Write a Review Competition Winners and Results
1st May 2010
More than 500 golf course reviews were posted in our first quarterly “write a review” competition and the quality was truly outstanding.
The selection process seemed simple enough… to create a shortlist. However, we ended up with 46 golf course reviews on our rather lengthy shortlist. Whittling 46 down to the 5 winning reviews was no easy task.
Before I share the winners with you, I’d like to say how much I appreciate almost every course review posted on the Top 100 website. It never ceases to amaze me how much effort golfers put in to create these thoughtful golf course reviews. Here are a couple of excerpts from reviews that on another occasion might have won:
Gleneagles (PGA Centenary) – 9 Mar 2010 – “It is the attention to detail that creates the unique character of the King's and Queen's courses that makes them a must-play destination for golf-goers in Scotland, but in contrast it is attention to detail that leaves golfers begging for more on the PGA Centenary Course.”
Swinley Forest – 11 Feb 2010 – “It’s often easy to forget you actually came here to play golf as you look around at the scenery in awe. Although I refer to the feminine beauty, many with an overload of testosterone will frown at the relative low yardage. But be warned! Many of the uphill 400-yard + par fours are only reachable in regulation by the lower handicapper.”
Sperone – 21 Jan 2010 – “What a stunning setting, what a sensational course, what a shame it’s not looked after. We more or less planned our 2009 summer holiday around the chance to play Sperone (not sure our wives were aware of this) and whilst we were far from disappointed, there is still a sense that this place could be so much better.”
Saunton (East) – 20 Jan 2010 – “The first thing that hits you is the view as you turn off the B3231 road to Croyde and into the car park. I’d defy any golf lover not to mutter at least Wow!! My buddy, who’d never played a links course before, blurted out a full blown PHWOAR!!”
New Zealand – 18 Jan 2010 – “The New Zealand Golf Club is very much a world away from the trials and tribulations of the rush of modern life... The course starts with a gentle par 4 in front of the clubhouse – with just enough option to slice one through the secretary's window to keep you on your toes…”
To read the full course reviews above (and below) simply click on the blue hyperlink which will take you through to the relevant page. Here are the winners:
5th Place – David Jones – won a round for four people at Finca Cortesin – Royal St George’s – 31 Mar 2010 – “Like any good relationship it was not love at first sight. When on the practice ground, I was struck by the sparseness of the land. The dunes which become your playground on the front 9, were a distant but tempting view as a handful of members got underway. They turned out to be the only people that we saw that day…”
4th Place – David McIntosh – won a round for four people at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links – Gullane No.2 – 23 Mar 2010 – “With four days to go until Christmas and snow lying heavy all over Edinburgh and the East Lothian coast I made the short trip to Gullane wondering whether I would get out on the course at all. I needn't have worried as when I arrived the Gullane courses were open and in immaculate condition as usual…”
3rd Place – Colin Cotter – won a round for four people at Cruden Bay – Castle Stuart – 29 Mar 2010 – “One visit to the new Castle Stuart course was all it took to send it rocketing into the top couple of courses in Scotland that have disappointed me most. The philosophy behind the course is outlined in the course guide and I could spend hours writing a dissertation about why the course fails to live up to this philosophy, or why much of the philosophy is, in my view, flawed anyway. I am not saying this is a bad course, I'm still giving it 4 balls, but at this price it must be judged against the best, and I think it falls short.”
2nd Place – Matt Richardson – won golf & overnight stay for two people at Hanbury Manor – Kauri Cliffs – 19 Jan 2010 – “The course starts to show its full magnificence with the par-5 4th, a dog-leg right with a huge drop off down the right hand side, the final approach played to the backdrop of an amazing coastline to the south. Then the real intimidation begins. Standing on the 5th tee, with a 2-iron in my hand, I looked up to see what seemed like a postage-stamp patch of emerald green nestled on a steep hillside, with a huge chasm catching anything short or right, and tightly bunkered. My swing thought (unusually for me) was “can I manage to swing this club before the paralysis sets in?” Actually the green’s a little bigger than it looks, but still a tough target.”
1st Place – Anthony Daniels – won a round for four people at Waterville – Burnham & Berrow – 22 Feb 2010 – “More variety awaits at the 16th as this short par 4 is driveable if the wind is at your back. The green is possibly the most eccentric I have ever seen with a 45-degree bank running right through the middle of it, and it just so happened that the pin was right at the bottom of it. Muggins here managed to hit his approach to the upper level and was very pleased to still be on the green for my second putt!”
It’s amazing how things come full circle. We’re always looking for correspondents, especially those who live outside Britain & Ireland, who are keen golfers with a passion for course architecture, have attention to detail and have a flair for writing. I’d like to welcome Matt to the team who posted the fabulous prize winning Kauri Cliffs review. Matt has agreed to cover New Zealand for us, so keep your eye open for more Kiwi course reviews and perhaps an extended ranking list of top NZ courses in the future. If you live outside Britain & Ireland and would like to help us please let me know.
Kind regards,
Keith Baxter
Editor
