alan ritchie

I would agree very much with the below reviews. The course starts on a high with a lovely short par 4 with strategic bunkering and a tricky green with the front 9 certainly being the stronger of the two. The other short par 4 8th is a very nice hole that again requires a solid strategy. The back 9 is a bit of a slog over less interesting land. the facilities are glorious and makes me think of what an elite country club in the U.S. may appear like. Unfortunately the quality of the course does not match and although enjoyable, is well below the best in the state at NSW. It will be interesting to see how the work at bonnie doon goes. If the original work by occm is replicated then it may well elevate itself above its more illustrious neigbours in the city.

Just finished my round and unfortunately the course does not match the quality of the surroundings. I'll start with the positives of the par 3s being varied and excellent, real fun to play. And the closing stretch from about 14 is certainly the highlight. there are many negatives however, the course is 100% unwalkable, which on this land is understandable but mandatory cart golf is not a wonderful start. the conditioning is moderate at best though its main downfall is that it is far too penal. 30 yard fairways at times flanked by death either side, hole after hole. I did well to only lose 3 balls and the staff were amazed by that small number. I imagine the average ball debt must be at least 6. overall it's like kauri cliffs had fallen on hard times.widen the playing corridors and improve the conditioning with a few tweaks to design and it could be improved. should I return to Hamilton island I wouldn't rush back and that I suppose is the true mark.

I was just thinking when walking round metropolitan, how can you produce such a great course from such flat land? The answer I feel is obviously great design with world class bunkering and greens. I agree with most of Fergals words on the <IMG alt="Metropotitan Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" hspace=5 src="/images/metropolitan-golf-course-review-METR002.jpg" align=right vspace=5 border=1>course, there is indeed a fair collection of world class holes here and yes mainly on the front 9 but the back 9 is still pretty dam good. I wasn't a big fan of the 18th and point taken on those trees in 17, but for me there was a good bit of interest on every other hole on the back 9 and I thought 13 was the best par 3 on the course. it was also the only hole that wasn't open at the front on an otherwise firm course that would allow the running approach. my favourite hole overall was also the great par 5 6th. probably because I was able to fly a 3 wood over the back in two before playing the flop shot of my life over the back bunker and stopping it 3 inches from the pin for my birdie.. ultimately it made me keen to return for more sandbelt golf and I believe metropolitan has the quality to be well in the top 100.

My first visit to the mornington peninsula to visit the highly rated moonah course and I was not to be disappointed. driving there you can see space for maybe 2 <IMG alt="National (Moonah) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" hspace=5 src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/national-moonah-golf-course-review-NATI001.jpg" align=right vspace=5 border=1>or 3 more courses on land that would be just as conducive for great golf. I would agree this is a great second shot course with for me 4-5 world class holes and the majority being excellent. I think the stretch of holes 4-11 are the standouts with great undulation and precision required. Definitely more of a penal style though the wind was fairly kind on my visit. playing with a member was certainly handy as a few lines off the tee were not immediately apparent. for me I could only think of the 17th as being a bit too much but I actually loved the 18th with its various single trees dictating line and length from the tee. definitely top 100 material

A very fine course and now the third of Doak's courses that I have played. As with the other courses on the Mornington Peninsula it is was built on <img alt="St Andrews Beach Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" hspace="5" src="/images/st-andrews-beach-golf-course-review-STAB014.jpg" align="right" vspace="5" border="1">land was made for golf, though this may be one of the more undulating pieces of property and is certainly a stern walk. There are many fine holes here though I'll admit i would rank it a distant third behind Barnbougle and Cape Kidnappers, Some the greens were surprisingly small and flat which I didn't really think was in keeping with the land or the rest of the course. I also expected more strategy to some of the par 4s and the first hole didn't suit my eye at all. In saying that we are still dealing with a probable 7 on the architects own scale so I am maybe being a bit harsh based on how impressed I was over his other work.

certainly it would seem the third best course in Tasmania, although obviously well behind the front runners The Tasmanian is a good gold course in its own right only slightly let down by poor fairway conditioning on this visit. Many quality holes and an interesting first three holes with the signature cape style par five third surely being one of the great australian golf holes. The course has many well designed meandering fairways through the trees that are not overly thick and still offer the odd recovery from a misplaced tee shot. Very reminiscent of the course at Newcastle in parts which is certainly a good thing. If it had top class conditioning then it might even sneak a 5 ball rating but not quite at the moment. worth a play if in the Hobart area but if I had a hundred rounds on Tasmania, 95 of them would be divided between the courses at barnbougle.

Since first seeing the pictures of this course a few years ago, I was sure it would have to get played if the opportunity arose, and thankfully it did. This is one of the most spectacular settings for a course you will ever see and the scenery is definitely on a par with the likes of Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers, albeit more of an alpine experience. NZ certainly makes visually stunning courses. The course itself does not disappoint. The opening hole is a gentle but interesting introduction of what is to come, followed by 3 holes up to the summit of the hill. Although it is a bit of a trek up there and the approaches to the par 4 2nd and 4th may feel a bit similar, they are still good golf holes in their own right, though maybe making up the weaker section of the course, in relative terms. The 5th is a lovely dogleg par 5 that exposes the fantastic views but also offers a good, risk reward opportunity for being more aggressive off the tee. The fairways are fairly generous but stray off them and you will<IMG alt="Jack's Point Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" hspace=5 src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/jacks-point-golf-course-review-JACK021.jpg" align=right vspace=5 border=1> be punished by very long grass. 6 in my view is the first world class hole, a short par 4 down to the lake that again asks the question of how aggressive you want to be off the tee. The par 3 seventh is visually stunning with its infinity green perched high above the lake, though perhaps seeing and hearing about this hole prior to playing it removed some of the wow factor that I was expecting. The 8th is strong par 5 with a tough second to an elevated and blind green past some well positioned bunkers and the 9th is just a good, long and tough golf hole ( and did remind me a bit of the 12th at Nairn as a previous post notes) I think the back 9 offers more in terms of strategic golf with positioning being key off the tee on 10 and 12. The impressive par 3 11th sandwiched between them. Looking back on the par 3s, I felt there was a good variety of shots required and actually preferred the challenges of 3, 11 and 13 to the signature 7th. My favourite hole would certainly be the 15th with the wall along the left acting as a fascinating hazard to avoid and again influences your tee shot with bunkers right taking the overly cautious bail out. A lovely interpretation of the cape style hole. The 18th, a little reminiscent of Kinloch with its lake down the left side is incredibly tough off the backs and deserving of its number 1 rating. I enjoyed it although it maybe isn’t too in keeping with the rest of the course. It’s the sort of heroic finishing hole that more modern ‘championship’ venues seem to favour these days. So overall the course is very strong and I’m sure it’s a must play if you are anywhere near Queenstown, probably the south island for that matter.. It reminded me a lot of Jack Nicklaus’s Kinloch on the North Island with its rugged bunkering and the style of some of the holes. I think its position just behind Kinloch is justified as it just lacked a few of the world class holes that the Taupo track has I feel that (like Kinloch) if it were in the USA or the UK it would be a world top 100 course, suppose it just needs more people to get there.

I suppose the first thing to say is that the residents of san diego are pretty fortunate to have a US open venue available to them so easily, something that seems to go against the grain ( so to speak) of many top US golf courses. The course I feel was very well routed and they have done pretty well to create some very<IMG alt="Torrey Pines (South) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" hspace=5 src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/torrey-pines-south-golf-course-review-TORR003.jpg" align=right vspace=5 border=1> nice holes on some relatively flat land. The bunkering I feel was another strength, with fairway bunkers often very much in play from the tee and having to be considered. Upon finishing my round however I was somewhat underwhelmed, just expected more quality holes from a major championship course and none that I thought were genuinely great. The Strongest Stretch was from 1 to 4 with the highlight being the par 3 third, that could almost have been a small piece of kauri cliffs or cape kidnappers. Unfortunately the conditioning was far inferior to those two and the many of the remaining holes less memorable. Ultimately I left with the impression there are likely to be hundreds of similar courses in the States. It was nice to have that approach to 18 over the water and see the ball spin back down the hole though!

played this prior to heading to Lake Karrinyup. Had a great time and there are some great golf holes. Obviously the most talked about are those around the quarry that are visually stunning.Its playable, not too long by any stretch but I see what people mean about being a little over the top at times. Probably scrapes a 5 ball, the same as I gave Lake Karrinyup but don't be fooled, Karrinyup is  certainly the superior course.

Played here for the first time last week and was thoroughly impressed. It’s a great old style course that for me felt like a Sunningdale of Australia with perhaps even a small sprinkling of Augusta. <IMG alt="Lake Karrinyup Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" hspace=5 src="/images/lake-karrinyp-golf-course-review-LAKK001.jpg" align=right vspace=5 border=1>The bunkering is one of the highlights, and certainly in the Russell/Mackenzie style. It’s a great start with a really short par 4 opener that demands some precision to a well protected green. In fact the first 3 holes to me were world class. The second is the first of many blind tee shots with a great downhill approach and the third is a great par 5 with a watery grave all the way down the left and a bunker perfectly placed on the right. Other highlights on the front would be the mammoth 7th and signature par 3 8th over the water. I reckon the front 9 is the stronger half but there are still many great holes on the back. The course was in excellent condition and there was hardly a soul out there, which just added to the experience. The only slight let down for me was a bit of repetition with 5 or so similar tee shots, blind over the hill to a fairway that leads gently to the left, but I would certainly return in a heartbeat.

Newcastle is a fine golf course though I left feeling a little flat after reading various reviews of the course prior to my game. It just didnt quite reach my expectations. The stretch of holes from 3-8 is the strongest in my view and there are some excellent holes in there. The routing is good and yes, each hole has an individual quality and demands strategy.. Unfortunately I believe there were quite a few holes out there that could appear on many an inland golf course and just didn't have the wow factor I was looking for. It was an absolute bargain for 40 bucks but its conditioning could be improved. Its natural, yes but certainly not in the same league as <A href="/golf-course/sunningdale-old" target=_self>Sunningdale</A> for example.

The Dunes really is an excellent course <IMG alt="Dunes Golf Links - Photo by reviewer" hspace=5 src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/dunes-golf-links-review-DUNS006.jpg" align=right vspace=5 border=1>(currently seen as the 3rd best public access course in the country behind the tasmanian giants) I played here last week and was thoroughly impressed. Its a great links-style layout without any weak holes in my view. Its arranged in a similar style to the <A href="/golf-course/barnbougle-dunes" target=_self>Barnbougle</A> course with some wide fairways perched between the dunes and some lovely areas of waste bunkering..personal highlights would the the all world 3rd hole, a classic risk reward short par 4 that would grace any course. On the back 9 the par 5 12th is also sensational and the run of holes from 12-15, fantastic. I Would almost rate this as high as the <A href="/golf-course/barnbougle-lost-farm" target=_self>Lost Farm</A>, if it had the water views it may even have exceeded it in my view.

Cape Kidnappers, those famous aerial pictures had me desperate to play this course one day, and that day came last month. It was a flat calm and beautiful sunny afternoon and I have to say the drive from taupo wasn’t half bad in itself! Like <a href="/golf-course/kauri-cliffs" target="_self">Kauri Cliffs</a> you come across another locked gate that opens this time to an interesting 10 minute drive over sheep laden hills that really gets you thinking ‘when are we ever going to get there?! Not much glimpse of the views on route and even when you arrive at the cattle ranch style clubhouse you are not greeted by the views that Kauri Cliffs offers though the overall quality of the place is obvious.We splashed out on some caddies for this round, a couple of Americans continuing their golf course management education who were nice guys ( albeit mine had only been around for a week and wasn’t the most experienced around the course). It was a great experience having the freedom to stroll down the fairways free of the sticks none the less and I would highly recommend it even if only as a one off.So the course overall is excellent but as previous reviews have stated, the sensational views are there but slightly more fleeting than up at Kauri Cliffs. Highlights on the front 9 that plays a fair degree inland for most for me would be 1, 5, 6 and 7. The 6th is monster 230 yarder over a gorge that is certainly a bit reminiscent of kauri cliffs. You soon see the very different design that Doak has employed here compared to its sister course up north. Less manicured, slightly more intimidating and natural looking, almost more old fashioned I suppose.His minimalist design is certainly encapsulated on a few holes in the back 9, notably the aptly named ‘infinity’ 12th and ‘pirates plank’ 15th. The 12th on that day was almost dream like, walking along the grass towards this green that just seemed to be floating on the edge of a ridiculous turquoise watery backdrop, a moment never to be forgotten.. The 15th is a bit controversial, bunkerless, dead straight par 5 though it just messed with my head with 500 feet to the left and maybe 200 feet past the bushes to the right, I was just intimidated on the tee and promptly hit an abysmal tee shot before actually rescuing a bogey at the end. Whether its just a link hole to the famous 16th tee or is it a masterstroke in golf psychology I’m not quite sure. Other memorable ones on the back 9, I would rate the 13th and 14th as excellent with the ‘road hole’ imitation green on the latter bringing a smile to the face.. The bucket green on 18th is also a quirky feature that I liked.So overall it’s not quite what you expect from the pictures, and a very different experience to both Kauri and <a href="/golf-course/kinloch-club" target="_self">Kinloch</a>. It’s often voted as no 1 in NZ though I’m not sure I would rate it as that myself. Perhaps It needs a couple of rounds to more fully appreciate the subtlety that I may have missed. I d be more than happy to return and learn some more.

I’ll try not to dwell too much on this but put quite simply, if you are passionate about playing the best that golf can offer then you must play Kauri Cliffs at least once! Played here on part of a southern hemisphere golfing odyssey and it was certainly the most memorable experience among many great ones. As an overall experience it was sensational. <IMG alt="Kauri Cliffs Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" hspace=5 src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/kauri-cliffs-golf-course-review-KAUR012.jpg" align=right vspace=5 border=1>Obviously it’s a bit remote ( as often the best courses can be) at roughly 3.5 hours from Auckland but the combination of scenery, conditioning, golf holes and service is utterly world class. The price is high of course, but lets face it, this could be once in a lifetime stuff. So the drive down involves stopping at the locked gate, speaking into the intercom before they open it up and let you drive a few kms to the beautiful clubhouse, already makes it feel pretty prestigious and special. We arrived first thing in the morning and had the place almost entirely to ourselves ( told there were only about 10 people out for the whole day). The view from the practice ground makes it difficult to focus on swing thoughts as we hit from the triangular piles of balls lined up, must be the most scenic range on earth.. Anyway, the course.. We played off the tips and it was certainly a challenge with a 2 club wind or so. You can see from the off it’s manicured to perfection and the greens were 12 on the stimp that day. In terms of memorable holes, there are many! The par 5 4th is a sensation risk reward hole with the green emerging from a characteristic gorge and well framed bunkers either side. From there the run of holes 5 to 7 are epic.. 2 par 3s played over 400 foot gorges with the 5th demanding a precise fade and the 7th providing what I thought was the most stupendous view ( until I reached the back nine). The start to the back 9 offers a different style with holes 10-13 playing without the stupendous sea views but are all excellent holes with very different characteristics. A short beautiful downhill par 4 followed by and excellent flat hole with an island green surrounded by reeds ( possibly the hidden gem on a course that offers many more visually stunning holes). The blind par 4 13th has an excellent approach to a well guarded green and leads on to the final stretch that is without doubt the most visually spectacular collection of any I have played. <IMG alt="Kauri Cliffs Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" hspace=5 src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/kauri-cliffs-golf-course-review-KAUR014.jpg" align=right vspace=5 border=1>400 foot cliffs onto pristine blue water and countless islands off to the distance. 14 to 17 all play in a similar direction along the cliff tops but each has a unique quality and its hard to pick out a favourite. Many seem to rate 17 as the standout though I really enjoyed the almost driveable par 4 prior. So what are the flaws? I think as Matt Richardson states, the par 3s 5 and 7 are similar(ish) though both may go into my favourite par 3s of all time. The 9th and 18th&nbsp;could also be looked at&nbsp;that way and the opening 3 holes just don’t make your jaw&nbsp;drop as much as the rest. Comparing it to the others on our tour, and as a golf course in its own right we rated <A href="/golf-course/barnbougle-dunes" target=_self>Barnbougle</A> and <A href="/golf-course/kinloch-club" target=_self>Kinloch</A> as superior and more cerebral layouts. As an overall experience however, taking all aspects into account Kauri maybe just came out on top..

had the (mis)fortune of playing here in july after with the typical downpour lasting all day.. Undoubtedly the weather makes an impact on your enjoyment of a course when its that bad so it was a shame.. As for the course however, they have done amazing things with a very flat piece of land and all the internal O.B adds to the course in my view.. lots of very good and very tough holes. The rough is highly penal and typical open style bunkering, always at least one bunker either side at driving distance but lacked that certain wow factor that many of the other open courses have given me.. Its probably the flatness that just counts against it I suppose but maybe I shall have to return in the sun.. Actually made it up to <A href="/golf-course/murcar-links" target=_self>Murcar</A> on this trip and would have to say i'd rather play the Aberdeenshire links ahead of Liverpool... controversial perhaps!

So the experience does not come cheaply but how many of courses I the top 100 do? In fact, if this place was American you would be lucky to play it in your dreams, but that is what’s so great about the vast majority of British courses, you can play them!!We had a grey but mostly dry day here and from the drive in to the classic clubhouse and the service at the door we knew it would be special. The day started on the new at 8 am where we were first on and had the course to ourselves. It’s a great course in itself but old is a step up in our view.From first to last there are quality holes. Not particularly long from out tees but always enough to make you think about position and shot selection, with plenty of risk/reward options. Have to say the half way house that is at the meeting point of both courses was a nice addition and some nice sausage sandwiches to boot. Coming down 17 and 18 are a great experience and overall I would have to doubt that there is a better 36 hole venue in the UK and I feel both are reflected fairly in the rankings.. It has to be done if in town, just pretend you’re a city bigwig for the day, pay the money and enjoy the experience.

The Emirates seems to be around the oldest construction of any kind in Dubai and like so much else there, just oozes money. The Clubhouse is certainly one of the most opulent I’ve seen with its giant Bedouin tent appearance. Inside the service is excellent and as you wander around the locker room you can see lockers of past captains shared with the former champions of the Desert Classic. <IMG border=1 hspace=5 alt="Emirates (Majlis) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" vspace=5 align=right src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/emirates-majlis-golf-course-review-EMIR014.jpg">The course was manicured to perfection being just a day after the ladies masters had finished, really faultless on that count. The Greens were slick but having never putted on grainy greens before I was totally dumbfounded by a few breaks and struggled badly on them. The thing about the course is that there are so many doglegs, you have to shape your shots well to score well here. Highlights for me were playing the holes we see so much of on TV such as the lovely 9th and 18th to the huge double green. Likewise, going for the green on 16 and ending up in the rubbish on the right (like a few of the pros seem to do!) brought a wry smile. Even dropped the ball next to the Colin Montgomery plaque on the 18th fairway in a horrific attempt to emulate his shot of the year! Overall I would say that it’s a fine course, and a must play if you are in the area but for me the course didn’t have the wow factor that a top 100 course should have.

Played here on my return to Barnbougle and now the course has matured some more, the clubhouse is up and spa/accomodation facilities finished. Its got a bit more of a corporate feel than Barnbougle certainly. Coore/ Crenshaw have an excellent course here but my opinion remains unchanged that Doak's is the superior track. Some holes like 3-5, 14 and 18 certainly stick in the mind as great but there are a few in the middle that just don't have the wow factor. Obviously it's a must play but I cant see how anyone would prefer it to <A href="/golf-course/barnbougle-dunes" target=_self>Barnbougle Dunes</A>.

I posted a review here after I played this course for the first time in January 2011 and simply had to return for more. Quite simply Doak has created a masterpiece. The setting is magnificent and it is full of world class golf holes. Even the first and second that initially underwhelmed me are now more greatly appreciated. This time I took a friend, didn't say much about the holes prior to reaching the tees but there were a lot of 'wows' going on. Unfortunately he was to beat me soundly but even that couldn't detract from my enjoyment of the place. I've been brought up on Scottish links golf and played around 15 or so on this list, 11 of which are ranked above Barnbougle. Obviously there are courses like <A href="/golf-course/muirfield" target=_self>Muirfield</A> and <A href="/golf-course/carnoustie-championship" target=_self>Carnoustie</A> that are more difficult but at the end of the day golf is meant to be fun and I cant think of a single course that I would rather play than Barnbougle Dunes. Im highly doubtful that there are 44 courses better than this in the world! on another note - you must stay stay at the accomodation and eat at the restaurant.. both are fantastic.

Wairakei is a good course and a nice walk but there are 2 reasons to play it. Either before <A href="/golf-course/kinloch-club" target=_self>Kinloch</A> to give you confidence in your game, or after Kinloch to remind yourself that your not as bad as your score there suggests! They are both the same price and although ranked next to each other the difference in quality is huge.

I stumbled across this course nearly two years ago during a non-golfing trip and thought it looked like a quality layout. Now It is ranked in the top 100, and with my passion to bag as many of the top courses as I can it was an opportunity not to be missed with a week off work. I agree totally with the previous comments. Walking around at half 7 before anyone arrived I could see the place is manicured to perfection, it was as if I had woken up in Tiger Woods PGA 2011 with the carpet like fairways and great definition between fairway/semi and rough. The Practice facilities are top notch and you know you have arrived at a very fine track. The course is without doubt one of the toughest I have played off the backs. The fairways are a decent size but certainly not as generous as many other of the top modern courses I’ve played. The bunkers are expertly positioned and stray off the short stuff at your peril as it’s a guaranteed scrubby lie and a difficult recovery. In addition the length demands a lot of long 2nd shots to greens that are often narrow, undulating, angulated and protected by yet more sand! Its easy to see why nobody has broken 70 here. There are many world class holes on the opening stretch, in fact I would say the par 3 7th is the only hole that prevents a clean sweep. My personal favourites are 5 and 6 that are two of the best par 4s around. The back 9 is also excellent, though for some reason didn’t grab me quite as much as the front. Possibly because of the proximity of houses at the far end reminded me that I wasn’t all alone in the wilderness. In addition I felt that the final two par 3s although top quality holes just looked a bit similar. I'm picking hairs here but when trying to rank my favourite courses in the world that’s what I have to do. The other thing is that this place is a bit of a trek if you like carrying your clubs around. By the end of my first round I was almost as knackered as I was coming down from the tongariro crossing the next day! The buggy made a huge difference on my second round. Finally, the pro was excellent and very willing to help, even delivering a bacon sandwich and coffee to me on the 5th hole! Overall this is a fantastic course that must be played if you are golfing in NZ. Of the courses I’ve played in the southern hemisphere I would place it 2nd behind <A href="/golf-course/barnbougle-dunes" target=_self>Barnbougle Dunes</A>.

Wow! This is simply a world class golf course, easily putting the traditional top 3 of Australia in the shade. As a Scotsman I was keen to sample this course as soon as I saw the pictures that reminded me so much of the great tracks back home…and was not disappointed. The drive in allows you to see glimpses of the course in amongst the dunes and you already know this is going to be a treat. Like most modern courses these days the 2 9s come out and back towards the clubhouse. Actually the first two holes are a tame start that initially had me questioning whether the course was going to live up to the hype. We start with a very generous fairway on a decent par 5 followed by a fairly standard par 4 with the highlight being the charter planes landing directly to the side of the fairway. From then on however we go on a sequence of utterly great holes one after another. 3 and 4 are short par 4s but magnificent risk/reward holes where you are introduced to huge waste bunkers carved out of the slopes. The walk from 4 to 5 takes you to the top of hundred feet dunes overlooking the waves crashing on the beach, It really is like the best of the Ayrshire coast in over 30 degree heat! 5 was possibly one of the best par 3s I have ever seen but then it was outdone by the signature 7th, only 120 yards but guarded by cavernous bunkers and perilous drops to the back and right. It almost always plays into the breeze and required a punched 7 iron and plenty of hope! The strange thing is that looking back, although I would say holes 3-8 are possibly the best of any course I’ve played (including 7 open venues) I think I somehow prefer the back 9 which only underlies the relentless quality of the course. I wont go on about each hole but a few deserve special mentions. The 12th (another drivable par 4) is a sensational hole uphill with huge waste bunkers and dune to the right but at only 250 yards just begs to be attacked. I did and was rewarded with a great memory of birdie! 13 is a par 3 that has an enormous and quite hugely undulating green where my partners had to role the ball about 15feet off line for it to track back down the hole towards the cup, some may call it crazy golf but we absolutely loved it. Following on is another beautifully bunkered par 5 and then the 15th that is visually stunning with the river and lost farm to the right, huge fairway bunker and well guarded green. There are a number of similarities to some other great new courses ive played but I think Barnbougle comes out on top. The bunkering is very similar to <A href="/golf-course/castle-stuart" target=_self>Castle Stuart</A> but Barnbougle looks like it has been sitting there for hundreds of years and is just a slightly better collection of golf holes. <A href="/golf-course/kingsbarns" target=_self>Kingsbarns</A> too was in my top 3 courses but now slips down one place. I don’t tend to include clubhouse service, etc when thinking of and reviewing my favourite courses because I think it should be all about the course but Ill just say the food was excellent, staying in the huts was overlooking the course was great, (and allowed me to sneak on for a cheeky 9 just before dusk) and at 98 bucks (60 quid!) its an absolute bargain.

As a course alone it deserves 5 stars but I just cant do it due to the over inflated price. The course rewards accurate play as oppose length, which explains why Gary Wolstenholme must have enjoyed their premier tournament here a couple of years ago. My Favourite stretch was from 4 to 9, holes reminiscent of <A href="/golf-course/kingston-heath" target=_self>Kingston Heath</A> with adventurous bunkering and sumptuous greens. the lakes then come into play on the back 9 that is full of top class holes that demand careful thought from the tee and with approach to avoid the big numbers. The course is up there with the best ive played in Australia but to be priced at 40-50 bucks more than <A href="/golf-course/new-south-wales" target=_self>NSW</A> (the superior track) is unfathomable. I know some places are made for corporate golf but its priced me out of coming back despite the obvious quality of the course.

Had the pleasure of playing this brute last week in glorious sunshine and the breeze fairly testing but not extreme. From the outset you can feel the history, the old school clubhouse and thatched roofs of the huts out on the course. Its tough but fair all the way round and if you dont have a decent game with you I can see how it would be a nightmare. Having played the scottish open venues this is on a par with any of them, and reminded me a bit of <A href="/golf-course/carnoustie-championship" target=_self>carnoustie</A> and <A href="/golf-course/muirfield" target=_self>muirfield</A> in places. There are a few things a feel that seperate these courses from the good, but not 'great' links. Bunkering is the first, every one cavernous and brilliantly positioned, not just dropped by the side of the fairway. The undulations are also key and add so much to the character of these courses and just make them so easy on they eye. Not just the natural ampitheatres that are created but the course management that is required. On many courses you can miss the green right or left without much damage but here you are punished and punished bad! Coming from <A href="/golf-course/nairn-championship" target=_self>nairn</A>, a fine track itself I do still realise the difference in quality of this and other open venues. Barely a weak hole on the course and the suez canal would sum it up for me. A par 5 that damands placement and the ultimate confidance in your own swing to avoid any OB the entire length of the hole, excellent bunker placement down the left and a green that if you bail out left is very tough to approach the pin. I would say only <A href="/golf-course/trump-turnberry-ailsa" target=_self>turnberry</A> (because of the views), and <A href="/golf-course/kingsbarns" target=_self>kingsbarns</A> ( because I dont want to feel like Ive gone 10 rounds with flloyd mayweather every time i play) come above this for me. Still an awesome place and we even found ourselves going out behind a very pacy jimmy tarbuck and sat opposite hugh grant who parked his ferrari next to our less glamorous peugeot!!

An excellent addition to scottish golf, Had the pleasure of playing this with the reduced local rate and was thoroughly impressed. The reception is excellent and the practice facilities are in great nick. In fact on the drive up to the course you just know that there is a special course round the corner. This is just reinforced when you step into the clubhouse and have a great vista over the infinity putting green onto the Moray firth. The course is beautiful to look at and great fun to play, probably because it doesnt really punish you too much at the moment. The greens were slick but receptive and there are some stunning holes notably the first few on the back nine, but each is memorable in its own way. The waste bunkers make it feel a bit different from the other links courses but don’t detract from the natural look in my view.I hadnt played in over a month but the wide fairways and lack of trouble off the tee allowed me to wield my driver with confidence and despite a number of hooky shots I barely strayed off the short stuff. In fact I was putting my opponents to the sword with some early birdies and nearly and ace on the short par 3 up to the castle. I am a great fan of the greens and the thought that has obviously gone into every contour that does alter difficulty of approaches considerably. My only criticism is that it is maybe too playable at the moment for pure ball strikers. Off the backs Im sure it is a very stern test but I feel they need to add a few fairway bunkers to make players think about position off the tee, especially as the fairways are about 50 yards wide and you can grip it and rip it on most holes.All in all a top class track.

this is a very...very good course and I will have to agree that I thought this was better then its more illustrious neighbour <A href="/golf-course/royal-melbourne-west" target=_self>Royal Melbourne</A>, It is not however the best in Australia. Each hole is varied and the bunkering is majestorial at times, it isnt especially long and with the rough currently short I feel that it will be at the mercy of tiger and co next month. My golf on the day was akin to that of a blind monkey but I still enjoyed the experience and the various challenges. On the downside, I just feel the condition of the course would have been a touch better in view of the upcoming Masters and the clubhouse is still in the midst of some reconstructive surgery ... comparable to the sort of major work that my own swing requires. The closing holes are excellent, as is the rest of the course but new south wales trumps it by the sheer fact that a world class links, in my opinion will always trump an inland course due to some of the shot making, at times ball breaking decisions that have to be made!

NSW&nbsp;golf club is better than <A href="/golf-course/royal-melbourne-west" target=_self>Royal Melbourne</A>... easily. Excellent clubhouse to start with and the course is very tough but full of quality holes throughout. We played off the back tees and shot some big numbers on a pretty calm day. Started on the 10th so its a slight shame not to play it in the desired order but still a strong hole to begin with followed by a lovely par 3 11th that has fantastic views of the ocean reminiscent of <A href="/golf-course/st-andrews-old" target=_self>St Andrews</A> a bit. Difficult to pick a true favourite hole but 5 and 6 are world class and the 18th is a majestic par 5 to finish. The greens are slick but receptive and some of the panoramas with the massive tankers passing by are very special. On the down side, a couple of the fairways were not in the best nick and that's about the only thing that stops it getting 6 stars from me.

the course guide says its a links course that could make you think you were in scotland or ireland.. except for the weather. they have tried to give an iinland course a links feel but no matter how many small bunkers you put in, it is not true links golf. none the less it is a fine course with a very good design. holes 2,3 are memorable and the closing stretch of the 200 yeard all over water 17, with a monster and beautiful 18th, remiscent of loch lomond or the belfry is a treat to finish.very wet when i was there but the whole resort is very impressive. peter thomson has obviously styled it on the links of GB and I with open style bunkering (though not penal bunkers) and nice greenside undulations. overall a good track but not a true links course.

Played this course whilst travelling up the east coast and was thoroughly impressed. Its a beautiful inland course with a lot of character, and tough to boot! service at the club house was great and they even give you an electronic yardage device in the buggy. I can see why they call it the <A href="/golf-course/augusta-national" target=_self>Augusta</A> of Australia, huge trees lining each well manicured fairway and plenty of water about. If you are in the coffs harbour area its a must... cause there aint much else to do! Enjoyed this more than <A href="/golf-course/royal-melbourne-west" target=_self>Royal Melboune</A>, next stop <A href="/golf-course/new-south-wales" target=_self>New South Wales</A> GC.

played this twice now, last time on a glorious summer day and although coming on the losing side i have to say its between this and turnberry for my number 1.every hole makes you think and positioning off the tee can make a huge difference. you can see how much thought has been put into the construction of each hole. the views are sublime and its difficult to pick a favourite hole because they are all magnificent! have to note however that after walking round castle stuart kingsbarns may soon be surpassed by that jewel!

played this on a cold november day and being incredibly hungover after a previous nights excertions in the nightclub next door, both nightclub club and course however were magnificent. somehow managed to rell off 6 birdies in the first 12 but the highlight was puting a 5 wood to 2 feet on the famous 14th, a sensational par 3 over a gorge. many great holes with a great shapes to them that really make you think. overall comes in my top 3 so far but still need to play <A href="/golf-course/royal-county-down-championship" target=_self>RCD</A>.

just played and was slightly disappointed. a good track but not in the same class as britains best. fair enough they are in the middle of a drought that turned the rough into sandy fairway but there wasnt a stretch that i thought, yes, this is a top 15 course in the world. Many good holes and none bad but how it comes above <A href="/golf-course/kingsbarns" target=_self>Kingsbarns</A> I will never know.