Steve Smith

Love links golf, played all 75 links courses in Donald Steel's book "Classic Golf Links of Great Britain & Ireland" - old friend of Top 100.

Reviews

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Durban (Country Club) 15/07/2007

1^st 1^st 1^st

I had the good fortune to play this Course in January 2005, the Pro Am before the SA Open which Tim Clark won. A treacherous opening hole, although we began on the 10th,...

El Saler 15/07/2007

1^st 2^nd 5^th

The best way I can describe this classic is a cross between Ganton, and an Open Championship Course. A start in woodland, and a few similar holes in the Back Nine, and a...

Old Head 23/10/2005

1^st 16^th 68^th

The caddies say that Tiger Woods took 3 wood, 6 iron and pitch to the "signature hole" 12th. My colleague (Handicap 1) managed rescue club, 5 iron and 2 putts. Wonderful...

Pannal 13/07/2005

6^th

A fine course with a mixture of long Par 4s, tricky 3, and Par 5s, though not long, test the player's accuracy.Opening Par 4 a real tester, and after 5 holes, an equally...

Dunbar 26/04/2005

6^th 39^th

After an average start, this course proved how it is possible to fit holes into a narrow strip of land without giving the golfer the impression that shots could encroach...

West Lancashire 26/04/2005

6^th 41^st 94^th

The beauty of this course is its variety. While the wind is always an influence, it is never overpowering as the layout of two loops of nine provides relief from what mig...

Trump International Golf Links - Ireland 02/12/2004

2^nd 6^th 39^th

Having played all but a couple of the links courses in the UK & Ireland, I have a fair number of courses to make comparison.Doonbeg is right up with the leaders - a stunn...

Royal Troon (Old) 26/05/2004

2^nd 13^th 32^nd

Frankly a bit of a slog, and probably my least favourite of the Open Courses.The opening holes, and the equivalent number of closing ones are fairly featureless. We playe...

Royal County Down (Championship) 26/05/2004

1^st 1^st 1^st 4^th

Played this magical course in a slight mist so the mountain backdrop was missing.If there is a slight criticism, it is that there are a few blind shots, but well worth it...

Luffness New 26/05/2004

8^th 46^th

We had the pint in the broom cupboard as well! However, renowned as having the best greens in Scotland, and they are fairly good. It may help that the course always looks...

Gullane (No.1) 26/05/2004

3^rd 20^th 60^th

Unique terrain, and at the high point of the course, the views are tremendous. Good course, but is it really any better than No 2 which welcomes countless visitors each y...

Muirfield 26/05/2004

1^st 4^th 6^th 14^th

I've played virtually all the links courses in GB & Ireland, this one half a dozen times through the nineties, generally with the same group of friends. It's not the hard...

Royal Dornoch (Championship) 26/05/2004

1^st 3^rd 5^th 12^th

I had the good fortune to play this course on the longest day. I didn't arrive at Dornoch until midnight, still light, and it seemed to be light enough to play thoroughou...

St Andrews (New) 26/05/2004

3^rd 26^th 85^th

In my experience, a harder challenge than its illustrious neighbour. One of the Par 3s is either hit the green, or finish in gorse. Well worth a visit, even if the Old Co...

Ballyliffin (Old) 26/05/2004

3^rd 17^th 100^th

I played this interesting and very enjoyable course on a dry and sunny day.Heaven help golfers when the wind from the Artic blows over hundreds of miles to the North Shor...

St Andrews (Old) 26/05/2004

1^st 2^nd 3^rd 9^th

It's the overall experience of St.Andrews, and for the lucky ones, myself included, who get lunch and a tour of the Clubhouse, that's so special. The famous holes, notabl...

Hillside 26/05/2004

4^th 23^rd 52^nd

Greg Norman describes this course as having the best back 9 in Britain. I'm inclined to agree!! After playing the short tenth, there are a series of doglegs, right and le...

Saunton (East) 26/05/2004

1^st 21^st 48^th

When I rang to arrange to play this course, the Secretary suggested a Wednesday morning.Despite my relative youth, he suggested I play in the Competition the Seniors/Vets...

Machrie 26/05/2004

3^rd 21^st 61^st

I was the only player on the Course in a gale, and began by wondering how many balls I might need.In the event, I managed quite well, and enjoyed the solitude, and isolat...

Tralee 26/05/2004

3^rd 15^th 65^th

Perhaps the least prominent of the SW Ireland Courses, but probably my favourite. Sometimes opinions are coloured by factors such a weather, form on the day etc. I played...

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