Kevin Henley

Despite my own opinion being at odds with almost everyone else it seems, I don’t feel the West gets anywhere near the East as a quality course.I perhaps enjoyed it more in the howling wind as through its shorter length and slightly less trouble it was more playable on the day, but even when playing it I was wondering what to expect at RND the next day which is ranked below the West.The stand out holes to me, and not just because they were holes 34 to 36 of a tough day in the wind, we’re the closing three, a good par 3 16th, a par 5 17th and then a “punch” with the big dog through the wind onto the par 3 18th to finish in style.Not a bad course at all, but not for me as good as so many of you wax lyrical about. For me the East is head and shoulders better.

Good links course although the wind was almost prohibitive, angry and swirling. Despite this, after my briefing from the starter, I arrived in 2 at a place recommend you avoid, just right of the right hand green side bunker. A hard fought, sand less 6 to start !It wasn’t the typical wind but still couldn’t quite see the SI 1 was so - it gave me my first par without ant great stress. The next, par 3 5th looks from tee possibly the hardest 117 yards you will ever face in that wind AND the four ball in front called me through !! Luckily they watched my second par roll in. Some other very good holes although my wind-battering makes my memory vague.but although the card says the back nine is only 300 yards shorter than the front nine it feels much shorter and playable ?

An absolute “must play” - despite playing in light rain and strong winds - and having just played Devon’s top 3 THIS is the one I most want to play again.There are echoes of so many other great courses, first - on arrival - the clubhouse has a hint of its Royal cousin Porthcawl at first outside and to an extent inside too. Fabulous history too including a carved-out honours board by the caterer’s hatch proclaiming the annual winners of the King Edward VII Medal from 1868 onwards !! Loads of other memorabilia too, but a modern, friendly helpful,well-stocked pro shop too.I nearly let myself be weathered off by the weather which was so poor but I am so glad I persevered despite two opening holes straight into the wind past bewildered sheep.There is then a bunker that looks as if was plucked from Prestwick before a good par three, again straight into the wind. The reward for surviving this far was a stunning view of both the crashing waves and the wonderful links country this course is laid out upon. Hints of Carnoustie and Hogans follow, sky caddie gets lost as the works are underway so it was alarming that it was only supposed to be second shot of 90 yards to the 7th green, but it is now a par five ! The new par three green not yet in play looks good too.10/11/12 are a little strange suddenly faced with a blind tee shot of a seemingly vast expanse of spiky reeds that resemble peacocks tails…. I took aim at the marker and just carried it despite the wind - didn’t enjoy those 3 holes but without the wind and knowing where you were going they would be better.Turning for home with some wind help was good and on 15 (as with a couple of other holes) it was nigh-impossible to work out where to aim but strangely it didn’t feel like it mattered much as it was probably wider than the largest driving range ever..All in all almost enjoyable course and round of golf. Sheep the odd blind shot, a sort of “welsh links feel”, it feels like the oldest course and my modern pings were almost cheating - but hickory in that wind….impossible surely.Go and try it … would love to play with you one sunny summers day, although despite the weather dog-walkers still proliferate so in summer it must be like Nefyn !? - they bemuse me (AND I have a dog) - go to the beach, we pay for the golf course and you have no idea how much a golf ball will hurt you assuming you are lucky enough that it doesn’t kill you !

For me it sits in the same sort of shadow as the New course at St Andrews - in itself a decent golf course through the gorse but it just isn’t the Old course which is the one you really want to play again.

Quality golf course through the trees with a good variety of holes. Good greens. Deservedly up there with the best in Essex. I would imagine a great club to be a member of.

Simply a great course and the real home if the Ryder Cup.Iconic water holes especially 10 and 18 and plenty of other challenging shots all round the course.If you haven’t played it you really should.

A real treat to play. Some very different challenging holes with much variety played through the forest but when it’s dry it plays very linksy. Well worth a visit

Really great proper old-fashioned (in a very positive way) and traditional club with a good variety of tree lined holes and good greens.Well worth a visit when in the very highly golf course populated area.

Cracking links course with plenty of ships in close proximity. When the wind blows it is brutal and haven’t played it in the calm yet. Despite the more talked about illustrious neighbours in the area it is still well up there in the rankings and a must play for any links golf lover.

Played here earlier today in a match and the day was superb.Friendly and helpful staff, nice coffee and then, after a rather strange subway crossing of the A1, we tee’d off on the 10th as drawn.What a nice hole, with water in play for the second shot. Immediately I was thinking how “out in the countryside” it felt and looked with just the humm of traffic on the A1 to remind you that you were halfway between the M25 and the centre of London.Each subsequent hole nice looking, varying challenges and fast true greens.The 15th SI 1 is a long corker that goes down and then back up, and the 17th is another dog leg and features water.. A very satisfying and enjoyable back nine holes.Then onto the front nine on the card. A welcoming drive down the first, and then a stunningly pretty short par 3 2nd hole over water. 3rd and 4th are dog legs (one each way) ….all good, the rest of the nine does not disappoint.All in all a very nice place, unusual (former coaching inn stables ?) clubhouse but very nice inside and out, and the bar service, lunch and hospitality from the home side was excellent. Course played worldwide #470 - and 328th in England

Good quality course and greens very good considering they had recently been dressed.A good variety of holes, good bunkering and no bad hole(s).Obviously a quality course.Struggling to explain but it somehow wasn’t quite as good as I was expecting / assuming it would be (and I played well !!!)…. but sorry there just wasn’t really a “wow factor” that struck me ?????The green-staff on ride-ons were excellent - friendly and polite, parking to one side and waving us through …. until 15th green where a bloke with a rake and blower repeatedly walked backwards and forwards across the front of the green several times, despite us both obviously waiting to play shots from c150 yards out. Once we eventually got to play he then drove over to the the green to the left and, at the top of my backswing on the 16th tee cranked up the blower - I managed to stop, as did the blower …… and he did it again !? Thanks mate ! He didn’t seem to appreciate visitors !?English course #468 (and w/wide #326 - wrong figure on recent Enfield review) played

Reasonable (compact) layout with a good variety of holes and challenges and in reasonable condition.Nothing particularly remarkable - or to complain about.Pro shop very friendly, helpful and enthusiastic.Course played no 325 in England and 467 worldwide

Wow, I had waited a long time to play here, and was still impressed. The unassuming looking clubhouse is in fact marvellous inside - I think possibly the original building with a more modern cladding on it ?The spike bar is like (and there are other quality course comparisons to come) a Royal Aberdeen view and you can taste the history and glorious traditionalism.The pre-round lunch and beer was all excellent and, seated at the floor to ceiling window in the restaurant looking down the first and wondering what it was like was good too.The card is I think one a very few I can recall which does what one of my pet crusades claims should be standard on every card ie there are two stroke index sets, one for stroke play and one for match play. Come on almost everywhere else, catch up and make your stroke indexing fit for purpose.What had appeared a light breeze when we got out of the car felt a lot stiffer in your face once stood on the first (yellow) tee with the ‘big dog’ in hand.The first thing was relief that the pro had said to play off yellows as looking back at the big boys tees, it looked a long way back !My drive on the first was pleasing…until I found it, in very grippy rough, not far off the right of the fairway. Three ever-increasing in strength stabs at it saw me playing out of bunker left for my fifth ! Missed putt, blob.My drive on the second of the three opening holes out along the seaside and into the (seemingly from the bent trees further round) prevailing wind, reached its height and then travelled as far inland as it had previously travelled along the coast. Similar result from the albeit distant rough to try and return to the fairway.Two holes no points.I scored on the third, but only after putting the proverbial wind up an innocent couple walking the coastal path, off which my ball bounced back onto the course !! This path was the first of several OB’s that presented themselves - mainly with stone walls that crept inwards towards fairway and/or green.The fourth was a welcome turn - and had it been a traditional nine out I don’t think I would have survived it …… and this in what felt a gentle breeze in the car park !?I seem to have lost my scorecard on which I made notes for this review, but around this area I noticed the first magnificent example of one of the two types of (excellent) bunkers here. The perfect revetted pot bunker, immaculately presented, and so good not to have been in.Whilst on bunkers the other sort are the random shaped tufty wild looking ones which again look stunning. Both are equally impressive.As other reviewers have said, the par threes are fantastic, with the last of them having massive cavernous revetted bunkers that although you can see them looking down to the green off the tee, only once you walk down to them can you see how glad you are to have avoided them. Having lost my notes, I am now needing to be more general than hole specific, but of numerous dog legs, I cannot remember anything that didn’t turn left ?I think the 5th a short (off yellows but over 600 yards off the tips) par five but uphill into an incredibly tight neck was good and I think it was the 8th with a horrific revetted fairway bunker right that, if you found it, you were not hitting the green in two.Possibly the 13th (downhill towards the sea off a raised tee) felt SO familiar like many other similar holes at for example Prestwick.I think it was the 15th that had its own mini version of Spectacles at Carnoustie.16 and 17 are uphill -and by now the tide has turned and the wind, that would have been helping has dropped , and then the marvellous 18th straight down towards the sea behind the green.The whole round was magical with no weak holes. I am fortunate to have played Carnoustie 30+ times and I would feel with the wind up here it would be almost as difficult, perhaps excepting 16,17 and 18 at Carnoustie.Certainly the frequent elevation changes add to the beauty and challenge and, one last Carnoustie reference, the presentation of around the greens and green to tee routes is of a similar ilk to the Scottish brute.This was my 40th course played in Wales and I would rather return here than add to that list tbh.Definitely a six baller and possibly should be higher in the world top 100 ?

Sundridge Park is a very impressive set up with a massive (for the two courses) Clubhouse and runs like a smoothly oiled machine.Although the East is clearly the better of the two courses and oozes quality, with the exception of the 18th I found very little to actually remember about the course or any particular holes, unlike the slightly quirky West.NOT as a criticism of the course but I spend to spend the day punching my ball out from under overhanging trees where I had either missed my chosen line and/or misjudged the correct length and line from the tee on numerous slightly dog-legged holes. Members mainly very pleasant with two four balls inviting us two through in the first few holes, only to get stuck behind a three ball who at the halfway house bemoaned how slow the people in front of them were - only to then fail to get anywhere near them or even in sight of them for the next 6/7 (probably do leg !) holes.I am sure if i were lucky enough to play this course a dozen times (or even be a member) I would extol the virtues of several or more holes, but as a first visit - although clearly very well looked after and very nice course, it just didn't seem to have a "wow factor" or any strong signature hole(s) ????Sorry - must be me !!?? But still a good 36 holes day out with nice beer and nice lunch - recommend walking the East first and then take a buggie round the West after lunch !!!!East - personal course played #464 worldwide / #323 in EnglandWest #465 and # 324

The West - as the lower ranked of the two courses here - makes up a super 36 hole day out at a fantastic Club / clubhouse set up. We had no problem getting out on both rounds, although not allowed to book tee times and there being various times that different size groups should tee off from which tee - we were enjoying our vert nice lunch on the ample patio awaiting the next two ball time lot and watched 2 x 2 balls go off at a time they shouldn' have, so we (with the starters permission) followed them ?! Were I lucky enough to a member here I would usually want to play the East as the main course, although I actually enjoyed the West more. It is difficult to express, it is clearly the "second" course of the two BUT it has more interesting holes in my opinion ???As other reviewers have said, the front nine is strong with the iconic views of the city from green 4 and tee 9.Unfortunately the 18th was closed for drainage works all day but looked good finish.14th is a good par 3

Played the Old course in the morning and was yet sure whether to play the New after or not but was talked into it. Glad I was.Despite the rankings I personally feel the New is the better of the two 18’s…. It was certainly in better condition and dealt with the rain far better than the Old (guessing from the names, the “new” has more modern effective drainage ?).More interesting and challenging holes with more water in play and for me the pick of the course would be the closing 4 holes.Would be much more inclined to return and play the New than the Old - although when in better (dry and maintained) condition I suspect the Old may be better than I found it yesterday ?Personal 322nd course played in England and 463rd worldwide

Played both courses yesterday after a day or two of heavy rain.The Old course was very wet underfoot and appeared to have more two days growth in most areas.An interesting course but it somehow didn’t live up to the high expectations I had of it before playing.Quite a few GUR bunkers and various partly completed works going on. The bunkers in play had a lot of quite large stones in them.The SI 1 dog leg right past a huge tree 7th was probably the pick of the holes on the front nine.Huge walk from 9th green to 10th tee, which involved asking directions at one point. 3rd and 11th share an interestingly contoured large double green.The 18th is an interesting short par five.Personal 321st course in England and 462nd worldwide.

As you will see from my reviews of Aphrodite Hills and Elea, in my opinion Secret Valley is definitely number 3 in the rankings, but don’t let that out you off as being third to one great and one amazing “must play” is not a bad place to be. We didn’t play Minthis as only 1x nine open, but I suspect - whenever it gets listed - it will push S/Valley to number 4 …. but of course that is just speculation and personal opinion and preference.Anyway, was it not two days after having your golfing mind blown by the landscape at the Aphrodite “golf-themed mountain tour” (!), although quite short Secret Valley would be impressive in its own right, funnelling down the valley as it does.He start of the front nine is “comfortable” and (again 2 days after Aphrodite Hills) it was quite comforting even to see where you were going and where you could miss.Then you reach the 6th and you get a “here we go again” feeling as it all feels to close in on you and the green ahead over a dry water hazard.The feeling is absolutely correct too as the 7th - first time at least (even with sky caddie) a daunting club choice which I could not manage to commit to with the obvious results.Battered and scarred from that the 8 tee then feels worse than it is but any lift is soon lost as you see that the 9th is SI 1 and a par five …. round a corner.It is actually a good and fair hole.Although there is NOTHING else “linksy” about this course you do at least feel like you are turning for home on the par 3 10th and then you hit what in my opinion is the best looking part of the course. The 11th must be the signature hole and - annoyingly - we got called through here so it blew what would have been multiple photo shoot angles, a stunningly good looking hole.If you come over for Aphrodite Hills you would be foolish not to pop round the corner and play Secret Valley too …. and don’t worry about the “DANGER SNAKES” signage, we didn’t see any he he

I fully concur with the ranking positions of the three listed Cypriot courses, and possibly I should have waited to review Aphrodite Hills until after I had played the other two as there are many contrasts to make.Elea clearly stands head and shoulders above the others as a ‘proper’ golfers golf club and course, everything is just right and how it should be. I was never a great fan of Nick Faldo but he has gone up in my estimation after playing Elea.Firstly to the top 3 order. Elea first, would happily play it every week, and once accustomed to heat, you could even walk it sometimes. Proper golf course. Very good golf course.By comparison, Aphrodite Hills is although a “must play” it has an element of almost ‘theme park’ and ‘resort with golf’ rather than ‘golf resort’!? To play this every week I would say you need to either be very (cat one maybe) good - or ironically very (28+) bad with an huge bag of range balls. As you will see from my review of it we played it just after maintenance so this mean w didn’t see it in its true playing state (the greens were worst here, heavily sanded). Great experience but too many ‘hit the fairway or re-load, and repeat’..Secret Valley is sort of half way between the two, in that much shorter and less (but still a fair bit) of “re-load potential”. It definitely comes in at 3rd behind the other two and would be more playable on a regular basis (if you got black-balled at Elea say !!).Anyway this review is supposed to be about Elea - but wanted to add my support to the websites rankings.The drive to the course is impressive (just as at the other two) but the welcome is the best. Bags taken from car by very pleasant friendly staff and put onto buggie and after temp. check (COVID) you walk through into a spacious (and best of the three’s) pro shop to pay - and marvel at the view from the roof garden down to the sea, taking in the airport, the strip of hotels and Paphos itself (pity about the adjacent “industrial” but it really does not spoil things for anyone but the raging perfectionist).The first is a welcoming wide downhill from a raised tee fairway. All the tees are good, basically four c.6m square flat well tended “lawns” that have been inserted into the rough terrain, all linked by smart pathways and furnished with simple but classy personalised tee markers.Strangely - but definitely not in a negative way - and possibly after the dramatic landscapes at the other two, here to me the atmosphere and quality of the course stood out rather than particular holes.I hadn’t read up on the course until after playing (!?) and strangely enough after 13 attractive and interesting holes the 14th seemed a very plain and bland “nothingy” par 3, the 16th was a bit of and odd one to work out where you were going off the tee, and then ‘what is up there at the green?’ for your second. Similarly playing it for the first time (and having left sky caddie on hotel bedside !) the 17th was a real teaser as to where you are supposed to go off the tee and having filled my head with doubt carved one into the bunkers right which, until we got up to, we still had no idea where the green was. Once you work that out a lay up out of the sand is your only option, but nick as much distance as you can because the carry for your second or third shot is quite long ! And then finally the 18th tee again has you wondering which is the best route back to the 19th.That may all sound a little negative, and it did sort of feel that the finish let it down whilst playing it, but now I am back at the hotel and showered I think (perhaps apart from the 14th) that had we had the sky (or real) caddy, or we were not playing it for the first time, it is a very good finish to earn you your pints of Keo.What did surprise me, upon checking after the round (!) how many shots we should have got (off 14.3 I happily accepted the “usual” 16 as reasonable) and was shocked (and delighted) to find I actually had two extra to 18 ….. meaning Elea is rated as harder then not only the short and mid-range danger Secret Valley but somehow also harder than Aphrodite Hills ??? My ball tally begs to differ ! So I asked and to be fair, it makes sense as we played after tining and light sanding (the greens - shortly after maintenance this is - were by far the most easily playable of the three ….A/Hills were like “bunkers with a flag in” and Secret Valley were like putting on Velcro. Elea did get a few bobbles - not one noticeable enough to complain about in 18 holes though - but they ran out consistently) and - apart from the bunkers - the greens are very much a large part of the protection of the course and I am sure, when they are running hard and fast I may well be less likely to rack up the 38 (enhanced nicely to 40 after) points I finished our Cyprus trip with.So, we played Elea with its “trousers partly down” but it is still in my opinion the best of the three contenders by far and if I could stand the heat and afford to retire out here (!) I would bite the hand off anyone that offered me membership here.Would love to come back to Cyprus one day - NOT in first week of Sept during course maintenance ! - and give Elea the chance to bite me back without today’s nice receptive sanded greens, and also to have another crack at the other two to compare the greens when in their normal condition.Would always happily play all three but Elea would be my home if I had it as a choice.

We played it after routine course maintenance of tining and a fairly heavy sanding on the greens which did not make it the best experience but the work has to be done, and we had booked a week in Cyprus with the clubs so it was play it or don’t play it !Despite this issue it was still quite an experience as the front nine is built on ‘“not your normal” golf terrain playing either side of a huge ravine, which playing off the whites we did not have to drive over where the black tees add 154 yards to a par five !The course is pretty much un-walkable as the 2nd green to third white tee is 950m and the tortuous descent down to the “signature” 7th par 3 which plays inside the ravine across ‘certain death’ and then the cart path heads off back from the tee and around the ravine side to eventually reach the green, which is at least a lot bigger when you get there that’s it looks form the tee.The back nine is a little more “normal” with the two stand out holes for me being the 11th and 18th both of which involve shots from anywhere but perfect position across large water hazards.As I said it is quite and experience to play, especially the front nine but would happily return and play what I expect are fast greens with some interesting undulations, most noticeably the SI 18 par 3 5th.I think from a strange (heavily sanded greens) first round I would say the par 3’s were all quite good but many of the 4’s and 5’s also need accurate shots to avoid your ball disappearing into oblivion.Very friendly and helpful starters hut which doubles as half way house.Course #459 played worldwide.

Interesting course with a nice welcome to non-members. Front nine has almost a heathland rather than parkland feel to it and the general set up and build of greens and bunkers catch the eye with their quality.The start of the back nine felt different initially, but after 11 & 12 (possibly newer holes ?) it went back to type.All par threes are good.Playing it for the first time, with the mildly undulating ground, I had several (more than usual) “mis-judgements”/ optical illusions as to where my ball had finished and/or where to aim or how far things were. Following rounds once you know the course must be easier !?Plenty of ground with small obviously man-made undulations which, from past experience (coincidentally Crewe GC) were where veg was grown for the war effort, but I have just been told they were to stop enemy aircraft landing ????Finally (again coincidentally unlike Crewe GC) the clubhouse has a splendid large balcony area over looking the first tee and 18th green, and is better situated than many others.Would like to play it again, as interesting, and my game did not do it justice today!

A course very similar to others in Epping Forest but shorter and tighter than others. I am overly negative as I really don’t like short strategic tight courses anyway and having declined driver and played an out of character 4 iron down the middle of the first I then managed to fizz a gap wedge out left over a boundary hedge never to be seen again. For my personal taste far too many short narrow dog legged holes, “steeplechase fence style hedges” across fairways, animal-damaged and/or plants other than grass thriving on greens etc.Although I have no desire to return here, we had a good (society) day and I am sure there are many people who enjoy playing here.Course played #318 in England #456 W/wide

Unusual set up as it appears they are building a new Clubhouse but it isn’t, you just check in at a smart cabin but immediately you get a look at the signature water holes. Friendly pro and starter.An excellent variety of holes with dog legs, level changes and water. Good quality true-rolling varied shape and size greens, good bunkering etc.All in all it gives a quality feel and is very good value for the green fee.The lack of clubhouse is well made up for if you (book and) visit the excellent Green Man pub just round the corner for breakfast ….. and lunch after !!Highly recommended, we will be back.Course played #319 in England and #457 W/wide

Not the best 18 at this huge golf resort but still a very good course.Couple of very good par fives on Orange.Until you have played several rounds here quite hard to remember which hole is in which nine and which two nines you play ?Usually well maintained and all on undulating ground with plenty of water.

Played this for the second time last night, very busy as large society out but in good condition and play moved along smoothly.Impressive opening hole which - if it wasn’t downhill - would be a brutal start.Unfortunately the front nine is flanked by the almost incessant trains heading north south which shatters the tranquility of what would otherwise be a very nice walk round. Despite this the course is good, we’ll maintained and has a good variety of holes, some of which are quite challenging and attractive.The third is a good par 5 with plenty of jeopardy for a second shot attempt at the green. The longish par 3 4th is a good hole too,For me the picks of the back nine (which is flanked by the noisy A1M - see earlier comments) are the par 3 fourteenth, and the 18th, the second of a five -five finish back up past what is apparently a Second World War bomb crater that you drive down over on the first and it has a fiendish split levels front to the green - having hit two shots up to right edge of fairway not far short and was left with a horrible shot up the levels to a flag perched at the front edge of the top level. No way it could fly there and stop (well Mickleson might be able to) so tried to bumble it up and only made the level below the flag, but always nice to roll one in up the hill for a birdie to make the beer taste better after !!Well maintained course with good variety of holes. Cannot for the life of me see what a previous reviewer is on about when trying to evaluate the value for money….. for what it is where it is, there is nothing to complain about and I can’t imagine that it is not a good club to be a member of.The back nine feels a lot longer than the front, although it isn’t much longer - maybe that was because it was second round in 2 days and no lunch !- doesn’t seem that long ago when 36 holes in a day carrying were then fine, sometime on consecutive days on a lads trip away !?Looking forward to a third visit as the 11th so far has cost me 4 balls OB (despite me usually fading or slicing the ball and the poor attempts to stop each one by the row of trees left)…. Perhaps landing on a(n) impressive practice area is trying to tell me something.

Very nice “members’ club” course and what I saw of the facilities it all adds up to a nice place. The course has an air of quality and still mentions it’s former hosting of Open Qualifying in years gone by.I don’t mean this negatively but despite the quality I didn’t feel there was anything to be wowed about … it is just a very nice course and club, which I would happily play again and even join were it not for an M25 commute.I seem to be saying this a lot, but I have played harder SI 1’s than the par 3 third. Perhaps the 11th is the closest to a signature hole sweeping down and around a lake with a fairly slippery green whilst the 7th is an attractive par 3 along with the short par 3 bunkered 10th.The par 4 18th plays tough - with the “moat” in front of the green meaning you have to lay up to be safe unless you get a big drive away.Well worth a visit, very pleasant.314th course played in England and 452nd worldwide

451st worldwide course played, 313th in England. Very nice experience and surroundings. Typical Marriott / DeVere quality hotel-type course and set up with some interesting and challenging holes. Course well presented.Four very good par fives. The second probably the easiest. Hit two good shots on each of the 9th and 12th and although close to green on ninth, had bunker and narrow green to contend with and failed! On 12th still had a fair way to go. In my opinion the best par 5 is the 17th, a tricky (and attractive) S shape hole where if you drive is too far left you are blocked from taking on a long water carry. As in many courses I feel I have played many much harder stroke index ones than the 8th (although I managed to blob it !!) and man much easier stroke index eighteens than the par 3 11th !?The 18th is the ”postcard view” finish although the water is not really in play for a three quarter hit shot but a nice end to a nice round of golf on a nice golf course.

Course number 282 in England played and #416 worldwide. Great value for £25 twilight. Spent front nine enjoying quality of presentation of course, perhaps with the exception of the (seemingly common round these parts) chalky / stony bunkers although it just seemed to lack something......nothing special, the main thought was the quality of the tees, fairways and greensq. The back nine however has that 'Je n'sais quoi' (however you spell it !) that the front nine lacked. The 10th is a sweeping down then uphill par five, twelfth is an easy on the eye par 4, the 13th is a very pretty par three on which it almost feels like you have switched to a different course. The 14th is a short par 4 across the slope, all falling to the left and for the big boys would be driveable were it not for a devilishly cunning bunker "RIGHT" where you want a drive to feed into the green from. Very enjoyable course, with a back nine that is much better than a good front nine. Even the bunkers seemed to improve as you went round ???

A strange hybrid course extending the links with trees that the other two Carnoustie 18's are. MUCH prefer Champ and Burnside and feel this has been created to increase volume....and revenue.First is a bit struck on to make up the numbers..... but can be a brutal start with wind off the sea.Second is a par 3 that the wind dictates what sort of hole it is. Next three play alongside Champ...short par 4, par 3, short par 4.... a good start is advisable as hereafter the course changes.Turning right, alongside the Champ 8th suddenly this "links" becomes a forest course, a narrow line no par 4, then a decent par 3, then a par 5 past a lake.... hang on isn't this a links course ??? And it isn't the only lake ! All I can reference it to is Links at Casa de Campo in Dominican Republic... that has lakes as well.Were this course NOT part of an Open rota venue I think I would appreciate that it more for its wide variety of holes, challenges and mix of links, heath and parkland round lakes.To me it is NOT what Carnoustie is about but if it gets the line caps a game when the other two are packed with tourists I get it !?

Tremendous traditionalist links track and Club, which I had previously visited but not played, so as a birthday treat we took ourselves round – with the dog too as they are allowed.Arriving late on the tee and not yet having skycaddie turned on did NOT help with what doesn’t look the most welcoming of opening holes, with the tee virtually on the patio. It was downwind and as it turned out it wasn’t as bad as it looked and as long as you clear the scrub-land and bunkers and don’t go too far right (like I did ending up on OB on the practice ground!) there is much more room than there looks.The second is a relatively straight forward par 5 which, again downwind, wasn’t too problematic (unless you dogged one OB left into the green-keepers compound like I did). Two holes two balls.Settled down after that parring the third which was surprisingly stroke index 1 ? Made me wonder if this was not the usual prevailing wind ?The fourth is a par 3 turning back towards the clubhouse – and watch out for the 14th green just to the right – wouldn’t surprise me if someone (else !!) played to the wrong green here !The fifth heads out (downwind today) and then six turns left towards the sea. As you walk down 4 you see an interesting looking raised green, but get no indication of the horror that lays ahead !Playing a second from just off the right of the sixth fairway, you can see the narrow green with bunkers left and a shelter over the back where the next tee sits. I hit a reasonable shot in (or so I thought) right half of the green, which took an alarming 90 degree right kick. Upon arrival at the green you find a huge hollow, almost like a small random fairway about 30 feet below the surface of a narrow steeply sloping green than truly resembles a car bonnet – even falling away down over the wheel arches to the right !!!Once down the bottom you need to raise the ball vertically of tightly mown grass and stop it short of the awaiting bunkers the far side onto a narrow green. What a great place to play backwards and forwards across the green a few times !!! The next is a very easy on the eye par 3 across the aforementioned spare fairway dip into a green bordered by bunkers and dunes. Good hole, even more so as parred it !The 8th is an interesting par 5 “out” from the clubhouse and 9 is another par 5 that turns back alongside it so whichever way the wind blows you will cop it in one of them. The 8th has a bridle path and ditch running across it at pretty much driving length so laid up with a 3 iron, and I was asked (this time verbally) one of the two strangest questions I have ever been asked on a golf course !!! A woman on a horse, who I was waiting to cross, stopped and asked me if her horse could look at my trolley….. was he looking for a new one himself I wondered, but no, he was apparently a bit nervous of them in the distance and she wanted him to see one close up and see it wasn’t that much of a threat ! Anyway, back to the par 5 8th, you cant see where you are going for your second so I just knocked a 7 iron over but once over the path etc there is plenty of room and it is a nice par 5.The 9th was the first real drive turning back into the wind (well stiff breeze I would call it) – nice par 5 too. The 10th is called memory Lane and I wish to forget it, attractive hole into the far corner of the course, slightly raised green and having missed the green with second I developed a bad dose of the shanks so didn’t get to putt on this green !Eight to play and you can see you are miles from home and the stiff breeze is in your face. Having not made hay whilst the wind helped I was nervous. To be fair the back nine continued as the first, good, different, challenging but playable holes, of which a few deserve special mention. The 14th is a long blind par 3 – very reminiscent of a hole at Prestwick, I cant immediately recall many other blind par 3’s (ah there is one at Cruden Bay as well) – anyway here came the second strangest thing I have been asked by signs this time on the tee and on the back of the green instructing you to “oscillate the pole when leaving the green” (to indicate to the following group you have cleared). Going back to my question about the normal prevailing wind, the 15th at stroke index 18 made me take a second look. Into the wind suddenly the fairway shrank to the width of the 2nd at Royal Aberdeen – and I speculated had the SI’s 1 and 18 been reversed I would not have noticed either !?!?! Certainly not the easiest looking SI 18 I have seen !Then the 16th is a 180ish yard par 3, back out from the clubhouse but with several bunkers and from a slightly raised tee which must make it a lot harder into the wind. Anyway in 1974 – a plaque proclaims – a gent from Leicestershire playing in the Midlands Foursomes holed out here, not just on the first day of the comp, but also on the second day…………..and then also on the third day too !!! What are the odds ?!17 and 18 are a glorious finish playing to the backdrop of the clubhouse with beach huts down the right hand side of 18 which has a deviously elevated green.A superb finish to a superb links course. Beautifully true running greens. Nothing not to like about this course. Well worth its place in any ranking list and definitely a classic links.

Nice parkland track with occasional views of the London skyline. Unusual short par 4 start and then a reasonably tight tree lined front nine with plenty of ups, downs and acrosses and plenty of places to go wrong. Quirky would be too strong, but it is in that direction. The back ten holes are like a different course, much easier for a "Seve rather than Faldo'' merchant like myself again still with variety, interest and challenge but a far more normal parkland layout with water in play on occasions and more bale out than the front nine. The finish literally takes your breath away with a couple of very sharp inclines to ensure you hit the bar and find a seat after ! Clubhouse just been refurbed and quite impressive. Pro shop friendly and helpful. With a dodgy knee this is a buggy course for me !

Very enjoyable gently undulating parkland course, not too tight - just right really, playable and fun - some very attractive trees, and some interesting and challenging holes. All par fours need two good shots, especially in the wind as was today. Some good par threes and fives too. Well worth a visit.Course number 447 played worldwide.

Very impressive set up as I suppose you would expect from Jack. Surpsingly un-Jack-like after a trademark first hole with water.Some very good holes and great holiday golf with several views of the Strip in the distance, stunning mountain views and numerous superb looking luxury homes overlooking the course.To me they missed a trick with the whole idea of the replica holes ...albeit having gone through the course on the website before flying out and not having really heard of many of the courses that holes had been copied from ,,,,,in fact had I not been through it on the website you wouldn't know that they were replicas.Nonetheless a good playable course with many challenges and would like to play again - although with so many others to try I doubt I will ever get to visit Vegas often enough for it to come round again for me !?

Nice and convenient from the Strip.Very welcoming and impressive. Good warm up "net". Hundreds of palm trees and a lot of sand waste. Some good water holes.I booked this as the "strip experience" round before heading further afield but was very impressed with the course, taking nearly as many photos as shots !Of some good holes, for me probably the signature par 3 16th island green by the clubhouse stood out and 18 is a good hole as well.Shot some pars and lost some balls but the score is forgotten. The surroundings of the airport, helipad, freeway, Mandalay Bay, the new Raiders stadium, the water and sand hazards, palm trees, a gorilla (!) and the distant mountains will remain a great memory. WELL WORTH A VISIT

A good layout with some good challenging holes. Possibly deserves higher ranking than it currently holds I feel.

One of many decent club golfer parkland tracks in the area with some good holes

Decent club golfers course, one of many in the area but worth ticking off your list

Prestwick or Old Course this is NOT. A long hard modern championship track. Good variety of holes with a few brutes. The 7th is very harsh - it has a spare fairway for really bad shots to the right of the trouble right of the fairway that catches many a good drive when its rolling. When you do find the fairway you face a monster second or a really tight very short lay up. 6th is an excellent par 3. 9th is tough too as drive too far and you end up wet but even laying up brave leaves a long second into a very well protected green. 14 is a mini 17th at Carnoustie crossing the water twice. 15 is a how much dare you cut off over the water dogleg right. 16 right hand dog leg very difficult to attack. 17 another super par 3 and 18 an uphill par five to get you gasping for a beer ! Advisable to wear a gum shield when battling with this beast !

Good course through the trees with some good tough holes.

Good variety of holes make this well worth a visit when golfing in the Wirral

Good course and great if you live in one of the mansions but not sure (apart from £) why it is used for Open Q so often ?? Some fairly average up and down holes with a great finishing stretch.

One of the best courses in this area and well worth a visit. Usually in great condition

Lovely parkland track well worth a visit with some great holes and superb condition usually

Superb possibly underrated course with some great holes and very effective greenstaff.

Good course to play alongside the I think even better Delamere Forest. Strange how they named these two courses as Delamere has little forestry on the course and is very linksy /sandy and SANDiway cuts through a forest ?! Always in great condition and well worth a visit

My favourite course round these parts. Far better and more interesting than Hoylake in my opinion. Some fabulous holes in the mountainous dunes and in which the wind can destroy you. Favourite view up 18th as sun sets across all undulations.

Tremendous layout with absurdly quick greens in summertime. Some very good holes.

Good course - the Jamaica rankings are spot on ie Tryall and White Witch are superior - but still the next best with holes oceanside and views to die for. If squeezing 4 rounds into your Montego Bay holiday the top 4 are all in range and worth a visit

Very nice course although front nine felt a little monotonous with holes all very similar through the mature trees. Found the back nine more interesting.Having visited during an otherwise links trip it felt very long without the extra roll and a couple of holes were long. Worth playing off the whites as one 5/4 is a brutal par 4 off the yellows and is surely an easier par 5 off the whites.Good condition.66th Scottish course played and 435th worldwide

Superb links track. Pro advised me before starting that wasn't a difficult course and main defence was the wind ....which was up at 20/25mph ..and it defended the course from me !!!I want to say the layout of the course meant it was always a crosswind but is seemed to keep changing and gusting. It was a hard round (28 points) BUT very very enjoyable.Course is in very good condition and the walk to the two holes over the road and even closer to the sea was spectacular. Both holes were a great challenge with the wind whipping in off the sea.... and luckily course was quiet as I made good use of both fairways on both holes just to make sure I stayed in play.Very nice links course, had a feel of quality and several little bits that make you think you are on a top quality track.Course #299 played in England and 434th played worldwide

Nice links course, friendly welcome at pro shop and lunch before playing nice too. Plenty of direction changes to keep you thinking in the wind. Good mixture of holes and in the wind, a tricky closing par 3 into a corner by the clubhouse.Well worth a visit.Course #298 in England and #433 worldwide

Nice enough course which presumably has been extended at some point as there are a few blatantly new holes to contrast some very old ones, and what was presumably the first tee once is now the 12th.The older holes, particularly the closing 6 are a little quirky and hence fun, although the shared fairway must cause havoc on an open day with four balls out ??

Played this earlier this week to complete the whole top100 listing for Wiltshire ... without checking the list (!) think this was course #430 played.Personally found it a decent enough course with a good variety of holes, mostly well separated from adjoining holes.Difficult to fault but also difficult to wax lyrical as it just didn't for me somehow have a huge wow factor either, which makes me wonder whether it was just me on the day as everyone else seems to rate it highly ??

Very nice course to visit - this was my 429th played worldwide. Splendid views and a nice looking course with some good holes, playable but with trouble if you look for it with shots that are wayward in the wrong place.In good conditions considering the hot dry weather. Couldn't get to grips with the greens.... lightning fast in places and like velcro in others.On the short par 4 5th hole (having started on the 10th to avoid a junior comp teeing off) I drove just short let of the green by the small gorse bush and tried to nudge a little linksy 8 iron to the red flag front pin positio. Badly overhit it and it ran to the top of the slope up to the higher back tier. NO amount of talking to it try to make it roll back down would work, but I then turned to check on the progress of the missus who was walking round and to admire that particular bit of the view. When I turned back the ball was beside the hole, literally six inches.As I said, very attractive almost heathland looking course, and playing it late afternoon great wildlife with buzzards, songbirds and deer one evidence.Finally 9th was a fun downhill par five. Missed the fairway right, beside the first green and was blocked out of anything of any length by a conifer or two. Did hit it well but hit a 9 iron over the trees which was baffled why I couldn't find it in the middle of the fairway......until I had pretty much given up and saw it about 25yards short of the green having presumably rolled an awful long way after it came down. Perhaps good job the conifers were in the way as would normally have hit 3 wood from that far out !!If I haven't already said it "well worth a visit" and I will try and get back sometime too.

Very pleasing to the eye American design style course with a lake bordering two signature greens and a tee. Good variety of holes and in decent condition.Enjoyed my visit and pro shop and bar/catering all friendly and helpful.If I had to say anything less than positive, I would say ideally it could have done with a little more imagination / earth movement when forming a few of the greens and several of the tees, which in places seem a little bland and below the standard of the rest of the course.Avoid the bunker on the par three second hole.... I have been in bigger and deeper - but I gave up after five attempts to get out ruining a front nine made up of that blob, a bogey on the 3rd and seven pars.Played equally well on back nine apart from going right through the signature 11th island green into water then again finding water on the 16th and 18th both of which are good holes which I just played badly. As it was stonkingly hot and the lunch between was nice didn't bother playing the Badminton nine holes.Course #293 played in England and #428 worldwide.

Quite a unique course to play a round on for my 427th course worldwide. I would describe it as a mixture of Isle of Purbeck (although much hillier than IoP and of course no sea view from CH, but generally the course layout is similar, although CH is much more open with less trouble - few bunkers and no trees.....and not much else in fact !) and Clyne (for the roaming animals and feel of the place.....CH has a sort of Welsh links feel, despite not being near the sea or in Wales !?!?)First two holes are perhaps the weakest and least interesting opening with a long but still reachable in two downhill par five. Of course perhaps not so reachable in the winter as when it is currently rock hard and sun baked !!Plenty of good holes, loads of sheep (and what sheep leave behind them!), and virtually every hole has a stunning view.The tenth is a good downhill 219 yard SI 14 par 3 and other than not crossing, the 15th and 16th, two consecutive par threes are kind of reminiscent of similarly numbered par three holes at North Wales GC.I had read it was better of the whites but forgot so played off yellows so 4th and 13th were long par fours for me, but the 13th provides a stunning view of both the very linksy looking green and the Cheltenham skyline as you reach the marker post, and on the next two holes you get a birdseye view of the racecourse.Friendly and helpful pro. Well worth a visit to what feels - in the nicest possible way - a step back in time.

Fortunately I am not one of these people that rates a course on how well they played as if I was this course would be rated the worst course in the world !!!It was my fifth round on a new course in five days but even so I was shockingly bad. iIt was however still a VERY nice course with some very interesting holes.A lot of grass bunkers which seem to have been grassed over but makes for some very interesting linksy shots.Everything in very good condition and the sand in the remaining bunkers was top quality so assume some have been grassed over to make it £viable ?Person in shop claimed it as best in county and I can see where they are coming from although itv.a key any signature or stand out holes, as it is all good ?!?Defintely WELL WORTH A VISIT....I certainly want to try again and not lose so many balls and hit the ball(s) better than I did !Course #289 in England and #424 worldwide

Very well presented course with rapid greens.Several tricky to hold (all left to right) fairways and one very tricky green at the16th.A coupl of very scenic holes that would grace most courses and some stunning views from various parts of the course.Well worth a visit.Course #422 worldwide and #287 in England

Visited today in their open week as my 39th Welsh and 418th worldwide course.It was fun to play with some amazing views of Swansea Bay. A good variety of holes and just like Brora, although NOT as good, it is fun playing with sheep and ponies wandering free and the electric fences around the greens.For me, like many Welsh links, it was just that 'rugged' (or is it 'tatty') appearance BUT it plays well with several challenging and interesting holes. Not sure how or why but Scottishness links courses just seem in better condition than Welsh ones in many cases. Certainly the aforementioned Brora is better than here, but putting aside my 'opinion' of Clyne's "welshness" it isn't still well worth a visit. Must be a tiughie when it blows !?

Wow. Played here today for first time in a Seniors Open having read previous reviews. Course number 417 played for me.What a marvellous course and in superb condition.Luckily I saw the obvious quality of the practice putting green before teeing off and had a few putts..... it was quicker than my kitchen floor !!Heard that green keepers have won an award - they clearly deserve it.A gentle starting short par 4 first....and then you have a very steep climb up he next three holes. Fortunately it flattens out a lot after that. Several excellent holes, stunning views from the 15th fairway and the 17th you travel all the way back down to 2nd tee level on your second shot.Tees, fairways and especially the greens - which were lightning quick and true - are all excellent. Everything about G&S oozes quality. Staff pleasant and helpful, food good, beer good. And as if that is not enough..... you really have to try the gin & tonic ice cream at the halfway hut !!I get my kicks from playing new courses....but will definitely look out for future opens here. Well worth a visit for anyone.

Added this onto a trip to the "big five" and although it is a totally different style of course to the heathland wonders it was very good and enjoyable parkland track.Firstly staff and clubhouse were friendly and excellent - to the point we have discussed a return visit to the area but staying here next time - and then onto the course.Creamed one down the driving range ....off the first tee ! .... but it was better thereafter. Some very interesting and challenging holes, plenty of water hazards and overall all in good condition.Recommend a visit to Dudsbury.

Very nice attractive, lush green, tree lined course with obviously hard working and conscientious greenstaff. Obviously being nice Wales it rained but that didn't spoil our day out. Couldn't fault condition of the course. The first is a great starting hole, and the other 17 are just as good.Avoid the bunker at the front of the 15th green which I ploughed my second into almost up against a very steep face. Should have played out sideways. Should have had a Hamlet ! Back nine felt slightly hillier and tighter. Par fives 10 and 11 felt a long slog and the 13th plays a long par 4 up the slope.Several of the par 3's very nice looking and I would say the 16th probably the trickiest of the bunch.This was my 38th Welsh course played and number 415 worldwide.

Visited this afternoon for £20 online green fee as 281st course played in England and 414th worldwide. It was WELL worth £20 and a fair bit more.Very impressive piece of land with a very luxurious looking hotel bit and a separate clubhouse. Ourvstanav took us down a few miles of farm track in the way there but we went home on proper roads!?Anyway, the course review. Nothing to not like about the course, good layout with mature trees. Front nine is flatter than back nine and I would say probably the easier of the two.3rd is a nice par 3 but how it is rated as SI 4 is a mystery .....although SI ratings are a constant source of surprise to me!!The 12th is real fun to play downhill par five and the par 3 17th has a fabulous green with some much tougher pin positions than the front left that I birdied today.Two stonkingly hard holes on the back nine, the SI 1 14th is a tricky dogleg par five and the 18th is a par 4 (which again I would suggest should be SI 2 in non-match play) which at SI 7 further highlights the anomaly of the 3rd.Anyway it feels like I am moaning and I am NOT.A very nice layout which would probably be a lot more well known and popular were it a bit less out in the middle of nowhere.Well worth seeking out for a knock ....and set your satnav to "main roads only".

Wow, wow wow. My personal #278 course in England and # 411 worldwide.This is right up there as my top "wish I was a member here course".Everything previous reviews mention about the perfectness of the facilities for members regarding practice facilities, putting greens, tees, immaculate presentation, speed of greens etc applies.We played it (after the "worth playing" 9 holer) as round #7 of our five day Dorset trip (which we booked through YGT and I was pleasantly surprised what a good deal we got).The welcome from staff, the clubhouse, the views (especially from balcony) of the course, the locker rooms are all exemplary....the blue print for a members club.Ferndown is even more perfect than Parkstone was on day 1.Broadstone is tougher...that might ,are it a better course depending upon how you rank it ??? as is Remedy Oak, but overall I would firmly rank Ferndown as the very very best course/club to visit or - if you are lucky enough - to join.

Added this onto our Dorset trip after being beaten up at Isle of Purbeck. Wasn't overly impressed with "welcome" at pro shop, "we took your booking but we don't operate tee times, put a ball in the chute" ???Course is interesting layout in reasonable condition. Bunkers unraked, pitchmarks unrepaired, members dress questionable and pace of play slow with a capital S.Miles behind Dudsbury in every aspect.

Tremendous site with wonderful views on arrival. We played in early June and the overall condition of the course was - how can I put this ? - a little reminiscent of a welsh links......sort of scruffy, rugged, natural. After Broadstone, Parkstone and Remedy Oak this was a bit of a surprise but off we went.A gentle start, first two holes (not sure why these are not the last two holes ?) go out and back to (the wonderful) clubhouse, and then a short but blind driveable (unless into the wind) par 4 third hole, followed by a par three. After four holes I was level par .... and then came a bit of a come down. The fifth tee - signature hole - has amazing views of the Isle if Wight, Bournemouth, Poole, a marker post, gorse.....and NO fairway. To be fair once you have savoured the magnificent view it is a straight forward shot down over the post leaving a perilous second into an awkward green. We all missed the fairway right and lost balls.The next is a challenging uphill dogleg with gorse both sides and it is now that tearing the course up becomes a no return ! A variety of similarly challenging holes follow, accuracy is at an absolute premium ...and I didn't have itThe twelfth, stroke index 2, is an uphill drive onto a ridge leaving a shot to the green which appears to slope back to front. I left my second slightky short and tried a linksy bump and run with a seven iron which went up and had a look at the back flag...and then turned left and came back down off the front of the green. It was still moving when my playing partners putted !!!It dies not look that steep and the greens do not look that immaculate, but I still cannot believe what we saw happen.It beat me up. I scored 12 points on the first four holes and I think I made it angry as I only scored 12 more points on the remaining 14 holes !! I wasn't playing well but neither was I playing that badly !?Despite the condition issue, still would love the return to try and play it better second time round. Fantastic challenge and fantastic panoramas.

Day 3 of Dorset tour...... great course with some excellent holes. When we played it didn't seem in the very best of condition BUT sure it brushes up nice and it was still good. Interesting and challenging terrain. We all scored less here than at Remedy Oak yesterday and Parkstone the day before, as they are longer and with more ball losing opportunities, but as a low teens handicapper Parkstone remains the course I would want them revisit or be a member at.My personal ranking in Dorset would be Parkstone first, Broadstone second and Remedy Oak third.To be as frank as I can, for a 10-15 handicapper Parkstone is the best of the three. The lower your handicap the more you will enjoy here and Remedy Oak.

Day 2 of Dorset tour. Remedy Oak is a marvellous set up. Fabulous clubhouse, immaculate tees, fairways and greens. Challenging holes, plenty of water hazards, beautiful mature trees.A tremendous modern creation but can't put my finger on why it just didn't have the same wow factor or desire to play it again as Parkstone yesterday ?

Day one of our Dorset tour and it is exciting that of the four other courses we have booked two are even higher ranked than Parkstone.What a superb course. Some great holes with fabulous bunkering and fast true greens. A real treat well worth its position in the rankings.

Wonderful place with a superb clubhouse and absolute op notch course. Some truly wonderful holes and views. Hope to revisit once the Open hype has calmed down a little.

As you already have the idea from other reviews, this place REALLY does deserve its lofty position in the uk rankings. Some marvellous holes, marvellous challenges, marvellous views and spectacular scenery and changes of conditions !!Cannot fault in any way. Hope to return some day.

Very nice walk round a course made up of some interesting holes many of which ate lined with fabulous mature trees. Interesting par threes.Recommend a visit.

Very nice course perched atop the chalk cliffs which plays linksy (as only an inch or two of soil sit on a chalk base) but is very parkland in layout.Some very good holes and a very nice clubhouse.Still think they should fill in the fort and make it an elevated tee !?Had my only hole in one here on the what was then 16th which I think is now the 7th that they have reversed the two nines.... not really sure why ?

Red and yellow are the best although i like blue too ....and orange has two great par fives. Only played these 4 x 9's not any of the other courses.On the positive there are some very good golf holes at this large multi course golf venue and in good condition.Less keen on the fact that there are not just simply two established 18 hole courses to choose from as both times I have visited there has been there to play the main 36 confusion over which permutation of which nines I have been playing. Obviously this set up maximises capacity. On a plus for the members this gives them flexabilty although I am suspicious of how well this fixed 2 hours per nine holes system actually works from my brief experience although I have ben lucky playing one my own when the course was quiet so didnt have any delays ?The par 3 course looks interesting too.Overall, a resort definitely well worth a visit.

Nice members course with some interesting holes, particularly the par 3 before you cross over the road and then several of the holes over the road, one of which has a fairway that is sort of "Prestwick like".When I played it several fairways were bare after a harsh summer but will happily revisit once that ever recovers.Not so keen on the number of roads through the course but that obviously cant be helped.

Course #403 for me (#270 in England) REALLY enjoyed my visit.Firstly a SUPERB collection of framed Open programmes dating back to 1928 and some Ryder Cup pictures around the upstairs bar area......must be worth a fortune and very interesting and nostalgic.Pro very welcoming and helpful too. Didn't feel the course played overly long as others seem to say ?Some very good holes with good water features and bunkering.Some excellent par 3's and the 15th is a par 5 double water carry like a bit the 18th on the Brabazon at the Belfry. Attractive and playable course.Highly recommended.

Played this as my 400th course worldwide (37th in Wales), having previously played the other two resort courses last year.Personally I would rank this higher than Roman Road as a very good layout which is both challenging for your golf AND your lungs.Had my faith in the membership here restored as played wth two nice blokes (Spider and Lee) rather than the idiots who rudely chased us round the Roman Road even though we were waiting on several groups stacked up in front of us ?!?!?Tough par 3's - but rather bewildering stroke indexes for them ??Some very good 4's and 5's.Much more opportunity to lose balls on here than R/Road and 2010 other than the water of course.As I said a very good layout, buggy recommended, and I think better than the Roman Road !?

Just back from playing what is a fairly lung-busting walk round. Some good holes, and as a course it has everything you expect. If I had to say anything negative, I was lucky to only go into one bunker and it was a far better one than a lot that I had walked past earlier in the round which were 70% sand and 30% large stones ? Members I encountered were exceptionally pleasant and helpful.Course played #262 in England / #394 worldwide

Seemed a good test, played out of season so difficult to assess quality of set up but would imagine would be nice.

Nice course at the foot of a big hill. Some interesting holes. Good members course

Nice walk, nice views and some good holes

Good parkland layout, nothing particularly outstanding but a good solid members track.

Had see no tgis course so many times across the water when playing Conwy and it didn't look much.However when eventually got round to playing it to cross it off I was pleasantly surprised what a good course it is.

Very enjoyable links well worth a visit.Some tough holes especially when the wind blows.

Very pleasant course, with some good holes. Great place for a day out.

Well worth a visit to add this to your list played.Not up to quality of neighbour but still a good test.

Long drive there. Well worth it.Can get a bit windy here !Some very interesting holes.

Curiously unimpressive entrance, clubhouse and first hole but gets so much better after that.Quirky pair of crossing par threes towards end of round.Would always rank Conwy as the better course but this makes up a good trio with the other neighbour.

One of my first Welsh trips and wow what a spectacular course. On more recent visits the have had to change a couple of holes because of the hoarders of walkers but the Old part is still stunning.Very welcoming clubhouse too.

WOW - still haven't got to play Royal Porthcawl but if it is much better than this it must be fantastic.Like other reviewers I have experienced the extreme wind conditions here...some amazingly long drives and some horrifically short ones.Well worth a visit.

Really enjoyed the variety of challenges going round this superb links course.Well deserved place in the rankings

Great links layout with fabulous views from most parts of course.Well worth a visit

Another great Welsh links well worth a visit. Great variety of holes and challenges.

REALLY enjoyed my round here.Great to play such a suddenly famous course. Typical Ryder Cup course....everything is big, but really enjoyable challenge.

Would describe this as the St Andrews Old Course of Wales.

Fabulous links high up on land by the sea.Some superb holes. A great club.

Great links layout, well worth a visit.When the wind blows it blows !Some tough holes

Played this a long time ago but vivid memories of dramatic cliff top layout with fabulous clubhouse and stunning holes and views.Followed the two aussies I got paired with whilst waiting on a tee and drove a ball into the South China Sea just so I could say I had !!

Almost like a computer simulation of a Caribbean course. Every hole flanked by palm trees. Didn't originally book to play this as looked a bit of an up and down by a Road rather than being by the sea like the others but a chef at our resort recommended it so managed to wangle a fourth round in the fortnight AND glad we did.Very nice experience - and what a halfway house. Caddie also very good