Simon Bale

Saurines Golf is a hidden gem in the Murcia region. Having played a fair bit of golf in Spain I was quite surprised to find a course that was so atypical of the courses in Southern Spain. I would define the style of the course as desert-like, akin to the type I’ve seen on the PGA Tour in Arizona. This was my first experience playing a course like this and it was very enjoyable. The definition between fairways and the waste areas added a stunning visual effect. For many golf architecture purists, this type of man-made layout may seem manufactured, and I could have said the same before playing here, but what stands out is the quality of the key components that make a great course. The greens are A1 and full of slopes and swales. The run-off areas are extremely penal, meaning you have to be accurate with length and direction to stand any chances of par or birdie. The tees offer multiple length choices and are all perfectly laid and mown. Add to this, the tactical options on many of the holes and you have a golfer’s delight, designed to separate the good and the great players by offering multiple ways of playing each shot. This is most noticeable around the greens, where you will invariably have a chance to revert to the short stick if you’re not confident with your wedge, but in many cases, the line to the hole will require a great deal of creativity and imagination. The starting hole has been recently changed to open with a par 5, which means the round closes with four strong par 4’s. This works well as it not only helps the pace of play but creates a great closing stretch of match-play holes. A number of the par 3’s require a shot over water, the most testing coming early in the round on the second hole, which can play over 200 yards. The green on this hole is outrageous, and if you miss on the wrong side a 2-putt could be seemingly impossible (speaking from experience!). The 14th is another extremely testing par 3. It’s. a great-looking hole from the tee with a cluster of palm trees perched behind the green. Club selection here is essential as the green has a bowl in the center which will catch any misjudged shots. The course will be enjoyable for all levels of golfer, as long as they choose the right teeing area. It will take class play and a bit of luck to play to handicap here, and it would be an ideal course for a golf society. I would highly recommend a trip here for anyone visiting local courses like La Manga or Mar Menor, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Santana was a golf course that really surprised me and over-delivered on my expectations. On first impressions, I thought that the venue may have lacked investment, as the entrance to the club isn’t well maintained and the clubhouse is somewhat basic. However, this is no reflection on the course itself, which is a strategic, fun, challenging and memorable experience. The course opens with a short par 4 which eases you into the round. Following this is a far more challenging par 3 with a greenside water hazard on the left. You need to be accurate to hit the green here. You cross the road to the third where the course really opens out. Unlike many Spanish courses in the area, the course is set in beautiful scenic surroundings with no urbanization areas encroaching on the course. This creates an air of serenity, especially as we played an early morning round with the sun rising and the dew still present. As you’ll see from the course description these are mostly orange and avocado plantations, and you can even pick yourself a fresh avocado if you’re tall enough! The par 5, fourth hole, is the stand-out hole in terms of strategy and visual appeal. The bunkers on both sides of the fairway create a double-dogleg, leading up to a well-protected green with a small landing area in front. There are options risk-reward options for laying up either short of the barranca or on the nap just short of the green, this makes the hole very strategic and asks questions. It’s on this hole you really get a sense of the quality of the bunkering, the placement, and the sculptured design is far above what you find on an average Costa-del-sol golf course. The designer has used the natural contours and elevation changes of the landscape extremely well, requiring a full array of uphill and downhill shots from the tee and for the approach, which makes the course interesting and challenging. The front 9 loops back towards the clubhouse and the back 9 opens with a strong downhill par 5, reachable if you get a big drive away, but fraught with danger with water lurking on the left of the green. Of all the par 5’s this is perhaps the best chance to pick up a birdie, although taking on the green requires strong nerves and accuracy to match! As with the front 9, there is a great balance of holes throughout the back 9 and the challenge continues till the 18th which is a very demanding uphill par 4. I hit a good drive and still required a long iron to reach the green, which is the most undulating on the course, unfortunately resulting in a 3 putt to wrap up! In summary, Santana is a really strong course and probably needs more publicity to do justice, although the sleepy nature and non-commercial style make it appealing as it feels like one of Costa-del-Sol’s hidden gems.

I really enjoyed my round at Mijas, Lagos. I have visited the area many times but had never come across the course as it is tucked away in an urbanization area, so until you reach the road for the course you would never know it was there. Surprisingly, once you are there the area the course occupies is quite vast, giving plenty of room for two 18 hole courses, a practice range, a chipping area, and putting green. The course itself is of extremely high quality in design and the turf is perfect for the hot climate. There are plenty of options off the tees on the longer holes, with vast landing areas for shorter hitters and many holes offering a risk/reward option for longer hitters, by taking the line over bunkers and hazards to shorten the approach. This is apparent from the very first hole, a par 5 which is reachable if you are brave enough to hug the left side of the course boundary and smash the drive over the corner. You’ll need to hit it over 240 yards or 220 meters to get the true benefit of this tactic and leave yourself a reasonable distance to the green to reach in two. To score well at Mijas you’ll need to get off to a good start, as the course opens with 3 relatively straightforward holes and gets tougher as you plot your way around the front 9. There are many memorable holes, and I can easily remember each hole as each is quite different in length and design. There are 2 holes that caught my playing partners out. One was the par 5, fifth hole, everyone came up short and ran into the water as the green slopes severely back-to-front, so play for the middle of the green. The other was the par 3, eighth hole - a clever short hole with bunkers on the right and a severe run-off on the left short of the green. Again, play for the middle of the green and certainly don’t go pin-seeking if the flag is on the left! The front nice loops back to the start and the routing is very smooth throughout, with very short walks between holes. Stand-out holes on the back 9 included the par 5, thirteenth, a very inviting downhill drive leaving a pretty much unreachable second to the green forcing a lay-up. The approach is still fraught with danger with water in front and a steep run-off into the pond to catch any mishit or misjudged approach. What I really liked about this course is that it’s playable for everyone, and all levels of players will get a different sense of enjoyment in playing it. I played with a +1, a scratch player, and my 14-year-old son and each of us found the course challenging in different ways. It was a great match-play course with the game going to the final putt on the 18th hole. Unfortunately, we lost to a birdie! We all agreed the quality of the tees, bunkers, and greens were top-notch, the fairways were made of quality turf with, tight lies requiring pure strikes, and there really wasn’t any weakness. In summary, I would say this is certainly one of the must-play courses in the area and competes with some of the more exclusive members clubs nearby. If you have the time, there is an option to play 36 in a day as both Mijas courses are accessible and apparently quite different.

I am a massive fan of this golf course. I have played it twice now and the first time I didn’t realise how good it was, but, the second time, I realised what an amazing course it is. There was never any question about the experience of coming here. The clubhouse oozes tradition with famous golfer’s names jumping out at you on the competition boards. The flow and ease of making your way from the car to the first tee is exceptionally well presented and the staff are well organised and helpful, although it would be foolish to get to the first tee quickly without making use of the warm-up facilities, as the driving range is class and the chipping and pitching area is amongst the best I’ve seen in Europe. The course is almost 60 years old at the time of writing this (opened in 1964) and was restored in 2016. Reading the history books, you’ll find out it was in RTJ’s top 5 of the 500 courses he designed. Now the important part, the course itself… If you don’t know what to expect it can seem like quite an American style of design compared to other Spanish courses in the area. Then when you consider this course was built before many of the American and Floridian courses you appreciate it possibly set the standard and ideas for many that followed. There is a fair amount of water and plenty of tactically placed bunkers throughout. This creates definition and character for every hole, each different from the last. The plot of land used here is incredibly undulating with elevation changes on most of the holes, but never does this seem too extreme to make the holes fair and enjoyable. To play well here you need to be able to judge the flight and distance and also how the ball will react when it lands. The 2nd hole is a great example of this, as the 3rd shot into the par 5 is fraught with danger, anything long is dead and anything short left and your ball will be running down a steep bank and you'll be facing an inevitable bogey at best! When we played the second time we were paired with long-term club members who told me the original architect's drawings were made in yards, but when they sent the designs from the US the Spanish course designers made the fairway measurements in meters, which is why the fairways are generous. Whether this is true or not, I’m not sure, but it would make sense as the course is generous off the tee and the demand is on the approach shot on most holes. I could walk through some of these holes but it would be a long read given the drama and the detail I could add. What I can say is that the course doesn’t really peak or petter out, it’s consistently good and varied throughout. RCG Sotogrande will find the faults in your game and will allow you to play to your strengths in places. I can see why this is such a popular members club as you would always look forward to coming here for a game, especially given 99% of the time it will be in the sunshine!

Sri Lanka isn’t generally a country that anyone would associate with great golf courses. There are only a handful of golf clubs in the country and Victoria Golf and Country Club is for sure the most revered. Nestled in jungle surroundings and nearby mountains, the course has a unique atmosphere and ambiance I’ve not experienced before. Many unusual jungle sounds and the cry of peacocks can be heard as you navigate your way around the ever-changing landscape and beautiful terrain. As expected, the landscape is different from any European or even North American location, so the grasses and turf take a little getting used. You will find yourself playing off of many different varieties of grass, even from the fairways. I played just after the monsoon season, so it was extremely lush and green. Even despite recent torrential rain, the conditioning of the course is of a very high standard, and the tees, greens, and bunkers are very well looked after, as are the fairways and green surrounds. Caddies are compulsory here, which is certainly a good thing as there are quite extreme elevation changes throughout the course. For a course constructed in what is basically jungle terrain the design is very well routed and meanders seamlessly through the forest and around the natural lakes. The course requires precision with many holes being reachable with a 3 wood or long iron from the tee and a mid or short-iron approach. There are a couple of stand-out tee shots, the view from the 6th tee is truly sensational as the backdrop consists of a view of the large lake and mountains beyond from an elevated teeing position. The par 5, 15th was another stand-out hole. At 550 yards, a good drive down the right can leave you with a look at the green but a long approach is thwarted with danger as the green is tucked behind a cluster of palm trees with water behind. The scenery once on the green is quite stunning with one of the most natural and picturesque backdrops imaginable. You truly feel like you are playing golf as close to nature as humanly possible. The course finishes with 17 and 18 both close to the clubhouse and the views continue to impress until the final approach. Victoria is truly a unique experience and for any discerning golfer visiting this part of the world, it’s a must-see venue with a wonderful hotel onsite and a genuine Sri Lankan welcome.

Between 2019 and 2021 a golfing trip to Eastern Algarve has been missing a very important component as the South course at Quinta do Lago had been closed for renovation. I was fortunate enough to be invited for the re-opening in September 2021 to see the design changes after a €7m upgrade. Steeped in history, having held 8 Portuguese Opens, the South course has always been the jewel in the crown at this resort. With the recent investment heavily focused on environmental sustainability, Qunita do Lago resort is leading the way in the Algarve for those who strive for environmentally friendly golf at a destination that doesn’t compromise the quality of the course and overall experience. I’m told sustainability was a goal throughout the project and water management has been a key element of the changes made. The changes to the course are subtle and mostly on the peripheries of the holes as opposed to major architectural adjustments. Among the work to have taken place all the fairways, approaches, greens collars and tees have been resurfaced with a hybrid type of Bermuda grass. The only hole which has design changes is the devilishly difficult par four 8th hole, where they have made the approach from the fairway wider and given more options and forgiveness from the tee (this was previously criticised by Colin Montgomerie for being too difficult, although I’m sure it’s not the only hole Monty has criticised in his career!) Visually, the course is now more open, giving the feeling of more space from the tee, as many of the areas that were previously populated with bushes and foliage are now covered with bark mulch. The mulch requires less maintenance and the contrast with turfed areas gives the South course a style and character I’ve not seen elsewhere in the Algarve. This also makes it less likely to lose a ball, making for a more pleasurable experience to golfers who stray from the fairways and means a recovery shot is more often possible, even if it requires a deft touch and a little bit of luck! There are 2 loops of nine both returning to the clubhouse, with the majority of the holes here consisting of dog-legs. Shot shaping is a key requirement to score well. The front 9 requires mostly left to right fade shots and the back nine is more for the drawer of the ball, but in all cases, the holes are generous enough to allow for a long a and straight ball. The stark elevation changes of the approach shots make club selection equally as important and an understanding of how the ball will react will be a huge benefit for those looking to get their birdie putts within the 10-foot range or closer. Elevation changes between tees and fairway give many holes an inviting perspective from the tee with ample opportunities to reach for the driver. Quinta do Lago is set in the heart of a natural park and this adds to the importance of the sustainable and ecological approach the resort has taken. Not only does the resort rely on homegrown organic produce for the local restaurants but they use natural water and pesticides for maintaining the course. They also discourage single-use plastic, providing metal water bottles with water fountains throughout the courses. Overall a day of golf at Quinta do Lago South Course offers traveling golfer or even a club member a very pleasant yet challenging experience. Variety, difficulty, pristine conditioning and a golf course that flows through the undulating land of the nature reserve.

Before reviewing the Old Course at San Roque I’d like to briefly describe the venue, as the recent investment has created a very high-end experience that gives a visitor a glowing feeling before even venturing to the first tee. San Roque is now in the hands of a Russian Billionaire and he is clearly happy to invest in the courses and clubhouse. The experience is incredibly premium and the welcome from the staff gets you off on the right footing, as the bag drop near the driving range and the pro shop being next to the entrance all flow seamlessly, giving a stress-free experience to the first time visitor. The range and practice area are all brand new, and, although the choice of artificial grass for the range and chipping area is unusual and possibly not to everyone’s taste, the artificial hitting area is of high quality and it’s certainly worthwhile allowing an extra half an hour for a pre-round warm-up if you have the time. This was my first visit to San Roque so I had not experienced the previous design of the Old Course, which I have heard was much tougher and almost unrecognisable to the new layout. The 2019/2020 renovations included the removal of several lakes, clearing the undergrowth, and the addition of many new tee boxes. The new layout seems to be designed primarily to make the course playable for all and, although by no means easy, it takes away the unpleasantness of golf, such as regularly losing balls in water and searching in bushes for inaccurate shots, resulting in a good pace of play. The rough areas have been replaced with dark wood mulch, which creates a stark contrast between fairways and rough. There are multiple benefits to the mulch, some of which are environmental as less labor and resource is required in the upkeep. The fact you will nearly always find your ball is certainly a good thing, and full shots are generally playable, especially if you take time to clear the bark around your ball, but any delicate shots, such as a chip or pitch, are incredibly difficult as making contact with the ball isn’t guaranteed, even with a clean strike, making the punishment for a wide miss from the fairway or green very penal. In terms of the visual impact, the clearing of bushes and shrubbery does look a little sparse at times, particularly between the 7th and 8th hole where there seems to be more bark than grass. Whether the club will decide to break this up with some foliage in the future remains to be seen as this is still all so new. From the tee, the course is generous and most of the long holes entice you to reach for the driver. The fairways are wide and relatively firm, with a number of well-placed bunkers giving options for safe play or for a more direct line and shorter shot to the green, making risk/reward a key component for scoring well. The green complexes are stunning with almost every hole having severe run-offs and many false fronts. The putting surfaces are up with the best in the area, running true and fast with multiple options for pin placements. The run-off areas are incredibly well maintained and mown almost as tightly as the greens, giving the option to putt or chip. In many cases, you can be excused for not knowing if you’re on the green or the approach areas, which run faster than the greens on most courses! Although I would describe this as a second-shot course, given how hard it is to hit the green and stay there, the position and length of the drive is also key as you will struggle to stay on the putting surface if hitting anything longer than a mid-iron in on most holes. The par-five 8th hole is a prime example of this, as although reachable in two the phrase ‘upturned saucepan’ couldn’t be more accurate. Combine this with water short and to the right of the green, this hole makes a lay-up to a wedge distance a sensible option. The four par 3’s offer great variety throughout, each with its own challenge and playing in different directions, bringing the wind into play and testing the ability to control ball flight. The fifth played into the wind up to a raised green with a valley between the green and tee box. Anything short or with too much spin will be severely punished. The two loops of nine are quite different with the front 9 feeling slightly more open and the back nine tighter with more noticeable elevation changes. The Old course seems to save the best till last, as you head for home from the 15th with a sequence of par four, three, five, four, presenting a superb mix of holes to close out the round and making for a great match-play finale. The 17th is an excellent par 5, both strategically and visually. A good tee shot down the middle needs a draw to avoid the right-hand fairway bunker and the second shot to a raised green is surrounded by bunkers. You’ll need to hit long and straight if you’re to give yourself a putt for eagle! As with many great finishing holes, the 18th green is directly in front of the stunning clubhouse. At 400 meters or 440 yards from the back tee, a par here is no mean feat. On our visit, my 13-year-old son and I played match play and he managed a rare birdie to win 2 up. I’m not sure he’ll forget this experience for a while as we both enjoyed everything about our visit to San Roque. I can see the Old Course climbing in the Spanish rankings with the new designs and renovations and I’m sure the player reviews will be far more positive in the future.

When I finally managed to organise a round down at West Sussex I was chuffed to bits. I had wanted to play there for a while, having heard glowing reviews, and with a place in the world Top100 I knew it had to be something special. My preconceptions envisaged a sleepy members club with a pop-up pro shop and a trickle of members through the day but this couldn’t have been further from the truth. West Sussex is a busy and well-organised club with excellent facilities throughout. I arrived through the far entrance to the club I was blown away by the expansive driving range and practice pitching area. It’s not something I’m used to seeing at traditional English golf clubs. The warm and friendly welcome from Tim Packham in the pro shop set me off on a good footing, as being a guest at a private members club can sometimes be a daunting experience. Tim talked me through the history of the course and explained that they had recently invested in full fairway irrigation due to the recent changes in Summer temperatures. This seems to have been a shrewd move at the right time, as they managed to undertake the majority of the work through Covid lockdown time meaning little disruption to the members. The lush and consistent fairways were noticeable and still played firm enough to confirm you’re playing on sand-based terrain. The course itself is similar in parts to many of the Surrey and Hampshire heathlands, yet it has its own character, as it is unadulterated by modern design trends or course lengthening. In fact, a conversation with the secretary revealed that the course had barely changed in its 90 year history and the course photography in the clubhouse proved the general layout and routing was almost identical to the original design (a rare but enviable trait in the current world of restoration and refurbishment). Although the par is short at 68, the course demands long accurate shots on the majority of the par 3’s and 4’s. Many of the par 3’s are over, or close, to 200 yards, with greens protected by heather and bunkers. There are plenty of run-offs too, and with the firm green surfaces you’d expect from a sand-based course any poorly struck shot will surely be found out with a firm bounce or a kick into the bunker.There are 3 water holes on the course and each is very picturesque. Two of the par 3’s have water and each had a sawn in the pond which I found out later kept the geese away. I’ve no idea if this was intentional or how they manage to keep them there, but it certainly added to the ambiance. The back-to-back par 3’s on 5 and 6 couldn’t be more different and when you reach the tee box on 6 you could be forgiven for thinking it’s a short drivable par 4, as a sweeping fairway circles the pond giving a bailout area for those unable to make the 190 yard carry over the pond. It’s a superb test and any par here will be well earned. From this point onwards the variety and quality of holes is outstanding. The 7th is SI 2 and requires a blind drive. You can trust the position of the marker post of this one and it is the only real blind shot on the course so worth a mention. I had been told by a golfing buddy that the stretch of holes from 11 – 17 were some of the finest heathland in Britain and it’s hard to argue. Many of the par 4’s are over 400 yards with the carry over the bunkers in the 230 – 250 range, making it a risk/reward for longer hitters. It’s worth noting the sequential bunkering which can be cunningly misleading, as using the laser to get the yardage often won’t tell you that beyond the first bunker another 2, or in some cases 3, bunkers are lying in wait to catch you out. I would certainly suggest a course guide or GPS map in addition to a laser on the first visit. When we finished the round here there were still members teeing off at 5 pm in September and it wouldn’t surprise me if they managed to complete a round given this is a 2 ball course and the holes are well routed from green to tee. On reflection there we many holes I would have played differently and reaching for driver on most of the long holes wasn’t always the best choice. As with most great courses, I would happily have pegged it up on the 1st right away and given it another bash, hopefully, my next visit won’t be a long wait.

When we played Dumbarnie in May 2021, the course had been open for play for around a year. I was looking forward to seeing the course as had heard comparisons to Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart, so I knew it would be one of Scotland’s finest new courses. The initial impression from the first tee ran true throughout, with visually stunning bunkering and invitingly wide fairways. Clever positioning of the teeing areas gives superb views across the Firth of Forth with many holes playing towards the sea from elevated tees. With this being such a young course, I was surprised how well the turf had bedded in, providing tight lies through the green. If you haven’t played on tight links lies for a while, hitting the irons from the fairway can take a bit of getting used to as any slight miss from the clubface will be found out. The approach play is of a premium here, as every green site is protected by numerous run-offs and multiple choices of pin placement the variety of short game shots and creativity required is endless. From the black tees, a golfer who can carry the ball over 230 yards is offered many risk and reward options to shorten the approach. This is first noticeable on the 3rd hole, where a brave drive over the left bunker can leave a short pitch to the green. These opportunities continue throughout, particularly on the par 5’s, providing excitement and making the course great fun to play. There is an unusual mix of bunker styles. The revetted and blow-out bunkers are intelligently placed throughout without any set formula to which goes where. This is unusual as the recent trend tends to be blow-outs on the fairways and revetted closer to the green, yet the design style worked well for me and made the course interesting and individual. The two most memorable holes for me were the 13th par 5 and the par 4, 17th. The 13th is a stunning design, dogleg left and an elevated green heavily protected by bunkers in front. The 17th will be talked about for years to come as it totally defies convention. The brave and aggressive player has a high-risk shot, requiring a 230-yard carry over a wall to the second half of a hole, consisting of 10 bunkers surrounding a severely undulating green site. The more conservative play is up the left side to a fairway which is much wider than it looks from the teeing ground which leaves just a 110 -140y approach. The theme of risk and reward runs through to the 18th with the longer hitter having a chance to fly the right-hand bunker and catch a downslope which could shorten the approach by over 100 yards. The green fee here comes with a hefty price tag which is becoming the norm for top-end courses in this part of the world, and I think it’s justified it when compared to the aforementioned Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart. Although the designer, Clive Clark, may not have an extensive portfolio of top-rated courses, what is clear is the course is designed by a golfer, making it a playable and enjoyable test with rewards for good shots. Furthermore, it has character in abundance and doesn’t try to emulate others in pursuit of greatness.

The Bucks is probably slightly underrated on the Top100 website. I can understand why, as it’s not a traditional or natural course, but it is a clever and interesting design, offering a good mix of tactical holes with a balanced variation of par and excellent bunkering. Designed in the modern era, this is a course that suits the modern game, as the premium is on line and length, making this a target golf course and a shot makers dream. The round starts with a par 5 to get you going and a short par 4, 2nd, so getting off to a good start is relatively straight forward. If you are on your game and putting well there are plenty of opportunities to score well here. I really enjoyed the amount of choices you get off the tee, as there are ample opportunities to take on a carry over a bunker to leave short iron approaches, or to play safe and leave more demand on the approach. The par 3’s are all delightful on the eye, as a lot of thought has gone into the positioning of the bunkers. The design also offers lots of pin placement options, so I can imagine you wouldn’t tire of playing here as each round could offer a different challenge. As previously stated in the reviews, the venue is aimed at corporate and event golf, so the presentation is immaculate and the ambience is that of class and style. It’s certainly a course I would recommend and return to.

I’d been hoping to play Silloth-on-Solway for some time as I’d heard loads of good things about the course. The chance arose when my son and I had a staycation in the Lake District and we organised a 10am tee time in early August. I hadn’t researched the course, massively, but I had heard it was a real purists dream, combining heathland and links terrain. First impressions, I thought it was typical of an old-fashioned tradition members club, relatively understated yet steeped in history and character. There was a clear air of sophistication about the place, but not arrogance. Head Pro Simon was extremely hospitable, giving a detailed description of the course and making us feel extremely welcome. The course surpassed all my expectations as not only was it a divine mix of my two favourite styles of course, it was a fine example of each. When I think of great heathland courses I generally think of those with elevation changes, variety of dog legs and natural hazards of penal heather that look beautiful but cost dearly. Silloth exemplifies this. Add to this the mountainous backdrop behind Southerness’ Scottish coast, as you glance over the Irish Sea, and you have a beautiful and entirely natural example of Britain’s finest golfing Links landscape. There are so many incredible holes that have clearly been designed over a century ago, yet still stand the test of time. The par 5, 5th, is reminiscent of the 7th at Royal St Georges as it doglegs left then runs parallel to the cost line, with the added benefit of being able to see the sea from the tee. The par 3, 8th, is a perfect short hole at around 140 yards, again with the sea as backdrop, this heavily bunked short hole presents a devilish test when the wind blows. Another great par 3 is the 12, playing over 200 yards with a bunker short right to catch those who don’t commit. It’s hard to find a weak hole but there are a few that people will find unfair. The par 5, 13th, was ‘unlucky 13’ for me, as after nailing a drive and hitting what I thought was a great second onto the green I realised when walking to the green why this was a par 5 with a yardage of just 470… it’s certainly a 3-shotter! The elevated green is impossible to hold with a long club, so a lay-up to pitching wedge distance is certainly the sensible play here. The strength of the par 3’s was something I really enjoyed here, the final of the four being the 16th. It’s a real test into the wind, a small target with bunkers left and right and a severe false front. You’ll mostly be required hit a solid tee shot to make par here. For anyone who can find a way to get to Silloth-on-Solway you really must pull out the stops to get there. It’s not an easy place to get to and, once you have, you feel like there is a little feather in the cap for the chosen few!

What a great golf course! The Old course at Royal Ashdown is simply irresistible. One has a sense of being at one with nature, whilst being treated to some of the most exciting and dramatic golf holes around (most of them designed 140 years ago). It’s quite breath-taking that this course has been in existence since the 1800’s. I’m sure there has been some lengthening of holes and moving of land to get the course to what they have now, but, in saying that, the way the course meanders its way through the forest suggests there cannot have been major adjustments since the original layout. The land is similar to Surrey heathland. Humid heathland which promotes purple moor-grass and long rooted grasses. You’ll get good drainage in the winter and tight lies in the summer. Given there are no bunkers the green complexes are far from dull. Run offs and swales are here in abundance, meaning there is a premium on hitting greens. None more so than the par 3, 5th. There are many occasions when you wish you were a club member living in one of the many beautiful cottages that surround the course, with a couple of balls and pencil bag, having a chance to chip and putt around the greens in some of the most idyllic settings England has to offer. What I loved was the use of the land to encourage visualisation of the shots required. Whether it’s the 7th hole, 450 yard uphill dog leg right par 4 , to the 245 yard downhill par 3 on the 11th, this course is designed to favour the brave, whilst respecting the conservative golfers, with different options off the tee and for the approach. The par 5’s are all awesome… totally different and all inviting an attempt to reach in 2. The 17th is my favourite, a blind downhill drive leaving a mid-iron approach to a well-protected green. The best is saved till last, as the course presents an amazing crescendo from the par 3, 14th in. This is really a jewel in the English golfing crown and if you ever want to see inland golf at its purist I think a trip to Royal Ashdown is as close as many will get.

The West Course is great fun. It’s challenging and tactical from start to finish and if it’s windy you’ll need a combination of luck and skill to navigate your way around this fine example of nature and golf combined. When playing here you actually feel like you’re out for a really nice walk and you have the luxury of a golf course to play while you’re here. It really is one of the truest examples of using the land in front of you to create a golf course, whilst making it first class. The best bit of advice I can give to anyone playing here is don’t hit driver! You can use it on one or two holes but it’s really not necessary. This is the type of place I can picture many older generation golfers with a pencil bag and a half-set plotting their way round and breaking par, vs the modern day golfer with the 9 degree driver and 60 degree lob wedge barely breaking 100! Definitely a course for the purist and one to enjoy for what it is. They certainly don’t make them like this anymore!

Puttenham is no doubt one of Surrey’s hidden gems. It’s a great fun track that offers up frequent elevation changes and constant variety in the length and direction of holes. The course is very old and there have been a number of changes over the years. What they have created seems to be make the best use of the land available and flows very naturally. The course is well routed, with the only noticeable walking distance from green to next tee coming between the 1st to 2nd and the 14th to 15th. The greens are very small and the tee shots are tight, so it by no means an easy course. You’ll need to be very accurate in line and length to play to handicap here, as there is very little margin for error. Standout holes for me… 6th is a uniquely designed hole with an incredible green complex - the type of hole you need to play twice. 8th was a really fun hole with an approach that will be short but needs to be precise. 11th was a very tough par 5, a 3-shotter requiring a cut off the tee. The 13th is memorable, with a lovely sweeping fairway giving a superb inviting view to the green.Having seen some extensive tree clearing on many other courses in the past decade I can’t help thinking Puttenham would benefit from a big woodland thinning program. There’s an abundance of gorgeous pine trees hiding amongst the woodland, and the odd cluster of heather, as the turf is predominately heathland. I’m sure this would thrive if it wasn’t suffocated by silver birches and dense foliage that surrounds many of the tee boxes and landing areas.Overall, I would certainly recommend Puttenham for a round and I can imagine it’s a lovely course to be a member of. They make the most of what they have with good conditioning and great use of the land available.

I’ve just returned to visit the Red course at Streamsong after 6 years, and boy is it as good as I remembered. I have played the Black and the Blue since and I can say this is firmly my favourite of the three. I also took 3 experienced course reviewers with me this time and all of us were in agreement that playing here is a wonderful and unique experience. The way the land has formed from an unused phosphorus mine creates a truly unique surrounding, with dunes, lakes and abundant foliage which is a stark contrast to all other Floridian courses.We chose to play off of the tips, which is only really ideal for golfers who can hit the ball over 250 yards through the air, and even then it’s difficult. The length made it really challenging and demands every shot is struck solidly, so unless you are very consistent it’s wise to play the combination tees from the card.The most striking feature of this venue for me is the quality of the routing. Not only because each holes flows perfectly from green to next tee, also because of the frequently changing direction of the holes, and elevation variances in the sequencing. We played match play, 4bbb, which was an ideal format, as there are as many opportunities for birdies as double bogies, it really does present a theatre for excitement and fun. That’s not to say one couldn’t post a low gross score here, but it would take highly accomplished players to do so.The course certainly isn’t tricked up and even the water features that are in play are easily avoided, unlike many other Floridan courses. You almost feel like the designers want to reward good golf and avoid card wrecker holes. I hope to return here many times as I can’t imagine you’d ever tire of the amazing architecture and incredible land mass that is Streamsong. Anyone travelling from a long distance would be wise to consider an overnight stay onsite, in the extremely classy yet understated golf hotel on site. I honestly can’t speak highly enough of this venue and I firmly believe a place in the World 100 must be in the foreseeable future.

We arrived at the course on a windy and cold December day and knew it was likely to prove a hard test of golf. From the moment of arrival the service was smooth and easy and it was clear we were at a high class establishment. The clubhouse and practice area is 1st class, especially the putting green which is one of the largest I’ve ever seen. The course begins with an beautiful down hole par 4, dogleg, left. You can take on the corner and cut of a significant chunk of distance, and if played well should get off to a par or birdie start. It’s important to bag a par early as the course gets increasingly difficult. The characteristics of this course are great conditioning, cunning bunker placements, firm, true and fast greens and intimidating water hazards, designed to punish golfers who play with more gusto than precision. All of the greens are very well protected, mostly by deep bunkers, so it will take precise play and nifty short game to keep on the right side of par on most holes here.There are some really demanding holes on the front 9, some which involve water hazards down the right of the fairways and greens. You have to be confident to play to a low score as the architect has challenged any shots that lack commitment. There aren’t many opportunities to play the ball along the ground here, as it’s a target golf course. That said, the greenside lies are tight in places, so, if the opportunity exists, the Texas wedge is a sensible option for the less confident chippers.You’re treated to some glorious elevated teeing positions throughout, as most of the tee boxes give fine vantage points with expansive views of the fairways and greens in front of you. There are plenty of opportunities to open the shoulders on some of the later holes, with the 14th being an fine example. A strong finish awaits, with a devilish down hill par 3 followed by an uphill 18, both requiring solid shot making to close out the round. If you like the courses on the Costa Del Sol you’re sure to like La Reserva, as it’s true to the region with high drama and impeccable conditioning. With so many classy and quality neighbouring courses in the area, La Reserva holds its own and should certainly form part of any golf tour in the region.

Son Gaul is undoubtedly a top end golf course. The layout is perfect in almost every way, as you would expect from a purpose built design, with 2 loops of nice returning to the clubhouse and a strong par 5 to finish. We were lucky enough to see the original photos of the site before and during the creation and it’s pretty fair to say it was built from the ground up, with almost all undulations and features created from the architects imagination. I haven’t played any other courses designed by Thomas Himmel but you can tell his style is very technical and deliberate, which is no surprise being of German origin. If you chose the right tees around here you could have a lot of fun, but it’s not a course for beginners so I’d expect there to be some low scoring golf played here to a high standard as well. The atmosphere is welcoming and professional, with excellent practice facilities on site.

If you’re looking for quality, class and style in a golf course Las Brisas will not disapoint. This is a very strong layout and It’s hard to find fault with anything about this place as everything is done well. Unlike some of the courses nearby, this is clearly a purpose built venue, as, although the course ebbs and flows through natural landscape the placement of hazards, trees and course furniture are somewhat unatural, so it’s clear you are on a relatively recently modernised golf course. With that comes some great perks, such as the ease and flow for the first time visitor. The clubhouse, range, putting green and Pro Shop are all within easy access, which all helps to make the experience smooth and seamless. There have been changes to the layout in 2014 by well renowned architect Kyle Phillips, but the original Trent Jones Snr design doesn’t feel like it would have been massively different, as the routing of the holes follow the landscape so well. There have been KP recognisable stamps, such as the dramatic and visual bunkering and the quality and difficulty of the putting surfaces. The excitement gets underway from the very first hole, as this starts from the highpoint of the course giving a superb view. The elevation changes within the first 4 holes are so dramatic that you could be excused for asking yourself if you need a buggy or a caddy just to get round, but this soon settles down after the superb par 3 third. That said, there are very few flat holes and the designer has done everything to use the natural topography to create drama without comprimising playability.Words to describe the experience here would include classy, dramatic, challenging, exciting and fun! I would certianly love to be a member of this course, as it offers so much variation in shot making and club selection that I can’t imagine you would ever tire of playing here. I also get the feeling it’s a true members club, where the competition and social side would be well organised and as good as anything in the area. If you are fortunate enough to get a round here make sure you allow time for visit to the halfway house on the way through. I can’t imagine there are many better places for a deliciously prepared snack and a cold cerveza!

The UK is blessed to have a few rare pockets of heathland in some random spots throughout the country. When the great golf architects of yesteryear found these spots to build golf courses on, they were generally built to last. This is certainly the case at Notts. The natural terrain at Hollinwell is what makes this place so special and the expanse of the land available had ensured it’s able to be future proofed for modern day equipment, with a par 72 measuring over 7,200 yds off the tips. The course is certainly proving to be long enough for modern day standards, as it will be home to the 2019 Final Open Qualifying for the second year running.That said, the challenge here isn’t all about the length, as the firm and fast fairways give plenty of run out to tee shots. What makes this course challenging is the variety and individuality of the holes. The greens here are firm and true and consist of a mix of grasses, including bent, fescue and some meadow, which is noticeably different to some of the heathland layouts in the South of the country where meadow seems to be the most prominent strand. I’m told they regularly run at 10 on the stimp... impressive when you consider these are the same surfaces that were laid over a century ago.Willie Park Junior has certainly made the most of what he had to work with, by designing a superbly routed layout that ebbs and flows over an expansive terrain. Elevation changes rein throughout with every hole playing differently from the others. The opening hole is a basic start to the round, but this soon changes with #2 being exceptional, a dogleg right to left with a greensite tucked into the landscape between a natural valley. The 3rd is the first of 3 par 5’s, each of which is give a scoring opportunity if played well. The quality of the holes seem to get stronger throughout the round, building up to a finish well worth waiting for on the 18th, one of the best closing holes I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing from a tactical and aesthetic perspective. What I really like here is that despite having lots of raised tee boxes you rarely seem to be hitting up hill to a blind flag. This is quite an bewildering achievement, as it seems to defy the natural topography of the land and really enhances the playability. The lasting memory at this venue is a classic layout with modern day presentation. The tee boxes and greens are immaculate and the turf on the fairways is made for golf. Fair and playable bunkering makes recovery a possibility for the errant approaches, mixed with numerous swails and run offs to demand a variety of short game skills and imagination. I love the original features in the clubhouse, it gives you the feeling this place is steeped in tradition. I feel a bit of envy towards the members, who must surely play for all manor of palates and trophies carried over from generations gone by.I’ll definitely be returning to the area to check out the local neighboring clubs which are also built on this heathland belt, but i’d be very surprised if they come close to the overall quality you experience at Notts GC. SB

It’s always great to come to a venue where there are two very different courses and that’s certainly the case at Sawgrass. Pete Dye is known for making courses tricky and uneasy on the eye from the tee, which is what you get here. The quality of the design keeps you on your toes and constantly asks questions about how to play each hole, no matter where you position yourself. A superb layout creates a need for a variety of shot making and utilises water hazards on both sides of the fairway through the front 9. The final stretch is incredibly intimidating and obviously set out to challenge the better player, with water running all down the left on all of the final 3 holes. As the second course at Sawgrass, Pete Dye could have been excused for making this an average resort course, but it’s far from average. The quality of the conditioning and the consideration that has gone into creating a unique journey through the 18 holes makes this a must play course.

La Manga’s West Course is totally different to most Spanish resort courses, offering a natural, rural layout. The conditioning is superb - a unique style of coarse sand in the bunkers and Spanish Pine trees throughout really give this place its own character. The course immediately intimidates the golfer, with tight fairways and small greens from the very first hole, where precision off the tee and in the approach are crucial to avoid an early mishap in the round. Make your par on the first, take a deep breath and move to the par 3 second, where you’ll be faced with a 200 yard tee shot over a barranca to another small putting surface, surrounded by danger, often into a prevailing wind. The intensity continues, as the par 5 third hole demands a precise tee shot, short of another barranca, leaving a reachable green for those who can hit a fairway wood accurately over 220 yards. The front 9 continues with a varied and enjoyable mix of holes, all of which require thoughts and strategy to play well. The 8th is a real gem of a hole, any mistakes here and par is out of the question! Hole #9, par 5, makes incredible use of the natural topography, leading you uphill right-to-left on the drive to an elevated fairway with a reachable green down below, if you position your ball perfectly.One fine attribute of this track is how it plays as difficult for the low-handicap golfer as for the mid-handicapper, heavily punishing any miss-stuck or badly directed shot, yet allowing a score to be made for the cautious player who plots their way around the holes, using their shots wisely. It’s sure to offer loads of surprises in competitive golf for groups of 8 or more visiting here, as the ups-and-downs in your round continue till the 19th, with no end of surprises and opportunities for error. The two par 5’s towards the end of the back 9 (15 & 17) are real teasers, both are birdie opportunities if played conservatively, yet card wreckers if greedy or inaccurate... the kind of holes you want to go back and play again once you know them!In summary, this is a course I could happily play again and again and each time have a totally different experience. Unlike many courses, where regulation pars reoccur in similar circumstances, each time you play here you experience success and failure on different holes, as each hole is simple when played well, but can be devastating when played badly.I really love coming here to play and will always look forward to my next visit, as each time the course condition is exceptional and the friendly welcoming staff offer service and excellence above the price tag.S.Bale

Slovenia isn’t a country known for producing good golf courses, but it is known for its natural beauty and its rugged mountain ranges. What you’ll experience at Royal Bled is a truly unique blend of beauty and quality, as the course here uses its natural terrain to create a challenging yet fun layout, enhanced by some of the most breath-taking scenery you could ever expect to see while playing golf. The experience the venue offers if one of class and sophistication, as the attention to detail is noticeable as soon as you reach the forecourt. With a brand-new state-of-the-art driving range and pyramids of balls waiting to be hit, two high spec chipping and bunker practice areas and an enormous rolling putting practice area, this is truly a location for the golf connoisseur who appreciates the very best facilities for golf preparation.

One of the most noticeable <img src="/images/royal-bled-kings-golf-course-review-BLED039.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Royal Bled (King's) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Royal Bled (King's) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> assets to Royal Bled is how the designers have used the natural topography to create a very playable and fair design, routing the holes through an extremely hilly landscape, yet making them feel balanced and playable. Despite the undulating terrain, the course is very walkable and flows nicely from hole to hole through two loops of 9, both starting and finishing at the clubhouse.

The front 9 starts with a very inviting tee shot on a hole just short of 400 yards to get things underway. It should be a straight forward par if you get your tee shot on the fairway, but any mistakes in the approach will test your short game early on, as the green is well protected with bunkers and run offs. This sets the tone of the course early, as the protection around all of the putting surfaces is well thought out, rewarding accurate shot making with precise approach play and distance control. None more so than on the par 4 - 14th, where the green lies at an angle with water behind, and any shot slightly long and left is likely to find water. The greens have severe humps and hollows, but due to the quality of the design and the purity and density of the bent grass, they are incredibly fair, and a good putter with a good eye for green reading will surely prosper here. The options for pin placements seem endless, as the greens are vast and varied. In the cases on the 9th and 19th a double green is in play, covering what looks like over 100 square meters of ground. The quality of the bunkering is outstanding, this is helped by the small number of rounds played here, but the attention to detail in ensuring they are well prepared and maintained is nothing short of what you’d expect to see on a PGA <img src="/images/royal-bled-kings-golf-course-review-BLED040.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="Royal Bled (King's) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="Royal Bled (King's) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer"> or European Tour event, with flattened sand around the slopes, meaning shots aren’t plugged unfairly.

As a golf course, there is plenty of variation to the challenges in front of you, with a great mix of short par 4’s, reachable par 5’s and well protected par 3’s. One slight criticism of the par 3’s is that 3 of them did play the same club from the tees of the day. This could be avoided as there is ample teeing space to move the markers, so it may be something they could easily improve in the future. I’d like to be able to play a short-iron, mid-iron and long-iron at the various par 3 holes, which could easily be achieved. One par 3 that does seem out of character for the course is the 11th. It’s a very Amercianised hole, almost reminiscent of the 17th at Sawgrass, and with the course feeling so natural in such beautiful landscape it seems out of place to have a hole so manicured with such cosmetic design.

On the whole, this is a must play course for anyone visiting Slovenia and a chance to fit in a round or two. The rental clubs I was given were of the highest order, so even if you are here on a holiday a round to experience it isn’t out of the question. However, with 12 excellent rooms on site and an additional 9 hole course, and only a 20 minute drive from Ljubljana airport, I would suggest any golfer who wants a top quality and truly unforgettable golf experience should consider making a trip to play Royal Bled. SB

For those who like a course to use the land that mother nature intended, it doesn’t get much more-pure than Hindhead. As you work your way through the front 9 you could imagine the instinctive realisation and excitement the architect would have felt, as the holes fell in to place through the valley’s utilised from holes 2 – 9. It would be seemingly impossible to have tried to create this type of routing through manufactured course design, even with modern day machinery, which is what gives Hindhead its own unique style. There have been some subtle changes to the course over recent years, but in speaking to the golf director, it’s clear that retention of the original features of the course is a highly important objective for any improvements. Although there has been recent work to enhance the playability of the bunkers, and the addition of bunkers on a number of holes including the 3rd, the original features of all of the holes remains in-tact and firmly stands the test of time. The course is not one that relies on length for difficulty, as precision in tee shot placement and accuracy with approach to the green are of a premium on every hole. Putting the approach in the right place is also of extreme importance when the greens are at their best if you want to avoid looking clumsy. The green staff have plenty of options to create havoc and catastrophe for a shot ends up above the hole, or in the wrong section of the green as the undulations are vast and severe on many of the surfaces.Playing the course at different times of the year provides huge variation between shot selection, as it does with any links or heathland course, but what is apparent when playing the course at its driest is that you cannot stray far offline without running into heather or bunkers. Placement over length is certainly the strategy for posting a good gross score around here. Many the holes are strong, making it hard to pick out a signature hole or one that stands apart, but this is a course of two 9’s and I can say my preference is the front 9, purely for the variety of elevation changes and natural routing. That said, the back 9 is more of a scoring nine, which presents more opportunities to pick up birdies on the march home. If I was to pick a hole that stands out, I would select the 5th, on the basis that it puts a premium on a draw from the tee for the right-handed golfer to avoid the fairway bunker on the apex of the fairway. A well-judged approach is needed to find and hold the green, which for the majority of players will require a mid to long iron to reach at best. A true test of skill and judgement. If you do have a chance play this course it would be wise to arrive with ample time to enjoy the ambience and culture of the environment, as this is one of those places that you don’t want to leave. I can imagine that the healthy base of over 600 playing members thrive under a competitive club community here, as this is a club that boasts tradition and values equal to many of the great surrey heathland venues, with a course to match. S G Bale

Many golfers will be well aware of the name El Prat due to the extensive list of high profile European Tour players who have won at this club over the years. Dating back to 1956, when Peter Alliss was still in his playing career, winners include Seve Ballesteros, Lee Trevino, Sam Torrance and Tom Watson to name a few. However, this doesn’t tell the whole story, as the course played back then was a totally different location and layout to the Greg Norman design under the same golf club name today.
The current course now boasts an impressive 45 holes, which make up 4 loops of 9 holes that can be played as 7 combinations of 18. It’s worth understanding the combinations if you’re not so familiar with place, so it’s advisable to do your research on the clubs website beforehand. The most recognised combinations are <img src="/images/el-pratt-open-golf-course-review-ELPP005.jpg" alt="El Prat (Open) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="El Prat (Open) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;"> named Open, Pink, Blue, Yellow and Green and opinions vary as to which is the best combo. The most famous being the Open, which has itself played host to European Tour and Challenge Tour events. The most recent was in 2015, when James Morrison lifted the Open De Espana trophy with an impressive score of 10 under, beating the Miguel Angel Jimenez by 4 shots.
From November 2018 there will be a change in the configuration of the four loops: Pink and Yellow Pink course (Arriba & Bosque)Yellow course (Piscina & Abajo) This is how Greg Norman designed the two courses and how they were played until 2011 when the European Tour asked to use a different combination for the Spanish Open. From that moment and until this October the Open (Abajo & Arriba) and the Blue (Piscina & Bosque) courses have been kept for play. Although it’s a very strong members club, there is a warm welcome for visitors as the club is progressively looking to attract more travelling golfers. This gives it a pleasant and welcoming atmosphere, as you can sense pride and charm that those associated with the venue seem keen to give off.
The courses are all great design with plenty of variety. Playing the Open layout, it’s clear why this is the choice for a tour event, as the course can be stretched out to 6,700 meters off the tips and has the look and feel of a championship layout. Unlike some modern championship designs, which can be a bit of a slog, this is still a fun course and plays well for all level of golfers from a good variety of tee boxes. As you’d expect, the condition is immaculate, with manicured tee boxes, soft sand in the bunkers and true and fast putting surfaces.
You’ll need to drive well to score well on the Open course, as <img src="/images/el-pratt-open-golf-course-review-ELPP006.jpg" alt="El Prat (Open) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="El Prat (Open) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;"> you’ll realise from the first hole on the Abajo front nine, which at 400 meters with a fairway bunker stretching down two thirds of the right-hand side of the fairway presents an immediate demand on power and precision.
The second is a belter of a par 5, although unreachable in two for most players, the pin placement options can dramatically change the difficulty of the hole, with a back right pin placement demanding a longer shot over a fearsome cluster of bunkers. It really is very well thought out and cleverly sculpted, with a backdrop of wild flowers and bushes.
The wild flowers are continued throughout the course, particularly around the far edges of the bunkers, which give the course distinction and character. This helps to make the Abajo nine feel natural, and, given the course is relatively new, makes it seem mature beyond its years.
Playing the Open course takes you on to the Arriba layout for the back nine, which is a far hillier piece of land, allowing for numerous elevation changes in teeing grounds and green complexes. One of the most interesting being the par 5 10th, which presents you with a superb view down to a generous fairway, which once found demands a steep climb to a raised putting surface, which blends naturally into the terrain, again using wild shrubbery to create a natural look and feel to the hole.
The course meanders along the higher ground until a stunning 5th/14th, presenting a challenging drive to a sweeping right to <img src="/images/el-pratt-open-golf-course-review-ELPP010.jpg" alt="El Prat (Open) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="El Prat (Open) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;"> left fairway with bunkers on the landing area to the right of the fairway. This is a superb tactical hole, as the further you try to drive the more you need to draw the ball to avoid the bunkers. A tough approach to a raised green, tops off what could be my favourite of the holes we played.
This 9 holes gives more of a woodland feel and continues to challenge the golf with variety, bringing a man-made pond in to the 16th, which doesn’t feel out of place despite being the only water feature on the entire complex.
Playing this 9 as part of the Pink course combo along with the course would be my preferred choice, as both have a similar style and feel like they belong together. However, this isn’t always an option for visitors, and is restricted to certain time of the season.
My choice of loops of 9 in order of preference would be:
Bosque
Arriba
Abajo
Piscina
Vallés
In terms of visiting and places to stay, there is plenty of choice in the area and the club partners with hotels in Barcelona, which include Gran Hotel La Florida, The Serras and the 
Majestic – while Hotel Sant Cugat is a very local option.Reviewed by S Bale

I think it’s fair to expect any course in and around St Andrews to be good, so, having heard Tom Doak had given The Castle Course a zero in his latest <a href="http://www.top100golfcourses.com/news-item/confidential-guide-revealed">Confidential Guide</a>, I was intrigued to see what could possibly have led to such a harsh evaluation. Knowing that Doak isn’t a fan of courses that have been ‘raped and shaped’ one can only assume this is what made him feel the course is deserving of such ill-founded criticism, as the land used to create the course was nothing but farmland before the project was commissioned. I can only imagine how much soil must have been shifted, as what McLay Kidd has created with very little help from mother nature is highly impressive and imaginative. The course offers every challenge possible, with ample opportunities to give the big stick a rip off the tee and imagination and precision required in the approach play, as this is a true shot makers course, with infinite possibilities for pin positions on the vastly undulating greens. There is a good mix of holes, with the par 3’s and 5’s presenting many different challenges and strategic decisions. Much has been said of the difficulty of the greens and some critics suggest they are unplayable and unfair, but as we played the course in winter conditions the greens were receptive and a relatively slow pace, making them no more difficult than many other courses. That said, you do need to land the ball in the right spot, so club selection is key to the approach play here to avoid treacherous putts. Although the first stretch of holes present drama and considerable challenges, the course really takes off from the par four 6th hole. A blind tee shot to a fairway that runs downhill towards the sea, sets up an inviting second to the green site, which sits at the bottom edge of the course. The seventh, eighth and ninth holes all run along the boundary at the low point of the course, bringing the cliff edges into play, with elevation changes that create drama and excitement. The par 3 eighth is a beautiful looking short hole, reminding me slightly of the 11th at Castle Stuart. The similarities between The Castle Course and Castle Stuart don’t end there, as the 17/18th par three/five finish is strikingly comparable, with both courses making excellent use of their rugged coastlines to produce stunning vistas along the final stretch. The 18th is a pure risk reward par 5, where the longer hitter can bite off a huge chunk of the left to right dogleg to leave a reachable second shot and set up an eagle putt. Overall, I’d say this course is a fine example of modern links design and similar in style to Turnberry and Castle Stuart. It’s not up there with those two giants in the quality of turf and conditioning, but it’s certainly a top-quality venue with an abundance of character and its own unique challenges. SB

Having already experienced the Red and Blue courses at what has now become a 'must see' golf destination in Florida, I was incredibly excited about the prospect of yet a third course at the Streamsong resort. The Black course by Gil Hanse certainly doesn't disappoint as it adds a dramatically different dimension to the challenges presented here.When I visited the course, the Northwesterly wind was blowing over 40 mph, which is by all accounts a rare occurrence here. This made the round incredibly challenging, as the golfer is fully exposed to the elements on this vast expansive terrain, which has less than 30 feet of elevation changes with very little protection from tress, throughout. Despite this overpowering challenge the golfing experience on offer is exceptional. It would be hard to liken it to anything I've seen before, as I can't imagine many locations offer the architect the luxury of so much ripened golfing terrain to experiment with. This is the kind of course that could play differently each round, as there are infinite opportunities for pin placements on the incredibly vast putting surfaces. Playing the course for the first time, it's very hard to know where to land the ball to get close to pins without elements of luck, as the run offs even within the putting surfaces heavily influence where the ball will finish up. The undulations on the greens are so severe that what can look like a well-placed approach shot can come to disastrous consequences if landed in the wrong spot. That said, a good long putter with touch and imagination will prevail here, as the quality of the surfaces run pure and true. The challenge in putting isn't just the line but the roly-poly undulations, which are hard to gauge as there are no obvious flat spots to level up against. I don't feel it's necessary to walk-though all the holes in this review, as that has already been done in great detail in previous reviews, but what I can tell you is that the round does build up to a magnificent crescendo, as the closing stretch from 13 in offers a complete mixture of holes and challenges, giving the player a chance to put in a strong finish to the round where fortune favours the brave, but only if perfect execution of shot making is executed. The par 5, 18th is an absolute gem of visual and tactical delight. I would love to return here and play all three courses in one visit to make a close and true comparison, having now seen all the courses. I think for anyone coming here on a 3 or 4 day trip, the quality and variety of golf on offer must put it on the shortlist of contenders for best stays and play golf resorts in America, and I'm sure it would be impossible to get bored of the golf on offer at this location. SB

The Algarve is well known as a quality golfing destination so, with the increasing number of newly built courses here, maintaining a position near the top of the area rankings isn't going to be easy. One thing that San Lorenzo has in its favour is the natural charm and character that's so often missing in the newly designed courses, as in the quest for length and pristine conditioning, it's becoming rare for a course to use the original lie of the land to sculpt holes in the way the designers of San Lorenzo have managed.<img src="/images/san-lorenzo-golf-course-review-SANL038.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="San Lorenzo Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="San Lorenzo Golf Course - Photo by reviewer">When the course at San Lorenzo was first built there were very few properties on the land here, allowing the designer freedom to chose the routing through the valleys and along the coastline, making use of the subtle topography of the land and the natural wild and rugged terrain, to offer a unique layout that keeps the interest and anticipation of the golfer. On first impressions the venue feels a little dated, with a quaint clubhouse, a functional driving range and a small short game area. This lowered my expectations, which can often be a good thing. The first four holes offered little I wouldn't expect to see at lesser ranked Algarve courses, built in the second half of the twentieth century.That changes when you reach the tee of the par 3, 5th, where you get your first glance at the Atlantic in the backdrop of this delightful short hole, with a green perched at the top of a valley, well protected by trees and bunkers.Grab your par and move on, as the tee box on the par 4 that follows is a sight to behold, elevated high on the side of a hill and requiring a confident and accurate tee shot, to give a short iron approach to a green that juts out into the barranca - play it well and you'll be rewarded but one slight miss hit and you're likely to be reloading. <img src="/images/san-lorenzo-golf-course-review-SANL039.jpg" style="float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" alt="San Lorenzo Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" title="San Lorenzo Golf Course - Photo by reviewer">From the mid part of the front 9 the round takes a huge leap forwards in terms of quality and excitement and doesn't slow down. The 8th is an extremely demanding and tactical par 5, offering the golfer choices of strategy from tee to green. Longer hitters can fly the bunkers on the left hand side of the fairway and open the possibility of reaching in 2, but this would require ultimate precision, as the green is guarded by water short right and OB long left, making it a tough test even when played in regulation.There is no weak hole as the round continues into the back 9, but the standout hole comes at 12, as you play the rounds longest par 4 along the boundary of the course, with OB running down the left of the entire hole. The approach is long and uphill and requires two consecutive exceptional shots to achieve a regulation par here. As with any classic course, the finale doesn't disappoint. Working your way from the 13th to 17th continues to be a delight of intelligent course design. The water comes back in to play on 17 and 18, which make the final two holes the perfect stage for match play, or a very though test if posting a gross score, as the final shot of the round requires precise line and length to a small green, protected by water and heavily bunkered.It's quite unlikely you could walk off this course having not played all of the shots and clubs in your armoury, such is the diversity in layout. To sum up, I feel this course is exceptional and, unfortunately, they don't make them like this anymore! [SB]

There is no doubt that, as soon as you enter the clubhouse at Coombe Hill GC, you get a sense the quality and attention to detail that’s ahead of you. The clever use of space throughout the venue is noticeable in every department, from clubhouse, to practice areas, to the course itself. There have been significant improvements since I came here 4 years previous, mainly cosmetically, as the new groundsman has a vast and efficient team, who ensure the highest greenkeeping standards are maintained rigorously. Although the course is restricted by its boundaries, the challenge isn’t compromised, with the most fearsome defence of the course being the undulating, electrifying greens. Despite many holes looking like a drive and a flick on the scorecard, especially by modern standards, the course has an ample amount of trees and thick rough, so keeping the ball on the fairway is more beneficial than a length advantage, to score here - particularly as you’ll need to control your approach shots into the slick surfaces. The lie of the land and design of the holes offer a variety of challenges, as you are faced with numerous elevation changes, which require good judgement and shot selection to land and hold the ball on the greens.Standout shots include the tee shot on the par three 12th and the drive on the par-5 15th, which invites a soft fade from an elevated tee. The only obvious weak point of this layout is the blind approach to 18, so remember to take a look at the green and the pin before you head out!For me, this is a really interesting and enjoyable golf course. A round here gives plenty of opportunities to choose different shot types from tee to green and regularly challenges your short game.

On a trip up to the North West to watch the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale, which Jordan Speith won in spectacular style, we were lucky enough to include West Lancs in our rota of courses whilst in the area. Playing as a fourball of single figure golfers, the challenge of this hard, fast running, classic links course gave us all a stern test of our golfing ability. Stretching out to over 7,000 yards from the black tees, WLGC has stood the test of time and technology and requires long accurate driving on all the par 4’s and par 5’s. The amount of bunkers doesn’t seem as vast as neighbouring courses, particularly Royal Birkdale, but the strategic placements have you thinking on every drive about where to hit it. The start of the back 9 is where a score is made. The run from 11-15 demand a selection of shots to a good mix of holes, each having their own individual style. On 14 the drive needs to be to the right of the church tower, as there is more room than it appears from the tee for a well hit drive. The last 3 holes that head for home don’t disappoint. A simple yet strong par 5 followed by a par 3, where the bunkers and run offs around the green are magnificent, and remind you of the presentation and attention to detail throughout.I’m sure the members and the course staff are very proud of the ‘lesser known’ North West Links course. Having played a number of them I feel this one holds it’s own, and should be a very serious consideration for anyone visiting the North West coast area. P.S. Beware of the drive on 7 and land the ball where you can see it!

I had the pleasure of returning to Walton Heath's new course today, ten years on from my last visit. Playing on a warm June afternoon, the condition and layout of the course was fabulous. It plays much differently to the west surrey heathland courses as it seems to play on much harder and faster turf, giving a links type feel to many of the holes. The expanse of the land and the exposed nature of the heathland brings the wind in to play on most holes, meaning precision off the tee and conservative course management is imperative for low scoring. There are ample opportunities for birdies and pars, with a number of short par 4’s and reachable par 5’s, but you must take those opportunities when you can, as the longer and tighter par 4’s and testing par 3’s will be quick to punish the inevitable lose shots. Straying off the fairway is invariably met with deep thick heather and the well placed bunkers are keen to swallow any misjudged approach shots. As soon as I finished I wished I could go out again and make good my mistakes, as it feels like a very scoreable track. It’s clear to see why this venue is regularly chosen to host high profile events, such as the US Open qualifying and British Seniors, as it’s a unique, classy, interesting and fair test of golf.

The Old Course at Portmarnock is a real treat of golfing tradition and history. Its golf at its purist, with little to no obvious developments to the course since it was originally designed over a century ago. It doesn’t have the dramatic high dunes or elevated tees that other great Irish courses are known for, but the drama here is on the course itself. The design and layout has certainly stood the test of time and shows no sign of struggling to keep up with technology. Numerous approach shots demand absolute precision, with the greens on 8 and 10 giving true definition to the term upturned saucer. Many holes are well protected with deep bunkers and swales in the run off areas.  It has all the aspects of a quality venue,  with a clubhouse situated in the perfect position on the seafront by the first tee, and holes 17 and 18 guiding you back home to the quaint and welcoming 19th hole. As golf experiences go, this isn’t as well publicised and renowned as some of the famous Irish links courses but it is certainly one that should not be missed by the discerning golfer. If staying overnight I’d recommend the Portmarnock Golf Links Hotel which has recently been refurbished.

The Berkshire Blue was one of the few remaining classic Heathland courses in the East Berks/West Surrey borders I had left on my must play list. I knew, if it’s sister course, <a href="/golf-course/berkshire-red" target="_self">The Red</a>, was anything to go by, I would be in for a treat - and playing the course a couple of days after The Berkshire Trophy (a prestigious amateur event attracting only cat1 players) meant the course was going to be in spectacular condition.I was informed by the pro and the secretary there had been an <img alt="Berkshire (Blue) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" hspace="5" src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/berkshire-blue-golf-course-review-BEBL022.jpg" align="right" vspace="5" border="1">extensive clearing program and many rhododendrons had been removed from the surrounds of the course to return the original spacious feel. This was noticeable as it made the course extremely playable and relatively forgiving off the tee. Having said that, from the outset the course rewards straight and accurate golf. It’s possibly one of the fairest of the heathland courses I have played, whereby an errant shot can be recovered, even from all the bunkers, which are well sanded and well placed, but if you allow one error to lead to another almost every hole has the potential to become a card wrecker.Although the par 3 1st offers a large target area a poor shot is heavily penalised, with a serve drop off to the right, bunkers on the left and a 150 yard carry to avoid the heather. The first third of the course offers holes with variety in length, orientation and shot selection, resulting in an equal mix of par 3’s 4’s and 5’s through the first 6 holes. This run of holes offer ample birdies <img alt="Berkshire (Blue) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" hspace="5" src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/berkshire-blue-golf-course-review-BEBL024.jpg" align="right" vspace="5" border="1">opportunities if played well, but any lack of concentration or precision will certainly cause a dropped shot at best. The front 9 finishes with 3 strong par 4’s, the final of these playing uphill 310 yards with a green so well-protected that there really is no easy place to play your approach from.The back 9 begins with a very inviting downhill par 3 with a front to back sloping green. Anything past the pin here leaves a treacherous putt making a par a good score, but keeping short of the pin should present a chance of a birdie. You then make your way through another strong selection of varying holes, the highlight for me being a beautiful yet dangerous par 3 13th. With so little room on the left the tendency in our group of right handers was to fail to commit to the shot and find your way into the sneaky bunker short right. The final stretch home consists of 5 consecutive par 4’s starting with a blind shot on the 14th. The ideal tee<img alt="Berkshire (Blue) Golf Course - Photo by reviewer" hspace="5" src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/berkshire-blue-golf-course-review-BEBL025.jpg" align="right" vspace="5" border="1"> shot is your 210 yard club, 10 yards left of the market post. If the pin is short right don’t go for it, even with a short iron, keep left of the pin as the run off from the front edge swallow’s up everything and spits it out at the bottom of a 5ft swale!Of the remaining holes the stand out for me was the stroke index 2 16th. This could well be in my all-time favourite golf holes from an aesthetic and strategic perspective. At 452 yards there is a high demand on the right to left tee shot. If you can carry a 230 draw you can fly the first bunker and take advantage of the downslope to make the approach less the 150 yards. You’re then left with an uphill approach to a large green sloping left to right. It’s an absolute gem of a golf hole with trouble everywhere. Take your bogey and move on.. make a par and put a circle around it on your scorecard! The last two holes are comparatively bland given the delights that have come before. The 18th is a straight forward par 4 with a short iron approach, should be a par but stay right of the hole as the green slopes left to right. When you've made your way back to the club house you can sit on the extensive veranda with your chosen tipple and watch the later groups tee of the first with a knowing smile.. You know they are in for a treat. Simon Bale

I felt Coombe Hill was an excellent golf course and a unique experience. As you approach the club house you wouldn't even know there is a golf course there, as everything is secluded away from the road and the outside world. The main outstanding feature of this course for me was the par 3's. All are very pleasing on the eye and invite a good tee shot, but all are fraught with danger. The variation in undulation is highly apparent on the par 3's, and extends itself to the rest of the course, making selecting the right club a tricky task. You get to play every club in your bag on this course, and every shape of shot if you can. Having only played once so far I would relish a return, as it is the type of place that requires local knowledge of where to miss and where to aim to get the most out of your round. SB

Linna golf is a top quality Scandinavian golf resort, offering exactly what you would envisage from the stereotypical terrain and atmosphere associated with this unspoiled part of the world. The course presents mostly tree-lined fairways and well protected greens, with excellent bunkering and undulating approaches. The greens are fast and true, and many are two tiered. The tall pine trees and lush parkland create the perfect environment for a golf course. There’s a great mix of holes, ensuring you play every club in your bag, and every shot type in your portfolio. Stand out holes include the par 5 second, which can present a birdie opportunity with two accurate long shots and a good pitch. The eighth, which is a very tricky uphill par 4 requiring a long tee shot and a well-placed approach to a well-protected green (avoid going anywhere near the bunker on the right side of the green), and 9 (which was originally the eighteenth), playing directly back to the clubhouse and requiring precision distance on the approach over a lake. The back 9 takes you away from the clubhouse with the far point being the par 3 thirteenth, possibly the least interesting hole on the course. You then head back towards the clubhouse with a feast of interest and variety. The 15th is probably my favourite hole on the course, which I’m told was designed by the winner of a competition in a golf magazine. It’s filled with danger. The most judicious golfers will keep their ball close to the left hand side of the fairway, opting to play it as a 3 shotter, as trouble dominates the right side. Unfortunately the eighteenth lacks any wow factor, probably because it was originally the 9th hole, but it is still a strong finish with an inviting tee shot and a well-bunkered green. There are not any weak holes on the course, and with an excellent hotel on site and superb practice facilities it would be pleasurable to spend an couple of days at Linna Golf. My advice would be to spend a couple of nights here and be sure to include a round on Kytäjä SE to round off a great Finnish experience.

We were fortunate enough to experience the course on a still, sunny August morning. Taking the first tee time, arriving at the course was a unique experience, as the early morning mist rose from lake Kytäjä to reveal a magnificent view of the course from the first tee. There can be only a few golfing pleasures that create such an atmosphere.Enhanced by the remoteness of the location, the early morning sun rays glimmering through the tall Finnish pine trees and total tranquillity, the immediate feeling was that this was a special place and this would be a round to remember. We chose to play the course from tee’s 55, which make it around 6,000 meters in length, but with a selection of 5 tee choices the course sets up well for golfers of all abilities.The first tee sets the tone, with a raised tee box surrounded by tall pines, requiring an accurate drive to avoid a lake on the left hand side of the fairway and well positioned bunkers running along the right hand side. A tough uphill approach presents you with a difficult green to negotiate, that slops severely from front to back. This sets the bar and from this moment on you are presented with feast of difficult and delightful golf holes, requiring accurate driving, precise shot making and carefully considered putting.The designer has made exceptional use of the natural undulating terrain to create a breath taking challenge with a great mix in length and difficulty. The front 9 ends with a downhill par 3 and the back 9 starts with a downhill par 3. It may be said that back to back par 3’s goes against the grain of great course designs, but in this case it works, particularly as the compulsory and quality half way house breaks up proceedings.The only slightly weak hole on the back 9 is 13, although the tee shot makes up for a bland approach to an unprotected green. The following hole is an excellent risk/reward par 5 with lake Kytäjä hugging the right hand side of the fairway, reachable in two if you’re brave enough to cut the dogleg. As you make your way through the next 3 holes variety continues to be the norm, in every aspect, from potential birdie opportunities to difficult par chances.The designer leaves the very best till last, with the par 5 18th being possibly one of the most exciting finishing holes I’ve played. It has everything, including an amazing view of the lake to the left, to constantly remind you the slightest hook could result in a water hazard and a ruined card.After the round we made our way back to the impressive clubhouse, which is a fine example of modern Finnish design with top quality practice facilities. All in all there is nothing but class at this destination and its obvious why it features within the top 50 in Europe. Unfortunately it’s a delight that few will experience due to the location and the restricted daylight, but if you are lucky enough to have an opportunity to visit it’s well worth the trip.

Played Rye on a typical British May day, with 4 seasons in one day. The course was in great condition and offered a stern test in a 30 mph wind. It's a hard, fast running links course, where you'll need to be accurate and play a variety of shots. The 4th is a demanding tee shot along an elevated spine, where you are totally exposed to the elements and need to find a 20 yard wide landing area on the fairway. Tradition does appear to be more important than cosmetics, on the course and inside the clubhouse, which gives Rye a unique charm. If you do get the chance to experience this superb course try to make a day of it, including lunch and an afternoon jaunt around the jubilee course.. it's a fabulous day's golf. 

What a fantastic modern course. Built in an idyllic setting, it winds its way through beautiful natural Dorset countryside, with plenty of nature and wildlife to admire. No two holes are the same, with numerous water hazards, many deep vast bunkers and plenty of trees to navigate your way around. Stoke index 1 and 2 are extremely testing holes, both demanding a carefully placed tee shot to leave mid to long iron approaches. The par 5's are all spectacular, with the stand out hole being no.2 which requires an approach shot to a island green with water on 3 sides. It's a classy course and it keeps you interested all the way through. This could arguably be the finest non-heathland inland course in England, and I highly recommend playing it if you are given the opportunity.

I played Worplesdon at the end of June 2012. The course was in excellent condition and the design and layout very impressive. Playing from the white tees the course seemed to play much longer than it's yardage. Looking at the score card you could mistakenly expect to be playing short irons into the greens, but the tight fairways and carefully positioned bunkering demands precision off the tee and strategic approach shots. The back to back par 5's on 11 and 12 give a rare chance to open your shoulders and the possibility to get a couple of shots back from the course. The closing holes don't   disappoint, with a par 5, par 3 and two par fours adding variation to the final stretch. This is an excellent heath land course and I would happily play here time and time again.

Played Kingsbarns on a glorious day in late May 2012. Course offers everything you can ask for from a links golf experience. Great sea views, dramatic visual appeal, deep tactical bunkering, undulating greens (many 2 tiered allowing for vast variation in how to play the holes), options off the tee, variety of approach shots, infinity greens (just on on the 4th), approach shots over water, superb practice facilities, great clubhouse and a warm, professional welcome. A modern classic of the highest order! My only critisim is they could do with a third tee option between green and whites to bring bunkers into play for low to mid level handicappers.

<IMG alt="Montrose (Medal) Golf Course - Photo by reivewer" hspace=5 src="https://www.top100golfcourses.com/images/monrose-medal-golf-course-review-MONT030.jpg" align=right vspace=5 border=1>Played Montrose Medal late May 2012 preceeding a trip to <A href="/golf-course/kingsbarns" target=_self>Kingsbarns</A>, expecting a mediocre gap filler. Was pleasantly surprised by what turned out to be a challenging yet friendly links experience. For a course that dates so far back the design and layout lends itself well to the modern game, with a number of holes playing over 400 yards (SI1 440) and many holes requiring length and accuracy off the tee. A superb variation in the par 3's ranging from 140 - 240 yards, a good mix of elevated tees, undulating fairways and dogleg par fours, help to make Montrose an interesting and strategic test of golf. Great time of year to see acres of gorse in full bloom.. A true delight as long as you don't hit your ball into it!

I played this course in Arpil 2012 and the condition was excellent. The design of the holes is nothing short of fantastic and I can't think of any two holes the same. You'll need to execute a huge variety of tee shots, approach shots and chip shots to make a good score on this course, and creativity and imagination are a must on the putting surfaces. Every club in your bag is likely to see some action with most of the par 4's requiring at least a mid iron approach. Watch out for the par 5 14th, the water hazzard is reachable with a driver off the white tees! I have been fortunate enough to play here 5 times and each time it becomes more enjoyable. 

I played this course on a Monday morning in mid March. The course was immaculate and the greens were true and fast. Be warned of the par 5 13th, which was a tough test for all 4 of us, despite an inviting tee shot. We managed only one point from our fourball (gross 7). The green slopes heavily from back to front and right to left, with a bunker on the front left that feeds from all angles of the green. This course is certainly a true test of links golf, with excellent greens and great design.. If the wind blows only the most accurate and inventive golfer will shoot handicap

I have been fortunate enough to play a number of parkland American-style courses this summer, including <A href="/golf-course/london-club-international" target=_self>The London Club</A>, <A href="/golf-course/grove" target=_self>The Grove</A>, <A href="/golf-course/brocket-hall-melbourne" target=_self>Brocket Hall</A> and <A href="/golf-course/bearwood-lakes" target=_self>Bearwood Lakes</A> and yesterday I played Chart Hills for the first time. This was by far my favourite as the whole experience felt more personal than corporate, and the course seemed to have more character. On arrival the staff were extremely warm and friendly and the club house was very well presented. It somehow managed to give a traditional members club feel despite being a modern design. We played off the blue tees but with a strong wind and no run on the ball this was a stern enough test off a 5 handicap. The condition of the course was very good and despite having 180 bunkers the maintenance of the bunkers, greens and tees was impeccable. The architecture of the holes makes the course hard but fair, good shots were certainly rewarded and bad shots nearly always punished. With so many bunkers, any misplaced approach shots invariably ended up in the sand. The bonus was that the bunkers weren’t over or under sanded, so as long as you hit a good shot you got a good result. The holes were very varied and required a number of different shot types. Most offered reasonable chances to putt for a birdie if played well. The most memorable for me was the 14th - the 380 yd par 4 offers a classic risk reward, with a carry of around 240 yards to fly the water leaving a clear path to the green, or lay up to 220 to leave a difficult uphill approach shot over an array of bunkers. A thinking man’s hole! I don’t think I would tire of playing Chart Hills, and I don’t think I would ever run out of new bunkers to find myself in! A truly memorable experience and highly recommended. Worth noting that Leaderboard golf offers a package to stay at the nearby <A href="/golf-course/dale-hill-woosnam" target=_self>Dale Hill</A> and play both courses which is a treat well worth considering if coming from far afield.

I had the pleasue of being invited to Tandridge GC in mid August after an extremley dry July. The course had suffered slightly from the lack of water but it didn't detract from a truly enjoyable experience. We started on the back 9, which for a player who fades or cut's the ball can cast doubt an caution on virtually everytee shot. The run off areas to the right hand side of many of the greens would leave misplaced teeshots in no-mans land and double bogeys could easily be common place. The moist noticable feature of the course was the bunkering and the quality of the sand. Any well struck shot would be rewarded.The front 9 seemed slightly more forgiving although still very challenging. The greens ran fast and true throughout making the course a very fair and enjoyable test of golf.There any many changes planned to future proof the course which will no doubt add substantial length.

I played Druids Glen in May 2010. I played off 5 and my partner played of 4 and we both found it an excellent test of golf and an absolutely amazing experience. I have played a number of exceptional courses but this was the best course of this type I have ever had the pleasure to play and it will be very hard to beat. This course is incredibly understated in terms of quality of design and attention to detail. The layout of every hole seemed to fit the natural scenery without any hardship and each hole presented a new test, requiring accuracy and thoughtful course management. The variation of holes allowed me to play every club in the bag and each of the par 3's could easily feature in the top 10 par 3's in I have ever played (and I've played a few!). Both the 8th and 12th were absolutely stunning. The use of the stream running through from 12-13 is simply genius and I can imagine only comparable to the design of <A href="/golf-course/augusta-national" target=_self>Augusta National</A>'s Amen Corner. The finishing holes 16, 17 & 18 present a stern test of accurate iron play and shots can easily be lost at the end of the round; don't stand on 16 thinking you are on for the score of your life!!! I would certainly recommend this course to anyone and I am already itching to return here to play the course again. It was an experience I will never forget.