steve guzik

This is a truly excellent course in every regard. The holes are stunningly created and feature expert sculpting / topography changes but also present a plethora of options regarding course management. The 6th hole has been described as having the best view in the whole of golf and when you look down the hole and onwards to the aqua blue sea it is hard to argue with that point of view. There really are no bad points about this course and the 18th hole is a stunning hole like no other I have ever played. There is even the delightful touch of soothing music being played from speakers in the palm trees on the practise range / green. This is the best course in Abu Dhabi and perhaps even <A href="/golf-courses/middle-east/united-arab-emirates" target=_self>UAE</A>.

I was most impressed with this course. It is a delight on the eye which is a marked change from the other two courses here. Its true that you dont need driver on any holes except the 18th (more of which later) but you end up enjoying the strategy so much that this is not a problem at all. You dont realise how weary you get of hitting driver - 9 iron to 14 holes a round until you play this beauty. It really tests you mid irons into greens and your short game as the greens are so small and well protected. There are not any holes which are not a visual delight although some of the doglegs are on the severe side (not unlike the <A href="/golf-course/wentworth-east" target=_self>Wentworth East</A>). Like Wentworth East, some purists might think the doglegs verge on the ridiculous but it is holiday golf and very good holiday golf at that. The 18th tee shot is trully magnificent and it is a fantastic hole. It is similar to the 18th at <A href="/golf-course/montecastillo" target=_self>Montecastillo</A> (although much better) and the only 18th tee shot in the golfing world which is even remotely as good is at the fantastic <A href="/golf-course/trump-international-golf-links-aberdeen" target=_self>Trump International Links</A> in Aberdeen. For some reason this is considered the 'cheap' course at La Manga so it is fantastic value too.

Royal Lytham & St Annes is a wonderful course and a lovely surprise to anyone playing it for the 1st time. We had heard the often used put downs "its in the middle of a housing estate", "there are no sea views" and "it starts with a par 3" and were expecting an 8 out of 10 course. However we were totally blown away (literally!) by the fantastic front 9. Many have said <A href="/golf-course/royal-aberdeen-balgownie" target=_self>Royal Aberdeen</A> has the best front 9 in links golf - I prefer Lytham's. The routing is superb, the elevation change frightening and the bunkers are as penal as you can get. The back 9 is not as good but still maintains a high standard and the closing 3 holes are made more exciting due to the history associated with them (Seve's car park shot at the 16th, Bobby Jones miraculous shot at 17th etc). The last is a great hole trying to drive in between two diagonal lines of bunkers and then hitting towards the clubhouse. A fantastic course and a must play.

Having spectated at the Ryder Cup here in 2010, I was very eager to play what looked like a stunning (if slightly American styled) course. However, in the absence of all the stands and crowds I was slightly underwhelmed by the first 9 holes. Although they were mostly good holes in thier own right (with 3,5 and 6 being particular standouts) there was a very open feel to the whole place and it felt like you could see everyone else on the golf course. This is the opposite of what seems to be done on modern designs like Kingsbarns, Castle Stuart, Trump etc whereby you can only see the hole that you are on which gives a much better impression. The back 9 however is superb with each hole being a visual treat and requiring real strategy to play. Obviously this culminates in the famous 18th which is a great final hole, although it is out of reach in two which means laying up with a 4-iron or soemthing after a great drive which is a litlle bit hard to swallow.Overall it is well worth playing and the condition of the course and the quality of the clubhouse etc is second to none. One irritating point is that buggies cant leave the cartpaths leading to huge delays in walking from the path to your shot if it is on the other side of the fairway. I believe this contributes greatly to the time it takes to get round here. Take my advise and do what we did - take caddy cars.STAG

I played here for the second time and having given the course a 6 ball rating earlier in the year I was eager to see if I still had the same opinion after my second round. For example, - had I just seen the course on a good day? Had the pins just been in sensible positions? Had the fact that my 1st round been in April meant that I was full of optimism for the year ahead?... Well if anything my opinion of the course is now even better than what I had before. I don’t think anyone could point to a single weak hole on the course, and the 17th and 18th are the two best holes I have ever played (and I’ve played 28 of the top 50 in Scotland as well as countless top courses in England and abroad). However, that is not where the detractors have a problem with this course - it’s with the greens. So let me make my point about this: Why should greens have to be flat? What is wrong with undulation? I have to say part of the fun for me was that having managed to get to the green in regulation you can’t just switch onto autopilot and have an easy two-putt par. You still have to use your skill and imagination to secure the par / birdie. OK you may have a 40ft putt that you only have to tap and you may have to aim 15ft outside the hole at points but that adds to the drama of a match and what fun it was. No other course I have played offers such an opportunity to be inventive with your shots from 50yards and in. Now - maybe the twice I have played it the pins were in sensible places but I only had 3 x 3-putts in 36 holes which I could manage on perfectly flat greens! For me this is better than <A href="/golf-course/castle-stuart" target=_self>Castle Stuart</A> and possibly <A href="/golf-course/kingsbarns" target=_self>Kingsbarns</A> (the only two other courses in Scotland remotely comparable to it) and should be hosting tournament golf, although even I would concede that you can’t get 4 sensible pin positions on each green. Which is a shame, because I would say this is the most fun golf course I’ve ever played, with some holes so jaw-dropping it seems like you are playing a video game (or <A href="/golf-course/whistling-straits-straits" target=_self>Whistling Straits</A>!!). My advice is go and play it and forget about your score. Just try to get round in less than your opponent and you could have one of the best matchplay ties ever!

I cannot agree with any of the negative comments on here. I was completely blown away by this course - the sheer majesty and scale of the tall trees and undualting fairways really were spectacular. Each hole hase been sculpted beautifully and the greens all seem to be raised with challenging slopes. The run off areas are better than most greens.I do not see what more there is to want from a golf course. The last now has a fantastic element of theatre with the addition of the water. All in all, one of the best courses I have ever played. If you get the chance then you wont be disapointed.

I think Troon has had a bit of unfiar criticism on this site. The course is absolutely fantastic - both in terms of condtion and layout. I played in great weather in April and couldnt believe how good the condition of the course was. The feel of the place is complete class from the minute you arrive until you have your post round drink in the incredible clubhouse. Standout holes for me were 6,7,8 and 11 (11th is a brilliant hole)and in truth the back 9 is not as good as the front. The finish is tough but not as visually appealing as the first 12 holes but hitting up the last to the clubhouse is a great experience. The course has a lot more elevation changes than I was expecting and the views from the 7th tee were on a par with anywhere in the world. I couldnt compliment the course highly enough, it blew <A href="/golf-course/trump-turnberry-ailsa" target=_self>Turnberry</A> away (which we played the following day) and I think it may be overall slightly better than <A href="/golf-course/carnoustie-championship" target=_self>Carnoustie</A> (although Carnoustie's last 6 holes cant be beat). It is definately one of the best 3 courses on the open rota.

I played at Western recently and I cannot really fault the course or the setup. As has been mentioned, you are met by the starter and given a full run down of where everything is etc. The course was in very good condition and the holes through the dunes are excellent. On a nice day (as we had), the views to the beach and sea are spellbinding. The 17th is also a great, tough hole where many rounds will be made or broken. I have a few slight criticisms however that make this only a 5 ball instead of a 6 ball rating. 1)At £120 it is a bit overpriced - this is on a par with the <A href="/golf-course/st-andrews-old" target=_self>Old at St Andrews</A> or <A href="/golf-course/carnoustie-championship" target=_self>Carnoustie</A>. 2)A ridiculous 'sock' rule where you have to have your socks up to your knees (if you are wearing shorts) and 3) No warm-up area / nets for hitting long irons or drives before your round.

Turnberry is indeed a classy course but I feel it is only just worthy of a 6 ball rating. I do not agree that it is the best in Scotland, 2nd in the UK or 5th in the world. Firstly the condition was pretty scrappy. The greens, although true, were patchy and slightly uneasy on the eye. Some of the rough was untidy and in comparison to the immaculate <A href="/golf-course/royal-troon-old" target=_self>Royal Troon</A> which we played the day before, Turnberry did not compare favourably. Secondly, I found the card of the course quite bizzare. Off whites, it is a 6700 yard par 69 and there is no par 5 until the 17th. The front 9 contains two sets of VERY similar holes (4 & 6 are almost identical, as are 5,7 &8) although t should be said that these are all very good holes (particularly the 5th). The signature 9th is only truly spectacular from the Championship tees (which are not in play). The back 9 is hard to fault with 15th, 16th and 17th being particular standouts. Dissapointingly, the 18th from the whites is nothing like the hole that the pros play (its completely straight compared to the 90deg dogleg from the championship tees). In summary, no one will be surprised to hear that this is a great golf course, but for me there are several better in Scotland and I find the condition quite inexcusable given the amount of green fee revenue that they recieve.

This is a completely awesome golf course and experience. It is the antithesis of the traditional and, you might say, un-inspiring links of St Andrews, in that it is at the forefront of course design and is packed with lay up areas, huge bunkers, cavernous fairways, infinity greens, genuine length and yes, extremely undulating greens (which I have to say are very enjoyable)The first few holes are slightly remeniscent of the neighbouring St Andrews Bay courses (which I dont particularly rate) but holes 6-9 are fantastic - both on the eye and in terms of hole architechture. This pattern is repeated on the back 9, with the first few holes (i.e. those away from the cliffs) not as jaw dropping as the final four. The views and the carries on the final two holes really are unlike anything else in this country.I have to say that the staff and starter were extremely friendly and added to the whole experience greatly. The clubhouse ia also amazing and the course is in SUPERB condition.In summary, this is a very un-St Andrews course. Clearly this was just a field several  years ago and has been sculpted to what the designer wanted and there is no elemnts of 'mother nature' design. Whilst this may not be to everyones taste, it is certainly right up the street of the Kingsbarns / Castle Stuart generation and this course certainly is the equal of those two.

Ive played the Eden a few times but after playing it on New Years day I felt compelled to write a review. The first 8 holes do not contain a single weak hole, and you might even say not even an average one. Holes 1 and 4 are the 'easy hole' antidotes to the diffucult 2nd & 3rd. The 5th & 8th are superb par 3's - the best in all of St Andrews links with the possible exception of the 11th on the <A href="/golf-course/st-andrews-old" target=_self>Old</A>. I have to say when I got to the turn I though "This is the best front 9 of all the St Andrews Links courses" and I would still defend this point of view although that might be slightly harsh on the <A href="/golf-course/st-andrews-jubilee" target=_self>Jubilee</A>. The back 9 is more maligned but I thought it started really well with a tough par 3 and 3 excellent par 4s. That got us to the lake holes (14 & 15) and whilst I agree the feature is very un-St Andrews, I thought the two holes as stand alone holes were very good. 16 is a bit of a slog but 17 is the best hole on the course for me and the 18th is a nice gentle finish and a great birdie chance. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my round due to the incredible variety that the course offered. The condition was out of this world considering it had been shut for the previous 10 days and I think this round has shunted the course 10 or so places up my personal favourite golf courses.

In my opinion this is the best actual 'course' in St Andrews. Dont get me wrong - I enjoy playing the <A href="/golf-course/st-andrews-old" target=_self>Old</A> more than the Jubilee just for the sheer history / experience factor, and I probably enjoy playing th <A href="/golf-course/st-andrews-new" target=_self>New</A> more than the Jubilee because it is slightly easier, but in terms of hole architecture, variety, challenge and views I think the Jubilee trumps its more famous neighbours by a considerable margin. Standout holes for me are the 2nd (a gorgeous gentle dogleg right with a fantastic kidney shaped green guarded by a quaint tree), the 8th (gorgeous short dogleg left in the basin of the dunes out by the sea) , the superb 15th which is the desingers favourite and has the green tucked behind a spectacular dune and the 16th which requires a great drive through the dunes before hitting to the most fun green in the whole of St Andrews due to its size and elevation changes. Whilst the Jubilee is pretty much as flat as the Old and the New, the routing through the dunes makes it much more interesting. It is also considerable harder in my opinion, although the back to back par 5's (11th & 12th) offer a chance to steady your score. The only slight negative comments are that the 1st and last are fairly nondescript holes that also come into pretty close contact with the Greenkeepers village although attempts have been made to obscure it from view as much as possible. I would also say that the greens, whilst excellent, didnt seem to be as fast as the New. So in summary - If you want history and spinetingling play the Old; if you want a gentle round on a effortlessly classy layout play the New but if you want to play the hardest course in the town which aslo happens to be the most interesting, play the Jubilee.

This is the second time I have played the new and despite both times having been in what you would call the 'shoulder season' (1st time was in March, 2nd time in late October), it has been the best condition of any course I have played all year.Lets get this out there straight away - if you are going for aesthetics or stunning views then you have come to the wrong place. What you are getting here is  acourse that hasnt changed for over 100 years and is a throwback to golf course design in its infancy. Given that I can see why why some people say it is boring or the holes can be forgettable because in comparison to more modern courses or certainly American TV courses then it certainly has less 'glamour'. However, I feel it has an effortless class to it, there are no gimmick or tricked up holes although it does take until the 8th to get what I would call a truly world class hole ( a par 5 with the green situated thrugh two large dunes. The 9th is the hardest hole Ive ever played (a 231yd par 3 with OB down one side) and is probably as scenic as the course gets out by the estuary. There is another stunning par 3 (13th) o tha back 9 and the closing hole is pure class with the fantasitc Links Clubhouse behind it.In summary I think the plus points are the fantastic set of par 3's is has, the stunning condition any time of year and the gorgeous skyline of St Andrews always visible just to remind you that you are indeed at the home of golf. I can see why some people think certain holes can be flat and uninspiring but to be honest, glamour is not what golf in St Andrews is all about. If you dont get that then you may be underwhelmed. I wasnt!

Most people will already know that Royal Aberdeen is a must play, - but incase you dont, read on. For lovers of links golf there can be few greater courses. I rate is as the best course in Scotland (or Britain for that matter) not to have held an Open championship (it has of course staged the Senior Open championship). I believe it pips <A href="/golf-course/royal-dornoch-championship" target=_self>Royal Dornoch</A> to this title. The course starts with an intimidating but visually epic tee shot. It is a great hole hitting from just infront of the clubhouse windows, downhill and out towards the sea. The shot into the green requires a club extra to avoid the deep valley in front of the green. This green is as close as you get to the sea and you really feel the presence of it as you attempt to putt on this wonderfully contoured green. Then starts what is commonly regarded as the best front 9 in links golf. You go out through the dunes from eleveted tees through narrow fairways and wonderful green complexes. I use the word complexes because each green is a piece of art in itself, wonderfully contoured and very fast and true running. The ability to hit to the 'right part of the green' is definitely a requirement here or 3 putts will be the result. When the front 9 climaxes with holes 8 & 9 you very well might think you are in golfing heaven. The 8th is a fantastic par 3 with severe bunkering making it the hardest (although by some way the shortest) par 3 on the course. The 9th may very well be the best hole on the course - a long sweeping par 4, uphill and the neaer to the hole green you aim from the tee, the further your carry has to be to get to the fairway. Unfortunately the 10th is the only bad hole on the course, although it does become a good hole once the ugly blind tee shot is out of the way. Then commences a back 9 which is diffferent in feel to the front 9 but containing no less quality. Brutally long and with relentlessly difficult greens, it eases up a bit for 15 and 16 before the great finishing holes. The 17th par 3 back towards the sea is a longer version of the signature 8th and then the last is a 450yard monster of a par 4 which you can see all in front of you and is a deservingly quality hole to finish the round. In conclusion, a real tough test of golf through length, superb bankering and green complexes the likes of which the pro's have to deal with on tour. The condition is always excellent first class and if you are like me in that you appreciate traditional links more then the recently created ones of <A href="/golf-course/kingsbarns" target=_self>Kingsbarns</A> and <A href="/golf-course/castle-stuart" target=_self>Castle Stuart</A> (which are excellent courses in their own way), then you may agree that Royal Aberdeen is only bettered by <A href="/golf-course/carnoustie-championship" target=_self>Carnoustie</A>, and even that is a VERY close call.

Having played the Old course several times as a youngster (over 10 years ago), I was very interested to play it again last week to see how it compared to some of the worlds top courses that I have been fortunate to play in the last few years.Firstly I should say that it was a medal competition that I played in and that only added to the nerves I felt on most shots. The first tee is unlike any in golf - a complete paradox in that you get the nerves more commonly associated with an extremely tight tee shot with danger everywhere instead of the 150yard wide fairway that awaits you. Your second shot is also very tense with the burn right in front of the green, which being on rock hard turf makes holding the green very difficult. All in all an incredible opening hole, both in terms of architecture and the experience. After that a pattern emerges for the next 6 holes as they head out toward the Eden estuary, whereby you can pretty much go as ar left as you want but will have a more difficult 2nd shot or you can flirt with danger up the right and increase your chances of birdie. There then follows a 'loop' of 4 holes which are all birdie chances with the exception of the 11th which is the hardest (and probably best) par 3 I’ve ever played. Coming home toward the town is extremely enjoyable, culminating in the sensational 17th and then the last (which is the inverse of the 1st as if I need to tell you) where you really should be getting birdie / par if it wasn’t for all those spectators that you are not used to playing in front of!!The course is completely awesome - not particularly in terms of aesthetics, but in terms of how it teases you into thinking its easy before biting you hard, how it requires strategy like no other course I know and how it makes you play shots, especially around the green, that you have never had to conceive before.If you want Disneyland golf where each hole is a visual treat and where you can indiscriminately blast a driver away on every hole, then the Old may not be your cup of tea.  If you are a real golfer who appreciates history, a requirement for strategy and for shotmaking and want your short game tested to the absolute limit then there truly is nowhere like the Old course.

I enjoyed the Carrick much more than I though I would having read the reviews here. I was on a corporate outing there and have to say I had  a first class day. The place is completely set up for arriving there mid morning, having a light lunch, a practise, then your round, then getting showered and refreshed in top class facilities before a nice dinner and a few refreshments. On that front you would have to award the Carrick top marks. The pro shop staff were also excellent. The course is a slightly different matter. First of all Ill get the condition out of the way. It was pretty poor for mid May. Three fairways had been completely lost and indeed the par 5 5th was now a par 3 with a makeshift tee about 100yards from the green. I dont know how long this will take to repair but I cant imagine it will be anytime soon. The greens were very bumpy and it did dawn on me that non-links golf in May can be a hit or miss experience. The actual course archtecture however was superb. I really did enjoy the layout of pretty much every hole,  with many of them being a complete visual treat. The sun came out for the back 9 and the last 5 holes were as good as any inland stretch that I have played. Its a pity that the condition wasnt too great but I dont really blame the management for this - I just think they are dealing with a pretty challenging climate for optimum course presentation.

That I found Royal Dornoch to be a fantastic course will not be a surprise to anyone. The quaint town that you drive through to get there only builds the anticipation that you are heading for a superb golfing experience. The course is effortlessly stunning and you can imagine that this course has looked more or less as it does now for the previous 100 years or so. The ghosts of legends seem to accompany you down each majestic and serene fairway (I should point out here that I played it on a calm day!!). The front 9 is superb, with each hole a very good test of links golf. The par 3 6th is so stunning it is only rivalled by the 11th on the <A href="/golf-course/st-andrews-old" target=_self>Old Course at St Andrews</A>. The second 9 is not as good for me as the 1st nine, although it does finish well with demanding, if untraditional, hilly holes 16 and 17. The 18th is a great finishing hole in the mould of the 18th at <A href="/golf-course/royal-aberdeen-balgownie" target=_self>Royal Aberdeen</A>, although not quite as good. The much talked about signature hole ‘Foxy’ was a disappointing hole for us, - it was difficult to really make out what was going on. Maybe playing it for the 1st time didn’t help and future attempts to play this hole (and there will be future attempts) may be slightly more enjoyable. Although I had a great day there is one serious black mark – having travelled over 200 miles and paid £75, we were not allowed to play from the whites as not all of our group were 5 handicap or below. Next time we go I think the starter might find that our handicaps are all less than 5!!!!