.

North Foreland

• GF: 18 holes: £95-£120
• W: northforeland.co.uk

Founded in 1903, North Foreland is beautifully sited on Kent's north-east coast between Margate and Ramsgate. The club actually has two 18-hole courses: the Main and the delightful par-3 Northcliffe layout, perfect for practice or a quick 90-minute round.

The original course was replaced by Herbert Fowler and Tom Simpson in 1913, and the pair returned a decade later to refine their design. More recent changes by Martin Hawtree have been supplemented by a comprehensive bunker upgrade, resulting in a very entertaining downland/clifftop hybrid.

North Hants

• GF: 18 holes: £160 Mon-Thu, £200 Fri-Sun
• W: northhantsgolf.co.uk

Bordered by the M3 and a mainline railway, North Hants is nonetheless blessed with a remarkably peaceful and attractive plot of heathland running through mature pine. The course's strong design pedigree has drawn on the fertile minds of James Braid, Harry Colt and Tom Simpson.

It opened in 1904, with three new holes designed by Donald Steel a quarter of a century ago. Most unusually, each nine opens with a very strong par 3. The feature hole is probably the par-5 3rd, while the club is rightly proud of its links with a resurgent Justin Rose.

North Middlesex

• GF: 18 holes: £50-£60
• W: northmiddlesexgc.co.uk

It's always a pleasure to recommend enjoyable layouts that aren't so well known, and this very friendly club a few miles north of central London is home to one such course. It's not quite 5,700 yards from the back tees, but the greens are well protected and there are several tricky doglegs.

The only par 5s come back-to-back at 6 and 7, and there are several short par 4s where strategic play from the tee may pay dividends. The 18th is a terrific 224-yarder over Blacketts Brook to a green below the attractive clubhouse. This is one of the best golf courses in London.

Early in the new year, when so many of our golf courses in the UK&I were either under water or at best somewhat boggy, I escaped down to the Sussex coast and the excellent Top 100 links at Rye Golf Club. Before playing its superb and resolutely traditional Old course, I spent the morning thoroughly enjoying its second layout, the Jubilee. This set off a train of thought regarding just how many excellent ‘second' courses become lost in the mist as visitors understandably focus in on the main attraction.

This is not the case at the eight clubs in the UK&I that have two or even three Top 100 courses. Nor is it so at clubs such as Ballyliffin and Trump Turnberry where one course is in the Top 100 and the other is in the second 100 of our rankings – what we call the Next 100 – so is also still highly visible. Instead, I am keen to highlight here some of the surprising number of Top 100 and Next 100 clubs whose second courses don't actually feature in the rankings but which, nonetheless, most definitely warrant a game.

Rye - Jubilee

As it is Rye that set this particular golf ball rolling, let's start with its delightful and remarkably innovative Jubilee layout. While the original course was Harry Colt's first design and dates back to 1895, it was not until almost 50 years ago that Frank Pennink added nine new holes on land reclaimed from the sea. Since then, mainly courtesy of Donald Steel, the course has been improved and expanded. There are now 12 holes, with completely different ones in place of 6, 7 and 8 the second time round. The Jubilee is enormous fun as well as a proper challenge, and is also home to arguably the best green site at Rye on the 4th, tucked perfectly into the dunes.

Woodhall Spa - Bracken

If the 12 holes at Rye are more of a logical extension to the original design, then the second course at Woodhall Spa could hardly be more different. Over the last few years, the Hotchkin course has upped its game markedly courtesy of a Tom Doak restoration, but while this is heathland golf at its best, I think the Bracken course would more accurately be described as parkland.

This is not to denigrate it in any way. It, too, was designed by Steel, and opened for play just over 30 years ago. It is a perfectly and deliberately different adventure, with mature trees, water, and a far more modern look and feel. Playing both offers very much the best of two different worlds.

Burnham & Berrow - Channel

I remember on one of my earliest visits to Burnham and Berrow being told by the then secretary that the club was home to not just the finest, but the two finest courses in Somerset. Having not played the nine-hole Channel course, I assumed he was saying this somewhat tongue-in-cheek.

Now, having enjoyed it on a couple of subsequent visits, I believe he wasn't joking. It is an enjoyable and very attractive test, and a delight to play – not long and with just two bunkers, both protecting the 4th green. Wind will be the deciding factor as the course plays mainly on the shore side of the Championship layout.

Close House - Lee Westwood Filly Course

Heading north from Somerset way up to Newcastle, I remember very much enjoying my first game on the Lee Westwood Filly course at Close House despite it being mid-January and about minus 20˚C. This was actually the original course here, which opened as a nine-holer in the 1960s before later being revised and expanded to make full use of every inch.

It now boasts USGA-specification greens and runs on land closer to the Tyne below the Lee Westwood Colt course. It provides a fine but slightly less demanding golfing examination than its British Masters-hosting younger sibling, and the on-site accommodation means it's a perfect spot to play two quite different courses.

Royal Troon - Portland

Moving further up into Scotland, Royal Troon attracts golfers from all over the world to play its Old course, host of ten Open Championships. Its second course, the Portland, was designed by the club's then professional, Willie Fernie, in 1895. It was revised in the 1920s by Alister MacKenzie and is a complete test, with gorse, ditches and tricky run-offs. For those who like variety and something a little different, the back nine has four par 5s, three short holes and just two par 4s. It is a little less demanding than the Old, but still a challenging links that would be far better-known were it not for its famous stablemate.

Over on Scotland's east coast, Monifieth is home to two fine courses, with the Medal in our Next 100 and a former Open qualifying venue. On my only visit a few years ago I played with Ian Hutcheon, a member who had won the club championship in six different decades and was still playing off +1 in his late 70s.

Less well-known and playing slightly more inland, the Ashludie is substantially shorter with a par of 68. There are no par 5s, but two gargantuan par 4s in its 7th and 13th holes. The greens are small, but if the wind is being kind, there is every chance to score well.

Lahinch - Castle Course

Over on Ireland's wild and rugged west coast is one of the most prestigious clubs in the country, Lahinch. The beautiful and challenging Old Course has hosted many top events such as the 2019 Irish Open won by Jon Rahm, but you shouldn't overlook the club's lovely Castle course.

Set immediately over the road by the banks of the tidal River Inagh on a stretch of land known as the Corcass, it is packed with variety. The iconic Dough Castle sits at the far end of the course right beside the 6th and 7th greens, and no matter how you play, it would be hard not to keep a smile on your face here.

Castlerock - Bann

Last summer, I was delighted to return to Castlerock in Northern Ireland to play its superb Mussenden course again. Late in the round, I spotted some of the tantalising holes on the Bann nine about which I had read and heard a great deal. Pennink drew up the plans and it was effectively built in-house about 40 years ago under the supervision of the club's late head greenkeeper, Billy Kane.

Situated very close to Royal Portrush, a game at Bushfoot along the coast meant there wasn't quite time to play it on that trip, but just for once I'm happy to recommend a course I haven't actually played! I feel completely confident that I saw more than enough to know you won't be disappointed.

Royal Portrush - Valley

Let's finish with a second course that is not quite so overlooked because its reputation is growing quickly and in line with that of its club's main 18 holes. Just minutes from Castlerock, the Valley course at Royal Portrush is a real beauty that gave up land for two new holes on the Dunluce Links when the Open returned in 2019.

In return, much has been done, and continues to be done, by architects Mackenzie and Ebert to improve the Valley course. It is now quite different, and greatly improved, from when I first visited 30 years ago, and I look forward to seeing the finished changes for myself sooner rather than later.

This small selection of second courses that deserve greater attention, and which most visitors would surely enjoy, only scratches the surface of the many such options out there. While it is very easy to be hypnotised by the star standing in the centre of the stage, it is also well worth taking a good look at the supporting cast.

Three's Company

A small number of clubs have a third course, while some boast even more, with the portfolio at the recently expanded St Andrews Links Trust now up to a barnstorming eight. These three 54-holers warrant an overnight stay or longer to play them all.

Gullane

The package here is hard to beat. There is a neat symmetry, with one Top 100, one Next 100 and one absolutely delightful hidden gem. Some may raise an eyebrow at shorter courses, but while No. 3 is only just over 5,000 yards, much of this is down to there being six par 3s and a solitary par 5. There are several drive-and-pitch par 4s, but also two monsters at 10 and 14, as well as the same look, feel and timeless enjoyment that make the other two courses so special.

Celtic Manor

This south Wales resort is best known for hosting the 2010 Ryder Cup on its Twenty Ten course, but the original layout here was Robert Trent Jones Senior's Roman Road, which opened in 1995. The Montgomerie, designed by Colin, completes the trio. The three courses and hotel make for a compelling golf destination.

The Belfry

The Derby course may not live up to the dizzying heights of the Brabazon, which has hosted a record four Ryder Cups, but it's still well worth a game. The PGA National is a very good course, both as a test of golf and in terms of drama. Water is often in play, and the experience and challenge are not that far behind those of its world-famous older sibling.

The Golf

• Shore: par 36, 3,419 yards
• Dunes: par 36, 3,436 yards
• Himalayas: par 36, 3,376 yards
• GF: 18 Holes: £175 Mon-Thu, £215 Fri-Sun
• Stay & Play: packages available
• W: princesgolfclub.co.uk

The east coast of Kent boasts an incredible five-mile stretch that is home to not one but three current and former Open Championship venues. Prince's achieved this honour back in 1932, since when it has hosted or co-hosted many top-level events, most recently the 2017 Amateur and 2023 Women's Amateur Championships. In four years it will be on the world stage again when the Walker Cup comes to town.

There are three loops of nine, and while it is the Shore and Himalayas that sit proudly in the Golf Monthly Top 100, the Dunes is really just as worthy. Extensive improvements and new holes, including two excellent par 3s, abound, with Martin Ebert upgrading all three nines to their fullest potential.

My advice would always be to try and play all three nines, and as someone who has been visiting on and off for more than 40 years, my view is that the whole set-up at Prince's Golf Club simply continues to get better and better over time.

The Lodge

The Lodge, just at the entrance to the Prince's estate, opened in 2012 to wide acclaim on the site of the original dormy house. There are three buildings offering a total of 36 very well-appointed and comfortable bedrooms along with two more spacious suites.

These have been specifically designed to cater for golfing groups and societies and even have bag storage areas. Also on site is the excellent 1932 Grill which offers a wide and very interesting menu to suit all tastes. Look out for the Collin Morikawa burger, named in honour of the American who stayed here when he won The Open at neighbouring Royal St George's five years ago.

Best Deal

The Summer Break Special from £275pp includes one night's bed and breakfast, a two-course dinner and two rounds of golf. This offer is based on two people sharing a standard room and runs from Sunday to Thursday night inclusive.

I fully accept that any January golfing visit to Yorkshire, or indeed any UK county, is fraught with meteorological risk, but I've enjoyed more than my fair share of good fortune on several previous mid-winter trips to various parts of the country.

Yorkshire is England's biggest golfing county and home to several famous clubs that feature in our UK&I Top 100 course rankings, such as Alwoodley, Moortown and Ganton.

The county is also blessed with more golf courses that the whole of Wales.

This time, I was heading to Harrogate anyway for the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition, so was speculatively looking to pick off one or two courses en route and while staying at Rudding Park on the outskirts of town.

Given the wet January weather nearly everywhere, I prudently chose a moorland course for my journey north, which is how I came to find myself pulling up at Baildon Golf Club near Bradford on Sunday January 18.

Limited visibility up on the moors

It wasn't raining hard but was very misty and after a quick lunch in the club's Waterworks clubhouse (yes, it really is an old waterworks building), I met up with two Martins – Messrs Binns and Patchett, both recent past captains – who suggested we play holes one to six then 15 to 18 on the way back.

On this particular afternoon, visibility was distinctly limited, but there are clearly some very strong and attractive holes and the views must be glorious some days. The par-3 2nd, which plays down and over an exposed rockface, is perhaps the visual highlight.

The par 4s at the 3rd and 4th are both tough, the former doglegging left to an elevated green, and I also really enjoyed the final par 3 at 16 where the green is cut into the slope, with a steep fall-off to the left and some unusual hollows on the right.

The only two par 5s come on 17 and 18 and must provide a real chance to salvage a score right at the death some days. I very much look forward to returning in more clement conditions.

Ringing the changes

From here I headed north-east to avail myself fully of Rudding Park's incredible rooftop spa, letting the various thermal experiences and water jets go to town on my tired and rusty golfing muscles.

I didn't play the main Martin Hawtree course this time but did enjoy a guided tour with the resort's executive advisor, Peter Banks.

The new 15th and 16th holes (with a bit of a Woburn vibe) that I'd seen last time were now in play, with the former 16th and 17th now retired and today's 17th (the former 15th) extended into a par 5.

The downhill risk-reward 13th was a work in progress, with an extension to the left-hand pond and new bunkering to make you think before taking it on. I look forward to tackling these new or reworked holes next time.

I did, however, finally play the six-hole, par-3 Repton course, where I'd enjoyed a hard-hat tour when it was under construction nearly 20 years ago.

The penultimate hole pays homage to the 17th at Sawgrass. Misreading the wind slightly I was lucky to stay dry, but with the pin at the back had to work hard to salvage par.

With time for one more nine-hole game around my exhibition commitments I drove north to Masham, which had been on my radar for a while.

On the way I passed separate pub signs declaring ‘Yorkshire's best carvery' and ‘Yorkshire's best riverside beer garden' – bold claims indeed in such a vast county, but claims that I didn't have time to verify independently on this occasion.

Masham's setting by the River Burn takes some beating, too, but another misty day meant I didn't get to see it at its finest.

The long par-3 4th across the river is one of the highlights on a compact layout where the 1st and 9th share much of the same fairway in opposite directions. You must stay right on the tight par-4 3rd to take the trees out of play on your approach.

Masham is home to the Theakston brewery, so even as only an occasional beer drinker, I felt it fitting to sample the local ale in the clubhouse afterwards, along with a roast beef sandwich, Yorkshire pud and lashings of gravy.

Play

Baildon
Par 70, 6,068 yards
Green fees: £22wd, £28we (Weds, Fri and Sun am inc. bacon sandwich with tea/coffee and a post-round pint)

Rudding Park
Hawtree: par 72, 6,713 yards
Green fee: £50
Repton: par 18, 660 yards
Green fee: £13

Masham
Par 35, 3,055 yards
Green fees: 9 holes: £20; 18 holes: £30

Stay

Rudding Park
Follifoot, Harrogate, HG3 1JH
W: ruddingpark.co.uk

(Prices correct at time of publication in April 2026)

Ham Manor, close to the coast in the West Sussex village of Angmering, is home to a fine, easy-walking parkland layout created in the mid 1930s by the great Harry Colt towards the end of his prolific course design career.

Originally called Goring Hall Golf Club, it boasts a grand old manor for a clubhouse - one of a number of parkland courses in the UK&I to boast such a stately setting.

At Ham Manor, the clubhouse forms a fitting backdrop to a closing hole remodelled and extended in the last decade. Water now awaits menacingly between the clubhouse and green to devour anything slightly pushed or overhit.

Switching it up

This hole was originally the 9th but the two nines were flipped in relatively recent times. This means it is the front nine that now possesses a more rural feel before you get in among some very nice houses a little more on a back nine perhaps blessed with a touch more variety and character.

As you make your way out on the modest-length opener, where a stream crossing the fairway may force an early strategic decision over club choice, you can savour lovely views of the South Downs, where you'll find several good courses to play, away to your right.

They remain in view as you tackle a par 5 and another shortish par 4 en route to the course's western boundary.

A good par 3 follows before the toughest test heading out – the long, straight par-4 5th, which stretches to nearly 440 yards and takes no prisoners, narrowing in markedly at driving distance.

This narrowing-in theme continues on the 9th, although this time it is at least a par 5, giving you an extra shot to play with.

A back nine with character

The par-4 10th has much to commend it as you move onto slightly more rolling terrain. Visually, both drive and approach set up beautifully here, but stray too far left off the tee and you'll have a bothersome tree to contend with as the hole turns to the left over the final 100 yards or so.

After climbing on 11, you drop back down on 12, where a stream crossing diagonally in front of the green will sharpen your focus a little, especially as you may well be hitting your second shot off a testing downslope.

Strong hole follows strong hole until you close out your round on the short but heavily bunkered par-3 17th, then that strong par-4 18th after a brief walk through the houses.

Your final approach of the day must be successfully threaded between bunkers and water for a stress-free finish.

Ham Manor Golf Club,
West Drive,
Angmering,
West Sussex,
BN16 4JE
Stats: par 70, 6,280 yards
Green fees: Round: £60wd, £70we; Twilight: £35-£40 (from 4pm)

(prices correct at time of publication in April 2026)

Received wisdom says that a 1st hole that allows as many golfers as possible to get their rounds off to a stress-free start is a good thing. ‘Received wisdom' may say that, but our combined experience of 1,800+ different courses suggests that not all of them are listening!

In this article about some of the hardest opening holes that one or both of us has played in the UK&I, you'll notice just one par 5. The reason for this is that we think getting to the green in three on even a mid-length par 5 is easier for most golfers than finding the putting surface in regulation on a 450-yard par 4 or 230-yard par 3. Before we get going, you may also be interested in some of our pet peeves on a golf course, as discussed in this video!

Back to business, and we don't wish to provoke the ire of the golfing gods by suggesting all opening par 5s are easy, but do think that tough opening par 3s and 4s make for a much more challenging start and are more likely to lead to big numbers.

Of course, length isn't the only ingredient in difficulty and several holes featured here owe their toughness to factors other than a need for tour-level driving distance. For maximum effect, we have included the yardage off the very back tees here, but thankfully, other options are always available!

So, from a shortlist of several more than we can accommodate, here, in order of ascending length, is our selection of ten opening holes where par is cause for wild celebration. And, in the highly unlikely event of a birdie, you may even contemplate calling it a day and walking straight back in, for there will be no way to better that for the rest of the round...

The Shire, London - par 3, 175 yards

Rob: Seve Ballesteros was one of the greatest and most popular golfers of all time. His achievements on the course and the manner of their happening are the stuff of legend. Less well-known are his architectural endeavours, the only one of which in England is The Shire London.

This exciting course is one of the best golf courses in Hertfordshire and has six of each par. It opens with an extremely demanding short hole. Playing between 117 and 175 yards, the problem is not its length, but that you are playing to a shallow island green, and it's your first shot of the day! There is some bail-out room at the back, but anything short, left or right will leave an ugly mark on your card right at the start of your round.

Peacehaven - par 3, 200 yards

Jeremy: I'm a bit of a sucker for downland golf and in Sussex I have more than my fair share of it within an hour of home. I played most of these courses for the first time many years ago, but one which had eluded me until 2017 was the nine-holer at Peacehaven, which is actually my nearest coastal town.

I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't what is quite possibly the toughest opening hole in the county. Playing 200 yards across a wide gully (215 second time round when you're warmed up!) the green looks simply unhittable. And so it has proved. I've been back several times in varying winds, hitting anything from hybrid to driver, and have failed to once hit the target. One day maybe!

Winterfield - par 3, 228 yards

Rob: East Lothian is a golf-rich county where courses such as Winterfield frequently fly under the radar. This is a shame as, although it is short and covers a relatively compact area of undulating links, it is enormous fun. It is also not without challenge, and that is very much the case at the outrageously tough par-3 opening hole.

Whelkie Haugh is 228 yards from the back tee; the concession off the yellows is that it is only 224. And this is all carry! Most will play it, intentionally or not, as a par 4. The tee shot should find the vast, sunken meadow that separates tee and green, before a semi-blind chip up to the putting surface. This is one of those holes that alone warrants the green fee.

Glen - par 4, 332 yards

Jeremy: Staying on the East Lothian coast, you'd be forgiven for thinking what can be so tough about a 332-yarder? The start of dreams, surely? A simple par – or better – and on you go. Not so fast, for it is topography, not length, that is the confounding variable here. The drive isn't the issue here at Glen Golf Club – it's what you face on the approach that can put fear into the heart of any golfer, especially those who have spurned the opportunity for a decent warm-up (most of us, then).

From the flat ground at clubhouse level, you're required to play sharply up to a green cut into the slope with trouble all round. You may only have wedge in hand but that will be scant consolation as the pressing need for accuracy starts playing havoc with your mind.

Portmarnock - par 4, 417 yards

Rob: Renowned for its firm but fair golfing examination, it is the Red then Blue nines that make up the Championship course at Portmarnock Golf Club near Dublin. The 1st hole is a cracker where you drive from beside the stylish clubhouse and who knows how many unseen eyes peering out from inside.

Head towards, but not into, the three bunkers lining the left, to keep away from the water running the entire length of the right side. Another bunker awaits in the safe lay-up area short left, while two more guard the entrance to a long, sloping green. If the club is awarded an Open Championship, it will be fascinating to see who the first golfing superstar to find early trouble here is.

Silverdale - par 4, 402 yards

Rob: Many years ago, I read a review of a par 4 that was described as a double dogleg. This seemed incongruous to me. The idea of changing direction twice before your approach suggested par 5 all day long. However, there are many such holes, and they're not always the longest two-shotters.

Silverdale is a course that has expanded from 9 to 18 holes and while the opener here is only 402 yards, it fits the description because, for anyone who cannot reach in two, you need to play left, then right, then left again. The fairway you see from the elevated tee is actually that of the par-5 11th. You need to go way left of the trees, through the eye of a needle, before a down-and-up approach. Slightly mad but enormous fun.

Royal Birkdale - par 4, 443 yards

Rob: Renowned as one of the best and, yes, toughest starts to The Open, the 1st at Royal Birkdale is a par 4 whose challenge is defined by its pronounced dogleg nature. Working its way from right to left, you then almost play back to the right again to the green making it, too, a near double dogleg.

The bunker on the corner has recently been increased in size, while the two bunkers to the right of the green have been merged into one with greater runoffs. An already very tough hole is now even more demanding in time for this July's 154th Open Championship.

Prince's (Dunes) par 4, 458 yards

Jeremy: A long right-to-left dogleg with a huge bunker to carry down the left and a naughty central bunker 30 yards short of the green – plus the inevitable risk of some kind of sea breeze – pose enough of a challenge anyway. And then you get to the green!

It's too long to be classed an upturned saucer – more upturned oval platter – but it is hell-bent on repelling all but the straightest of approaches. Putter is the safest option once your ball has invariably rolled off one side or the other, but getting down in two is still far from easy. I have made par... but then I have played this Kent links many times over the years.

Saunton (East) - par 4, 473 yards

Jeremy: Unlike Prince's I've only played Saunton East in Devon twice. The real problem here is simply one of yardage relative to par. On the plus side, yes, it has an elevated tee, but into the wind that's no help as you then add the need to keep it down to the challenge of sheer length. Not easy. Of course, you can venture forward to the more manageable yellows at 387 yards if you have a choice, but where's the fun in that?

My abiding memory is of playing it into the wind on my first visit and labouring to a scrappy double, only to then hit a hybrid to 25ft on the downwind par-52nd and hole it for eagle. Level par after two with nothing even close to a par on the card.

Trump International Golf Links Scotland (Old) - par 5, 541 yards

Rob: The opportunity to correct a mistake may mean that not too many par-5 opening holes qualify as overly tough, but the Old course at Trump Aberdeen has a really strong such hole where you'll need your wits about you all the way to the green.

This Martin Hawtree design opened in 2012 and your first job here is finding the fairways on a stunning but extremely tough course where anything that misses almost certainly adds a shot to your score. A trio of bunkers guards the lay-up area on the 1st before you play up to a raised, contoured green that is full of challenge. Into a southerly, it will play way longer than 541 yards, but will set the tone perfectly for a demanding but thrilling round, where every hole is different.

The Golf

• Shiskine - par 42, 2,787 yards
• GF: 12 holes £40wd, £42we - 24 holes £65wd, £75we
• W: shiskinegolf.com

Almost unforgivably, I only visited Arran for the first time with three good friends in the summer of 2024, despite it having been on my golfing radar for 45 years and only just over the water from the Top 100 courses at Prestwick and Royal Troon. Even in the unseasonably cool and mixed weather we experienced, we loved every minute playing the island's very different golf courses, with the pinnacle being Shiskine on the west coast.

This unique and beguiling 12-holer is roughly a minute from the Kinloch Hotel and is absolutely packed with charm, challenge and charisma. There are a magnificent seven par 3s, a lone three-shotter and four par 4s, two of which will tempt bigger hitters. This is a course that it would be impossible not to enjoy. Do not be put off by its brevity – go round twice! The other courses are also more than worth a visit, prompting me following that visit to reveal the best-value golf pass in the UK. It's gone up a little since then, but it remains a complete and utter bargain.

The Hotel

Arran is a sensationally beautiful island sitting between Ayrshire and the Mull of Kintyre. On its western coast, and owned and operated by the Crawford family for more than 70 years, the Kinloch Hotel enjoys a glorious and peaceful setting in the hamlet of Blackwaterfoot. Its 22 double rooms, eight singles and seven self-catering apartments cater for groups of all sizes, and while four of the golf courses are on the east of the island, The String is a stunning road through the mountains that gets you to Brodick in just 20 minutes.

The rooms are comfortable and quiet, and the hotel is delightfully and stylishly decorated. My friends and I were hugely impressed with the food – both quality and quantity – with different specials on offer every night. We also thoroughly enjoyed rounding off our evenings with a frame or two of snooker and there's a pool and sauna, too. The best testimony I can offer is that we enjoyed the welcoming and friendly service so much that we're going back this summer.

Best Deal

Enjoy two nights bed and breakfast in a sea-facing room for £110pp per night with a £25pp dinner allowance on the first night. It's also worth exploring the Arran Golf Pass, which this year offers a round on each of Arran's lovely courses for a bargain £175.

The England-Wales border runs for approximately 160 miles, from the Dee Estuary and Chester in the north, down to Chepstow and the Severn Estuary in the south. It is home to plenty of beautiful scenery, with some very enjoyable golf nearby including these five interesting and varied courses.

St Pierre (Championship Old)

• GF: 18 holes: from £60
• W: marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/brssp-delta-hotels-st-pierre-country-club/golf

Just west of the River Wye and peacefully located between the old and new bridges over the Severn, St Pierre falls just on the Welsh side of the border. It is home to a 148-room hotel based in and around a historic manor house, and two very enjoyable parkland layouts; the Championship Old and the Mathern.

The Championship Old course was designed by Frank Pennink and CK Cotton and opened for play in 1962. It has hosted many important tournaments including the British Masters, won here by certain golfing superstars including Bernhard Langer, Greg Norman and Ian Woosnam.

It was also home to the 1996 Solheim Cup, and has a particularly exciting finish, with the 15th and 17th greens jutting out into the lake.

Wrexham

• GF: 18 holes: £55wd, £60we
• W: wrexhamgolfclub.co.uk

Dating back 120 years, Wrexham originally opened with a nine-hole course before moving to its current site north-east of town and just west of the border in 1923. James Braid designed the new 18-hole layout here, since when it has changed a great deal, primarily due to wartime requisitioning, which effectively led to a reconstruction.

This attractive parkland layout now rises and falls without ever being too heavy on the legs, while constantly changing direction. There are five varied par 3s, while the three par 5s play into the prevailing wind.

Llandrindod Wells

• GF: 18 holes: £50-£60
• W: lwgc.co.uk

This beautiful and undulating course at Llandrindod Wells is the furthest of our quintet from the border at roughly ten miles, just outside the spa town of the same name. It was designed by six-time Open champion Harry Vardon and opened in 1907.

James Braid made some later changes, but regardless of architectural pedigree, it is a course packed with interesting and enjoyable holes, where the panoramic views compete with the best anywhere in the UK. Scoring well is definitely possible, though, if you can keep your eyes off the distracting scenery.

Llanymynech

• GF: 18 holes: £45wd, £55we
• W: llanymynechgc.co.uk

If Llandrindod Wells is the furthest from the border, the course at Llanymynech Golf Club is certainly the closest. So close, in fact, that it actually straddles it, with 15 holes in Wales while the 4th, 5th and 6th are in England. The two sections are separated by Offa's Dyke, the ancient earthwork that is now a scheduled monument.

From the 12th tee there are the most wonderful 360˚ views over the course, out over the surrounding countryside to the Welsh mountains, and seemingly over the rest of the world. Regular changes of direction and elevation make for a round of endless fun.

Vale of Llangollen

• GF: 18 holes: £68wd, £73we
• W: vlgc.co.uk

Not far from Wrexham, this lush, parkland course is set in a green valley right beside the River Dee, close to the Shropshire Union Canal. This easy-walking layout is a strong test of golf that has hosted many regional and national events. There are three par 5s, starting with the 1st, and three par 3s, including the 18th.

It is characterised by its testing par 4s, including the bunkerless SI-1 9th, which eases its way from right to left while hugging the river on the right and the 16th, playing in the opposite direction.

The south-west is home to some of the best golf courses in Ireland, but ask anyone in the country to rank the most beautiful places to visit, and Killarney will be high up on that list. The town is charming and you are never short of accommodation options.

Alongside, Ireland's full beauty is on display, wrapped up in the Killarney National Park – all 41 square miles of it – and so entwined with the towering MacGillycuddy's Reeks and the shimmering Lough Leane.

Within this park, at the foot of those mountains and running alongside the lough, is the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club, home to two swaggering parkland courses: Killeen and Mahony's Point.

The clubhouse sits on the water's edge, the long driveway revealing the club's extra cherry on top: a herd of 700 red deer. It is the last indigenous such herd in Ireland, and they roam the courses freely and come surprisingly close.

A big reputation

The Killeen course has hosted four Irish Opens, with Nick Faldo winning back-to-back titles in the 1990s. It also hosted the men's 2025 European Amateur Team Championship, won by Italy. The place has always had pedigree.

The course's opening holes cling to Lough Leane. I'd suggest avoiding a fade on the dogleg par-4 1st or long par-4 4th, or there will be water in your future. Both greens bring the lough terrifyingly close while the par-3 3rd plays across the water.

It's a powerful introduction to both the lough's and Killeen's beauty. There is so much colour everywhere and it blends with the vibrancy of the Reeks rising above you, an endless display that lured me along, hole after hole.

Killeen has a strong set of holes with a start and finish I won't forget. In the middle, comes the picture-perfect par-3 10th. It plays out into the lough, with the green well protected by water on three sides.

The final hole, played towards the clubhouse, lough and mountains, is also staggeringly beautiful – and yet it may not be the best 18th hole here.

The Mahony's Point course possesses a more relaxed air, a more calming flow. It might be the understudy to the muscular, championship Killeen, but there's no second fiddle here, especially with one of the best finishing stretches in Irish golf.

It may be simpler to suggest that your round will be one of old-school charm. Greens feel more naturally sited, fairways and first cut offer more room, and the bounce in my step resembled more of a stroll. That is the beauty of Mahony's Point.

The finishing stretch

The final run for home on this course is sensational. The closing three holes are part of the original design from 1939 and this is where Mahony's Point and Lough Leane collide impressively

I played the short, downhill par-5 16th knowing that the full beauty of the region would be revealed when I reached the dogleg. The green below has the lough pressing in from behind and the mountains rising to meet the sky. It's an approach shot of sheer joy.

The par-3 18th surpasses even that thrill, for this is one of Ireland's most stunning short holes. You play over the lough's waters to a green cocooned by enchanting pines. Like me, you'll pray for the sweetest of swings.

After my stay at the conveniently located Killeen House Hotel, a round at Beaufort beckoned. Set on the 300-acre Churchtown Estate, this parkland layout enjoys space, elegance and constant views of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks

I enjoyed its lazy, enticing rhythm, especially the par-3 15th next to a 15th-century castle, and the 403-yard SI-2 18th, which doglegs around a lake. A worthy finish to a fine taste of parkland golf.

Play

Killarney
Killeen: par 72, 6,652 yards
GF: €125-€225
Mahony's Point: par 70, 6,371 yards
GF: €100-€175

Beaufort
Par 71, 6,506 yards
GF: €50-€100

Stay
Killeen House Hotel Aghadoe, Lakes of Killarney, Co. Kerry
W: killeenhouse hotel.com

(Prices correct at time of publication in April 2026)

Plenty of golf clubs have moved home over the years for many and varied reasons. Not quite so many have moved home four times, but that is what the 27-hole Malone Golf Club, five miles from Belfast city centre, has done – home to one of the best courses in Northern Ireland.

In fairness, and to appease those who place stock in the notion of constancy, it has now been at its present site on the Ballydrain estate for nearly half its life, moving there in 1962 some 67 years after the club was founded.

There is much good golf to be enjoyed in and around Northern Ireland's capital, including, of course, Holywood, the home of Rory McIlroy,, where I finally got to enjoy a game last year on my most recent Belfast trip.

Rolling parkland terrain

The grand mansion, which now serves as the Malone clubhouse, sits at pretty much the epicentre of the club's three loops of nine, with the estate giving its name to the back nine of what is regarded as the Championship layout, where a large lake comes into play several times.

The front nine is christened Drumbridge and plays down close to the River Lagan, weaving through mature parkland over significantly more undulating terrain in places than the Ballydrain nine.

Some holes on the third nine – Edenderry – also play close to the river, which you drop down quite steeply towards on the Drumbridge's opening right-to-left dogleg, before following it for nearly a third of a mile on the par-5 2nd.

The par-4 7th is a tough nut to crack on this nine, no great surprise given that it measures anything from 451 to 485 yards thus fully justifying its SI-1 status. Par here will be a rare beast indeed for most golfers.

Before that, there's a beautiful self-enclosed par-3 at the 6th, while the Drumbridge nine closes with a fascinating rollercoaster putting surface on the 9th, one of several new greens to arrive in the last five or six years.

Water on your mind

Four of these new greens are on the Ballydrain nine, where your first encounter with the lake comes on the tee of the dogleg-right par-4 13th. You then double-back on the par-4 14th, which bends the other way down to a green pretty close to the water's edge.

Not as close as the green on the picturesque short par 3 that follows, though, where anything left will meet a watery grave – worth remembering if the greenkeeper has set a sucker pin on that side.

The run for home is enjoyably varied, starting with a short par 4 that's well protected by sand up at the green.

The par 5 17th sweeps down and round to the left, before a strong par-4 finale where water is in your eye off the tee, then in play on the right on what is likely to be a fairly long approach for most.

● Essentials
Malone Golf Club, 240 Upper Malone Road, Dunmurry, Belfast, BT17 9LB
Stats: Championship: par 71, 6,510 yards
GF: round: £125-£155 mid-May to Sept; £75 April and Oct

(Prices correct at time of publication in April 2026)

Silverdale

• GF: 18 holes £30-£50 all week
• W: silverdalegolfclub.co.uk

Dating back to 1906, Silverdale’s original 9 holes now play as the super-tough opener and the fascinating closing eight. Three new holes were added in 1992 before it was extended to a full 18 ten years later. What we now have is a course of modest length but boundless variety and charm just a mile or so from Morecambe Bay.

The newer holes are on more open land to the east of the scenic railway line. Here, there are far-reaching views and Myers Dyke comes into play. The original nine are packed with intrigue and fun and include the heroic par-5 11th with its eagle’s nest of a green and the brilliant 13th with its even more unlikely approach. While it may not quite make the list of the very best golf courses in Lancashire, it is still one of the most enjoyable.

Dunkeld & Birnam

• GF: 18 holes £46 all week
• W: dunkeldandbirnamgolfclub.co.uk

While it's a pleasure to recommend big courses such as those in the video below, it's arguably even better to be able to recommend some that are less well-known. That is certainly the case at Dunkeld and Birnam, where the godfather of golf course design, Old Tom Morris, was responsible for the club’s original course.

It opened for play in 1892, but sadly, the Great War put an end to it. A new 9-hole course on the current and very beautiful site in Perthshire not far from Blairgowrie Golf Club was opened in 1922.

Its development to a full 18 occurred in 2000, and there are now two very distinct and different nines. The older holes are on undulating heathland mainly to the south of the delightful pavilion-style clubhouse, while the newer nine head over towards the Loch of the Lawes.

Abersoch

• GF: 18 holes £49wd, £59we
• W: abersochgolf.co.uk

Paradoxically for a course that is on the north-west coast of Wales, this beautiful links faces eastwards, offering wonderful views over the upper reaches of Cardigan Bay. The club was founded back in 1908 and the original nine holes were designed by 6-time Open champion, Harry Vardon.

With the addition of three more links holes and later a very different parkland loop of six that are now holes 12 to 17, it is now a very enjoyable and varied hybrid. For those visiting the area on holiday, the club offers bargain rates for golf over one, two or four weeks.

Maryport

• GF: 18 holes £35wd, £45we
• W: maryportgolf.co.uk

Rather like Abersoch, Maryport in Cumbria offers a game of two very distinct and varying styles. Opening in 1905 as a 9-hole links, these earliest holes are now complemented by a completely different loop of parkland golf which serves as the contrasting and slightly more forgiving middle section, holes six to fourteen.

The signature hole is the stroke index one 15th, but redemption comes with birdie opportunities at two of the closing three holes; potentially driveable, risk and reward short par 4s. There are fabulous views out over Alonby Bay right over to Scotland, and this friendly club is one of Cumbria’s many hidden gems.

St Michael's

• GF: 18 holes £45wd, £55we, check for offers
• W: stmichaelsgolfclub.com

Old Tom Morris was involved in the original 9-hole course at St Michael’s, a club with a very enjoyable course that flies under the radar mainly as it’s such a short drive from the home of golf, St Andrews. Opening in 1903, it was not until 30 years ago that it was doubled in size with the older holes now serving as the back 9.

The two nines are well balanced, each with two short holes and a lone par 5, and in the golf-rich county of Fife, this welcoming club offers a well-priced and very appealing alternative.

My most recent golfing trip to Inverness followed hot on the heels of a visit to Royal Dornoch. My base was Lochardil House, a late 19th-century Victorian mansion on the southern outskirts that is one of seven excellent Highland Coast Hotels properties.

Before availing myself of my good-sized room (and a cracking breakfast) there, I’d organised a game at Alness, halfway between Dornoch and the hotel and one of a few courses in the area I’d not previously played.

The scorecard fails to hit 5,000 yards by a tiny margin, but this should not deter you. Far from it. I enjoyed every minute of my peaceful round on a gloriously sunny day, savouring the views and several fine holes, and often playing from the kind of springy moorland turf that can flatter one’s striking a tad.

The 9th is a stunning par 4 that would be a worthy addition to any course, playing down past a drystone wall before rising to the green. I was particularly pleased to make par after a collision with a tree left me an unexpectedly long approach.

The 12th is another magnificent par 4 that drops markedly before climbing to a splendid green complex, while the 14th tee is one of the scariest you’ll ever stand on.

As you plunge down to the lower level by a fast-flowing river for the final stretch, there is no good miss on a nerve-jangling drive where many a reload must be required.

A fine replacement

I enjoyed more Indian summer weather next day at King’s in Inverness, which opened in 2019 to replace the Torvean course following changes to the local road and bridge network.

Plenty of the former course is still traceable over the road and even some old tee-viewing steps, as I discovered on a recce.

The 3rd and 4th are both strong holes with woods away to the left and I really liked the par-5 5th, which curves left and over a stone wall, with a hidden bunker waiting for those trying to feed one in from the left.

After the lovely downhill par-3 7th, which plays past a pond, the climb to the higher ground starts in earnest on the 8th and continues in style on the superb 11th, a majestic hole that takes you to the highest point and the dangerous 12th, where everything slopes right towards an oft-visited penalty area.

The descent gathers pace on the par-4 14th, where you can open your shoulders, and continues on the 15th, a big par 5 straight down the hill. I left feeling that King’s perhaps hasn’t shouted loudly enough about itself since opening.

Doak’s Cabot newcomer

If King’s was young, my final course hadn’t even started teething yet. Old Petty at Cabot Highlands only opened for preview play last autumn and I was lucky enough to get it on another beautiful day.

There may still be some bedding in required here and there ahead of spring 2026’s full opening, but I was impressed with Tom Doak’s layout, which plays right beside the striking 17th-century Castle Stuart on the downhill par-3 3rd - far closer than on the original Castle Stuart Golf Links.

The excellent 4th skirts round the marshy reeds to an unusual green, with the arrow-straight 5th then taking you to the early halfway hut with its vibrant red roof.

The 7th boasts an intriguing grass bunker greenside, then, after some testing holes over a more inland stretch, you head back down to the Moray Firth on the tempting 13th before flanking an inlet on the handsome downhill 14th.

The long 15th hugs this inlet as it sweeps left before you then drive over the reeds on 16, where the carry perhaps looks a little more daunting than it really is.

After a final wave to the imposing castle, you return to the clubhouse via the cheeky par-3 17th with its raised green, and the shortish par-4 18th, which crosses the 1st hole.

Alness
Par 67, 4,997 yards
Green fees: £40

King’s, Inverness
Par 70, 6,634 yards
Green fees: £50-£85; twilight £40

Cabot Highlands
Old Petty: par 71, 6,580 yards
Green fees: £385

Stay Lochardil House
Stratherrick Road, Inverness, IV2 4LF
W: highlandcoasthotels.com

(Prices correct at date of publication in March 2026)

The golf

East: par 72, 6,757 yards
West: par 72, 6,625 yards
The jury is out as to which is the better layout and my view on it, living less than half an hour away, has probably changed many times over the years. Both would sit on most lists of the best golf courses in Sussex

The East provided a suitably stern test for the cream of the European Tour in the 1993 and 1994 European Opens (won by Gordon Brand Jnr and David Gilford respectively) and certainly has a demanding closing quartet.

Long par 4s mix with a testing par 3 over water at 16, and there’s further water to ponder on 17, too.

The West is perhaps blessed with a little more character right from the off, with the shortish (off most tees) opening par 4 demanding precision before it turns sharp left for the downhill approach.

The 3rd is a cracking par 3 with water right, and the par-5 12th may set your nerves jangling as water crosses the fairway 170 yards out from the green, then hugs the right side on the fiendishly narrow approach.

The hotel

The two courses opened in the early 1990s and were joined by a 104-bedroom hotel in 2006. This imposing building looks out towards parts of the East course and offers good-sized bedrooms and suites plus much more besides, including the Horsted Health Club and Spa.

Here you’ll find a 20m heated indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, 50-station gym and more – ideal whether you want to relax or get the heart racing.

There’s an extensive treatment menu in the spa and the ‘stay and spa’ packages are popular. The Pavilion restaurant boasts two AA rosettes and you can also eat in the Hunnington Grill or the Sussex Lounge.

Best deal

A one-night DB&B stay with two rounds of golf starts from £129 per person sharing from Monday to Friday from November to March (£159 on Saturdays).

In April, August and October, prices start from £189 per person sharing Monday to Friday, and from May to September from £219. Dinner is a three-course meal from the Table d’Hote menu in the Pavilion restaurant.

Two-night DB&B stays with three rounds range from £234 to £414 per person sharing.

(Prices correct at time of publication in March 2026)

East Sussex National, Little Horsted, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 5ES
T: 01825 880088
E: reservations@eastsussexnational. co.uk
W: eastsussexnational.co.uk

One of South Yorkshire’s strongest parkland tests boasts a striking early 19th-century Gothic hall for a clubhouse. In what is England's largest golfing county, Rotherham certainly sits towards the upper end of any list of the best courses in Yorkshire.

And at a time when green fee prices have become a bit of a talking point in golf - as discussed in the video below - Rotherham looks decent value for a course of this quality, especially if you go for the twilight option.

The layout, which plays below and around Thrybergh Hall, has proved the perfect breeding ground for two generations of tour success, too, with 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett and 23-year-old Ben Schmidt, who finished 69th on the Race to Dubai in 2025, both coming through the ranks at Rotherham Golf Club.

The course also enjoys a design resumé that features two Open champions, with 1902 winner Sandy Herd creating the original layout, which would subsequently be modified by five-time champion James Braid.

Moving with the times

But as we all know, the game, its equipment and its challenges are constantly evolving, and in recent years the club has enlisted the help of course architect Jonathan Gaunt to help ensure that Rotherham continues to provide a fitting test for the 21st-century golfer.

Gaunt’s work has focused on refurbishing existing bunkers, strategically placing new ones where required and creating new run-off areas around the greens to add an extra dimension to recovery work. The visuals have been elevated significantly by the use of China Clay sand.

The course starts on a seemingly straightforward downhill opener, but don’t get too complacent for the green entrance is narrow, so precision is required on the approach. The tough uphill 2nd is then followed by a lovely par 3 across a dip before the course drops to its low point.

You return to Thrybergh Hall on the 9th, an excellent longer par 3 across a broader dip, and again on the 12th after an interesting triangle of holes that features the apparently ‘gettable’ short downhill par-4 11th.

The high ground

As you play the fine closing quartet, which starts with a sharp dogleg-left, then a shortish par 3 to a potentially confounding green, it dawns on you that you are on slightly higher ground than the earlier holes would perhaps have had you believe.

The finish is then strong, with 17 the easier of the two par 4s on account of 18 stretching to a challenging 456 yards off the tips. As if such length alone were not sufficient test for mere mortals, the hole moves gently left with the fairway cambering the other way.

Par here is certainly worth a celebratory drink in the grand clubhouse, which provides a fitting backdrop to the final action on this thoroughly enjoyable course.

● Essentials
Doncaster Road, Thrybergh, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S65 4NU
Stats: par 70, 6,378 yards
Green fees: round: 70wd, £79we; twilight (after 4pm): £45

(Prices correct at time of publication in March 2026)

Between them, the senior panel for Golf Monthly’s Top UK&I 100 course rankings in association with Peter Millar – Rob Smith, Jeremy Ellwood and editor Neil Tappin – have a vast experience of golf courses both inside and outside the rankings process.

In this video and article they discuss some commonly voiced concerns about golf course design, debating whether various often-cited weaknesses are valid or perhaps overblown in certain circles.

Let us know in the comments section at the bottom whether you agree or disagree with what we have to say in the accompanying video...

1. A golf course shouldn’t start with a par 3

While the vast majority of courses don’t start with a one-shotter, there are a great many that do, with even a few in our UK&I Top 100 courses rankings opening with a par 3, such as Royal Lytham and St Annes and The Blue course at the Berkshire.

Some golfers don’t like the notion, but we’re generally perfectly happy with it, while noting that if the hole is particularly long or difficult, such that few average golfers are likely to hit the green, it may not be the ideal start from a pace-of-play perspective

2. You shouldn’t have blind shots

While few modern courses present you with blind shots unless you’ve strayed out of position, plenty of older courses, particularly links like Prestwick or Lahinch, do.

We’re happy with this as long as it’s not overdone – it even adds an element of anticipation as you come over the crest for the big reveal to see if your shot really was as good or bad as you thought it was.

Our No.1 course in the rankings – Royal County Down – is famed for its blind shots and that hasn’t stopped it reaching the very pinnacle of our list.

Safety is obviously a concern, and a bell or other means of advising those behind when it is safe to play is essential.

3. A good golf course needs to be of a certain length

The older the three of us get, the less bothered we are about what figure the course yardage starts with. Between us, we have played many thoroughly enjoyable courses under 6,000 yards, including plenty considerably shorter than that.

Our advice would be to never turn your nose up at a course just because the yardage doesn’t look particularly daunting or challenging.

4. Fast greens equal good greens

The slightly unhealthy obsession with fast greens – and green speed often being the sole means by which their quality is judged – is misplaced.

If they’re being honest with themselves, most average golfers don’t putt particularly well on overly fast greens however much they might yearn for them.

And the greens on many older courses were designed at a time when such speeds were never even considered, with many such greens being unsuited to lightning-fast speeds.

5. All holes should be of the same style or genre

Rob explains that he has changed his thinking on this one having once believed that consistency throughout was vitally important.

Now, he is more interested in whether the best possible use of the available plot of land has been made, even if it ventures into slightly different terrain at times.

6. The two nines need to be balanced in terms of length and par

On most golf courses, the two nines won’t be miles apart in terms of length or par, but that isn’t always the case. Is that a problem?

While believing that too big a gulf isn’t great and that an imbalance, with perhaps no par 3s or par 5s on one of the nines, isn’t ideal, we don’t think balance is essential, although if there were any way to mix things up a little more, that would be preferable.

7. You can’t build a modern classic golf course

Some golfers seem to believe that unless a course was built 100+ years ago, it can’t be much good.

While appreciating and loving the history, tradition and heritage that our great old courses are blessed with, we would respectfully disagree and say there is no reason why a course built in more recent times can’t be seen as a classic if it has been well executed.

There are several courses in our UK&I Top 100 that we believe fit the bill, including the likes of Kingsbarns and Dumbarnie, whose popularity suggests that many see them as standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the best golf courses, old and new, in Fife and much further afield.

Between them, the senior panel for Golf Monthly’s UK&I Top 100 course rankings in association with Peter Millar – Rob Smith, Jeremy Ellwood and editor Neil Tappin – have a vast experience of golf courses both inside and outside the rankings process.

The three of them have played in the region of 2,500 different courses in their lives and, while there is much to admire in golf course design right across the spectrum, the video here addresses the pet peeves and niggles they sometimes encounter.

Some of these are shared by all three; others are particular bugbears for one of the trio. Do you agree or have any other pet golf course design peeves of your own? Let us know in the comments section at the bottom...

1. Really difficult holes with really difficult green complexes

Jeremy raises the issue of whether or not it’s right or wise for an already tough golf hole to then throw an unnecessarily challenging green or green complex at you once you’ve successfully made the testing journey from tee to green (or thereabouts).

If a hole is particularly difficult through tightness or simply length, shouldn’t your ‘reward’ for mastering that difficulty be an easier two-putt or up-and-down up at the green?

2. Very long uphill par 5s

While there are undoubtedly some cracking par 5s all around the world, Rob is simply not a fan of long uphill par 5s that seem to go on forever, especially for average golfers, as such holes demand three of their very best strikes to get anywhere near.

He sees little to commend such holes, with the discussion acknowledging that sometimes they are simply getting the course from A to B within the land available, and on to the next area where the terrain allows for more interesting holes.

3. Holes with forced lay-ups

Neil – the longest hitter of the trio by quite some way – feels quite aggrieved about holes with forced lay-ups that take the long hitter’s advantage away.

Holes with cross-heather or rough at the point where a long drive would end up frustrate him and he feels that if that area was simply narrow rather than ‘no-go’, the longer hitter prepared to take on the risk should be able to reap the reward if they can find the target.

4. Pointless bunkers

All three agree that bunkers not very far up the hole, which only ever impact less skilled players who can’t hit it very far or who mishit shots frequently, are not a good idea as they’re potentially punishing those who don’t need the game to feel any harder.

They do concede that occasionally some bunkers might fulfil a visual rather than strategic role, with a wider discussion then ensuing about bunkering in general.

5. Insufficient course signage

Rob concedes that no-one wants a golf course to be unnecessarily littered with signage and course furniture, but where there is any scope for confusion over where to hit the ball or where to walk next, there should be something to assist the first-time visitor in particular.

And blind holes or shots that really require bells to be played safely should always have them, along with good signage to tell golfers there is a bell.

6. Pinchpoints out on the course

The scale of the land on which a golf course is laid out will influence whether or not there will be pinchpoints where several tees, greens or fairways lie uncomfortably close together, but from a safety and pace-of-play perspective, such pinchpoints are not desirable.

Sometimes, pinchpoints will have been created when courses have pushed greens or tees back in the quest for extra yardage, and that is a perhaps inevitable shame.

7. Heavy rough or scrub under trees

Finally, a pet hate of former Golf Monthly editor, Mike Harris – rough or scrub under trees. His view was that hitting it into the trees should be penalty enough, so to then either not find your ball, or struggle to be able to play it if you do, is an unnecessary double jeopardy.

The three agree that in an ideal world, being able to play from the trees, even if only chipping out sideways, is preferable and will perhaps also encourage golfers to sometimes be creative and take on a risky shot that just wouldn’t be possible if the ball were lying in thick rough.

Born in 1871, John Henry Taylor was a quite brilliant golfer who first became Open champion in 1894 at Royal St George's, and repeated this feat four times with his final victory at Royal Liverpool in 1913. While still playing, he began designing courses, and his legacy includes these five extremely varied layouts in England and in Ireland.

Hindhead

• GF: 18 holes £157 Mon-Thu, £197 Fri-Sun
• W: hindheadgolfclub.co.uk

Hindhead in Surrey has been a huge favourite in the Golf Monthly Next 100 since its first inclusion 15 years ago. In that time, various bunker enhancements and course changes as well as a clubhouse refurbishment have subtly and consistently bettered the whole experience making this one of golf’s great days out.

This JH Taylor classic dates back to 1904 and has two distinct and different halves with the front nine running dramatically through ancient, ice age valleys, before a back nine on higher ground which finishes with two excellent and very testing par 4s. If you are lucky, you may spot a deer or two, and the magnificent pines and alluring setting are sure to captivate. In a county with more than its fair share of premium golf, this is one of the best golf courses in Surrey.

Highwoods

• GF: 18 holes £75wd, £90we
• W: highwoodsgolfclub.co.uk

Highwoods is one of those clubs and courses that flies inexplicably under the radar. This Taylor design celebrated its centenary in 2024 and is great fun with two contrasting nines kept in excellent condition. Opening with three testing par 4s, there are two short holes going out with the 7th a real beauty from an elevated tee.

The back nine has two strategic and engaging par 5s at 11 and 17, while the signature hole is the excellent end extremely pretty 14th, a dogleg to the left played over a pond. This friendly club deserves to be way better known.

Arklow

• GF: 18 holes €75 Mon-Thu, €85 Fri-Sun
• W: arklowgolflinks.com

Just down the coast from the recently sold European Club south of Dublin, a stalwart in the Golf Monthly Top 100, Arklow was opened 99 years ago and designed by Taylor in conjunction with Fred Hawtree. It has since evolved courtesy of Eddie Hackett and more recently Eddie Connaughton, and is presented in consistently fine shape with distinctive green complexes boasting intriguing slopes.

This is particularly true of the five terrific par 3s of which three are close together among crumpled dunes by the sea. There is bold bunkering, especially in the middle of the course where the dunes are at their most impressive.

Eaton

• GF: 18 holes £50-£100 all week
• W: eatongc.co.uk

Despite later modifications and a few new holes, this is very much credited as a JH Taylor design dating back to two years after the club was formed in 1910. Tree-lined, the layout gives lie to the notion that Norfolk is totally flat away from its northern cliffs. This is a thinking golfer’s course where positional play from the tee or on the lay-up is key. Not so well-known, it is still one of the best golf courses in Norfolk.

There are three par 5s and a handful of short holes of differing lengths, the most demanding of which is the excellent 9th guarded by two sleepered bunkers. This is a charming course that is nonetheless a proper test of golf at a very friendly club.

Long Ashton

• GF: 18 holes £85wd, £95we
• W: longashtongolfclub.co.uk

Just to the west of Bristol, Long Ashton’s beautifully varied course runs either side of Providence Lane. Various changes have been made since its foundation over 130 years ago, but it’s the Hawtree and Taylor work from 1937 that has defined today’s course. Feature holes include the short but very sweet par-3 2nd and the risk/reward driveable par-4 8th.

There are far-reaching views both over Bristol, and to the south and west towards Somerset. Former Golf Monthly playing editor and Ryder Cup star Chris Wood learnt his golf here and still has links with the club.

The golf

Royal County Down
Championship: par 71, 6,868 yards; Annesley: par 67, 4,594 yards

The Championships Links at Royal County Down, rated number one in our UK&I Top 100 course rankings, needs little introduction. It’s a world-renowned links with stirring backdrops of the Mourne Mountains to the south-west and Irish Sea to the east.

It’s a fabulous ride through the dunes, with thrills aplenty via exciting fairway corridors, rough-edged bunkers and intriguing green complexes.

Staring back towards town and the mountains on the picture-postcard par-3 4th, then as you hit over the fairway crest on the 9th, are among the many highlights.

But just as at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland's closest challenger for top links honours, there is a second, lesser-known links at Royal County Down, too.

The Annesley Links may need a little more introduction, but is as worthy of your attention as its big brother despite its very modest yardage, with countless tantalising par 4s that many will find hard to resist (maybe to their cost!).

The three relatively new holes by the sea from the 9th to 11th are glorious. The 9th plays down and round to the left through towering dunes; the arrow-straight 10th hugs the shoreline; and the short 11th plays in its own little corner.

The hotel

The Slieve Donard, which opened in 1898 as a luxury railway hotel, has long formed a striking link between town and golf club with its ornate, instantly recognisable red-brick facade.

The railway may long be gone, but the hotel continues to strike the same pose, now under the brand management of Marine and Lawn, which operates six hotels in some of the UK&I’s most famous golfing towns.

Getting to finally stay for more than one whirlwind night allowed me to fully appreciate everything it has to offer, from the fitting grandeur of the bedrooms and public spaces to the contemporary excellence of the spa gazing out over the bay.

Best Deal

There are no specific stay and play packages for Slieve Donard and Royal County Down, but the hotel’s special offers include ‘Spoilt for Choice’, which gives you £100 credit to use on food, drinks or a spa treatment if you book two nights or more.

The ‘School Holiday Mini Break’ offers a second room at 50% in school holidays, with under-12s enjoying complimentary breakfast and dinner. Green fees at Royal County Down are £450 for the Championship and £120 for the Annesley.

Slieve Donard, Downs Road, Newcastle, Co. Down, BT33 0AH, Northern Ireland
T: 0284 372 1066
E: info@slievedonard.co.uk
W: marineandlawn. com/slievedonard

(Prices correct at time of publication in February 2026)

The evolution of Dublin’s North Bull Island is a fascinating one, for it owes its creation directly to Captain William Bligh. His soundings of Dublin Bay in 1800 paved the way for an island, five kilometres wide, of low dunes. Today, it is home to a vast beach, a bird sanctuary and two links courses.

There is room for little else. It is surrounded by a cityscape that is dominated by the tall red and white striped Poolbeg chimney stacks, set against the Dublin Mountains. Ferries, cruise liners and cargo ships routinely slink by, heading sedately across the Irish Sea.

To the south of the island is Harry Colt’s revered Royal Dublin, while to the north is a course that recently celebrated its centenary, but is little known. It is a low links of constant ripple, and, like the passing ships, there is a sedate slinkiness to its movement.

St Anne’s Golf Club opened with a nine-hole layout in 1921. In 1989, Eddie Hackett extended the course to create a neatly packaged 18 holes. He introduced many excellent green sites and challenges that require multiple playings to fully unravel.

Something different

St Anne’s doesn’t pretend to compete with neighbouring Royal Dublin, nor does it need to. This is links golf of a different hue. St Anne’s is one of the most popular clubs around Dublin, with an atmosphere to match, and a uniquely shaped clubhouse that is always buzzing with activity.

The course may appear to flow over level, flat terrain but it is anything but, and you will have to do your level best to figure out how to adapt your game to the constant curves, the crumpled fairways and the sweeping breezes that envelop every hole.

It is a wonderful test of links golf. The 519-yard par-5 1st is the perfect introduction to what lies ahead, showing off those tight, rippling fairways while presenting you with an opening birdie opportunity to set the tone for your day.

Look beyond the star names

It can be all too easy to pass St Anne’s by because of the high profile of its neighbours – Portmarnock and Jameson Links also lie close by – but this is another quality and punchy links, and one that is justifiably proud of its excellent conditioning.

It comes with a sweet set of four par 3s, the highlights of which come at 10 and 17. The 158-yard 10th plays over a long stretch of water while the 178-yard 17th, named Kitchen, has a small green sitting low in a tight nest of dunes, with gorse behind and the clubhouse beyond.

● Essentials
Bull Island Nature Reserve, Dollymount, Dublin 5, Ireland
Stats: par 71, 6,526 yards
Green fees: €150-€200

(Green fees correct at time of publication in February 2026)

Moving Heaven And Earth

Pondering an interesting angle from which to view golf course architecture, I realised that for most of my many years of playing I have had a firmly-held belief that courses designed by nature are superior to those that have required excessive use of diggers. In general, as in most things apart from wine, I prefer subtlety to over-the-top enthusiasm, and so I have always had a soft spot for the likes of a Cleeve Hill or a Church Stretton, perhaps England's most natural course, over say, just as an example and it’s still very enjoyable, The Brabazon Course at The Belfry.

Alongside this, built into Golf Monthly’s evaluation criteria for the course rankings, under Visual Appeal, we have always asked the question, “Is the course in keeping with its surroundings?”

This is still very important, both from a rankings perspective and to me personally, but I think it’s worth challenging myself and asking whether one design approach is inherently better than the other?

Should the architect keep things as natural and simple as possible, or should everything possible be done to make the best course conceivable?

Natural Versus Manmade

So what are the reasons why some courses have graduated to greatness with minimum input while others have required every type of intervention under the sun? Perhaps the most obvious one is that if the club and its architect have been blessed with a brilliant topography, little has needed to change. Just look at the Old Course at St Andrews which was designed by nature and where the human input is its 112 bunkers and the greens.

Golf has been played over this rumpled tract of land for 600 years, and while there will be changes for the 2027 Open Championship including some substantial bunker work, this is largely being done to reinstate the original playing lines and challenge for the very best golfers. It will remain, despite everything, as natural as an Open venue can be.

It's also worth remembering that many of our oldest and best courses were created before we had the machinery to make today’s seismic landscape changes. Take Royal North Devon at Westward Ho! which is about as natural as they come despite recent changes to combat the incursions of the Atlantic Ocean.

Dating back to 1864, this is the oldest course in England and there is little visible apart from the presentation of tees and greens to tell you that more than 160 years have passed. Its timelessness is arguably its greatest asset. The last time I played here, someone in my four almost lost a drive he had hit right down the middle.

We eventually found it a nano-second inside the cut-off time (probably not!), in a fresh rabbit scrape. While this is not ideal, it’s this elemental approach along with the sea grasses that defines golf here.

I am even more taken with the lofty delights of the likes of Llandrindod Wells. It wouldn’t have been the most obvious site on which to build a course back in 1890, but James Braid’s later changes transformed this into a timeless and seemingly natural adventure that is a riot of fun.

Another barrier to more extravagant development is cost. From a financial perspective, then clearly the more earth shifting, ground preparation, lake building and feature importation, the more it all costs. There are also planning rules and regulations nowadays that rightly question the pros and cons of major groundworks. These would not have been such a consideration during the Golden Age of golf course architecture, effectively from 1890 until its real peak in the 1920s, but they certainly are now.

Very few significant inland courses have been opened in the UK&I in recent years, though one that springs to mind is The Inspiration just inside the M25 in west London. This has been built as a modern, inland links, and although perhaps not fully in keeping with its setting, it’s very enjoyable and really does work.

The Best Of Both Worlds

Perhaps what brought the natural versus manmade debate into sharp focus in my mind was a visit last October to the Lake District to play a few courses for the first time. My final port of call was Silverdale which, like Pyle & Kenfig and Porthmadog, two of the best golf courses in Wales, is very much a game of two halves.

Silverdale was a 9-holer until 1992 when it expanded to 12, before becoming a full 18 in 2002. The result is a brilliantly chalk and cheese hybrid with nine very distinctive and pleasingly unusual old holes as well as nine perfectly decent and attractive, but how shall I put it, more ‘sensible’ holes.

Which do I prefer? Well each has its merits with the original holes packed with quirk and charm while the newer nine are still memorable but arguably fairer.

As I drove home afterwards, I was minded of Headfort in Ireland where the Championship Course and Old Course sit side by side but could hardly be more different. The former was designed by Christy O’Connor Junior and has a modern, almost Augusta-like look and feel while the Old is more regimented as it runs back and forth through mature woodland. At Silverdale I prefer the older holes while at Headfort it’s definitely the other way round.

New And Grand Designs

A glance at the latest Golf Monthly Top 100 in the UK&I will reveal that fifteen have only opened in the last 35 years. Of these, few if any have not taken full advantage of substantial land movement including Dumbarnie Links and Kingsbarns where the entire playing area landscape has been transformed away from the farmland on which they now reside.

Two more young Scottish giants have recently seen a second course open alongside them. Trump Aberdeen has opened its New Course, while Old Petty at Cabot Highlands is a brilliant addition to the original Castle Stuart which itself only opened in 2009.

The latter development is particularly personal to me as my mother lived close by and on my frequent visits I used to walk her dogs over the very same land.

I remember hearing plans for the development and thinking “that will never work”… how wrong can anyone be?! A perfect example of where my bias towards the old, and more natural, was misguided. Happily, it’s also possible to make big changes but in a way that suits the setting perfectly such as the Nick Faldo design at Chart Hills in Kent.

Sometimes the movement of land can be quite extreme as on the Nicklaus Course at St Mellion and at the Manor House in Wiltshire, but even here, the end result is two thrilling and very photogenic courses.

Grand Designs Revisited

Dig deeper into the Top 100 and even among our most established and favourite courses, change is constant. By my reckoning, four of the top seven have opened one or more new holes in the last six years.

At least eight more have done the same, most recently Aldeburgh, and while I believe that such changes are almost always sympathetically done, they require real expertise from the architect. Not everything will work immediately - there were plenty of raised eyebrows about the new short hole at Royal Liverpool during The Open in 2023 - but these are works that require great creativity and sensitivity, and often need tweaks to make them perfect.

Even aside from brand new holes, I would imagine that at least half the courses in the Top 100 have had significant changes in the last decade or so, primarily bunker redevelopment.

Having expected to confirm my belief that natural golf courses are packed with subtle strength while more artificial and contrived designs are at times the devil’s work, I am delighted to say that as is so often the case, I was completely wrong.

Golf is golf, and while it’s obviously a joy to play a design where the architect essentially placed the greens where they had to go and worked his way back to the right place for the tee such as Royal St David’s, it really can be just as enjoyable to play where the genius and vision of the designer has resulted in something different, unique and memorable - take a bow, Druid’s Glen.

To my mind, there is room for both ends of the spectrum, and neither is essentially right or wrong.

I love Brora for all its old-school beauty, and I love The Grove for its inventiveness, conditioning and majesty. Some terrain actually demands development to make it interesting. Environmental concerns aside, then from a purely golfing perspective, we are lucky to enjoy courses crafted by nature, those developed by diggers and dynamite, and absolutely everything in between.

Having sat on the out of bounds post for too long, I think that as a golfer, I am now happy to see the architect do as little, or as much, as it takes to create the best possible course for that specific location.

Changing The Landscape

Each of these young designs, very coincidentally all in Fife, proves that with modern construction techniques and a sympathetic eye, it really is possible to create an instant classic on reworked terrain.

Dumbarnie Links

Opened just six years ago, this brilliant blend of the old and the new features plenty of risk and reward. There is a superb quartet of beautifully framed par 3s with the front-nine pair offering distracting views over the firth, while the 14th plays over a marshy no-man’s-land, and the 16th has a rollercoaster green with the backdrop of the beach. You simply couldn’t know that 10 years ago this was gently-rolling farmland.

Kingsbarns

This supreme layout was designed by Kyle Phillips and opened for play in 2000. Rather than a traditional out-and-back routing, he created three sections to the course. The majority of the holes, the clubhouse and extensive practice facilities are in the centre, while two wings are home to holes 2 to 5 and 12 to 15. The course receives universal praise from its worldwide visitors.

St Andrews - The Castle Course

The Castle Course may divide opinion, but David McLay Kidd’s thoroughly modern 2008 alternative to the historic links at St Andrews is a real adventure along the clifftops and offers a hugely entertaining alternative. There are wonderful views out to sea and back over the town as well as some thrilling holes. The bunkering is very visual, there are some tricky greens, and the par-3 17th is a cracker.

Moor Allerton

• GF: 18 holes £50wd, £65we
• W: moorallertongolfclub.co.uk

It would take a great deal for a club with the design pedigree of Alister Mackenzie to move home, but such was the demand for golf and better facilities at the time that this is exactly what Moor Allerton decided to do in the mid 1960s. World-leading architect Robert Trent Jones Senior was engaged to design what would be his first course in the country, an expansive 27-hole layout on the site of Blackmoor Farm, three miles to the east of its then home.

There are three loops of nine, each surprisingly different from its Top 100 near-neighbours at Alwoodley and Moortown. The architect’s trademark bold statements are present throughout with dramatic bunkering, large undulating greens and plenty of water.

Kirkby Lonsdale

• GF: 18 holes £50wd, £60we
• W: kirkbylonsdalegolfclub.com

Founded in 1906 and enjoying a 9-hole course until 1991, Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria then moved to its current scenic home and a full 18 holes a couple of miles from the town. This gently undulating moorland/parkland hybrid is peacefully located next to the River Lune in the lea of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

For all but the very longest hitters, the four par 5s are genuine three-shotters, as are one or two of the par 4s! The signature hole is the picturesque par-3 17th which plays over the babbling Barbon Beck, and this is an idyllically peaceful place for a game of golf. Kirkby Lonsdale is one of the best golf courses in Cumbria.

Dun Laoghaire

• GF: 18 holes €95 Mon-Thu, €125 Fri-Sun
• W: dunlaoghairegolfclub.ie

A short drive to the south of its namesake Dublin port, the 27 holes at Dun Laoghaire are blessed with a beautiful, modern parkland setting that is far removed from the club’s original links roots. Sensibly cashing in on the boom in housing, the club relocated to enjoy its brand new Martin Hawtree design in 2007.

Each nine has its own and different challenges, with strong anc very visual bunkering throughout. The elevated nature of the Upper leads to panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the Wicklow Hills, while water is a feature on the Middle and Lower loops.

Sedbergh

• GF: 18 holes £36 all week
• W: sedberghgolfclub.com

Sedbergh is a pretty town in Cumbria that is home to a public school and a delightful 9-hole course. The club itself dates back to 1896 when golf took place on common land known as The Riggs, but the club then made the short journey to its new home in 1991 and to its first professionally-designed course.

Each hole is a new and engaging adventure, with the par-3 2nd over the Dee and the long hole that follows out to the viaduct just two of many highlights. Offering exceptional value for money, Sedbergh is one of the most attractive and appealing 9-hole courses in the country.

St Ives

• GF: 18 holes £45wd, £65we
• W: stivesgolfclub.co.uk

Celebrating its centenary in 2023, St Ives in Cambridgeshire spent its first 87 years playing over a 9-hole course bordering the Great Ouse. When the chance to sell for housing arose in the mid-2000s, the club purchased a farm to the east of town and hired Cameron Sinclair to design what is effectively an inland links.

Running over an easy-walking tract of land with several testing but attractive water features, there are two loops of nine from the modern clubhouse. Opened in 2010, there is an excellent sting in the tail on the closing hole, a par 5 with water on the left for the entire approach. Following a full bunker redesign by William Swan, the club has significantly upped its game.

When I heard about Royal Dornoch’s extensive (and expensive) plans for a new clubhouse two years ago, I wasn’t surprised, as the existing one, though homely in a way, had exceeded its sell-by date for a club whose stock has risen markedly over the last half century.

Influential visitors like Ben Crenshaw and Tom Watson helped spread the word far and wide, particularly in America, about just how good this Highland links masterpiece in the home town of revered course designer, Donald Ross, really was.

But as the project neared completion in late 2025, you would have thought that would have been it for Royal Dornoch for the foreseeable future, especially as it came with a price tag just shy of £14 million. But nothing, it seems, could be further from the truth.

In May 2025, I received a press release detailing multi-million-pound plans for a third course to join the Championship links and Struie course, which grew to a full 18 in 1999, along with a par-3 course, driving range, short-game area and putting facilities plus further modifications to the Struie layout.

Given that Dornoch is still just a modest-sized, fairly remote Highland town, I decided to fly up and find out more from the club’s friendly general manager, Neil Hampton...

How long is it since Royal Dornoch was just a small Highlands golf club?

Just the 1970s. It’s always been a great course but we didn’t get a lot of people coming. The three things that really made a big difference were, first, the transportation links with the three bridges on the A9 – the Kessock Bridge in Inverness, the Cromarty Bridge and Dornoch Firth Bridge. It used to be two-and-a-half hours from Dornoch to Inverness; now it’s 50 minutes.

Then, in 1979, Ben Crenshaw came here and in 1981 Tom Watson, and both went away and talked very passionately and enthusiastically about how good Royal Dornoch was.

Finally, for me, golf on TV really got going because we got colour and suddenly there was more golf on TV and The Open started getting more air time.

Did the new clubhouse come in on budget?

Yes. It was meant to start pre-Covid and as a result of this delay, we actually changed a few things, mostly to make the interior much better.

Are any of the local members afraid that the club is going to lose its character?

That’s very much what we’ve addressed now with the interior. We had people say, ‘We don’t want to lose the atmosphere, we don’t want it to feel like just a new building – it has to feel like a club.’

The interior designers we took on for the second go made a much better job of it and people are saying, ‘Yes, that’s much more us.’

Having spent £14 million, most people would have thought that would be it for now, but apparently not?

Apparently not, no! We’ve been very good at looking after our cash. We had to borrow from the banks and it turns out that our business trading is very good and we’re not going to use all the money we borrowed.

So the bank said, ‘That’s fine – we’ll still give you all the money and you can use it for something else.’

That said, we always wanted to do what we are going to do next anyway, but in mid-2023, when we knew the clubhouse was going to go ahead, we did a survey asking the members what they would like to see next.

The two things that came out neck and neck and very much ahead of everything else were practice facilities and a better Struie course.

How did you decide on an architect for the project?

We went out to six different architects, who we chose, then three others read about it in the press and asked if they could have a go, so nine different architects gave us their ideas.

We gave them a plan of all the land we’ve got control of and said, ‘Let’s think about 50 years from now. We’ve got all this land – what potential golf facilities can we put in here that people will use?’

They all came and presented to us – two did it remotely – but King Collins Dormer (KCD) were a long way ahead of everyone else with their blue-sky thinking. We had nine on our club panel – a nice variety of people – and all nine unanimously said, ‘That’s the one.’

How did it go from just improving the Struie to a third golf course?

People don’t realise we have another 300 acres or so of land that we don’t use and let out for grazing. If you get to the 10th at the far end of the Struie and look back towards town, everything between the Struie and the town is ours.

Not all the architects saw the potential of that land, whereas KCD did. There were two others who had put a golf course in that area but not to the same standard.

KCD had the whole package of using a piece of land that was not currently used for golf, seeing something in it that could make a very attractive and playable course as well as using the other land in a more novel way to create par-3 courses, driving ranges, short-game areas – all these things.

What are the proposed changes to the Struie course?

What was the 7th hole running along the road with the 14th coming the other way, that’s where you would start and finish, with everything else going out from that point.

The Struie and new course will start and finish in the same place, while the existing 2nd, 3rd and 15th to 17th holes on the Struie are where the driving range will be.

Will the Struie have to go down to nine holes for a while?

No, the commitment we’ve made to the Struie members is that whatever happens, there will always be 18 holes available. We have a number of Struie members who are going to be Struie members for a long time because the upgrade process to full membership of the Championship course is very slow, so we have said there will always be 18 holes to play.

We have to work out what we’re going to do first – build the brand new course or upgrade the Struie holes? Do we keep the holes in play that are already there but add in the new Struie holes that KCD want to put in and bring them into play so we can build the driving range, and then the new course comes after that?

Many people have different ideas about what is best and what should come first.

What is the timescale for completion?

There is no timescale. It’s a question of, ‘This is what we are going to do and it will take as long as it takes.’ It all depends on finance because whatever land is being used for golf at the moment, we can just rejig that.

But the piece of land where the new course would go is virgin land so we need to get planning permission from what we understand. We don’t see any obstacles and the advice we have been given is that there shouldn’t be.

We understand the process will take about a year, which would take us to summer 2026 and we can then decide which one comes first. We can work out how much it’s going to cost and, from that, when we are going to start.

Do you hope to see it all through as manager?

In 2027, we’re going to be 150 years old so we’ve got some nice celebrations planned for that. And in 2028, we’ve been given the Curtis Cup.

At the end of 2028, I’d like to think we’d got these new facilities started – maybe some finished – and that we’ve done the 150th celebrations and the Curtis Cup. I’ve said to a lot of people that is when I think I’d like to take a step back.

A close neighbour’s perspective

Phil Scott, managing director of the Links House hotel right next door to Royal Dornoch shares his thoughts on the new clubhouse and future plans

“It’s great. It provides more incentive for people to come and use Dornoch in the north of Scotland as a destination for golf. As much as I’m an advocate for hospitality up here, I think I’m becoming more of an advocate for golf and feel I want to put my efforts in to that as well.

“I think they’ve done a great job with the new clubhouse and it’s going to be a statement piece that is a legacy for the club and a great place for people to come and spend time. I think it’s possibly a new chapter for the club or a new volume in its encyclopaedia.

“As for our occupancy rates here, I think they’ll probably stay the same with the new clubhouse, but if or when the other courses come on line [Coul Links is another proposed new course in the area] that’s when there will most definitely be a difference.

"There are only so many tee-times available for visitors, but when that new course is ready and people are coming to play the Championship course and staying an extra night to play that new course, they’re going to be staying in Dornoch. A rising tide raises all ships. That’s the way it has to be looked at.

“I’d love to see Coul Links happen and let’s not forget Royal Dornoch still needs planning permission for its third course. If they could position that as another championship course, which I believe Coul Links would also be, that’s when we provide an opportunity for people to have a destination of golf in the north Highlands.

“People often say to me that Dornoch is like a small St Andrews. No, we’re Dornoch. We have our own charm, own product, own delivery, own feeling. And it’s like catching air – it’s intangible.”

Basingstoke

With its roots dating back to 1907 and a rudimentary 9-hole course close to what is now the town centre, Basingstoke Golf Club had enjoyed a long evolution before settling in to its exciting new home less than two years ago. It is now situated on a gently undulating and, given its ease of access with the motorway, a surprisingly peaceful parcel of downland just south of the M3 in Hampshire, a county whose one Top 100 UK&I course is at the lovely Liphook Golf Club. And while from its nearest point the course is just a well-struck drive from its previous 15th green, in virtually every other aspect it’s now a million miles away.

A Happy Coincidence

During the Great War, the initial course was used as a training airfield which led to the need to find a new home in the 1920s. The great James Braid, winner of five Open Championships up to 1910, was enlisted to design a full 18-hole course at Kempshott Park. It opened in 1928 and the par-70 tree-lined course remained its home until the opportunity to sell the course for housing arose five years ago.

By happy coincidence, the proprietary club at Dummer whose course had been designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark in 1992, was looking for a new owner. The income from the sale meant that Basingstoke would be able to take over a pleasant but unremarkable layout and invest in an ambitious redesign as well as a beautifully-appointed clubhouse and all mod-cons.

Take Two

Architect Bruce Weller was engaged to create something new, modern and more challenging. The aim was to build a course for the 21st-century, and this he has achieved with greens constructed with creeping bent, rubber crumb bunkers, two new lagoons and the latest irrigation technology.

All of this has resulted in an extremely enjoyable course that can stretch to a testing 6,842 yards from the back tees. The first couple of holes take you gently up to the higher ground before the real drama begins at the par-5 4th with two lakes flanking the left-hand side.

This is followed by the beautiful short 5th which plays over a pond, and then the excellent 6th where the green again has water awaiting anything short and left. The 7th is a tempting short par 4 played alongside what looks like an old quarry, and you return to the dazzling new clubhouse via the very strong dogleg 9th. The back nine is even more fun and varied with highlights including the par 4s at 13 and 14, while the closing hole is a peach, a long par 4 with a lagoon lining the left-hand side.

Basingstoke Golf Club has also invested in a state-of-the-art driving range and a short-game area, all of which will soon be fully functional, and it is now very much a club of the times.

• Stats: par 72, 6,384 yards
• GF: Round: £95 Mon-Fri

The Grand Tour

Seven years ago, perhaps as confirmation of a misspent adulthood, I reached the landmark figure of having played 1,000 golf courses around the world. To quote editor Neil Tappin, “but none of them properly!” He has a point, and while at the time I thought this could well be my final significant golfing milestone, or distance marker, I subsequently realised I might also be lucky enough to make it to 1,000 courses not in total, but far closer to home.. within the British Isles.

As you can imagine, playing somewhere for the first time generally requires longer journeys away from my home in Kent, but I am pleased to say that on November 13th 2025, I played my 1,000th such course. While I have also been lucky enough to enjoy getting on for a further 300 courses in more than 40 other countries all over the world, this seems like the perfect time to reflect on what has been an amazing domestic journey.

The Early Years

The first course I ever played was in the Summer of 1977, the enthusiastically-named Championship Course at Addington Court near Croydon. In those days, it was a council-run municipal and a great asset for the community. Such was the naivety of youth that I ventured out on a Saturday morning with two college friends having never hit a ball before or even had a lesson. I have no idea how we had managed to acquire clubs or how we survived the icy stares and wailing of the people behind, but somehow we made it round and the seeds had been sown. I cannot now remember whether it was love at first sight, but even if not, I was soon smitten and a lifetime’s obsession was up and running.

For the next 23 years, all of this took place alongside my career in IT, much of it buoyed by running a work-based society with regular days out as well as one or two trips each year further afield. It helped that my mum had moved to the Highlands, near Inverness, as my regular trips to see her gave me plenty of opportunity to add to my tally at trophy courses including Royal Dornoch, Nairn and Skibo Castle, as well as lovely but less well-known delights such as Fortrose & Rosemarkie, Kingussie, Moray, Tain and Strathpeffer Spa. I often drove up from home and would make contrived detours to tick off the likes of Silloth on Solway and Cruden Bay.

In the early ‘80s, I joined North Downs in Surrey, a very friendly club with a short but tricky course I played as often as I could and more often than I should. Off a reasonably reliable handicap of 10, I also played in plenty of open competitions at other clubs, albeit with little success. And when I say little success, I actually mean no success at all! I once made it down to single figures, 9.3 to be precise, but two weeks later and two rounds in the club championship on the same day took me back to 9.5. At least I did, very briefly, make it! In 1987, I married for the first time. Marion was super-sporty and although she hadn’t played when we met, she was determined not to be a golf widow, took evening classes and within a year or so was quite brilliantly down to 10.

I now had even less of an excuse not to over-indulge my passion for courses, and together we played from Ashridge to Loch Lomond, and from Minchinhampton to Waterville. In 1994 I made the 2-mile move from North Downs to the Harry Colt course at Tandridge Golf Club where I have been ever since. Quite naturally, Marion followed me and enjoyed it fully until sadly her cancer meant that she could play no more. When she passed away in 2005, golf in general and Tandridge in particular became a fundamental focal point of my fractured life and in many ways has held me together and provided a structure ever since.

A New Beginning

In 2002 my career took a massive swerve when I became editor of a golfing trade publication, The Golf Club Secretary. This also opened more doors to playing. When I took over the role, my course count was 430 worldwide, just a third of what it is today. This also connected me with various figures in the golf media industry, most importantly Mike Harris who edited Golf Monthly for 17 years from 2006. It was he who recognised my insatiable appetite for courses and kindly offered me the opportunity to work with the magazine, initially reviewing courses before later also becoming involved with the rankings of the Top 100 Courses, and the Next 100 Courses, in the UK&I.

It seemed only logical that I should attempt to complete playing all 200, and of the current lists, I am now missing just four in Ireland and two in Scotland, all from the Next 100. The Top 100 is by its very nature a moving feast - Golf Monthly’s less so than most others - and so I was proud to recomplete playing all 100 in 2024 when I finally made it to the very engaging Murcar Links. Back to my life away from golf, and in 2008 I was fortunate enough to remarry, and although Rachel is a passionate and quite dedicated non-golfer, her mum is a former lady president at Hollinwell, coincidentally one of my favourite courses.

From my earliest scribblings with the magazine to this very day, I have absolutely loved visiting the new and very different offerings we have throughout Britain. I am still regularly surprised and delighted to stumble over new and quite different examples of the amazingly strong variety we have on our doorstep; links (Hesketh & North West), heathland (Sand Moor & Scotscraig), parkland (Belvoir Park & Trentham), moorland (Clyne & Matlock), clifftop (Glen & La Moye), downland (Lewes & Purley Downs), hybrid (Alnmouth, Bingley St Ives & Manchester) and absolutely everything and anything in between.

Perhaps with the exception of true links, I think that assigning a category or label to probably half of our courses is asking for trouble. More often than not, especially as courses have been upgraded and enhanced, there are traces of more than one style. As a keen advocate for variety, I fully applaud this and am more than comfortable for a course to span the various pigeon holes. Ultimately, we are exceptionally spoilt for choice and there is genuinely something for everyone.

The Eye Of The Beholder

While playing all of the Top 100 is of course a huge privilege, my friend and colleague Jeremy Ellwood and I are far from alone in having done so. A good number of readers have ticked off the list, and while I totally endorse the methods we use to create the Golf Monthly rankings, I think it is worth highlighting that for me at least, there is often a real difference between the best and the most enjoyable.

Using the tried and trusted criteria, which are well documented and designed to reflect the collective views and preferences of all regular golfers, I believe that the Golf Monthly Top 100 works very well. But we all have our own particular aspects that excite or please, and for me they are the two Vs. Variety is key and I love a course where every hole is a new and different adventure.

No matter how strong a hole is strategically, I am not so interested in having recurring but subtle variations on the same theme repeated throughout the round. My other V is views, and as shallow as you may now decide me to be, I want each hole to look attractive in its own right, and better still, I want views away from the course that lift my heart and give me solace on those rare occasions when my game is not quite 100%!

They Think It’s All Over…

Appropriately enough, I played my 1,000th course with my fellow courses junkie Jeremy - the beautifully-sited Cuckfield in West Sussex. Here, we were joined for lunch by local resident and leading golf photographer Kevin Murray who kindly snapped me on the final green. Not even its most ardent fan will argue that this pretty 9-holer is the greatest strategic design in the world, but I will stand by my oft-repeated mantra that there is no such thing as a bad golf course.

Admittedly some are less appealing than others, but I like to think that each and every one has something of merit. As for Cuckfield, it has glorious, panoramic views over the countryside as well as a lively and friendly clubhouse serving excellent food. Also very appropriately, it has a bar that serves my favourite-ever drink, Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitter.

So there we have it; 763 courses in England, 49 in Ireland, just 23 in Northern Ireland, 114 in Scotland and 51 in Wales. A total of 32 courses at Royal golf clubs, one 10-holer, three 12-holers, and sad to say, 39 courses at 37 clubs that are no longer with us! So perhaps that is my next target… 1,000 British courses still being played.

What Do I Know?

Playing 1,000 golf courses of every shape and style in every corner of Britain has given me a number of personal insights. And while I would still argue that I am fundamentally not a golf course expert, I would say that my experience over heading towards half a century means I do know something about the subject. Even allowing for my personal tastes and preferences, I would say that I can recognise the differences between average, good, great and exceptional.

This has helped inform my work with and understanding of the rankings, though just to be clear, I stay very firmly out of the conversation when the subject of my own beloved Tandridge arises. There is no doubt that it has improved out of all recognition in my 30-plus years of membership, but I am too close to the club to be dispassionate, so I leave that part of the debate to others.

However, while on the subject, there is one other important thing that my life in golf has confirmed; that my membership and the relationships it has created and developed as well the fun and at times frustration it has given me, have all been key to my life. Again, I know I am far from alone in this view.

What Does It All Mean?

On reflection, my golfing odyssey has meant more to me than I can adequately put in words. A part of me regrets that I didn’t do something more worthwhile, not that I necessarily had the potential or wherewithal. It would have been lovely to make a contribution to the greater good, and while recommending lovely golf courses is a treat and some people have been kind enough to thank me for pointing them in the right direction, I’ve not saved anybody’s life. Which is slightly ironic, as you could argue that golf has saved mine. I hope it’s not too melodramatic to say that even though music is another great passion, my golfing adventures have been the soundtrack to my life.

They have taken me to places I would otherwise never have dreamed of visiting, and enabled me to meet more interesting and accomplished people than my failing memory can hold onto. The friendships that have blossomed from my membership at Tandridge and my work with Golf Monthly are enduring and priceless, and I feel beyond lucky to have enjoyed a life blessed by so much good golfing fortune. The final thing about which I remain convinced is that regardless of the many spectacular and very different trophy offerings all over the world, there are definitely more than enough golf courses in Britain with something unique, enjoyable and memorable to last and indeed satisfy the keenest golfer a lifetime.

Five Personal Favourites

I would like to conclude these ramblings - physical and metaphorical - by making some all-time personal recommendations. And as I often sing the praises of Golf Monthly’s Top 200 courses, then as I have mainly tried to do throughout this story, I have selected five favourites that aren’t among that upper echelon, but which I personally enjoy more than many that are.

Kington

England’s highest 18-hole course and an absolute joy with 360-degree views that are arguably the finest panoramas in the UK&I. On a clear day, you can see forever, and as this most natural design celebrates its centenary, I will repeat my assertion that if there is an inland course with finer views than those at Kington Golf Club anywhere in the country, I have still to play it.

Perranporth

While I have friends who question the number of blind shots and unpredictable bounces this James Braid beauty sometimes delivers, I remain convinced that the elevated and remarkably varied links at Perranporth Golf Club in Cornwall is one of the most scenic and enjoyable courses I have ever played.

Fortrose & Rosemarkie

When I graduated from college and first became smitten with golf, this is where I spent endless hours trying, and failing, to perfect my game. The exposed setting of Fortrose & Rosemarkie on a beautiful promontory in the Highlands remains one of my all-time favourites.

Cruit Island

Going off-piste on an already tight schedule in order to squeeze in a game at Cruit Island in County Donegal was one of the best impromptu golfing moves I have ever made. This quirky and unique 9-holer has more charm and joie-de-vivre per hole than just about anywhere.

Shiskine

On my golfing radar for more than 40 years, I finally made it to this spectacular 12-holer on Arran in the Summer of 2024 and played it in sun, rain, wind, hailstones and a perfect sunset. If you want to know what I really thought of it, I am going back to Shiskine Golf Club again this Summer!

My latest Northern Ireland jaunt was a new experience in that I travelled on the overnight Stena Line ferry from Liverpool to Belfast, with a cabin to while away the eight-hour crossing in the land of nod.

This time, I would finally get to visit Rory McIlroy's home club at Holywood, but hitting Belfast docks at 6.30am meant a dawn arrival as first out at Malone Golf Club before that, which I had very much enjoyed on a previous visit some years earlier.

This article starts with my afternoon game at Scrabo east of Belfast, though, which had been brought to my attention by Irish golf journalist Kevin Markham’s photos of the eye-catching tower that forms the backdrop to the difficult opening hole.

Scrabo Tower came on my radar when I was still eight miles away but the tee on the par-3 2nd is then right at the foot of it, with the 2nd green and 3rd tee offering stirring views out over Strangford Lough.

The last thing I needed after an early start and 18 holes at Malone was a hilly course, but at Scrabo you drop down from, and back up to, the higher ground enough times for tired legs to feel it.

The huge drop via the 13th and 14th from the 12th green near the clubhouse may be memorable but does mean one final climb to regain lost ground. Despite this, I loved my game here and would recommend it if you’re looking for a lesser-known course in the Belfast area.

Down by the lough

My next port of call was Royal Belfast, on the shores of Belfast Lough, which I had played before. The Harry Colt layout here ranks among the best golf courses in Northern Ireland.

Its elegant clubhouse is a special place, too, and I enjoyed chatting to the staff and letting them talk me into the ‘Nine-hole fry’ breakfast despite my futile protestations.

Since my previous game, a major bunker renovation had sparked an incredible transformation. The whole course now sets up much better visually, and there’s more to come, with much significant work taking place on the front nine when I visited.

The 1st is a tough test, while the 4th is a very attractive short par 3 at the high point. From here, you sweep down towards the lough on the par-5 5th, then right down to its shores from the 8th green to the tee of the uphill par-3 11th that I remembered vividly on account of its semi-blindness.

There is much to enjoy on the final run for home, including the very attractive and well-bunkered par 5 at 16.

Close by lies the splendid Culloden Estate and Spa, where, as the owner of a property called Clock House, I was delighted to be shown to the Clock Tower Suite – home from home!

I arrived in time to make full use of the pool and spa before a cracking dinner in the Cultra Inn, effectively the hotel’s very own pub within the grounds.

Rory’s old stomping ground

The following morning, it was finally time to see where Northern Ireland’s finest honed his game as a child. People had told me you needed one leg shorter than the other at Holywood, but while it is, indeed, on the side of a hill, I coped fine with two legs of equal length.

I liked the course, which offers early chances via three short par 4s, before the drop-hole par-3 4th ups the stakes. The back nine on higher ground perhaps edges it, with several strong holes plus the extraordinary long par-4 12th with its blind approach.

I was thrilled to par it, but in soft conditions it took a flushed 3-wood and good two-putt from long range. I expect Rory hits wedge into this green!

There is, of course, an area in the clubhouse devoted to Rory, but what I liked was that it wasn’t overdone. They’re rightly proud of all he has achieved, but, ultimately, it is just a normal members’ club.

Before boarding the overnight ferry home, I was pleased to finally get to visit Titanic Belfast, an excellent immersive experience, and one that is fascinating, thought-provoking and moving in equal measure.

Scrabo
Par 71, 6.254 yards
Green fee £35wd, £40we

Royal Belfast
Par 70, 6,185 yards
Green fee: £80-£200wd; £105-£250we

Holywood
Par 70, 6,015 yards
Green fee: £60

Stay
Culloden Estate and Spa
Holywood, Belfast, BT18 OEX
W: cullodenestateandspa.com

For more information visit Tourism Ireland’s dedicated golf page at ireland.com/golf

(Prices correct at time of publication in January 2026)

The golf

Windermere: par 67, 5,122 yards

Cumbria's only entry in Golf Monthly's UK&I Top 100 course rankings lies in the north-west of the county on the coast at Silloth on Solway.

But there is much more hugely enjoyable golf to savour throughout the county, including several beauties in the southern half. Laid out on rolling, and at times, rocky terrain a couple of miles from Bowness, Windermere is a particularly beautiful place to play.

Don’t be fooled by the scorecard for there are some strong tests here, such as the rollercoaster 4th, which makes a mockery of its modest 380 yards, and the 17th and 18th on the final climb, an ascent that begins on the 16th, the course’s solitary par 5.

My notes for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th read simply “tough”, “real chance” and “very tough” and that is the beauty of this lovely course – interspersed among the challenges are genuine chances to score via potentially drivable par 4s like that 3rd hole plus the 9th and 11th.

Above all, any round here is enormous fun with views to die for.

The hotel

Crooklands

Crooklands, on the A65 close to the major south Cumbria routes of the M6 and A590, is the perfect base for golf trips to this area. It’s a family business under new ownership, with both the inn and bedrooms extensively refurbished in recent years.

It cleverly mixes the feel of an old Cumbrian inn with the modern amenities and accommodation many are looking for, with comfortable, spacious rooms, a lively and friendly bar, and dining either in the older-style inn or more modern dining room with its contemporary decor. There are six dog-friendly rooms, too.

Best deal

There are 11 courses within 30 minutes of Crooklands: Kirkby Lonsdale, Windermere, Carus Green, Bentham, Silverdale, Kendal, Casterton, Ulverston, Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham.

Stay and play at Crooklands with Golf Lake District (golflakedistrict.co.uk) on a one-night B&B package with rounds at Windermere and Kirkby Lonsdale from £214.99pp based on two sharing on a Friday or Saturday night.

Sunday night B&B packages start from £189.99pp based on two sharing to include two rounds from a choice of Kirkby Lonsdale, Silverdale and Bentham. Tailor-made packages are available to suit all budgets, golfing abilities and tastes.

(Prices correct at time of publication in January 2026)

Maesteg

• GF: 18 holes £30wd, £40we
• W: maesteg-golf.co.uk

Just inland from imperious Royal Porthcawl and lovely Pennard, the Welsh Valleys are home to two of this feature’s recommended courses, beginning with Maesteg, 5 miles to the east of Port Talbot. The only thing at all unnatural about this expansive and testing layout are two or three enormous electricity pylons which oddly and interestingly, despite one towering over the 14th tee, almost add to the visual interest. James Braid redesigned the 9-holer around the end of WWII before it was expanded to a full 18 in the 1970s.

Packed with variety, standout holes include the par-3 drop hole 6th over a pond, the switchback, wall-of-death 11th and the infinity green, short 13th. Ultimately, golf at Maesteg is about the magnificent setting and views, and a game here also represents exceptional value.

Halifax

• GF: 18 holes £40wd, £45we
• W: halifaxgolfclub.co.uk

Founded in 1895, the club moved to Ogden in 1902, since when golf has been played on this elevated and undulating moorland to the north of Halifax. The design has benefited from the genius of three of the greats - Fowler, MacKenzie and Braid - and yet is a seamless and consistently captivating journey from start to finish.

In the county with more courses than any other, Yorkshire’s big names often mean that other fine courses are overlooked. Halifax is far too interesting and enjoyable for this to be right, and its rugged and atmospheric course will amply reward any effort to visit.

Braemar

• GF: 18 holes £45 all week
• W: braemargolfclub.co.uk

When the course at Braemar first opened for play in 1902, it included plenty of sand bunkers. All of these are long gone, though their origins are still visible and can provide a challenge where they used to be. Many were removed when it was extended to a full 18 in 1911, the rest more recently due to the expense and difficulty of maintenance.

Blessed with a lovely setting in a fabulous Highland glen between heathery hills and not far from Balmoral, the short but very sweet course features no fewer than seven par 3s and straddles the Clunie Water.

Pontardawe

• GF: 18 holes £40wd, £35we after 2pm
• W: pontardawegolfclub.co.uk

To the north of Swansea, this is very much a game of two halves with a parkland front nine before the back nine opens up into more of an elevated moorland setting. Here there are plenty of far-reaching views up towards Bannau Brycheiniog, also known as the Brecon Beacons, and down towards Swansea Bay.

The club celebrated its centenary last year and the course became a full 18 in 1968. The 5th is a lovely par 3 over water but the course really comes into its own from the 11th. Here, there are plenty of memorable and scenic holes including the thrilling, short par-4 16th, Pulpit.

Yelverton

• GF: 18 holes £60-£70wd, £65-£75we
• W: yelvertongolf.co.uk

Designer of two Top 100 courses at both The Berkshire and Walton Heath, Herbert Fowler was responsible for this excellent moorland test in 1920. A few miles north of Plymouth, the course runs over and is surrounded by the southern fringes of Dartmoor, and is overlooked by the brooding hills.

There are frequent encounters with attractive, craggy but potentially score-threatening ravines and mounds. These are probably a throwback to ancient tin mining, and come into play at various points, especially in front of the 6th, 13th and closing greens. This is another very friendly club where it’s fun to spend time in the lively clubhouse.

With green fees at the most famous links and heathland courses at an all-time high, especially those in the Golf Monthly Top 100, these five lovely alternatives offer a wonderfully friendly welcome.

Having enjoyed golf in the south of the county in June, then despite the 350 miles separating us, it was impossible to say no to the opportunity to return to Cumbria in October and experience a few of its more northerly gems. This time I was joined by my partner in course adventuring, Jeremy Ellwood, with our trip put together by our new friends Carl and Lee who run Golf Lake District, an organisation showcasing the incredible variety, beauty and value of golf on offer in this region.

Eden Golf Club

• Championship: Par 72, 6,564 yards
• Hadrians: Par 36, 3,262 yards
• GF: 18 holes, £50 (Championship), £25 (Hadrians)
• W: edengolf.co.uk

Our journey began with the two courses at Eden Golf Club punctuated by a stopover at the perfectly located Crown & Mitre Hotel in nearby Carlisle. The original 18-hole Championship Course opened in 1992 and was designed by the owners. It opens with a fine dogleg right with a pond at the elbow, and the 4th and 5th run parallel to the Eden river.

Running over a level parcel of lush parkland, it is tree-lined without ever being claustrophobic, and finishes with a tempting par 5 that will raise hopes of a birdie.

Just 40 minutes by car to the Top 100 UK&I course Silloth on Solway and with plenty of pubs and restaurants, Carlisle is a great base for golf in the north of the county. We greatly enjoyed our dinner at The Last Zebra, a lively bar-cum-restaurant with a very interesting menu and friendly service. Back in our hotel, a nightcap in the ornate Mitre Bar with its vaulted ceiling rounded off a busy day that had started for me in Kent 18 hours earlier.

The next morning, we returned to Eden to play its newer 9-holer, Hadrians. This is surprisingly different from its sibling with three holes on higher ground and far-reaching views. I particularly liked the tough 4th with its angled green and the par-5 8th with an elevated drive and perfectly positioned ditch. The whole set-up at Eden is very impressive with a relaxing and comfortable clubhouse, excellent practice facilities and very friendly staff.

Brampton

• Par 72, 6,418 yards
• GF: 18 holes, £75
• W: bramptongolfclub.com

Just a short drive to the east is Brampton, a distinctive James Braid course dating back to 1909. It sits close to Talkin Tarn, an ancient glacial lake, and is blessed with great variety and glorious scenery.

There are just three short holes and three par 5s, but several drive and pitch holes that offer the potential for birdie. This is a lovely course that is sure to keep a smile on your face.

Appleby

• Par 68, 5,986 yards
• GF: 18 holes, £45-£55
• W: applebygolfclub.co.uk

Further south, I was excited to return to the Willie Fernie design at Appleby whose praises I had been singing since I first played it three years ago. This is a course in a special setting, normally with panoramic views over the Pennines and the most idyllic countryside. As we chatted with former captain and president Ray Cousin before playing, the mist was clinging dankly to every horizon with rain very much in the air.

Happily, it kept its distance, and although the views were hiding, the course was still a delight. This is moorland golf at its finest with a touch of heathland towards the close. You could think that at under 6,000 yards and with no trees bar the lonely stand of six huddled together on the 6th, it might be fairly straightforward. Think again!

There are no par 5s, and eight two-shotters in excess of 400 yards. Standouts among these are the 6th with its unmissable fairway (which I did), the 7th which plays way longer up the hill, and the lovely 14th with its sneak-preview of the signature hole that follows. I’ve said it before, but the par-3 15th is one of those holes which on its own justifies the green fee.

The tee is down beside the fast-flowing Hilton Beck which coincidentally feeds into the Eden, and from here your mid- or long-iron has to cross it twice while climbing towards a marker pole behind a rectangular, bathtub green bookended by bunkers. Jeremy takes the honours here for his bogey which sounds routine but was actually three off the tee following an initial push into oblivion.

This is a first-class and extremely enjoyable course which is also terrific value at a welcoming and informal club that I would recommend to anyone. With plans recently announced for further enhancements, it is undoubtedly one of the best courses in Cumbria.

Although this was my second trip to the county in a very short space of time, everything was as new, different and beautiful as before. This is an area that is not really so well-known for golfing trips, particularly for groups, but which really should be on the radar of all keen golfers. I will be back!

Little Aston has long been one of the shining stars of Midlands golf, from its origins in 1908 right through to the present day. Set in the leafier suburbs to the north of Birmingham, the layout benefited from the design mind of Harry Vardon initially, with later enhancements by Harry Colt.

It offers a very pleasant but not too hilly test, easing you in via a fairly gentle downhiller playing away from the well-appointed clubhouse, though the green is not to be messed with, sloping deceptively away from you.

A lavishly bunkered layout

As you play back up close to the clubhouse on the tough long par-4 2^nd, it quickly becomes apparent that the bunkers here are unlike those on most mature, parkland courses. Not only are they invariably well (or inconveniently!) positioned, but they also have very prominent faces, meaning they are very much in your eye, especially if you have strayed a little from the ideal line.

Water is an occasional foe, most prominently on the excellent par-5 12^th and par-4 17^th, where only a fool – or very fine player – will mess too closely with left-hand pins.

As for those bunkers, which are getting on towards 100 in number, much refurbishing and reshaping has taken place in recent years, with just a handful of holes yet to enjoy a facelift. In several instances, reshaping work has sought to return them to the Colt style, including the three a little way short of the 16^th green, which have undergone a dramatic transformation.

A challenging two-shotter

As at many courses in recent times, tree removal has also taken place, with the superb long par-4 10^th one of the chief beneficiaries. Here, the work has allowed the hole to be played as less of a double dogleg than previously, with more people now able to take on the preferred left side a little more confidently with their drive, depending on ability and tee choice.

Elsewhere, things have been thinned out between the two strong par 3s and 9 and 13. The former is a long, tough hole with a narrow green, and don’t celebrate too soon if you clear the steep-faced, right-hand bunker on 13, for others lurk behind it.

No visit to Little Aston, which has long been a feature of Golf Monthly's Next 100 in the UK&I list is complete without a circuit of the unique, florally ornate putting green right beside the terrace.

Essentials
Little Aston Golf Club, Roman Road, Streetly, B74 3AN
Stats: par 72, 6,663 yards
Green fees: round: £180 May-Oct; £140 April; £85-£95 Nov-Mar (includes full English breakfast)

(Prices correct at time of publication in December 2025)

Peter Alliss was the consummate golfer; accomplished, knowledgable, witty and always highly opinionated. His work on designing and improving golf courses is perhaps less celebrated, but each of these five beauties is more than worth a visit.

The Belfry - Brabazon

• GF: 18 holes £205
• W: thebelfry.com/golf

The Brabazon Course at The Belfry is in the Next 100 of the UK&I, and is probably best known for hosting a record four Ryder Cups. This Peter Alliss collaboration with Dave Thomas opened for play in 1977, since when it has benefited from regular and significant upgrading and redevelopment. Water hazards abound, with the excellent par-4 9th leading straight on to the iconic, driveable par-4 10th, one of the best examples of a risk-reward hole in England. The famous closing hole, scene of plenty of Ryder Cup drama over the years, works from right to left and over water. There are two further courses, the PGA National and the Derby, which along with a lively hotel make this a complete golfing resort.

Chapel-en-le-Frith

• GF: 18 holes £25-£50 all week
• W: chapelgolf.co.uk

Operating as a 9-holer from its foundation in 1905, it was only in the 1970s that the decision was made to invite the Alliss and Thomas partnership to redesign and upgrade to a full 18. Blessed with a fabulous setting on the western edge of the Peak District, it is now a course of two halves with nine parkland holes closer to the clubhouse and nine quite different but equally entertaining holes over the road.

Standouts include the 11th and 12th, both of which flirt with a burn, and the fine closing hole which works from left to right, again over a stream, back up to the friendly clubhouse.

Chobham

• GF: 18 holes £42-£68
• W: chobhamgolfclub.co.uk

Dating back to 1994, Alliss was by then working with Clive Clark, designer of the impressive Dumbarnie Links. This relatively short course in Surrey runs over a wooded plot featuring several ponds and lakes, all of which contribute greatly to the strategy and the visual entertainment.

Six short holes and three par 5s add to the variety, meaning good scores can be achieved if the course is played both sensibly and well. The par 3s at 15 and 18 are real crackers, and in an area packed with premium golf mostly at premium rates, Chobham offers an excellent alternative.

Hill Valley

• GF: 18 holes £45wd, £60we
• W: macdonaldhotels.co.uk/hill-valley/golf/course

A part of the Macdonald Hotels and Resorts chain, Hill Valley has not one but two Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas courses. They are located close to the England/Wales border on the western side of Shropshire, and enjoy a peaceful, very rural setting. Opening 50 years ago, both are tree-lined, with the Emerald being the more demanding at over 6,700 yards and with a par of 73.

Of similar nature but refreshingly shorter, the Sapphire has a solitary par 5 but seven short holes and several drive and pitch par 4s. With the onsite hotel, this is a fine venue for a golfing break.

King’s Lynn

• GF: 18 holes £100wd, £119we
• W: kingslynngolfclub.co.uk

Although the club dates back to 1923, it was not until the mid-1970s that the decision was taken to relocate to the north-east of this market town in Norfolk. Despite its relative youth, this tree-lined design is remarkably mature and looks substantially older. It is a long and demanding course where positional play from the tee is vital.

Doglegs feature regularly, but you also need reasonable distance if you hope to reach the longer par 4s in two. The turf is wonderfully free-draining, and this is a pretty and peaceful place to play with each hole discrete and separate from all others.

The Wilmslow

Just south of Manchester and situated in a beautifully peaceful location, The Wilmslow Golf Club was founded in 1889. It was originally on land that is now the home of the 9-hole course at Alderley Edge. Surprisingly, golf was only played in the Winter months as the grass was too long in the Summer! This may well be the reason that the club soon relocated to today’s idyllic and very attractive setting.

Through The Ages

The club’s first home was designed by George Lowe, a professional and acclaimed clubmaker who worked at both Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham and St Annes. In 1903, a move was made to Great Warford, and although early details of its design are hazy, its evolution has benefited from leading architects including James Braid, JH Taylor and Fred Hawtree.

In over 120 years, it has hosted many important events, both professional and amateur. From 1976 to 1981, the club was the home of the Greater Manchester Open, then a fixture on the European Tour. And in 1983, Nick Faldo, already an established Ryder Cup player, won the Martini International here. In recent times, the focus has been on a steady improvement in conditioning and presentation which is now really paying dividends.

From Tee To Green

Today’s constantly engaging round consists of two loops of nine, each with its own dramatic climax to greens below the clubhouse down by the snaking Mobberley Brook. Doglegs are a particular feature, and while the holes are generally tree-lined, these are never too intrusive or claustrophobic.

The opening two holes set the tone well, each working its way right to left and where it is easy to be blocked out. The first short hole comes at the 6th which shares its green with the par-5 3rd. The front nine closes with a very pretty but devilish par 3, down the hill and over the brook to a well-bunkered green.

A Sting In The Tail

The back nine is even more attractive and features two more par 3s that are played over the stream. The 14th and 17th each cross a sunken valley that is home to the brook, while the 18th is arguably the signature hole, a par 5 packed with options. Depending on the drive, you are likely to have a semi-blind shot down to the left and towards the green.

Anything too far left will find water, while the front-right bunker frames the approach perfectly and is sure to take many prisoners. This lovely course has challenge, beauty and plenty to interest all the way. Back in the well-appointed and spacious clubhouse, at The Wilmslow Golf Club you are sure to receive a friendly welcome.

• Stats: par 72, 6,639 yards
• GF: Round: £130 Mon-Thu, £150 Fri&Sun

The Golf Monthly Forum is an online meeting place for all keen golfers to chat, exchange ideas, learn, laugh, obsess, arrange a game, and debate anything and everything to do with the game we all love. With more than 29,000 members, there are always people online ready to interact, and it is a hotbed of opinion and information.

Once a year, and a regular and extremely popular fixture on the Forum calendar since 2010, there is a charity day in aid of Help For Heroes. This is open to members and their guests, and so each year is a perfect combination of reuniting with familiar faces at the same time as making new friends.

At the heart (bad pun intended!) of all this is lynchpin and selfless organiser, Richard Hart. Recent years have seen the day hosted at the likes of Hankley Common, Hayling, Tandridge and West Surrey - this year it was the turn of the lovely Blackmoor Golf Club on the Hampshire/Surrey borders where Richard is a long-standing and rightly proud member.

He became involved in 2012 when the event made its first move from its original base, Aldwickbury Park in Hertfordshire, then the home club of the event’s founder Rick Garg. As the day grew in popularity and stature - it is now a guaranteed sell-out - Rick wanted to take it to different venues and make it a permanent fixture on the Forum calendar. He achieved this quite brilliantly, though cruelly and very sadly he suffered a fatal heart attack while playing at his new club, Centurion, in 2016. The event has now raised getting on for £190,000, a brilliant sum for such a worthy and vitally important cause.

Help For Heroes

This wonderful charity was founded in 2007 and runs under the ethos that “every member of our Armed Forces community should have the opportunity to live well after service.” The help it offers includes physical healthcare support, mental health counselling, financial grants, sport and social activities, welfare support and even a Recovery College whose online courses give people the knowledge and skills to make lasting improvements to key areas of their life.

Since its inception, the charity has helped many thousands of military veterans and its help is needed now as much as ever. For more information, please visit helpforheroes.org.uk.

Blackmoor - The Warmest Of Welcomes

I have been lucky enough to play Blackmoor a number of times over the years, and so was delighted to be back to see the recent changes. I was drawn to play with Andy Robb, a member at Sittingbourne & Milton Regis, and his son Steve and daughter Charlotte. They had kindly, some might say foolishly, paid extra towards the charity to play with a Golf Monthly writer.

They had clearly drawn the short straw with me, but nonetheless we had an extremely enjoyable round, neither disgracing ourselves nor threatening for the prizes. Poor Alan hit a superb opening drive, way beyond the obvious hazard of the new right-hand bunker, only to find his ball in a sneaky ditch hidden some way beyond.

Throughout the course, Tim Lobb’s changes to the bunkering have greatly improved the visuals, strategy and fairness. The course sits in the Next 100 of the Golf Monthly rankings, and although it occupies quite a compact plot of heathland, it uses every inch to full effect. To see and play the course when the heather is in its pomp is an absolute treat.

Words From A Hero

Following an excellent carvery lunch, we sat down to listen to Carl Shadrake, a young forces veteran who has benefited from the support of Help For Heroes and who had enjoyed playing in the event in the morning. He was able to relate the most harrowing stories but in a remarkably stoic and unsentimental way.

This is a man who has put his life on the line for his country, a man who was seriously injured in Afghanistan, a man who has who has been with friends as they died! Carl quite brilliantly conveyed the horrors of war before explaining how he had needed, and benefitted from the support of Help For Heroes.

His humility and gratitude were clearly evident, leaving all of us moved and in deep admiration. He is genuinely a hero, as are so many more who need and deserve the support of this great charity.

Going… Going… Gone!

As part of the fundraising activities, alongside a raffle with plenty of excellent prizes, there is always an auction comprising two strands. One is the silent auction where those in attendance can bid for prizes such as golf clothing and four-balls at popular clubs, and then the regular auction which with Simon Bratt at the helm again this year, is anything but silent!

There were plenty of great lots to be won, and Simon did a brilliant job which even included coaxing winning bids from Blackmoor members who were innocently enjoying a quiet drink out on the balcony. One of the star attractions was a Help For Heroes jacket presented by the charity’s local fundraising manager, John Carpenter who also spoke more about the varied and very active work of Help For Heroes.

And The Winner Is…

With the heather in bloom and its bright, new bunkering touting for business, Blackmoor is a fine test of golf and a proper challenge. It was therefore fitting that 36 points won the day, with the Forum’s Hugh McKinnon the only one to achieve this score and therefore clear winner of the Vickers Trophy. Runner-up on 35 points was Guy Hall, narrowly pipping Chris Dorsett on countback.

Best Stableford score off scratch was James Robinson, while the guest prize went to Martin Hendy, also on 36, edging it from Dhan Sharma on countback. Golf Monthly’s very own Nick Bonfield achieved the longest drive, something that those in the office will doubtless never hear the last of, while nearest the pin on the par-3 9th went to Phil Medley, and nearest the pin in two on the par-4 second hole went to Steve Tilley.

Not all prizes are won, some are earned, and each year the Rick Garg Memorial Trophy is awarded to a Forum member whose contribution is above and beyond. This year it went to Simon Bratt, and it was lovely to see Rick’s widow Karen in attendance to present the beautiful trophy. This was actually the first time that anyone in the Forum had ever seen Simon lost for words.

Learning New Skills

Many of the trophies, auction items and raffle prizes are the excellent handiwork of Military Craftmanship, CIO. This charity has been set up by veterans for veterans, to support individuals with severe mental health issues such as isolation, PTSD, low self-esteem, loneliness, depression and anxiety. Jodie Kidd is their patron and the principle is that by working with wood and learning new skills, they find new purpose. This in turn creates self-confidence, empowerment and improved well-being.

The organisation was formed by Ted Granger and Bob Taylor from the ashes of Veterans Woodcraft, a similar enterprise that is sadly no more since a dishonest associate forced it into liquidation. I was lucky enough in the raffle to win a Dambusters carving featuring a Lancaster Bomber. It is a beautiful piece of art, more of which can be seen at militarycraftmanship.co.uk.

Behind The Scenes

An event such as this takes a great deal of organising, and Richard Hart deserves all of our thanks for the huge amount of time and effort he puts in. He is greatly supported in this by his wife Vicky, and by enthusiastic members of the Forum such as Guy Hall, Phil Coumbe and Sean Wheatley.

The day at Blackmoor raised a further £8,000 for Help For Heroes, a terrific sum that will go a long way to helping people who really need that help! This annual event features golf, friendship, fun, and the worthiest of causes - a genuine win, win, win, win combination. Here’s to the next one!

Right on the Firth

I’d been to Spey Bay on the Moray Firth before, but not played due to 50mph winds and torrential rain.

After struggling to open the car doors that time, I’d sought refuge in the clubhouse and let manager Bert Mackay tell me about the ambitious plans to transform the course into a reversible links with up to five routings.

This time, the rain had relented, but as I tackled the ‘standard’ routing, the wind was still four clubs at times, pushing you relentlessly towards the Firth on the run for home.

It made for one or two interesting moments on this narrow, exposed links strip, with the greens glinting like emeralds against lighter-coloured fairways, framed by wispy grasses and the now more distant gorse after a major clearing operation.

The 3rd played tough due to the dogleg and bunkers, and I really liked the 4th, a tiddler of a par 3 that mixes up the generally out-and-back angles.

The 6th plays from a tee tucked back in the gorse with the green just beyond a burn, while the switchback par-3 8th played straight into the wind away from the shore to a green atop a ridge with effectively two false fronts.

Much club was needed to cover the 131 yards. Coming home, the 15th presented the opposite problem playing downwind towards the Firth, while my scorecard notes for the par-5 16th read, ‘What a par!’

I recall hitting it almost onto the beach, coming up short with a driver-off-the-deck third and getting up and down with an 8-iron chip and run. All great fun!

Away from the coast

Having previously played the big-hitters like Castle Stuart and Nairn in this part of the world, as well as many of the supporting cast like Cullen, Covesea and Moray, for my second round this time I headed inland to Elgin, where I was told the par-5 1st used to be a long par 4.

When the par was changed, the average score dropped markedly. Mind games, eh! It’s certainly a reasonably straightforward three-shotter with the drive landing on a downslope. But with the wind hard against, it was still far from a pushover.

The second par 5 at the 5th stood out, a majestic hole where the drive must thread the needle between bunkers and trees before you climb to the green, or through it in two in my case thanks to the strong tailwind.

The two par 3s that follow are 221 and 167 yards but played pretty much the same club in the wind. The fine long par-4 8th is then a kind of mirror image of the 5th... and precisely the same yardage as the par-5 1st.

The narrow entrance to 12 caught my eye coming home as did the green cut into the slope on the par-3 15th, plus the approach to 18, another long par 4 with prominent run-offs right of the green.

Scorecard in hand

Finally, a rare competitive outing away from home around the lovely James Braid course at Forres. There was an open competition on the day I was looking to play, so I gave it a go in the company of William from Inverness Golf Club and Stuart from Strathpeffer Spa.

I’m not sure I’ve ever deliberated for so long over what club to hit on the 1st, a short downhill par 4 into the wind with the OOB road on the right all too visible.

In the end I chipped a driver away and was going pretty well until a three-putt on the par-3 7th sparked a downward spiral, with a tree disaster following on the 8th, the second of two holes cut through a forest.

Before that, I’d made a nice par on the lovely 4th, which plays from an elevated tee before turning gently left to a narrow two-tier green.

The long downhill par-3 10th reminded me of 11 at my home club of Royal Ashdown Forest, albeit a yard shorter at 248.

I then fluked a birdie on 15 with a ridiculous bounce off a tree, mucked up the signature, risk-reward 16th and closed with a birdie on 18 for 82 blows – not brilliant, not disastrous but highly enjoyable.

Spey Bay
Par 70, 5,860 yards GF: round: £80; day: £120

Elgin
Par 71, 6,458 yards GF: £35-£85

Forres
Par 70, 6,236 yards GF: £25-£80

Stay
The Firth Hotel, Lossiemouth, IV31 6DJ
W: fhlossie.com

(prices correct at time of publication in November 2025)

The golf

Tain: par 70, 6,109 yards

The 1st tee of Royal Dornoch’s Championship links lies just 100 yards from Links House, and it was great to play the revered links again in September 2025 just a few months before the unveiling of its new £13.9 million clubhouse.

But in this article, I’m focusing on Tain’s Old Tom Morris links just a few miles away, which I had last visited 20 years ago.

In lovely autumn weather I thoroughly enjoyed my round, heeding the pro’s advice to take just enough club on the 2nd to get over the crest but also stay short of the burn.

I particularly liked 8 and 9 – a lovely self-enclosed par 3 then a clever, sharp-right dogleg. The famous 11th plays right down to the Firth, with its blind approach played over three pronounced hillocks (or on to the left-hand one in the case of my pulled 8-iron).

The back-to-back par 3s at 16 and 17 are beautifully varied – a lovely little downhiller over a burn then an altogether longer affair where water also gets involved if you leak it right.

Much work had taken place here for the better since my previous visit, with the clearing of gorse and scrub giving the middle parts of the links a much less claustrophobic feel overall.

The hotel

Links House is the ideal luxury base for any trip centring on the famous golf town of Dornoch.

The original, sand-coloured building is a former manse built in 1843, completely renovated under new ownership since 2011.

The new Glenshiel building arrived in 2013 to bring the total Links House accommodation offering up to 15 luxury rooms and suites.

The interior elegance and style is in keeping with the original building’s heritage while The Mara restaurant’s menu matches its ambience.

The focus in the restaurant is on what is labelled S4+0: Scottish, seasonal, sustainable and slow, with the admirable ultimate goal of achieving zero waste.

This is a genuinely beautiful and relaxing place to stay, and in the off-season spending a while over a whisky or two in front of a roaring fire takes some beating.

Perhaps best of all, its proximity to Royal Dornoch Golf Club means you can join in with the locals often seen arriving at the course on foot with clubs on their backs rather than in the boots of their cars.

Best deal

Links House’s ‘Highland Icons’ golf breaks on the acclaimed North Coast 500 in autumn 2025 and spring 2026 offer keen golfers a world-class experience while playing four of the Highlands’ top links – Royal Dornoch, Brora, Tain and Golspie.

Two-or three-night stay-and-play packages start from £600 per person based on double occupancy to include accommodation, golf, an excellent breakfast and welcome pack.

Optional enhancements include private whisky tasting at Carnegie Whisky Cellars, a golfer’s massage at Aspen Spa and private transfers to and from Inverness Airport and to the local courses.

Find out more or book at linkshousedornoch. com/offers/golf-offer.

(prices correct at time of publication in November 2025)

Even in the upper echelons of our Top 100, some courses attract more praise and attention for one of their nines than the other.

Royal Aberdeen, with its mesmerising outward half would be one example, as would Hillside near Southport, where a revamp of the back nine in the 1960s by Fred Hawtree took the inward half to a whole new level.

That’s not to say the other holes were poor, just slightly overshadowed by the majesty and drama of the standout nine.

In Hillside’s case, that has all changed in recent years, with excellent work by Mackenzie and Ebert raising the front nine’s game such that the distinction between the two halves is far less pronounced to the naked eye.

Greater separation between the 1st and 9th via newly created dunes has made for a stronger start and finish to the nine, but after the entertaining 3rd (almost a dead-ringer for the 3rd at Carnoustie), the holes from 4 to 7 have enjoyed the most eye-catching changes.

On all these holes there is now considerably greater visual interest between tee and green, especially on the two par 3s that bookend that run.

The back nine remains as stirring as ever, with the short par-3 10th rising to an amphitheatre green and leading into a thrilling ride through the taller dunes, with the sweeping par 5s at 11 and 17 among many highlights.

Little wonder Hillside has climbed from 34th to 30th in our Top 100 UK& Ireland course rankings since 2019.

Green fees: £130-£300wd, £155-£335 Sun
Stats: par 72, 6,830 yards

(prices correct at time of publication in November 2025)

Just a few weeks before this Summer’s Open at glorious Royal Portrush, I headed over to Northern Ireland with Jeremy Ellwood to play a mixture of the brilliant courses - inland and links - on offer in the surrounding area. This combination of something old and something new turned out to be an absolute treat!

Castlerock

• Par 73, 6,481 yards
• GF: 18 holes, £225
• W: castlerockgc.co.uk

The Causeway Coast is blessed withs two absolute giants, Royal Portrush and Portstewart. The former is a global superstar, while the latter continues to improve year on year. Not a million miles behind them and in the Golf Monthly Next 100, the Mussenden Course at Castlerock is a fabulous links which I had first played back in 1996. I remember liking it greatly, but surprisingly little of the detail had remained in my shrinking memory bank. Happily, shepherded around by caddy-master Gordon, it surpassed my expectations and is clearly a first-class links in every way.

The course dates back well over a century and was designed by Ben Sayers and then Harry Colt. More recent changes were made by Martin Hawtree, and it has hosted many important tournaments, professional and amateur. It opens with two left-to-right doglegs that work you round towards the railway line, before it really takes off following the birdie-able… yes, amazingly, we both did… par-5 3rd. From here on you have dunes, burns and the prevailing wind combining to create a thrilling challenge that is endlessly enjoyable.

The fun carries on right through to the closing hole with a drive through a gap in the dunes and then up to a lovely green site below the spacious clubhouse. I loved every minute, and somehow kept the same ball all the way despite the capricious breeze and my even more impulsive swing. I certainly won’t leave it another 29 years before playing again. Then in my 90s, even if I am lucky enough to make it that far, I am not sure I would make it all the way round!

Bushfoot

• Par 70, 5,994 yards
• GF: 18 holes, £40-£50
• W: bushfootgolfclub.co.uk

Following a modest intake of black liquid for lunch, we headed east through sweet Coleraine and past The Open stands to Bushfoot. Just down the road from the world-famous distillery at Bushmills and right by the Giant’s Causeway, this friendly 9-holer has a terrific course that punches way above its weight. Part links and part parkland, real wow-factor comes at both of the opening holes; a corker of a par 4 to an outrageously small green tucked into the dunes, followed by a sublime par 3 alongside the river with two distinct and very different tees. This pair would not be out of place on a championship links.

Survive them, and the next three skirt the river, though never too closely, before a lone par 5 leads you back to the linksy ground closer to the welcoming clubhouse where we enjoyed talking to the club’s manager, Ian Blair. Jeremy and I were equally impressed and had time allowed would very happily have headed round again.

Roe Valley Resort

• Par 70, 6,261 yards
• GF: £75
• W: roevalleyresort.com

For the second part of our stay, we were based about half an hour from Portrush at Roe Valley, a very comfortable, relaxing and friendly golf resort just outside Limavady. Spacious and peaceful rooms are complemented by the lively and relaxed Coach House restaurant where the servings are as tasty as they are generous. My excellent Caesar Salad starter on the first night would have been enough to act as a main course, though obviously I didn’t allow that to happen! A newer restaurant, Fratelli, has recently opened at this family-friendly hotel, while there is a spa, a pool and an adventure playground. The course itself is packed with interesting and different holes, and is beautifully presented despite the fact that big change is afoot.

Recently acquired by the Galgorm Collection, there are plans for significant upgrades both on and off the course, so my advice would be to go as soon as possible in order to experience the before, and then return in a year or two to compare with the upgraded after! This was my second visit and I have enjoyed it hugely both times.

Following several visits over many years, I can heartily recommend the Causeway Coast and Glens as an excellent golfing destination. It will also be fascinating to follow the progress of the changes and additions planned by the Galgorm Collection.

Whether its links, heathland, parkland, downland or any other land, every type of golf course has its admirers. The same can also be said for clifftop golf which is arguably the most bracing setting of them all as these five otherwise remarkably varied courses confirm. While none is in the Golf Monthly Top 100 or Next 100 in the UK&I, that is of no concern as each is packed with fun and beauty.

Cairndhu

• GF: 18 holes £35-£50wd, £40-£60we
• W: cairndhugolfclub.co.uk

Situated on the east Antrim coastline an hour to the north of Belfast, Cairndhu dates back to 1928 but relocated to its spectacular clifftop location 30 years later. John Morrison, an associate of Harry Colt, designed the course which he expanded from 9 to 18 five years later. It may only just reach 6,000 yards from the back tees, but it can play substantially longer due to the slopes and doglegs. The glittering highlight comes early on at the 2nd, a picture-perfect short hole with outstanding 360-degree panoramas, worthy of inclusion in any list of beautiful par 3s. Elsewhere, there are plenty of very enjoyable holes such as the dogleg 8th and the sweeping par-5 17th.

Eyemouth

• GF: 18 holes £45wd, £50we
• W: eyemouthgolfclub.co.uk

Just north of the Scotland/England border and a few miles from Goswick Links, Eyemouth spent its first century as a 9-holer before expanding 18 in 1997. This renaissance was courtesy of a new road to the harbour which now bisects the course. Little if anything remains of the original, and while the opening two holes are perhaps less remarkable, from there on the remainder are anything but!

The jewel among its more spectacular holes is the dramatic par-3 6th which is played across…hopefully all the way… an elevated, craggy inlet. The par 4 that follows along the cliff-edge is also a cracker, and there are plenty of memorable holes all the way.

Freshwater Bay

• GF: Day Rate £48
• W: freshwaterbaygolfclub.co.uk

If ever there was a course that is exposed to all the highs and lows that nature has to offer, this very attractive downland/cliff-top mixture on the Isle of Wight is it. The views are outstanding, and as with all of the courses this month, the green fee represents excellent value.

Golf is a game of two halves here as you climb gently eastwards up the downs on the front nine before slaloming back to the clubhouse in the opposite direction. If the wind is from the east, the par 5s at 11 and 12 may well offer the chance of a birdie.

Langland Bay

• GF: 18 holes £80 Mon, Wed, Thu - £95 Fri &Sun
• W: langlandbaygolfclub.com

Occupying a compact but very attractive and varied plot of land between two lovely beaches, Langland Bay is a friendly club with a very scenic, undulating course. There are thrilling drives and tricky approaches, outstanding views, and all that any golfer could wish for. This parkland/clifftop hybrid was effectively redesigned by James Braid in the mid-1930s.

The holes closest to the cliffs are the par-4 7th and 8th, and then the 15th green before the do-or-die short 16th, appropriately named Death or Glory. Ideal for holiday golf, it is also way more than that with plenty to test the low-handicap golfer.

Nefyn

• GF: 18 holes £59-£89 all week
• W: nefyn-golf-club.co.uk

Although all 27 holes here are very enjoyable, it is the Point nine that is the biggest draw. These unique holes run along the promontory, and there are four exciting short holes including the 7th which is played back over the famous blow-hole. The stunning views and eccentricity are guaranteed to make you smile, as will a stop-off at the Ty Coch Inn down by the beach.

The Yellow and Red clifftop nines have a few blind shots but plenty more outstanding sea views, and it is worth noting that the Point loop can only be played as part of a 27-hole package.

I am a huge fan of clifftop golf where the views, sea air and wild atmosphere will almost certainly add to the beauty of the course. Many such courses also offer excellent value for money.

Golf is reliant on and inextricably linked with water for so many reasons. Obviously, the playing surfaces and all other flora and fauna associated with our courses couldn’t exist without it. But crucially, in its many guises, then to a lesser or greater degree it is a feature of the design and strategy of the majority of golf courses all over the world.

Few courses of note don’t have some form of water-related feature that the golfer must consider at some point in the round, whether it’s an innocuous-looking burn or drainage ditch, or an in-your-face lake that could fit a pod of blue whales. Our oldest and most revered links nestle by the sea, and while the water itself may come and go, the coastal margins are still a source both of wonder and anguish for most of us.

Why Have Water On A Course?

Given that playing a golf ball out of water successfully is nigh on impossible, why is water such an important and regular feature in course design? The answer falls into three overlapping categories; strategic, visual, and psychological. With regard to the first, courses need obstacles to challenge the golfer. The most obvious is everyone’s favourite (not!), the bunker. Aside from that you have rough, trees and other foliage, and of course, water. Water is ultimately the trickiest of the lot as an unsuccessful encounter will not only lose you a shot, but usually also your ball.

However, particularly on sites lacking trees, water is an obvious and relatively low-maintenance strategic challenge which can often define the ethos and feel of the place such as the Albatros Course at Golf National near Paris, host of the 2018 Ryder Cup. Moving on to visual, and there is no doubt that judicious use of lakes and ponds can help to turn a pig’s ear into a silk purse. Rather than a succession of sand-protected holes that can look very similar, water features can be as subtle, soothing, scary, or as over-the-top as the architect desires and the budget allows.

In its early days, the Brabazon Course at The Belfry, which has hosted more Ryder Cups than anywhere else, had a reputation as being a bit, how can I put it, farmer's-fieldy? Dave Thomas made substantial changes in the late 90s with the water a prime beneficiary, and it has looked so much better since. Finally, and relevant to the vast majority of golfers, water has a brilliant but deliberately daunting psychological impact. The architect doesn’t really want you to duff your approach, and deep down you know you can easily hit the ball the relevant distance through the air, but put a pond in the way and suddenly the shot is twice as hard. The fear and the potential cost of failure are enough to shred nerves or at least sow some seeds of doubt.

Natural Versus Manmade

I must confess that when it comes to water features, or indeed most cosmetic surgery, I am a huge fan of those that nature has already provided way before the architect turned up. What could be lovelier than playing alongside a natural, freshwater lake such as Lough Muckno which laps up against most of the Next 100 course at Concra Wood, an hour to the north of Dublin?

And how pretty are the ponds that protect the monster par-3 6th at West Sussex, originally a short par 4 played round the marshy area, and then at the 15th? Having said that, obviously beauty can be created, and not in a Victor Frankenstein way. The burns and marshes at the highly-rated Dumbarnie Links were no such thing ten years ago. In terms of a marriage of natural and manmade, who would argue that the water at Adare Manor, host of the 2027 Ryder Cup, is not picture perfect?

Rivers and Streams

The most natural water feature, away from the sea, is surely a river or sizeable stream that crosses or flanks the course. Surprisingly few of the Golf Monthly Top 200 courses benefit from them very significantly although the lovely par-3 4th at Cruden Bay runs alongside the fast-flowing Water of Cruden. The Palmer North Course at the K Club, host of the 2006 Ryder Cup, has the famous River Liffey running through it.

On the fabulous par-5 8th, the green is on an island in the river. Many top courses instead have burns and ditches, more of which later, but it is often at the less well-known that rivers are to the fore. At Ilkley in Yorkshire, the 2nd and 3rd greens are on an island in the River Wharfe, while Galgorm Castle in Northern Ireland is blessed with two rivers, the Maine and the Braid, that meet down by the 13th green.

Ponds and Lakes

Perhaps the most common water feature incorporated into the golf course architect’s work is a lake or pond. They are effectively just size variations of the same thing, an expanse of water designed to influence the strategy for playing that hole at the same time as adding visual interest. This also seems to be a more modern development, perhaps over the last 50 years or so. If you look at our classic and oldest courses, they are far less in evidence. Some protect the green such as on the famous 17th at Real Valderrama.

Elsewhere, lakes are used to separate holes and come into play for wayward shots on either. Modern designs such as those at Formby Hall and The Kendleshire have used them to great effect to provide interest and challenge throughout the course. One of the greatest and of course scariest innovations that goes with lakes is the island green. The most famous is Pete Dye’s creation at TPC Sawgrass, but you will find them everywhere at courses such as The Shire London and Rockliffe Hall, and they never lose their drama.

Ditches and Burns

Many of our older courses, especially links, are blessed, and perhaps a little cursed, with irrigation ditches and burns. A pair of very famous examples occur on two of our most storied links, the Old Course at St Andrews and the Championship Course at Carnoustie. The Swilcan Burn should comes into play on the opening hole of the Old Course, but it’s such a short and otherwise simple hole, that it really shouldn’t! However it does, as its psychological impact and proximity to the green can unnerve the steeliest resolve.

The Barry Burn at Carnoustie is even more imposing and deadly. Just ask Jean Van de Velde or Padraig Harrington. Neither is likely to have a picture of it in their living-room. Many if not most links have burns and ditches, partly for strategy and partly for irrigation, but considering the percentage of the course that they take up, they tend to punch way above their weight!

The Sea

The original and ultimate water hazard… sorry, penalty area! Whether we are talking beaches or actual H2O, the sea lines many of the finest courses in the world. It is a joy to behold, it lifts the spirits, and it swallows golf balls. At some links, such as the opening holes at Top 100 favourite Nairn, you can play from the beach. At the moody and atmospheric Royal West Norfolk, the far end of the course changes every few hours along with the tide. If you are lucky, you may even get marooned at the club as the exit road becomes inaccessible.

In Wales, the modern links at Machynys is effectively on a marsh and again changes all the time. In sunnier climes, the exciting course at Tierra del Sol on Aruba has a sublime par 3 played over a lagoon fed by the sea. Globally, there are countless interactions between golf courses and the sea.

I mentioned that away from irrigation, there are three basic reasons for having water on a course; strategic, visual and psychological. Well these may be three separate reasons, but of course they are not mutually exclusive. In fact quite the opposite. They join forces at almost every instance. The choices we have to make about laying up or going for it, or playing safely away from the water, the beautiful vistas and tranquility we enjoy while approaching the water, and the anxiety we feel when confronted with challenge, are mainly all there, every time.

Water is an important tool of the golf course architect and a key ingredient of the game we love. At the magnificent Fancourt estate in South Africa, its three courses have every type, natural and manmade, and are all the better for it. Water is beautiful to behold, but for the sake of your golf ball, it’s best to keep your distance!

The golf

Par 70, 6,143 yards

Nowhere does the soul-soothing delights of free-flowing, crystal-clear rivers and streams on golf courses as well as the front nine here. Not far from Okehampton, it ranks among the best golf courses in Devon and was originally designed by highly regarded architect, JF Abercromby.

You start on a tempting, downhill par 4, where water awaits if you attack and don’t quite catch it, as it does again just short of the 2^nd green as you gaze up to the hotel. If you play the par-3 3^rd from the tips, take your ‘A’ game as the green is closely flanked by more water 200 yards away.

On the par-4 7^th, you cross rivers and streams which then close in on you left and right up near the green. After the 9^th, you climb out of the valley for a different-feeling back nine, which closes with six varied par 4s, with the 13^th or 14^th by the entrance road potentially drivable depending on conditions.

The 18^th is a brute, doglegging awkwardly left against the camber to a green 433 yards away.

The hotel

This haven of tranquillity is idyllic if you get the weather my wife and I enjoyed. But there’s much more than just golf on offer, with off-roading, fly-fishing, archery, clay-pigeon shooting and more, plus a sizable indoor pool in the spa.

The bedrooms and public areas are just as they should be in a building of this character, and our room, looking out over the terrace and golf course, was a perfect place to just be.

We crammed in time in the pool, walks in the woods along the front nine, cocktails on the terrace and excellent meals in both the elegant Great Western Grill (it was once a railway hotel) and the more informal Smith’s Brasserie.

There are also 22 high-class, self-catering lodges on the estate. Oh, and the falconry display was hugely entertaining.

Best deal

The ‘Time To Golf’ break includes two rounds per person on the championship course plus accommodation for two nights with full English breakfast. Prices are from £369 per room, per night.

The ‘Time To Relax’ golf break offers a one-night stay, inclusive of full English breakfast, dinner in either restaurant and a round of golf per person from £464 per room, per night. Both offers are based on two sharing a Classic room.

(prices correct at time of publication in October 2025)

Bovey Castle, North Bovey, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, TQ13 8RE
T: 01647 445000
E: info@boveycastle.com
W: boveycastle.com