Mountaintop

I'm shocked that Mountaintop is ranked 16th in North Carolina. Personally, after playing several other in the state's top 10, I would put 2nd, or maybe 3rd at worst. Pros:-Wow factor and aesthetics are amazing-Tremendous property with immense elevati...

The Island

We had lunch at Portmarnock which was closed to outside play due to The R&A Amateur. On a great trip, The Island was second from the bottom, but I would play it again for sure. It was a tough day with the wind, and there are a few awkward spots/holes...

Roma Acquasanta

The classic old parkland track at Roma Acquasanta proved to be a fitting end to my recent trip to Italy. Founded by the British at the start of the last century, it’s said that Acquasanta only really became an Italian club in the 1930s, when Mussolin...

Olgiata (West)

There’s been a few big tournaments played at Olgiata, mainly in the 1960s to 1980s, though it was put forward as the Olympic golf course in Rome’s failed bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games. The Italian Open was last held here in 2002 and the club is...

Golf Nazionale

On arrival, both the clubhouse and the adjoining accommodation wing appear a little dated (the place is less than thirty years old) but I was later told both are due to be refurbished. Once out on the course, you can tell from the first hole that thi...

Terre dei Consoli

When I got home, I looked at google maps to see exactly how close the course at Terre dei Consoli is to the layout at Golf Nazionale and found out the most northerly point on the former (the green on #8) is just over half a kilometre away from the mo...

Terme di Saturnia

I really like Ron Fream courses, having played most of his Tunisian designs, as well as Arcangues in southwest France, and this wee Tuscan beauty didn’t disappoint either. Ron’s a man of vast experience, having travelled all over the world as a golf...

Argentario

I can’t vouch for the resort as I didn’t stay here but the new clubhouse, driving range and surroundings are very smart. The course was busy on arrival so Giulia in the golf club office, who seems to run a pretty tight ship, suggested we play the bac...

Lahinch (Old)

My "6" is not casual as I have been fortunate to play some great courses in the USA. We only had 18 holes on a windy day, but wow. Ballybunion gets all the tour buses, and Lahinch stays "Irish" despite its acclaim and convenient location. Fabulous gr...

Bagnaia

The 18-hole layout at La Bagnaia is laid out in a large estate, with a couple of old converted villages, Borgo Bagnaia and Borgo Filetta, offering boutique hotel accommodation. It’s hard to write about the course in isolation when the fairways occupy...

Antognolla

The first thing that strikes you about playing at Antognolla is the bunkering, which is truly magnificent. Jagged edged and beautifully proportioned, the sand traps are wonderful, grass-banked hazards that are positioned in all the right places, bot...

Koninklijke Haagsche

Royal Hague was founded in 1893 and is the oldest club in The Netherlands- however the club's course was destroyed in World War Two. Some years prior to this Harry Colt's firm, Colt, Alison & Morrison were engaged by Dutch businessman Daniel Wolf to...

Kennemer

Kennemer was Colt's first assignment in The Netherlands- he went on to change the face of Netherlands golf with work at Utrecht de Pan, Royal Hague (through partner Hugh Alison), Eindhoven & Hilversum. Colt's plans at Kennemer extended to 27 holes,...

The Grove

Do yourself a favor, and go somewhere else. This was a bucket list course for me after visiting for the British Masters in 2016 - I was so underwhelmed by this place. Yes the staff are friendly, yes it all looks very nice - but in terms of value for...

Enniscrone (Dunes)

I joined Enniscrone years ago as an Overseas Member, and it took a Father & Son trip for me to finally realize what a special place and course Enniscrone is for the golf world. My son pointed out how the "flat holes" in the middle of the round were a...

Hollywood

I have been playing Hollywood GC for 10+ years with a friend and the course just keeps getting better and better with Doak's renovation. There is talk that they will finish it off with #17 going back to a Travis original style hole over the next yea...

Les Aisses (Les Aisses)

A total gem of a course that seems to be overlooked by most. We went on a trip in 2018 where we were lucky enough to be playing Fontainebleau and Les Bordes. We had been looking for a 3rd course to play in the area and although we had done a little r...

Manor House

I have given the course a "good" review as I feel its a good course.... but no better than that. The price of playing here is very expensive and although the facilities are good, it is not worth spending the amount of money on generally charged £80 -...

Royal Belgium (Old)

When tracing my roots I discovered that many years ago a Branch from my family tree had once excelled at The Belgian Open. He was possibly the only relative ever to hit 2 consecutive straight shots and was likely adopted. It was this accident of h...

Bowood

For me the best course in Wiltshire. Great layout a lot of nice holes and in summer very well kept. Its not extremely tight so if you know how to play it you score well, however there are a few tricky holes that can catch you out if you miss a shot.I...

Le Touquet (La Mer)

One of the best courses I played ever. This France‘s No.1 links style championship golf course La Mer has been Le Touquet Golf resort crowning glory many years. La Mer’s wild beauty is matched only by the force of the wind, which is an integral part...

Trump International Golf Links - Scotland

This course is jaw dropping. It’s tough and intimating off the tee but I was lucky enough to find many bumps and humps that kicked my ball back onto the fairway. It’s condition is up there with Turnberry and my other favourite course Valderrama. Vald...

Blairgowrie (Rosemount)

Absolutely love Blairgowrie. Has a lovely atmosphere as soon as you drive towards the course. If it was in Surrey, I think it would be much higher up the rankings, but I don’t care as I like it as a secret gem. I love tight tree lined fairways and th...

Wenvoe Castle

Wenvoe is one of what seems like a plethora of similar parkland courses in the Cardiff area. Three par 5's and three par 3's makes for a par of 72 with a white tee yardage of 6514; seemed to play all of this as there was little roll after the recent...

Littlehampton

Played littlehampton this saturday just gone as a visiting 3 ball.I have ranked as excellent given the overall experience we had. We played Royal Ashdown Forest (both courses) on the Friday, 2 rounds at Littlehampton on the Saturday and one round at...

Royal Ashdown Forest (Old)

Played RAF old course and west course this friday as a visiting fourball. Welcome is nice and club house is ok. We played the Old course as 2 x 2balls as RAF has a foursomes style similar to Muirfield and Royal St Georges. (The members ahead of us pr...

Royal Ashdown Forest (Old)

Royal Ashdown Forest is a splendid walk, indeed the course is worth walking even without clubs. Plenty of locals also think it’s worth a stroll. Some of them enjoy the occasional wait to cross fairways; I’m told a few don’t. And then there is the vi...

Staverton Park

Not a very interesting course, holes can play severely down hill. I would rather play Daventry GC in this area of Northamptonshire. The course also suffers from lots of slow 4 ball societies on a Saturday. Can't really remember many of the holes.

Brampton Heath

A pretty decent course, has improved since the original layout. The first is a downhill par 4, which is a really challenging approach shot where missing left leaves you a very tricky up and down. The other highlights are the par 3 7th, and par 3 12...

Cavendish

A short but challenging McKenzie course which is worth seeking out. With soft ground whenever I have played it, it therefore plays longer than the scorecard suggests, with some wonderful holes throughout the layout.Based on the courses I have played...

Church Stretton

I think the previous review of Church Stretton is pretty well spot on. To start with three par 3's is very very unusual and the first is in particular a very difficult par 3. The toughest hole is certainly the 4th, a dog-leg par 4 over 400 yards with...

Lilleshall Hall

Visited Lilleshall in July 2019. Front nine was fairly average parkland played off firm clay baked fairways so ball bounced far. Back nine was much nicer, more woodland and had a much nicer feel with springy turf and more interesting holes. Thought h...

Highgate

The course at Highgate, North London is not that well known outside of the area. It is a fantastic club with a decent course and one that visitors should seek out to play. For those non-locals, this area is a very affluent part of London and also in...

Prince’s (Himalayas)

As a well traveled golfer & having played 90% of Open venues I find Princes to be the most welcoming & accessible of all.A recent addition to the Princes experience is the reimagined Himalayas course. I must comment that this is a pure test of golf,...

London Club (International)

I thoroughly enjoyed my round on the International course despite playing on one the summers wettest days! Regardless of the heavy rain the course remained unaffected and in great condition with no standing water, even the greens retained their pace,...

Prince’s (Himalayas)

Martin Ebert has recently been called in by the owner to beef up the challenge on this nine and he’s done so in a number of ways, especially with the introduction of a sweeping new par five to replace the old #2 and #3 holes, along with establishing...

Rye (Old)

I’ve had Rye on my hit list for some time now and got the opportunity to play the course the other day. The opening three holes are rather pedestrian, with out of bounds to the left of every fairway as they head away, one after another, from the club...

Prince's (Shore & Dunes)

I got the chance to replay the Shore/Dunes combo the other day, exactly five years after my previous visit. I commented in my review then that there surely could not be 50+ English courses better than Prince’s and I fully stand by that earlier remark...

Shepherd's Hollow (10-27)

Most 27-hole facilities do players the courtesy of letting them know which pair of nines is best. Shepherd’s Hollow does not. Many resources—including this one—suggest the latter 18. Others suggest the first nine accompanying the second. Your corresp...

Mission Hills (Blackstone)

The Blackstone Course at Mission Hills Hainan is a championship layout designed on the spectacular black lava strata on Hainan Island. The distance is long, over 7,800 yards, the landing areas are tight, and the natural and ancient lava rocks, bunker...

Royal Cinque Ports

One review for Royal Cinque Ports in all of last year then suddenly this is the third one in a week – perhaps there are now enough golfers paying attention to these critiques who want to find out for themselves (then tell others) what the fuss is all...

Kings

The new course at Kings Golf Club in Inverness was a big surprise. To be honest, I had pretty low expectations before playing here – after all, wasn’t this merely the rebirth of a run-of-the-mill golf facility which was owned by the municipal authori...

Zurich

I had the good fortune to play the Golf and Country Club of Zurich on a glorious summer's day (August 2019). It is a lovely parkland course with generous fairways and very well conditioned throughout. It is a nice walk but there are some decent eleva...

Coombe Hill

I am a member at Coombe Hill, which has always been a very private and exclusive Club, but has in recent years become more accessible. An absolutely beautiful course, designed by JF Abercromby, who used a hot air balloon to help him decide how to l...

Hazlehead (MacKenzie Championship)

The Hazlehead Championship course closed in 2018 to allow extensive drainage work to be carried out on the course and that sort of move is to be applauded by any local authority willing to invest in its leisure facilities. Quite a few trees have a...

Woking

I think that Woking is a very pleasant track with a nice heathland feel to it and a some very nice holes. The 8th is a marvellous hole, and the 6th is good, as is I think also the 13th, and the fourth is a wonderful piece of architecture making somet...

Circling Raven

The first thing you will notice about Circling Raven is a sense of vastness. It seems big and it is. The course covers over 600 acres and for most of the holes you do not see another hole. The first hole is a welcoming dogleg left par 5. There a...

Church Stretton

Church Stretton Golf Club sits atop the stunning Shropshire Hills above the historic market town of the same name. Please believe me when I say the panoramic views from the summit of the course are as good as you’ll find anywhere in England.Located i...

Brampton Heath

Located on sandy ground, just to the west of Northampton, Brampton Heath is a semi-heathland course that belies its age of less than two decades.Opened in May 1995 it still shows signs of its youth but the many trees and gorse bushes that were plante...

Gulph Mills

Like so many golden age classics, the timeline of architects is convoluted with many cooks in the kitchen all serving different dishes. Generally understood, the first 7 holes are Donald Ross, the next 7 holes are from Perry Maxwell before returning...

Westhampton

This course gets a lot of well-deserved high praise subsequent to the most recent restoration by Gil Hanse in 2009. It is one of Raynor’s first efforts from 1915 and could easily be on the short list of favourites on Long Island. The opening tee shot...

Southampton

Given that the architect is buried in the nearby Southampton Cemetery, this special place in New York heralds some of the most sought-after terrain anywhere in the world. The nearby proximity to NGLA offers up a competing list of iconic template hole...

East Hampton

With the two nines on either side of a main road, both looking completely different from each other in topography, surroundings and design, it is understandable to ponder that it’s really more like two 9-hole courses rather than one complete 18-hole...

Prince's (Shore & Dunes)

excellent course in fantastic condition, weather meant round was 40 mins delayed but this was fine, once the bad stuff passed over the course didn't look like it had seen a drop of rain, greens were pure, a proper links test with undulating fairways,...

Royal Cinque Ports

A 2 and a half hour trip took us to Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club where we had quite an eventful day in their Junior Open. It was raining cats and dogs and thunder & lightning was lurking. When standing on the 5th tee we even saw typhoons swirling by...

Culver Academies

It’s hard to tell people to go out of their way to play a nine hole course but that’s exactly what I’m suggesting you do. For some reason I was expecting a flat course in Indiana but that’s not what you find here. Far from it. But let me start at the...

Double Eagle

Double Eagle is one of the most unique places I have played with its combination of optimum course conditioning, a noteworthy routing and exclusivity. There are not many members, and the course flies the below the radar. Our caddie told me that they...

Oake Manor

Oake Manor is a modern style course with quite a few lakes and streams which seem to present most of the hazards. I have played Oake probably three times now (the last being inMay 2019) and the course is generally in reasonable condition. It is quite...

Cotswold Hills

Last played Cotswold Hills in October 2018. A good welcome and good facilities, with range and delightful external balconies/seating areas. Course was in good condition (including the greens) and the surrounding countryside is very nice, although the...

Enville (Highgate)

What a joy, both courses are worthy of being ranked, the debate within our group was which was the better course. The Highgate scored marginally higher due to its length and stronger closing holes although the Lodge course has some great holes. It...

Thracian Cliffs

I have played many many great courses in the world and although I wouldn't say this is the best course i have played, it is the most spectacular by a mile ! If there is a better looking course I have yet to see it.Every hole has a spectacular cliff t...

Real La Manga Club (West)

Despite having property at La manga i have only played this once. I am a grip it and rip it kind of player and this certainly doesn't suit here.I have a feeling if I left the woods at home this could become a course that you grow to love, but for me...

Roda

I would say Roda is ok not great. I have played here probably half a dozen times and like it less each time I play it. Its one of the courses that the first time you play it you feel you may have a got a little unlucky and didnt get the rub of the gr...

Mar Menor

I really enjoy playing Mar Menor. Its a well designed course that has wide fairways and lots of bunkers. If you speak with people who play the regions course's often I think this course might not get a mention, but I think a lot of this has to do wit...

Las Ramblas

Not for me I am afraid this one. Miles too short a course where the driver is seldom used and when you do you generally wish you hadn't (even with a straight one) Other reviews say a plotters course and i agree that given the terrain how a golf cours...

Hacienda del Alamo

Not a great course but not too bad either. Some nice holes but as with other courses in the region I found myself getting strange bounces and falling off into scrubby unkept areas. One of those courses I think if you go in expecting great things you...

Real La Manga Club (North)

Good for the higher handicapper or shorter hitter, tight tree lined fairways on a lot of holes and quite a few quirky hazards meaning you have to really plot your way around the course. With the length of todays drivers the lower handicapper would re...

Real La Manga Club (South)

Out of the 3 courses at La Manga I would say this is the only one that you could really class as a "good" golf course for the lower handicapper. It has some interesting holes and dependant on the wind 3 of the 5 par fives very reachable in 2. Conditi...

Alhama

I would say this is a good course not a great course and very much depends what time of year you play it and wether or not the green staff are on form.As a rule these are the quickest greens of the Jack Nicklaus courses in the region and it is withou...

Desert Springs (Indiana)

For me an extremely over-rated course. It feels a bit like a them park with lots of propping with things like wooden wagons, cactus etc all designed to make it feel like you are in the wild west. Certain parts of the course wind in and out of villas...

West Lancashire

West Lancs is a beautifully pristine links, in the brilliant condition that you’d expect of an Open venue so it’s no wonder this place is often used for final qualifying. Routed with two loops of nine, this is a strong and true test of links golf whe...

Eindhovensche

Eindhoven is a heathland course and plays through dense forest with a rolling sand base- perfect for golf.The course is eminently walkable as there is little elevation change of consequence- just rumpled fairways framed by heather, bunkers and lots o...

Hilversumsche

Hilversumsche could best be described as a heathland course with sandy base, spotted with heather & bracken, and framed by dense forest. It is a lovely walk as there is little elevation change throughout the property – just enough to make the golf h...

La Grande Motte (Les Flamants Roses)

Les Flamants Roses is a good straight forward track. I played in June 2019 and the condition was good with excellent greens. The land is flat but the routing through the water hazards keeps you interested throughout. Well worth a visit if you’re in t...

Castelfalfi (Mountain)

Castelfalfi is holiday golf at it’s best. On the couple of times I’ve played the Mountain Course the conditioning has been great. The layout is good with one or two quirky holes, but these don’t detract from the overall enjoyment. Most importantly w...

Al Zorah

Played this course yesterday and the fairways and greens were the best I’ve ever seen in the Middle East and the top 3 of any I’ve played around the world. Add in a price of £45 for the round and you have yourself one hell of a great golf experience

Mississaugua

Greens are absolutely perfect, very fast and consistent. Bunkers are in amazing condition. Not a single miscut piece of grass on the entire course. Must Play!!

Holstebro (Skovbanen)

Played Holstebro early August. The course is in immaculate condition. Greens are fast, firm and 100% true, fairways are equally good - not a dry or scruffy spot in sight. Lay-out has always been very good and the surroundings are absolutely 1. class...

Royal Cinque Ports

Where has the time gone? By my reckoning fifteen years have slipped away since I last played here. Back in the noughties I didn’t fall in love with course or club. I felt it was a really good layout, a bit of a rough diamond condition-wise and the cl...

Huntington

The array of quality golf options on Long Island along makes it one of the very special places to play golf. The key is having some sort of access because the overwhelming bulk of layouts is on the private side.Huntington is rarely spoken about when...

Winged Foot (East)

The little brother to the West gets far too little attention and clearly deserves its own special mention. The course is much truer to Tillinghast's original intent and has not been unduly lengthened or hardened in order to stay relevant to the world...

Royal Bled (King's)

This place takes some beating. SUrprised it is only 96 in continental Europe. Having played lots of the courses ahead of it, I think it deserves to be much higher.There aren't many courses where you could go on holiday and play 5 or 5 days in a row,...

Roxburghe

I played the roxburghe recently and absolutely loved it, the design was terrific, undulating but properly layed out using the slopes to add to the course rather than just following a route, the 13th I believe, the par 5 along the river with the rail...

Glenbervie

I played Glenbervie for the first time and could not believe how beautifully manicured it was, every hole a different challenge, facilities are tremendous, not a bad view on the course, the greens are some of best in Scotland, the membership was out...

Leominster

Leominster is quite a hilly course and that is the overriding memory of playing Leominster, and this probably does detract from one's liking of the course. The other things I recall (and I haven't played Leominster for a few years) are the pond in fr...

Sapey (Rowan)

Sapey was disappointing. Basic modern parkland without much in the way of excitement or quality holes. The 9th was for me the pick of the holes, a par 4 with a good looking drive over water to a sloping fairway. A few ditches and a couple of ponds su...

Burghill Valley

Played Burghill Valley for the first time in May 2019 and thought it was reasonable enough. A few miles from The Herefordshire it is a more modern course but offers a similar countryside setting with a reasonable mixture of holes. A few bland holes b...

Herefordshire

The Herefordshire is set in the middle of the countryside and is a beautiful spot and the course itself makes use of the natural contours. Flat it is not and when you stand back on the 8th fairway and look back across to the clubhouse on the far side...

The Dutch

The Dutch is a modern, private and very exclusive club and it is a privilege to be invited to play. Everything about the club is first class – the service, clubhouse, dining, and course maintenance are all superb. And the course is challenging with...

Bernardus

Bernardus Golf & Memories is a new course designed by Kyle Phillips which opened for play in 2018. It will host the KLM Dutch Open from 2020 onwards for at least 3 years. Without any significant elevation change through the property Philips has reli...

Sandwell Park

Sandwell Park is located adjacent the West Bromwich junction of the M5, but to be honest traffic noise doesn't seem to be a major issue. A course designed by Harry Colt is generally a positive, and it is a friendly members club that runs plenty of op...

Minchinhampton (Cherington)

Set in pleasant Gloucestershire countryside, a relatively new course constructed on farmland in the 1990's. Holes 1, 2 and 18 remain from the original new (Avening) course layout, although 18 has been lengthened and altered. Arguably the 2nd is the m...

Nanjing Zhongshan International (Mountain & Lake)

The course at the Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Club is a hilly course, developed at the foot of the mountain, Zhongshan. The club has three 9-hole courses; the Mountain, Lake, and Valley which was added in 2010. I highly recommend playing the...

Bungay & Waveney Valley

The modest 6,000-yard, par 69 course at Bungay & Waveney Valley Golf Club, established in 1889, is yet another Suffolk treat in a county that continually delivers fine inland golf.Bungay doesn’t quite have the beauty of Purdis Heath, the scale of Ald...

Ka'anapali (Royal Ka'anapali)

Royal Ka’anapali is a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design that dates back to 1962. Over the years it has hosted events such as Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf, the LPGA’s Kemper Open, and the Champions Tour, Ka’anapali Classic. However, that was many ye...

Marbella Golf & Country Club

In bad shape for a private club... if it would be more take care of, because the design of the course is interesting!

Real Valderrama

The course is perfect!!! It is a must to play... what a chance i had....

Stoneham

Positioned in the middle of a horseshoe of where the M3 and the M27 motorways collide, Stoneham’s location is an odd one. You wouldn’t choose to build a golf course in an area surrounded by such traffic, but considering that the club was established...

Collingtree Park

Oh dear what has happened. Played this year for the first time in about 5, the condition of the tees, fairways is awful. Maybe spoilt have played Royal St Georges just a few weeks before, however Collingtree is not the course it once was. It was...

Royal St George's

So much fun! I played an a beautiful sunny day, but very very windy, for me that added to the experience. Holes 4,5,6,7 and 8 all brilliant. The back 9 didn't have any breathtaking holes, but all the way round I was tested and really loved it and...