David Oliver

Played Troia in 2010 and remember it being very good; played it again last week and it is better than I remember. In general terms, it is one of the most attractive courses I have played, flowing through a mixture of dunes, umbrella pines and sandy “waste” areas. There are views of the sea on half a dozen or so holes. Troia is also tough due to 3 elements:- 1/. narrow playing areas 2/. greens ranging from small to tiny and 3/. the presence of a a number of elevated greens. I need to give some context to no. 1 above. Although I did not lose a ball during my round, it was very difficult to get any sort of strike off the sandy waste areas that framed the fairways, so whilst having the appearance of “space” off the tee, in reality, the playable space was confined to the fairways - in contrast to courses that have areas of semi rough which are generally playable. As befits a highly ranked course (previous host of the Portuguese Open), designed by a world class architect, there is tremendous variety in hole orientation, length of holes and boasting a smattering of world class holes:-Hole 3 – medium length par 4 played with the Ocean on the left with a tree splitting the left hand side of the fairway, with sand areas and trees on the right, played to an elevated green.Hole 5 - long par 4 playing away from the Ocean from an elevated tee, with a slight left to right dog-leg movement. Approach to the green over a diagonal set of bunkers. Hole 17 – 175 yard par 3, played from an elevated tee over a substantial sandy, dune area to a green framed by a bank at the back of the green with 3 bunkers built into the bank to the left and long of the green that slopes gently right to left. The greens were very smooth and ran at a medium pace. I agree with its ranking on the website and strongly disagree with the review posted on 15 October 2019 (this same reviewer opined that, despite shooting 80 and 81, Oitavos Dunes was “too easy”, This area of Portugal is getting interesting with the development at Comporta seemingly progressing nicely.

A course with great pedigree but, correctly, not deserving of a ranking in the top 100 GB&I courses, although certainly in the top 150. Lindrick describes itself as “a mixture of heathland and moorland” – my view is that there is very little heathland left and there are areas of the course that may even veer into “parkland”. Unless effort is made on an ongoing basis to retain a course’s original look and feel, trees and vegetation will dominate, and I believe Lindrick may be at a crossroads where a decision is required whether to embark on tree clearance / course opening to recapture some heathland components (which takes bravery and ecological nuancing) or abandon this notion and allow the unrelenting evolution to moorland / parkland. If the latter strategy is embraced, then the course needs improved conditioning (the course had a scruffy feel with particularly reference to overgrown areas near the tee boxes) to compete with other high end inland courses. Most courses that have commenced the first strategy have not regretted the decision. It may be a small point but any effort to rejuvenate heather growth will help the general aesthetics of the course.The greens are in superb condition with decent pace. Hole 1 – Par 4 (400 yards) opener driving from an elevated tee offering a full view of the hole. A deep bunker on the left and gorse to the right of the fairway makes it a tough start. Stone wall to the left of the green is a nice feature.Hole 2 – Par 4 (360) accuracy is everything on this dogleg left hole with marshy terrain on the left of the fairway and a bunker on the right. The raised green is significantly sloping from back to front (most severe green on the course) with an array of bunkers protecting the green. Hole 3 – Par 3 (160) solid short hole playing to a raised green well protected by bunkers on three sides. Hole 4 – Par 5 (480) dogleg left to right off the tee with deep bunkers on the inside of the dogleg to the right of the fairway. The approach, whether second or third shot, is blind, played into a sunken green with the river Ryton to the rear. Hole 5 – Par 4 (430) a long and very challenging hole, beginning with a drive over a huge steep grass bank (looks intimidating but plays fairly). Once you crest the bank, the hole opens to present a wonderful hole with creative bunkering all the way from 80 yards from the green. A nice grass bunker on the drive adds to the overall look of the hole.Hole 6 – Par 3 (140) the shortest hole on the course, it needs a carry firstly over the thick gorse and then past the mounds to the front of the green. The green is very well defended by steep bunkers and a very tricky green full of borrows and undulations.Hole 7 – Par 4 (430) is a brilliant hole which presents a demanding tee shot over the gorse and bunkers for the ‘tiger line’ to the left and thick, rough and / woodland to the right. Part of the fairway is plateaued, and the green has a very subtle left to right slope. No greenside bunkers but a couple 20/30 yards short right of the green.Hole 8 – Par 4 (300) excellent and attractive risk and reward par 4. Teeing off from the top of a gentle hill, you drive over an extensive area of gorse bushes to a narrow fairway. The approach to the (smallish) green is guarded by an array of daunting bunkers. Hole 9 – Par 4 (430) one of the top 3 holes on the course. A tee shot over gorse needs to avoid the area of rough to the left and the woodland to the right, however the fairway is generous which recognises the length of the hole. The approach shot is played downhill into a large undulating green, which has another very fast but subtle slope from front to back.Hole 10 – Par 4 (370) a tough start to the back nine as the illusion from the tee suggests there is no fairway to be found as bunkers line both sides of the fairway. The green is guarded by both a bunker on the right and some very challenging hollows to the left and rear.Hole 11 – Par 3 (170) plays into an accommodating green from the left, which is guarded by two imposing bunkers short right and right of the green respectively.Hole 12 – Par 4 (360) dogleg left hole, which starts with a blind tee shot which is dominated by trees on the inside of the dogleg. Accuracy is the key with both tee and approach shots as the narrow green slopes from left to right. It is guarded by mounds and hollows but the only hole on the course with no bunkers. This hole has a definite “parkland” feel. Hole 13 – Par 4 (430) an excellent challenging hole which moves subtly right to left with bunkers on the left of the fairway on the drive. The approach is then played significantly uphill, and the green is fast and slopes back to front. An attractive, tough holeHole 14 – Par 5 (550) a straightaway hole which gives you room off the tee. Gets tighter as you play down the hole. Green is large and relatively flat. Solid par 5.Hole 15 – Par 4 (360) an uphill tee shot over gorse and avoiding the waiting bunker left side, then over the brow of the hill leaves a downhill approach to a deceptive green sloping to the back. Mounds and hollows surrounding the green make accuracy a vital ingredient on this hole. There is a stone wall close to the edge of the left-hand side of the green (which is a lovely feature) and the views from the green are wonderful.Hole 16 – Par 5 (490) another hole which starts with a blind tee shot back over a ridge. Straightaway hole with an old quarry to the left of the fairway (about 2/3rds up the hole) with a well-contoured and undulating green.Hole 17 – Par 4 (390) plays entirely downhill moving from right to left. Creative fairway bunkering animates the hole and the visuals on the approach to the green are the best on the course. Hole 18 – Par 3 (210) a challenging long par 3 played to a smallish, well-guarded green. Great finishing hole with clubhouse in view to the back right of the green.In summary – a very good course which with extensive clearance, could be excellent

Undoubtedly a wonderful golf course and in my view should be ranked just below Castle Stuart (and Dumbarnie once it is ranked by this site). There is 1 sublime hole - the all-world par 5, 4th hole playing from an elevated tee with sea views on the right and dunes/sandy waste areas predominantly on the left. Other notable holes are the (par 4, 7th dog leg left to right, played to a green behind some mounding on the left and the 14th hole which is a medium length par 4 that moves from left to right with sea views on the left. This is a typical Doak course in that it is very "pretty", requires a good ground game around the green complexes, use of scruffy bunkering, extensive use of waste areas and is, in the main, generous off the tee (all positives in my book). It ranks below CS and Dum because there is a weak hole or maybe it is fairer to say a hole that could be substantially improved. The par 3, 15th is a short hole (approx. 120) and would be excellent if it was not materially uphill and therefore semi blind. So standing on the tee the hole is ho hum, but looking back from the green, the hole looks superb as the bunkering and shaping on and around the greens are special. In terms of location, St P adds to the already brilliant Rosapenna Sandy Hills and the quietly understated but very good Old Tom Morris course.

NO ! I rarely disagree with the website rankings but have to in the case of Connemara. In my view, it is as good as Nairn so should be ranked about 40 on the links list making it a GB&I top 100 course. ( Even more egregious is that Golf World / Today's Golfer top 100 links rankings does not include Connemara at all. ) This course has everything. It provides a robust challenge from a purely golfing perspective, holes of differing orientation, mixture of length of par 4s, plenty of strategy and always attractive - nice blend of dunes and traditional flattish linksland, animated by a sprinkling of very attractive rocky outcrops. It also offers breathtaking views from 5 tees (13th, 14th, 16th to 18th), which are as more attractive than 99% of links courses I've played. Yes it's out in the sticks but so is Carne, Brora and The Machrie and like these courses, Connemara is very much worth it. Treat the journey as a golfing pilgrimage. In addition and importantly, what really distinguishes Connemara is the genuine lack of weak holes - few course, even the Monuments , cannot boast this characteristic. It is an outstanding course (admittedly I played it in relatively benign conditions)

TOP 100 GB&I Links COMPLETED. Without getting too emotional, I feel blessed that the last course on the list was Castletown and the penultimate hole played on the journey was the simply sublime 17th hole which requires a drive over a ravine with the sea crashing below. There is an infusion of colours on the top of cliffs perfectly amplified by the setting sun. The approach (long as the hole is 420 yards) plays over some humps and bumps to a beautifully sculpted green. Myself and playing partner spent 10 minutes taking photos and chuckling at the sheer beauty of the scene. Holes like 17 are truly transcendental. Castletown has at least 3 more jaw dropping holes (par 4, 5th played from an elevated tee to a narrow fairway, par 3, 16th with the sea on the right played to an attractive green complex and the par 4, 18th with the approach to the green over another ravine, with a backdrop of sea and hills in the distance. Even the inland holes on more traditional links land are excellent. Greens were good throughout with the only negative being the condition of about 5 or 6 fairways on the front 9. Overall, simply outstanding

A joy to play. So many wonderful quirky holes all framed by breathtaking views. Conditioning was excellent and greens more than decent. Would be highly ranked on any GB&I "fun" courses however this would be to detract from a handful, of traditional and challenging holes. One of those rare courses that I would could play every day

An OK course with a smattering of decent holes but overall is ranked correctly and outside the county top 10. Probably not to be considered a "gem" in the true sense of the word. Worth a play once the better courses in the county have been played.

Solid links course which is animated by the Martello Tower which can be seen from many holes. It is not a top 100 GB&I links but worth an honourable mention. The last 7 holes are very good and it is definitely worth the travel. Views are terrific throughout with just enough elevation to keep the course challenging.

There is no question WH sits in the top 3 in the county, it is which position it holds is the debate. Personally, I would rank the top 3 as Purdis, WH then Alderburgh. The top 2 have the advantage of beauty but all 3 are excellent courses. Many interesting holes and a variety of challenge, well worth a visit.

Before playing Flempton (and Worlington previously), I think there is a place for 9 hole courses. The question is whether an hour and a half of time to play golf is best filled on a 9 hole course or play a front 9 or back 9 of a 18 hole course. There is a compelling case for 9 hole courses as, overall, each hole is subject to more thought and attention and although admittedly, the sample size is small, the handful of 9 hole courses I have played have not had any weak holes - most 18 hole courses, even some ranked very highly have the odd ho hum hole. The best hole at Flempton from both a strategic and attractiveness perspective is the short par 4, 7th which plays into a bowl with some great bunkering. Agree with many reviewers that Flempton is ranked too low (confirmed by the average score).

Solid course in its own right and in my view is equal to the New. Great links turf, some great views around the turn and a tough closing stretch. Well worth a game,

If the New had the opening and closing holes of the Old course, the New course would be a level above the Old, that's how good the New is. Still the best 36 holes in England - if you have not played before, treat yourself, Sunningdale is an all round a sublime experience.

Absolute delight. Perhaps if the holes 1 and 18 of the Old course were swapped with the New, the New may be better - however it is correct that they are so closely ranked. Comfortably the best 36 in England (Walton Heath the next best). A 36 hole day is still worth it however as green fees have increased substantially in the last couple of years, I would urge anyone who has not played both courses to make arrangements soon.

First played WS in 2020, again in 2014 and again yesterday. It has definitely improved and worthy of its elevated status on various lists. Conditions were firm and bouncy (not surprising in current drought), but greens were remarkably smooth with medium/fast roll. It is such a visually beautiful course with the wonderful purple heather, pine trees and sensational and unique bunkering. Rarely, there are no weak holes and the robust par 4, 11th is in the pantheon of all time great inland holes. A brilliant course and well worth the (at times tortuous) journey.

A gem of a golf course and an absolute treat to play. Located on a peninsula, it has optimal views across attractive bays on 2 sides which undoubtedly enhances the overall golfing experience. It is a mixture of flat links land and small dunes which from which the undulating holes are derived. Gorse infuses the course, particularly on the front 9, however it never seems to reach more than a height of 4 feet so does not dominate both the playing and the visual enjoyment. The turf is firm throughout and the greens medium paced and smooth. Many tee boxes are raised or located in higher ground which maximises the great topography on offer. A sympathetic start to the course (a good design feature to allow players to get into their round) with short par 4, gently moving right to left. The 2nd is a wonderful 400-yard par 4 hugging the shores of Chouet Bay on the right. The 3rd is a 190-yard par 3 following the same orientation as the 2nd with clever greenside bunkering including a bunker on the left 10 yards short of the green. The 4th and 5th are par 4s played in opposite directions with the 4th being very robust at 440 yards. The 6th is a short par 5, 480 yards, slight dogleg to the left with a group of 3 bunkers on the inside corner of the dogleg preventing any cutting the dogleg for all but long hitters. The green is small and undulating. Arriving at the tee box for the downhill par 3, 7th hole is another opportunity to enjoy the stunning 360-degree views where both bays can be seen. The short par 4, 8th is perhaps the least appealing on the course however this is rescued by an interesting green complex with a large hump protecting the green on the right side and an accompanying green displaying some wicked contouring. Any par 4 of 460 yards is going to be a challenge and this is what the 9th hole offers. Added to the testing length is a small, elevated and contoured green which perhaps suggests that this played as a par 5 at some stage.The back 9 starts with a medium length par 4 with OB to the right and another challenging green complex which sits in front of a dune. The 11th is a superb gentle right to left 425-yard par 4 where you drive from an intimate elevated tee amongst the gorse and dunes. This is the start of the best stretch of holes on the course and the cadence increases with the uphill 190-yard par 3, where a rocky outcrop animates the approach to the green on the right-hand side. The short par 4, 13th tee offers further sublime views from its elevated position – the approach to the green plays significantly uphill. The 14th is a gently rising par 5 of 520 yards which is quite narrow from 200 yards and in.The 15th hole is just wow. A par 4 hole of 410 yards, teeing off on an elevated tee with L’Ancresse Bay, 50 or so yards to the right of the fairway. There is a huge stone tower (this is an attractive stone tower !) to the immediate right of the fairway at about 150 yards off the tee. The fairway exhibits classical rolling fairways with modest swathes of flat ground interspersed with vigorous contouring (fabulous to walk through and look at, not so much fun to play amongst). Definitely a hole that is “worth the green fee alone”.16th is a short par 4 of 290 which runs in the same direction as the 15th and closer to the sea. This also presents a similar stone tower albeit not so prominent in terms of proximity to the hole. The 17th offers the only blind tee shot on the course and comprises a sharp dog leg left to right short par 4 of 310 yards that plays to an uphill green which is on the small side (which it should be). The par 3 18th of 160 is another exceptionally aesthetic hole played from (another) elevated tee with views of the clubhouse on the left, L’Ancresse Bay to the right and views of another tower and fort and a small bay (Jaonneuse Bay) straight ahead. A worthy finish to a worthy course. The course would not have been built this way in today’s world as there are 3 holes where a couple of fairly busy roads cut through the fairways and another 4 occasions where golfers have to cross the same roads. Yes, it is disconcerting for visiting golfers however the locals, both golfers and vehicle drivers, are reassuringly “laissez faire”.In conclusion, a wonderful old school course where we received a warm welcome (even though the 2 of us are Royal Jersey members) and we enjoyed an interesting chat with the Head Pro.

Played Borth a couple of weeks ago and can absolutely understand recent comments about the sub optimal conditioning, although when I played, the greens were generally very playable. Borth is a course where I would suggest expectations must be tempered, particularly by the following:-- •	The green fee is £32.50 •	Its an old golf course built on a relatively thin strip of land, where space is at a premium and it can only accommodate an out and in layout.•	Many older course have adjacent roads / tracks – I felt the road was not in play but I was lucky to play in only a 1 club wind. •	I was told they do not have much “passing trade” so the stock in the pro shop is never going to rival SilvermereThe course does however serve up some superb holes that would not be out of place on much higher ranked links courses and there are plenty of wonderful dunes to admire especially on the holes around the turn. The following are the ones I believe deserve a mention6th – short par 4 with green cut into a dune9th – medium length par 3 with dunes to the right and interesting greenside bunkering 10th – 400 yard par 4, with the green surrounded by mound11th – short par 3 with bunkering short of the green and mounding at the bac12th – short, tight par 4, with mounding on the green approaches culminating in a long narrow green18th – 380 yard par 4 with a rumpled fairway with an interesting green complex with 6 bunkers in play.This is golf at its rawest and being by the seaside, in amongst the dunes, is very special. I may be in a substantial minority, but unless I am marking a card, some rough conditioning is inconsequential compared to the overall experience. Borth is as natural as it gets and should be embraced - courses such as this are not built these days and perhaps in the ever more PC / woke / health and safety world we inhabit, Borth may be vulnerable. Play it while you still can.

The number of superb holes on the back 9 are not enough for the course (correctly), to be included in the GB&I top 100 links. Indeed, a number of the front 9 holes had more of an inland feel ( similar to Ashburnham) however, P&K is well worth a visit.

Played Hankley Common last week in the Mizuno Pairs event and after a wonderful moment on the first tee when the event starter, having asked one of our group what his name was (Rob B.), then announced him as Mike Sainsbury, then magnificently recovered the situation by advising “that reminds me, I need to go to Waitrose on the way home”, we began our round.It has been remarked a number of times that Hankley does not “get going” until the 5th tee. I can appreciate that view but would suggest that this is more a comment on the quality of the holes from the 4th onwards, than anything lacking in terms of the opening holes. The 1st is a strong (420 yard) par 4 with bunkers left and right on the drive which adds demand. The par 3 2nd has recently been subject to a facelift (larger sculpted bunkers / waste area starting at 40 yards short of the green) which has significantly elevated the hole from an aesthetics perspective. The par 4, 3rd is moderate but boosted by a challenging green complex and the drivable par 4, 4th is quirky with a small elevated green (so no push over), which is disconcertingly close to the clubhouse. So from the 5th tee, the course becomes immense starting with a mid-length par 4 which moved right to left. The par 5, 6th hole is a superb hole which gives you room off the tee but gradually moves uphill to a contoured green. There is then a walk uphill to the highest point of the course to the 7th tee. This hole is outstanding; a par 3 of 200 yards to a green just above the level of the tee over a beautiful valley of heather. The highlight in terms of “stop and take in the view” was the from the elevated 8th hole tee which starts a dead straight par 5 of nearly 600 yards which is just superb.The next standout hole is the strong (450 yard) par 4, 10th which moves left to right with strategic considerations manifested in a copse of trees on the inside of the dog-leg. A word for the par 4, 15th . a poster child for “risk/reward” (Rob B lost his first drive then knocked his provisional onto the green). The 18th is a long par 4 with a blind drive then long iron / rescue over a large depression in front of the green. Hankley benefits hugely from having land to spare so the vast majority of holes exhibit a wonderful sense of isolation and serenity. There is undoubtedly an architectural idiosyncrasy at Hankley which presents itself by an over representation of left to right orientated holes – 8, contrasted with 2 holes that have a fade bias. Some housekeeping points – conditioning was immaculate, greens smooth and fast. My view is that Hankley is rated too low on the website and would personally place it in the mid 30s.

Very,good course. As with most links courses, the outstanding holes are adjacent to the sea and the stretch of holes from 3 to 5 are wonderful, including the stunning view from the elevated tee at the par 5, 4th. Great set of par 3s with my favourite, the 12th, being a classic short hole with small green and heavy protection of 5 bunkers around the green. Not a great fan of the short par 4, 10th which is slightly too tricky (dog leg right with uphill blind green) but the par 4, 11th is vying for the best hole on the course being set amongst the dunes towards a slightly raised green. The finishing holes of 16, 17 and 18 are superb and live long in the memory.

I found Lundin to be a very interesting course to play with an appealing mix of traditional links fayre (majority of the course) to 4 or 5 holes that had a discernible inland feel. This is not a bad thing per se and without stating the bleeding obvious, course design, back in the day, was predicated on what the land gave you. At Lundin it gave an escarpment which now plays host to the uphill side hill par 3, a par 5 along the top and the outstanding downhill par 3, 14th with mesmeric views from the tee. Loved the design of the first which gives plenty of room off the tee and playing invitingly downhill. The best hole for me was the strong par 4, 4th hole which hugged the beach and was protected at the green by a burn. A must play in an area of many must play courses.

Authentic raw links course sprinkled with top end holes. Turf is wonderfully firm and the course has consistent topography and with no weak holes. Having 4 extra holes has its undoubted benefits in terms of flexibility and maintenance and its always nice to have a USP. I played the Old and was able to walk the other 4 holes. After the round, I chatted with a member who mentioned that although 22 holes is great, he sometimes feels that with the land available and a blank canvas to play with, a decent golf designer / architect could create 18 holes that would be at a different level to the current 22 and potentially take the course into the top 50 links in GB&I. In summary, the course is well worth a play.

Excellent heathland course in fabulous condition and worthy of its place inside the GB&I top 100. Enjoyed the contrast in 9s, with the front 9 very muscular with all of the course’s long par 4’s on this 9 (played the green tees) whereas the back 9, brought some welcome relief and 3 par 4’s requiring short iron approaches. The limited number of members clearly enhances the experience for visitors and as many other reviewers have mentioned before, there is a palpable sense of serenity on the course and in some respects represents a privilege to play. For all it’s “exclusive” feel, it is a welcoming club with many members pleased to chat about the course. Standout holes for me included 3 to 5, 8, 11, 13 and 18 (which is a much better hole from the green tees than the blues which although undoubtedly a tougher hole, is played over a huge copse of trees therefore severely reducing the view of the hole, which in this case, is a shame). The views from the clubhouse balcony across a number of holes certainly help the experience and having the 10th tee starting near the clubhouse is also beneficial. There is no doubt at all that this is an attractive golf course, helped in no small way with its excellent tree management philosophy, retaining the course as a true heathland.In my view, Delamere is as good as any of the 3 Ws in Surrey and should be ranked accordingly.

Solid links course built on a fabulous location on the flat lands between sea and mountains. Standout holes are the strong par 4, 7th, the strategic par 5, 12th and the attractive par 3, 13th set towards the mountains. I Agree with TPD in that the course takes on a different character over the last few holes as it moves more inland and, for me, becomes perhaps overly tight both from a playability perspective but also through an aesthetics lens. Overall, Conwy is deserving of its position in the top 100 links in GB&I.

I love Castle Stuart (played it 5 times) and feel that Dumbarnie is just as good – as such it is a top 20 calibre course in GB&I. It is visually stunning with the use of elevated tees to enable a view of most of the course from a number of tees.The design is clever using very generous fairways that enable anyone to play and enjoy the course (as long as the correct tees are used). The difficulty / challenge of the course is found in the green complexes with the combination of fast sloping greens and undulating, tight lies on the surrounds, both of which are undoubtedly Tour quality.There is little point nominating standout holes as they are all aesthetically superb and most have a manifestly strategic element, including a wonderful first hole which rivals the 1st hole at Doonbeg. There is one hole however that warrants some additional narrative. It has been a week since I played Dubarnie and I wanted time to reflect on this hole to ensure the likely scenario of me just not “getting it” is considered in depth. The hole is the “risk & reward” par 4, 17th.Looking at this hole horizontally from left to right from the tee, it is essentially split into 3 sections. 1/. Fairway, 2/. General scrub land, gorse and a very large dune bunker 3/. Fairway (which requires a 200+ yard carry to reach) and a number of bunkers. My two issues are:- 1/. You can only see a sliver of fairway to the left so if this is the “safe” option to play the hole (leaving a longer approach), then in my view it should be more accessible from the tee, and 2/. The right side “reward” element, in my view, is just not worth the risk as there are 6 fairway bunkers in play off the tee in addition to 4 greenside bunkers. All 10 bunkers are penal and to miss them seems more down to chance than skill. The picture of this hole on the course guide illustrates clearly the design philosophy I just don’t believe there is enough “reward”. This hole contrasts with other “risk/reward” par 4s including the 5th hole, where hitting to the risk side of the fairway gives you a length advantage of 40-50 yards (if you hit a 25 yard wide fairway) compared against the safe route where you hit to a 45 yard wide fairway and the drivable par 4, 11th where the shortest route to the green is more fraught with trouble.I also agree with Keith Baxter’s comment that the riveted bunkers were perhaps incongruous with the general natural appearance and flow of the course and too numerous on occasion (possibly required for the course to host tournament play)After the round I had the privilege of spending 25 minutes with Clive Clark and General Manager David Scott. They explained the design philosophy in general terms as “interesting, entertaining with strategic choice”. We talked about the 17th hole and it was mentioned that this type of hole was designed specifically to ask questions towards the end of the round and the answer would be predicated on the state of the players’ scorecard or match. I get that but would maintain that the reward is not worth the risk. I appreciate other reviewers love the hole and maybe upon further plays, I would change my opinion.My comments on the 17th hole should not detract from what has been achieved by Clive Clark and the team of shapers here. The course is off the charts good with many “wow” moments. The green fee is high but you are getting a high end golfing experience so in that respect represents good value. I do not believe any course is "perfection" however I have given a 6 ball rating. In summary, a must play course.

Ranking of just inside the top 100 links is about correct although it is vulnerable to dropping out with Dumbarnie Links definitely and possibly others being included. It has a good mix of holes (notwithstanding the first 3 par 4s and 5s were palpably left to right). Particularly enjoyed the variety of the par 3s. Best non par 3 holes were the par 5, 6th hole which had a strong defence in front of the green, par 4, 7th which although dead straight was attractive, no frills, and the slight dog leg par 4, 14th where the green sat in a bowl with dunes both sides. Great views from the elevated par 3, 15th tee. Worth the trek to play Goswick

As mentioned a few times below, the 4 holes that are situated on the right of the dividing wall are not as exhilarating as holes 4 to 17 on the other side, however they are still good holes especially the downhill par 3, 3rd hole where you hit towards the sea and the last hole which is strong (430 yards), with the dune escarpment on the left, the clubhouse straight ahead and with the dividing wall all the way down the hole to the right. Best holes are the stretch from the excellent long attractive par 3, 10th hole at the far end of the course, through the next 4 par 4s, especially holes 11 and 12 which are both over 450 yards and hug the coast. The course would not be built today as health and safety would object to the proximity of holes and hitting areas. I loved the quirkiness but there was still a good golf course behind the idiosyncratic features. Well worth a trip.

I think it is close between Nos 1 and 2 in terms of quality and holes 4, 6, 13, 14 and 16 on the No 2 is as good as any hole on No 1. Hole 3 is not great but it is a way to navigate through the huge hill that Gullane is famous for before standing on the par 4, 4th hole and saying yes, welcome to the course. Good holes all the way to 17, which as with the parallel 3rd hole, is a means to get you down the hill. The finishing hole is a short par 4 (gentle finish), but it is what is; the hole is predicated on what the land gives. Thoroughly enjoyed the course (the stretch of 3 holes from 11 to 13 at the far end of the course provide a serene isolation and great golf holes). Top links fairways (firm), and smooth medium paced greens (perfect)

Decent track. Fairways were not the best (I met a Europro Tour player doing some prep work for the upcoming tournament at Leven, and he said "like the course but greens and fairways make things a bit down to chance. Liked the split fairways on first couple of holes. One pet peeve of mine is not seeing the green on a par 3 - in this case on the 7th, a huge gorse bush has been grown right in the line of the green from the tee about half way to the green, to such an extent that only the top of the flag is visible. I am not sure if this is the intention but ignoring this issue, the hole is very attractive. The 18th must be on the list of toughest finIshing holes in Scotland - 450 yard par 4 which a sizeable stream guarding the front of the green. Overall, I enjoyed the course.

Proper links (in comparison wth near neighbours Lundin and Leven, where there is also a parkland/heathland feel). Lots of quirkiness (which 8 love). Holes 11 to 13 are special, particular 13 where there is a magnificent escarpment as a backdrop to the green. One suggestion on what is a otherwise a wonderful golf course is that the excellent par 3, 11th is a better and certainly more scenic hole from Astro turf tee at the far left of the teeing area.

A wonderful mix of links and heathland with glorious purple heather animating the course in a number of areas. Always a fan of a gentle opening hole, to allow golfers to get into the round. Best part of the course are holes 6 to 14, which combine nice visuals and design with some interesting features such as the partially shared fairway for the magnificent consecutive holes 6 and 7 and small burns coming into play on 12 and 13. Worst hole was the ultra long par 3, 15th of 234 yards which was just dull and in contrast to the other par 3s which were top class. Course conditioning and presentation was flawless with greens running true. Thoroughly enjoyable experience.

A big golf course, built for the pros or very good amateurs. Greens were superb (kept their speed from the recent tour event). The land is similar to that used by the Castle course - where the Castle (a course I love), uses sandy waste areas and funky bunkering, the Torrance steadfastly retains its more austere approach ( its reward is that it has a tour event, the Castle won't). I added the Torrance to my itinerary at short notice but was able to play anytime between 1.15 pm and 5 pm on the day I played there were no other bookings that afternoon). I don't know if this was mainly down to Covid restrictions or whether word has spread that there are many better golf courses in the area, especially for golfers that are more recreational. I'm glad I played, not least as I hired a buggy and scooted round in 2 hours. It is also always interesting to play Tour courses. Standout holes were the par 5 3rd, with water on the right and a stream short of the green, the short risk and reward par 4, 7th, the downhill par 4,16th where the approach is towards the sea and the par3, 17th with sea on the left and an interesting green complex.

It has a feel that you are playing golf on a course "from olden times" and it is wonderful for it. As many reviewers have mentioned there is a sense of melancholy as a number of holes are subject to destruction through coastal erosion. Although the conditioning of the fairways was patchy the greens were superb and rolled true at a good pace. Some wonderful holes including par 3, 3rd which requires a carry over a dip in the dunes, the par 4, 9th which turns slightly right to left with a great fairway bunkering and the par 4, 17th which requires an approach to a raised green with some excellent contouring to the left of the green. I loved the course's charm - really glad I played it

An absolute treat and an underrated course. Wonderful dunescape with the elavation changes not too extreme. Good variety of par 4s, from the muscular 1, 9 and 18 (430 to 460), to 3, 4 and 10 around the 330 yard mark. I appreciate the 1st is flat and straight but I was looking more at the majestic dune on the second hole which made a wonderful backdrop to the tee shot on the 1st. Best view of the course is from the 14th white tees where you can see most of the course below. Although there are no sea views, you can hear the sea on every hole so feels very linksY. Lovely stretch of holes from 13 to 17 which have dunes on both sides which provides a sense of isolation. One tiny negative which is of course down to design preference. The par 3 5th hole plays from an elavated tee and is a decent mid / long iron down to the green. The issue is that there is a large hump/dune short left of the green which obscures half of the green. If the green was 20 yards to the right, you would see the whole green and the dune would remain in a prominent position ( but you would see more of the hole). The hole is called "The Hump", so I'm sure it is quite revered. Well worth a play and a course to add on to a number of high class neighbours

Decent golf course but some way off the Ailsa in terms of topography and visuals ( understandably ) so very much a second course. The part of the course where you could see the Ailsa (holes 8 to 10), happened to be the most memorable holes, particularly the par 4th 9th which features a ravine short left of the green and the par 3, 10th which is beautifully presented with a green complex that has brilliant bunkering on the slope in front of the green. A couple of general comments - 1/. Liked the sandy waste areas so wish there were more of them ( it adds some visual impetus and variety from the thick gorse that borders many of the holes ), and 2/. right to left dog legs dominated the orientation ( 7 of the 13 par 4s and 5s), contrasted with 2 that were fade biased. Just an observation, the holes were still good however. Having spent 5 hours playing the Ailsa, the 3 hours around the RTB was a welcome treat.

A wonderfully aesthetic golf course with good variety of holes and some of the best bunkering throughout the course both from a visual and strategic standpoint, I have experienced. Excellent set of par 3s of which the 10th hole (168 yards) I felt was the most impressive with greenside bunkers on the right side flowing from back right to front centre in a diagonal trajectory. Possibly some of the trees that have been deliberately planted in the last 30 years have grown to an extent that is detrimental to the course's heathland core. 2 design characteristics which are like that are relevant to the course is a straightforward opening hole (short par 4, which gets people off the tee and immediately in play), and views of the hole from the vast majority of the tees, this latter is achieved effectively notwithstanding the topography is generally quite undulating. All in all, the course can challenge some of the mid ranked Surrey courses and perhaps with a fair wind, could crack the top 100 in GB&I.

With the stunning views of the coast from a number of parts of the course it is easy to overlook what a very good golf course this is. Ok the first five holes do not have views of the sea but they are solid holes with a medium length dog leg left to right par 4, straight away medium length par 4, a brilliant sort par 4 which dog legs right to left, a long (450 yes) straight away par 4, from a raised tee box providing wonderful views of 7 or 8 other holesand the 5th is a gentle right to left par 5. The 6th hole runs along the cliff / coast is utterly gorgeous - it is also an excellent strong par 4 of 440 yards. There is a very clever design theme here as the long par 4s tend to be downhill and the short par 4 are invariably uphill. Yes it is undulating and there are some serious walks up to tees. The pay off in terms of scenery is well worth some lung busting walks ( especially on the back 9). The only 15th hole was literally the only hole on the course that I did not enjoy and this was only because it felt a little tight and claustrophobic which was slightly at odds with the rest of the course. Greens were excellent as is the firm turf on the fairways. This course is severely underrated and should be comfortably in the top 100 in England.

There is a wonderful serenity to this golfing experience which is utterly compelling. Firstly, this is essentially a 1 or 2 ball course (I noticed some foursome pairings on the course when I played), which does wonders for speed of play and (obviously), limits the numbers on the course. As such, I played my first 9 in just over the hour and the second 9 just under the hour and a half mark - very refreshing. I enjoyed the view of the majority of holes from the first tee and, as with St Andrews Old and the magnificent Oitavos on the Lisbon coast, holes share fairways. In my view, there is one relatively ordinary hole (the 2nd), which is a long straightaway par 3, whose only feature is a severe slope on the green, which attracts balls landing 15 yards in from the fringe. Ok it makes the hole "strong" but the general blandness of the hole was out of character. The greens are sensational, again probably as a consequence of reduced traffic. "Less is more" is the theme regarding the bunkering however they are strategically placed. It seems incongruous to talk about money when discussing RW&N but the green fee is extremely good value. Despite its inclusion in another rankings list, it is some way off a top 100 GB&I course. Notwithstanding that, it is a memorable golfing experience and a course I could play over and over again and enjoy it without diminution of enjoyment.

Although this is a solid course in its own right (redesigned in the 1930s by Colonel Hotchkin of Woodhall Spa fame), it is the location of the course which makes it an extra special golfing experience. It is built adjacent to the Newmarket horse race course and is completely surrounded by a training course known as the "Gallops". This wonderful quirkiness is epitomised by holes 7 and 15 which have their tees built the other side of the Gallops i.e. you drive over the Gallops horse track from a substantially raised tee which makes the holes interesting and providing views of the surrounding countryside. Both these holes are strong par 4s and would be excellent holes even without the spectacular drives. The white railings of the Gallops provides the perimeter to holes 6, 15 and 16 and is also visible on holes 2, 3, 13, 14 and 17.In addition to holes 7 and 15, other standout holes are:-1 - par 5 (524 yds) - drive requiring a carry of 150 yards over the Gallops with good bunkering all the way up the hole making the lay up less straightforward.6 - par 4 (401 yes) - relatively straight hole with the Gallops on the right and a row of trees placed to the left of the green.12 - par 3 (175 yds) - green surrounded by bunkers including a cavenous one in front of the green16 - par 4 (385 yds) - dog leg right to left with a bunker across the full width of the fairway.In summary, a thoroughly enjoyable course and worth a visit.

A number of reviewers have described Tenby as a natural or typical links course. In my view, it is on the margin of being a links course with at least half the holes with an inland look and feel (especially 15 to 17 which are located some way away from the coast). I played with a long standing member who was also of the opinion that it was on the cusp for a true links). The terrain was similar to Ashburnham, another hybrid course in south Wales. The sea is only visible from the 9th and 12th tees. Notwithstanding the above semantics, it is an honest track with some strong holes. Greens were excellent and as a whole worth a visit.

Wonderful fun golf course with drama throughout. Reminded me of the outstanding Carne course on Ireland's west coast. Yes it's quirky and the elevation at times is extreme and there are multiple blind shots both off the tee and on some approaches. Probably would never be built today but that's even more reason to cherish and embrace this interesting and wild links. Thoroughly deserving its status in the top 100 GB&I links

I agree with this website ranking the course just outside the top 100 in GB&I (other rankings have it inside). Good course no doubt and worth a visit. Outstanding last 5 holes which are both attractive and robust. The par 5 finishing hole is an absolute gem

Classic out and back course - played with the wind going out (lots of short irons and a reachable par 5), lots of long irons / fairway woods on the way back. Although Seacroft is universally categorised as a links course, much like Ashburnham in southern Wales, the sea is distant and the topography resembles both links and inland. Favourite hole is the par 4, 8th which hugs a road tight on the right with a spectacular large bunker / dune the aim point off the drive. Other excellent holes include the dog leg left to right par 4, 7th, the par 3, 10th which has a slightly raised and extraordinarily long green and the decent length par 4, finishing hole. Really enjoyed the course (the only negative was the poor condition of the fairways, which other reviewers have referenced).

A polarising course among the group of us who played. Personally, I thought is was understated, almost raw, completely unplugged and in many ways a refreshing contrast to more conditioned courses in the area. Admittedly I am a fan of the design team, which may have impacted my objectivity and admittedly, at times it seemed that a hole was no more than a green, a fairway and a solitary fairway bunker. However, the bunker was there for a solid strategic reason and it was always built as an attractive feature. Favourite holes were the par 4, 4th which required consideration of a bunker on the driver line but provided a double fairway, the par 4, 12th where a decision on carry distance off the tee with a creek / desert wash on the left which is very much in play for the majority of the hole and a solid, robust pair of finishing holes. The course as a whole offers different flow and orientations together with a variety of lengths. A substantial plus for me was the lack of houses on and around the site.

Of the 4 courses in the near vicinity, Obidos is on a par with Bom Successo and a big step behind West Cliffs and Praia del Rey. There is room off the tee which is a positive but the elevation changes and lushness of fairways make the experience a slog. It is a challenging course and one designed for tournament play. The front 9 is definitely more attractive and interesting with the back having a very American stadium course feel. The thing is though that to be fair, Seve did a good job in the design considering the land he had to utilise. If you have only one day in the area, play West Cliffs, if you have more time then add Praia to your schedule and if you have even more time in the area play West Cliffs again.

Absolutely what a parkland should be - trees well back from playing areas except when they are placed strategically on of near the fairway. Apart from Adare Manor, these are the best greens I have payed on this type of course (like a fast carpet). Very playable if you choose your tees wisely.

I wanted to play all the links courses within the top 100 GB&I list before ranking Dornoch (Dornoch was the 2nd course I played after the Old course). The website has Dornoch at 3 on the list and this would seem to synchronise with the vast majority of reviewers that have posted including one reviewer who has given Dornoch 6 balls on 4 occasions ! For what it's worth, my top 10 links courses in GB&I are the Old course, Royal County Down, Portrush, Trump Scotland, Portmarnock, Dornoch, Birkdale, Royal St George's, Doonbeg, Enniscrone. In summary Dornoch is undoubtedly special and if you are venturing that far north also play Brora, Castle Stuart and The Renaissance.

Very good parkland course with a good variety of holes. Standout holes are the 2 strong par 4s on the front 9, nos 4 and 6. Hole 13 should be on a worlds best 100 hole list. It is a par 4 of 461 from the whites playing downhill to a fairway that moves from left to right. You can hit over the dogleg but the fairway is unsighted on that line and a stream hat runs almost from the tee to the end of the fairway some 120 yards short of the green is in play on the right of the fairway. The vistas are stunning from the tee with colour being added by flowering bushes going down from the tee and lining the fairway on the left. Depending on how far you have hit your drive, a second shot to the green is in range or a lay up required - either way, a carry of 80 yards over water is needed. A mention of the 4 par 3s, which are probably the most scenic set I have played on an inland course - 2 are flat and 2 are played downhill (uphill par 3s where the green is not in view is not a design feature I support),. 3 of them feature water to some extent ranging from overwhelming (the 17th has water on 3 sides), to moderate (the 12th which cleverly uses a stream at the front and right of the green). My only negative comment is that after playing K Club yesterday which had all its par 3s dominated by water, another 3 today suggests a philosophy that in order to be "good", a par 3 requires a carry over water. I really enjoyed Druids Glen.

Better than the Duchess but a level below the Marquess. In my view Dukes is not a top 100 course and as the trees grow and the course gets more claustrophobic and therefore monotonous (the trees and vegetation unchecked will also affect the condition), it will be less enjoyable to play and reviews will be less favourable.

Water hazards obviously bring excitement to the game but too much of them make it tedious. Notwithstanding this, the K Club Palmer is a decent course with some excellent holes - par 4s, 7th, 9th and 15th. The well known par 5, 16th is a great hole and visually impressive. Apart from the 10th hole, the par 5s are strong and well designed. The par 3s all looked the same with water at the front of the green. I know pace of play is not necessarily the clubs fault but I have not seen so many novice golfers on a course at any one time (no-one minds novice golfers playing but it is frustrating when they mess about, take several balls off the tee, are not ready to play when it's their turn, and take more than 3 minutes to look for balls.). Taking to a member of staff, 5 hour plus rounds are normal (because the course is tough with numerous water hazards!). Unfortunately it does spoil the experience.

Comfortably the blandest of the 3 Woburn courses. Only tree lovers would describe Woburn Duchess as pretty as everything is green - tees, fairways, rough, greens and even the shockingly ugly weeds, bushes and other wild vegetation that inhabit the ground under the trees. No purple heather or yellow gorse bushes in sight ( probably not indigenous but it's just an illustration ). There are courses that are dominated by trees which accommodate more variety than just avenues of trees running just off the fairways. The condition of the course was not great either. Ok before anyone responds by saying why play Woburn Duchess if you don't like parkland. The reason is that some publications (inc Golf Monthly), are misguided enough to have the Duchess in their top 100 in GB&I list - and it was the last course on that particular list that I had to play.

The Marquess is comfortably the best course at Woburn. The differentiatior is that there is some space on a number of holes which gives a welcome let up from the very samey feel that the Dukes and Duchess have. The par 5, 7th is a truly majestic hole which actually was worth the green fee itself

Very little difference between Red and Blue, (Red shades it as there is more variety through its unusual configuration of 6 of each of par 3s, 4s and 5s.). In terms of which is the best 36 hole offering in the area (excluding Wentorth), I would say that both courses at Walton Heath and comfortably the 2 Sunningdale courses are superior. In saying that however, it is a lovely course and worth a trip.

We are blessed in GB&I that a course as good as St Anne's is not in the top 100. This is a proper links course, which although not containing any large dunes, has all the other criteria. Traditional parallel routing of course ensures that there is a balance of prevailing wind challenge. No weak holes on this course and my only negative comment (which illustrates a personal preference), is that water hazards ( except natural burns - of which St Anne's has many ), should be kept off links courses ( again, except if it isn't absolutely required for course maintenance purposes). The par 3, 10th hole has a decent sized pond in front of the green and just looks wrong. The best hole is the long par 4, 7th which combines length and great bunkering. Holes 11 to 16 are excellent as is the par 3, 17th which is medium length to a green surrounded by dunes. The 18th is a scenic and well designed par 4 of 400 yards which has some dune action from the tee to a double fairway. The greens were medium speed and in good condition. The location of St Anne's (and neighbouring Royal Dublin) on Bull Island has a magic quality and is a wonderful place to play golf.

There has been some discussion on the site about the authenticity of Seapoint's links claims. My view is that only holes 3, 4 and 5 are not links holes. As a result the vast majority of the holes are links with at least 6, firmly in dunescape. If the front 9 was as good as the back, Seapoint would be be in the 3rd quartile of the top 100 in GB&I. Holes 7, 8 and from 12 in are outstanding with the 18th up there with memorable finishing holes. This is a substantial golf course which tests your long game. The greens range from flat to moderate contouring, which personally is what greens should be (especially when the route to the greens are challenging). Good course which is definitely worth a play.

€25 to play this gem of a course is the best value I have come across. Yes it's quirky, yes it has some blind shots but it has one of the prettiest par 3s I have ever played (6th hole), which plays a wedge downhill, to a green surrounded by dunes on 3 sides with a glimpse of the sea in the background), and the par 4, 3rd hole (460 yards), which would not look out of place on a marquee links course. As it's a short course, you can get round in under 3 hours comfortably so please tag it on to a round at its neighbour, the excellent The Island course. Both courses boast impressive dunes and links land.

The scenery (sublime), can add so much to a course but it can also hinder. In this case, in order maximise the wonderful views, the course routing has to follow some topography which is not ideal and probably very challenging for every designer. Considering this limiter, Sir Nick managed to create a more than solid golf course. The land itself does not drain well so decent conditioning will be difficult to achieve on a regular basis. I have to mention the 5th hole as an example of the natural features conspiring against the golf course. This hole is a medium length par 3, which requires a carry over water (the green is 50% surrounded by water). It is a dramatic hole and one I was looking forward to playing. Unfortunately, the reeds in the water have grown so high that from the white tee, only the flag (not the flagstick below the flag) is visible. From the red tee, the flag was not visible at all so my playing partner was unable to play the hole. To balance the review, I should say that there were some excellent holes - par 5, 6th running on top of a ridge, par 4, 7th which is a downhill left to right hole towards the water of Lower Lough Erne, the strategic par 5, 9th, the risk and reward drivable par 4, 10th and the stunning par 5, 16th with wonderful views of the Castle Hume Lough. This is a course to play as the overall experience is excellent. Other rankings have Lough Erne in the top 100 in GB&I. My view is that this website is correct in not including it.

A very special place to play golf - the scenery can almost forget you have golf to play ! Despite being a short course, it is an excellent test as the greens are small and contoured. Clever design as the longest par 4s ( a couple are 450 yards + ) are played with the prevailing wind. Anyone thinking of playing the usual Waterville, Tralee, Ballybunion, Lahinch, Doonbeg rota should include Dooks on the list.

At €375 a green fee (and compulsory caddie), the experience should be high end and it is. The course conditioning was truly remarkable. There are many wonderful holes (especially 8, 9, 11 and the truly world class par 4, 13th). In addition the 18th will provide much drama in the Ryder Cup (hopefully more matches will go to the 18th than they did at Paris National). The greens are sublime (fast, true, contoured) and very challenging. I believe that it is a second shot course as the fairways give room and appear inviting. The course beats you up around the greens as the majority are raised to some extent. The run offs are shaved and are as good as most courses greens, making any pitch with loft requiring exemplar technique and nerve ! The percentage shot is a putter, but unlike the challenge Martin Kaymer overcame at Pinehurst in 2014, the grass on the run off areas at Adare Manor are different to the grass on the greens and although smooth, roll substantially slower. Therefore there is huge premium on hitting the greens which means ball striking will be key for the pros in 2026. As an experience, I am glad i played. Would I go back ? Probably not (the green complexes were too tough for me ).

Firstly, I enjoyed the course immensely. It is tough, with an excellent variety of holes both in terms of length and orientation. The greens are fast and pure. This is probably controversial, but the course is, in some ways, far from being a true links. I write this having read the many iterations of what determines a links golf course and while it does exhibit enough traits to be included in all the credible "links" lists, the following characteristics of Ashburnham cause it to err on the side of a "maritime heathland" - the existence of a substantial number of trees, large bushes etc, the prevelance of meadow grass, minimal views of the sea and not especially hard/fast running. As I say, it's a really good course, probably top 125.

L'expérience du sublime. Dinard is correlative with Pebble Beach and Old Head where the experience is so much more than the golf course in terms of the traditional ratings criteria such as design, challenge, variety of holes, condition/presentation etc. Yes, there are ordinary holes in the above terms but that is the trade off when the topography limits design options.Dinard is the 2nd oldest course in France and has experienced a number of iterations since the original routing was established in 1887. The Club is set amongst a sensitive natural environment and embraces ecology particularly with respect to the utilisation re-cycled water on the course which synthesises with an ethos of “just keeping the grass alive”. Understandably, the most pedestrian holes are located at the start of the course. Although decent enough holes with some challenge (first 3 holes are par 4s ranging from 370 to 460 yards) the 4th hole is probably the first hole of note. It is a severe dog leg par 5 which gives the long hitters an opportunity to cut off the dogleg on the drive and leave a medium / short iron ton to the green. The first moment to cherish is the tee shot to an infinity fairway on the par 4, 5th hole. After cresting the hill, the golfer is confronted with the maelstrom of sea, cliffs, coves, beaches and peninsulas which is truly mesmeric. The 6th hole is a par 4 which plays downhill into a valley before rising to the green. There are undulations on the fairway and swathes of rough comprising a high percentage of the landing area for the tee shot. This hole is celebrated in “The 500 World’s Greatest Golf Holes” book authored by George Peper, which is testament enough.The 7th hole is the first of two wonderful short (110 yards) par 3s (the other is the 17th) which represent the prototype for such holes – visually striking, flat small green and a challenging bunker complex.The 8th and 9th holes are attractive enough holes albeit fairly straight forward and act as the conduit of joining one headland to the next (much like the 9th hole at Cruden Bay). The 10th is a straight away par 4 with a blind second shot. The hole is augmented by a magnificent building located on one of the promontories that dominate the coastline. The 11th is a straightforward uphill orientated par 4 which hugs the coast. In my view that 12th can be included in any greatest hole conversation. It is a medium length par 3 whose green is semi blind from the tee and has a pronounced slope from left to right. Running down the right side of the hole, the cliffs are at its closest point to the course. The 13th is also a par 3 which is played from a tee situated on an old World War 2 concrete fortification to a green which is significantly uphill from the green.The 14th and 15th are short par 4s which are not particularly memorable and represent the consequence of the lack of usable terrain. Although relatively far from the coastline, the 16th is the best hole from a pure playing standpoint. It is 460 yards from the tips and moves to the right towards an uphill green with out of bounds on the right. It is both challenging and beautiful with some natural dune sculpting surrounding the back of the green and the strategic use of a small number of wind blasted pine trees. The closing hole is a straightway par 4 which takes you back to the clubhouse, which as you would expect has panoramic views of the course and coast. The staff are friendly and it was good to see golfers of all ages either on the course or practicing.As described, there are a number of ordinary holes and possibly too many “blind shot” holes. It is a short course at under 6000 yards with a par of 68 and only 1 par 5. I was lucky to play the course with a one club wind, which the members tell me is extremely rare. In conclusion, it was an absolute pleasure to play. In some ways the course at Dinard is the antithesis of Frenchness and could be described as “blue collar”. The location however is overwhelmingly “no collar”.<a href="/news-item/review-of-the-month-july-2019-dinard">Review of the Month July 2019</a>

A solid, tough, no nonsense rather utilitarian course with no histrionics. The Shore 9 has marginally more memorable holes ( 4,5,8 & 9), then the Dunes, ( 1,4 &9). Played Princes and Littlestone on consecutive days and feel that although Littlestone can boast the best hole of the 2 courses ( the 16th), the ranking is correct in my view and Princes (Shore / Dunes) is a better course overall.

Ranking is accurate; course is decent but with little wow ( flat topography and not close enough to the sea). I like the gentle opener as a design philosophy and the course has good variation. In terms of length and movement of holes. 16 ( long dog leg right to left par 4) and 17 (185 yard par three that plays downhill to a fabulous green complex) are outstanding holes that could grace one of the links monuments. Greens were excellent.

The Army GC is currently hosting the Hampshire County Championship at fairly short notice and proved to be a solid test for the County's best. The first hole is a short par 5, which although looking intimidating from the tee, has plenty of room at the landing area for drives. It's a straightforward, relatively easy start which is a good design feature for an opening hole. The next 2 holes are shortish par 4s which need to be taken advantage of as the 4th is a 450 yard dog leg right to left par 4 and the 5th a robust 220 yd par 3. The 6th is a long iron then wedge to a very slopey undulating green which is very tough but fair enough considering the length of hole. The approach is attractive with banking to the back and left of the green. Holes 7 to 9 are ok, perhaps only utilitarian. The back 9 is the pick of the nines in my view and starts with a very attractive strategic shortish par 4. The 11th (stroke 1) is fairly straightaway par 4 of 455 yards which is just a strong, superb, no nonsense hole. This hole with the 4 and 16 (more of this hole later), represents the variation and contrast to the cohort of short par 4s. The 12th is a dog leg left to right very gettable short par 5. Holes 13 and 14 are brilliant risk and reward short par 4s where the numerous little brooks and streams are used brilliantly as the "risk". The 14th has a stream 260 from the tee ( holes is 320) and further streams dominate the right side on the lay up at 200 yards. Brilliant design. Hole 15 is very attractive medium length par 4 which moves gently from right to left with more streams both short and right of the green. The 16th could be great, but is arguably unfair. Having observed first hand scratch ( and plus ) golfers trying to figure out how to play this hole was fascinating. The hole is a 435 par 4, which moves right to left, with trees very prominent on the left hand side at the dogleg. There is plenty of room right but any tee shot between 240 and 260 to the right will be blocked out by trees. Possibly the trees were not a factor when the course was constructed but they are an issue now. The only way of playing the hole in an orthodox way, with driver / 3 wood, requires exemplary accuracy as lthere is a 15 yard area where the green is accessible. There is more width (of course) further back but it leaves a 220 / 230 uphill approach. A couple of the big hitters went over the trees on the left which requires both supreme length and nerve, especially as you don't see the balls landing. I like quirky and every course should have tough holes on them but I would suggest that this hole is overly penal. The 17th is an excellent par 3 of 200 yards slightly downhill and the finishing hole a strong par 4 left to right with internal OB on the right. A couple of observations. Firstly, both playing the course and caddying in the counties, the course has grown on me to a level of fondness. Secondly, I don't think I've played a course where the choice of pin placements can have such a profound impact on how a course plays. It goes without saying that a tree lined course uses trees as it's overarching defence, however the Army has its greens fulfilling a similar role also.

This course is excellent apart from one aspect - a huge tree in the middle of the par 5, (560 yards) 17th hole. This in my view spoils what is a brilliantly designed hole that is sufficiently strategic not to need this gimmick. It is appreciated that the tree is the course's USP and I'm sure it was very quaint all those years ago when it was planted (or not chopped down!) and a much smaller obstacle. 8 of us (all single figures) played it a couple of weeks ago and the optimum lay up was a topped 3 iron, that went under and past the tree and just short of the pond that protects the front of the green complex. If they take the tree back to its smaller self, it would be a positive move. That said, El C, is a top Florida course, which we all thoroughly enjoyed.

Utterly mesmeric and staggeringly attractive. Very different from Blue and Red in respect of scenery and green complexes but similar to the older courses in terms of width off the tee. The generous fairways are a smart idea as it is eminently playable for everyone - the challenge is the approach shots. Yes the greens are ludicrous with many an occasion when a 3 putt is "par". I would recommend that if you play you play match play or a Texas scramble as the course is too wonderful to get frustrated by the greens. It is a big fun golf course. With regards to Streamsong as a resort, yes it is expensive but it is a high end experience. All 3 courses exhibit a true mix of holes in terms of length and orientation. It is worth at least 1 trip as it is a stunningly unique golfing experience. I love Bandon and I also love Streamsong (difficult to separate them). This was our group's (travelling from the Channel Islands (UK) second visit, we all want to make a third.

Is this the best course in the Algarve - yes. Is this the best course in Portugal - no. I would suggest that Oitavos Dunes and West Cliffs are better. I have played MR 3 times and it is a very good track with some wonderful holes 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13 (this is a special hole, especially from the tips, where you play through a valley to a slght downhill approach with mountains and a lake as a backdrop), and 16, 17 and 18 represent a strong finish. All the par 5s are brilliant holes One slight gripe which Top Reviewer Dan mentioned, is that there is a bias towards left to right shaped holes and whether by design or not, holes nos 1 and 10 are almost identical. That said there is enough land to have a wonderful sense of isolation with most holes invisible from others. Its not cheap (although we had a round of golf, free range balls, buggy and an excellent 3 course lunch for Euro 200) but the experience is high end. Pace of play was excellent and course quiet. Well worth at least 1 visit.

Honestly, Les Aisses is better than the 3 Ws. The design is sublime with no weak holes and containing excellent variation. The only aspect that was universal was the gorgeous outcrops of vivid purple heather evident on every hole. The bunker complexes look as if they have been there for years - so natural and well established. The fairways were firm and there was no sign of overwatering to sustain a parkland feel. Tees were well maintained and the greens were medium fast with a good covering of grass ensuring the ball ran smoothly. In summary, this is a brilliant heathland golf course. In terms of logistics, our group combined time at Les Aisses with a trip to Golf National which is approx. 90 miles north. Apart from the outstanding Les Bordes, there are no quality golf courses within 50 miles of Les Aisses and you could stretch this to 150 miles directly west.

I was part of a group of 4 looking for a game whilst travelling en route from Paris National to St Malo. Our local club pro (Sebastian at the Royal Jersey) had suggested SS as a fun, no frills course.There are 3 loops of 9 and we played the Riviere and Foret 9s. As the name suggests, water was a prominent feature on the River 9, no where more so than the par 5, 4th hole which required a 200 yard carry off the tee from the backs. Although there were 2 short par 4s on this 9, water was in play. The 2 par 5s were genuine 3 shotters and the 2 par 3s were 3 to 5 irons. There was also a par 4 of approximately 450 yards !The Forest 9 was our favourite 9 which included 2 magnificent par 5s that would not have looked out of place on more heralded courses. There was also a 210 yard par 3 and 4 par 4s between 380 and 410 yards. Although the course had a bit of a “scruffy” look it did not affect the playability. The greens were magnificent, very smooth and good pace and among the best Ive putted on. It was also terrific value - Euro 146 for 2 green fees and a buggy.In summary, SS is a solid course, which was more than enough challenge for 4 single figure handicap golfers.

I am sure that this was once a great golf course and deserving of its elevated ranking – sadly it is not now.As with many historic courses, the passing of time has changed the feel and look of the course and taken away that which made of them great. I love the routing / design but the trees have been allowed to encroach to the detriment of the both the playability and aesthetics. In some cases the tress have obscured a substantial part of the fairways, bunkers and some of the heather outcrops. It is with a heavy heart I write this as I love the old school feel and undoubted charm of the club and hope that it is purely economics that have deterred the necessary tree thinning rather than a series of misguided committees. This is a salutary lesson for clubs everywhere that trees need to be controlled in real time rather than being allowed to intervene over many years to such an extent that the task to clear becomes a disruptive and financially prohibitive exercise. The membership must look enviously at the work achieved at Morfontaine which surely has contributed to its newly acquired status of no 1 The topography (elevation changes and rocky outcrops) is stunning which makes the encroachment of downright ugly foliage even more egregious. This has manifested most significantly at the par 3 2nd, which is just a wonderful hole (if you could see it from the tee).There are some wonderful holes including the first which is a short par 4 where the green sits below a gorgeous rocky hill with trees on top. Other superb holes include:- the 4th (strong dogleg left to right par 4), the 5th, (a short par 4 with well constructed heather areas and bunker complexes and a well protected sloping green), the 10th (a long and beautiful par 3), the 12th (a short par 5, which seemingly uniquely has the fairway ceasing at 100 yards from the green and replaced by a waste area and a scattering of rocks and boulders). This is course that should be nowhere near the top 10 in Continental Europe. I have not played much in Europe but can suggest the following courses are more worthy - Les Bordes, Troia, West Cliffs, Praia Del Rey, Medoc Chateau, Oitavos, Vilamoura Old and Monte Rei. Sadly and frustratingly, Fontainebleu, could be better than all of them !

A course that clearly divides opinion ! I can see where some of the negative reviews generate from as the first 4 holes are bland - the par 5, 3rd hole is awful with trees encroaching everywhere. The course seems to be between genres in that it is described as parkland but the better areas of the course have a heathland feel such as holes 6. 7, 9, 10, 13 and 15. These are both the most aesthetically pleasing holes and the best designed (the 9th and 10th are top, top holes) . If I could play God for a moment, I would dispense with a couple of thousand trees and plant gorse / heather and go for a pure heathland look ( retain trees yes but keep them 50 yards from fairways). The design is good enough to support the change and it would then sit just below the Ws. It would take all the controversy out of the rankings debate. As it is, it is no better than a 4 ball and in some ways lucky to be on the top 100 list, especially when manifestly better courses such as Gailes, Parkstone, Sherwood Forest, Southerness, both Archerfields and Rosapenna (OTM) don't make the list.

The designer / architect has done a great job on what is tough topography and the design / flow is excellent. The understating nature of the course makes it a tough physical challenge and clubbing is difficult. There aren't enough strong holes to be considered top tier / top 100, and I don't believe it will ever breakthrough to its aspired level for that reason. There are however undeniably half a dozen very good holes, namely 7, 11, 13 and the finishing 3. In addition, No 14 is a beautiful par 3. The view from 12th tee is breathtaking.

In my view it is too highly ranked, with 20 courses lower ranked but better. Definitely not as good as the Kings, although a composite course would be the stuff of dreams, with the Queens offering the 6th, the world class 10th, 12th and possibly the 18th (against the wind when I played).

The rankings have it right, Murcar is not quite top 100 being a manifest level below those courses comprising 90 to 100. It's a decent course but feels tight and stifling. Too many blind shots for me (personal preference) and very undulating generally. Some top holes however such as the par 3, 5th and the wonderful par 4s, 7 and 13. A good course but no more than 4 balls in my view.

I very rarely question the rankings on the website but I am staggered that Skibo is at 84. I'm sorry but Today's Golfer has it spot on at 25. I've played over 90 of the top 100 and this course should be low first quartile or high 2nd. It seems also that my views are replicated by a number of others (with the notable exception of David Worley who rated the course 4 stars - bad day on the links David ?) - yes I know it's an opinion based assessment !!! I'm just surprised it's not rated higher considering the number of stellar reviews. It is a majestic golf course with memorable holes everywhere in fact all are ! Holes 7 and 8 are stunning consecutive duo set on the water. Water runs to the right of holes 11 to 15 then again on 17 and 18. Great variety also from a drivable par 4 17th to a near 500 yard par 4 - same with the par 3s. The par 4, 16th is, in my view the best hole on the course and would not look out of place on any of the links Monuments. The only slight negative (and I say that loosely as they are both superb holes) is that 11 and 12 are both par 4s that move left to right. The whole experience is worth the fee. In summary, I could happily play this course every day of the rest of my life.

While the Old course was its usual heaving self (even at 7 in the morning) we teed off at 7am and played millionaires golf. There was no one in front and the next group teed off at 8. Enjoyed a wonderful golf course in 2 hours, 40 minutes. This is a decent, fun golf course that has some seriously goood holes - 6, 8, 10 (best hole on the course), 15 and 16. It also features a 225 yard par 3 which also has a tough green complex. Course was in great condition with fairways tight and greens firm and smoooth. Definitely worthy of inclusion in the top 100 in UK. Pricey but that is the cost of playing any of the courses at "the home of golf" which seems to generally target the wealthier clientele that make the pilgrimage from overseas.

Brora is very very special. Played this morning on a hazy morning which added to the ethereal feel. There are few golf courses that can match this one in terms of natural basic golf. Secenery is raw and wild. The course is as good as the setting with great hole after great hole. It's not a long course so on a calm day is gettable. The view from the back of 17th tee towards the sea is one of the absolute highlights - 17 is one of the best holes I've played (downhill then uphill par 4 of 430). Absolute joy to play.

Last minute decision to play Moray today and so pleased I made the decision. Super track with great mixture of holes. Thoroughly deserving of top 100 status. The highlight is the drive off 18. The tee box is next to a stone wall and walls and houses follow you up the hole - very dramatic. A little like the closing holes at St A and North Berwick but the closing hole at Moray is far more challenging (uphill par 4 of 420). In summary, a real treat of a golf course.

This is a stunning golf course and yes, it may well boast the best opening hole in golf ! Interesting and fun but also tough. Short hitters will struggle as there are many carries off the tee to be negotiated. Good variety of holes in terms of length and the directional flow. There were a number of wow holes amongst the dunes. Only 2 "other" comments would be that all the fairways had a huge coverage of daisies on them which diminished the aesthetics. Also, the closing hole is perhaps on the bland side. Notwithstanding this, I absolutely loved the course.

I was a fan of DMcLK before, I am now a big fan ! He has used the land seamlessly and produced a natural, attractive routing. Most holes have walks between the green and the next hole's tee which gives a sense of isolation and serenity. It is a much "gentler" golf course than Mach. There are no weak holes (played off the white tees) and even the 2 short par 4s (1 and 4) require thought. Best holes for me were 2, 5 (a high quality par 3), 13 and 16 ( the view from the tee is sublime). The toughest hole is undoubtedly 17 (a 400 yard par 4 playing over a lateral water hazard at approx 90 yards from the green). I think, if he's honest, even Mr Doak would be impressed with this course ! Ps - very welcoming staff in the clubhouse added to the already wonderful experience.

Golf Monthly, noooooo ! How can the Machrie not be in your top 100 ? (Especially when the Belfry, Trevose, Staunton West and Tandridge are included) (I should say that all of these named are really good tracks - except the Belfry). This is a wonderful golf course on a brilliant site. It does have a new feel to it (understandably) and it that respect can be likened to a mini Trump Aberdeen. The lack of many bunkers is quirky and the large greens is some cases seem out of place. In saying that, the routing is outstanding with memorable hole after memorable hole. The best hole is the world class par 4, 13th (tough and beautiful). I was lucky enough to play today in sublime weather and play "millionaires" golf as only saw one other group on the course). I truly hope golfers make the pilgrimage to play the course so the renovation and investment is worthwhile. The views at the back of the 2nd and 4th holes, from the red and white marker post on the 5th fairway and from the 12th tee are worth the green fee alone. This is a golf course to experience and I urge golfers to make the trip to play it.

Excellent golf course which has to be close to the top 100 (albeit it is ultra competitive at that echelon). Like the gentle first few holes which ease you into the round (long iron, wedge). 3 and 4 are beautiful and strong par 4s. 5th is a top par 5 with an interesting green surround (banking on 3 of 4 sides). The par 3, 6th is a stunning short par 3. 8 to 10 are perhaps the weakest holes in terms of challenge but remain aesthetically pleasing. 11 is a brilliant par 4 and 12 is a tough 3. The closing stretch is strong culminating in a worthy last hole. Greens were very true and had plenty of grass on them. It is easy to acknowledge many previous reviews which have bannered the greens. Really good track with a good variety of holes.

Played on a sunny day with a 1 club wind (so feel fortunate!). Loved the tranquility of the golf course, with a quiet opening few holes with the mountainuous backdrop. There are some decent holes on the front but the true excellence is saved for the back. Agree with Jim M. that 11 to 14 are top quality. Everyone talks about 12, quite rightly, but 13 and 14 are better holes. Only the short par 5, 18th can be considered an "easy" hole, however having a reachable 5 as a finish is a routing philosophy I completely support. Overall, a really good, enjoyable golf course which is worth the drive.

This review is provided whilst ignoring the poor conditioning (shocking winter / spring) and based on aesthetics, design, shot making etc. In my view, the Addington is placed correctly in the rankings as it is a notch below the best in Surrey. In saying this however, it does have a world class hole (the 11th) which may not be everyone's choice. This is a wedge distance par 3 which is absolutely stunning (beautiful heather and bunker complex). It defines what a short par 3 should be in terms of design (narrow, well guarded green which has enough depth in order to provide different pin positions). I generally like quirky but am still undecided on the par 5, 12th. Although it is a short par 5 which by definition requires protection, I'm not convinced of the protection. The fairway runs out at about 250 of the tips where it drops severely downhill through gorse, heather and humps and hollows where balls can be lost - as such there no benefit of taking driver off the tee. So, a lay up at say 230 off the tee still leaves 260 which is a lay up for mortals. The green is tucked away on the left and is heavily protected, and there is a meagre area for a successful lay up. It could be argued that the optimum play may well have been 2 wedges from the top of the hill, which just seems wrong. Maybe this is the genius of the hole in that despite it being only 490 from the tips, it is a genuine 3 shotter. Genius or not,those golfers who hit the ball 180 off the tee will need to hit it another 170 to clear the heather etc, which is a very tough, and in my opinion, too penal an examination paper. In contrast, the par 5, 16th enables even medium hitters to have a go in 2, if they can leverage the slopes on the fairway towards the green. I "get" the brutal 230 yard par 3 which plays 15 yards shorter with the elevation change however it perhaps needs some tree pruning as it has a distinct claustrophobic feel, which is unnecessary for a hole of that length and severity (challenging green complex). Other notable holes are the 4th and 5th holes (strong par 4s), the par 4, 9th which features one of the iconic wooden bridges which connect the two areas of fairway and the 18th (430 yard par 4). In addition, the par 3s provided good variation (wedge to 3 wood). In summary, a very enjoyable course which feature some memorable holes

A solid, tough golf course which is no surprise as there are no par 5s and 6 par 4s over 420 and a further 3 over 400 off the whites. The best stretch of holes are 3 to 6 (sweeping right to left par 4, short but aesthetic par 3 and 2 more excellent par 4s). Other very good holes include 9, 11, 16 and 18. One slight "negative" comment is perhaps the lack of variety in the longer holes. Whereas there are at least 6 holes that are noticeable right to left doglegs there are no fade holes. The fairways and greens were nice and firm and the 2 pros were very engaging when I turned up. In summary, whilst it is not a "wow" golf course it is a very substantial course and anyone who can play off scratch here has my respect.

My thoughts replicate the majority view in that the 2 9s represent very different challenges and topography. The front 9 belies its age and has a very open feel to it which would suggest a modern layout that hasn't yet to fully matured. There are some decent holes (3, 4 and 9 (an excellent par 5) but no world beaters. The slight right to left dogleg par 4, 10th sets a robust tone for the back 9 and is best of the par 4s. The par 3, 13th is a world class par 3 that would not look out of place on any of the Surrey belt greats. The 14th is a par 4 of 475 yards played down a substantial elevation and is spectacular. There are large elevation changes on the final handful of holes (good variety of holes amongst the last half dozen including an excellent finishing hole). I agree with the rankings in that this is not a top 100 course but it remains worth a play. Lovely welcome at the club and excellent food and atmosphere in a traditional clubhouse

We stumbled across Bom Successor by accident when we were fogged off at Praia d'el Rey recently. The first impressions were not great as the only hole visible when driving in was the scruffy and bland par 3 , 10th hole. We persevered and were very glad we did. Once past the ordinary opening hole the course just got better and better. It's tough but also surprisingly captivating in parts. Great mixture of holes - from big par 4s of 450 yards plus to an almost drivable 4. Although the greens did not look great, they putted well and were smooth. The par 3s are strong with anything from 5 irons to rescues off the backs. The best hole is the par 5, 17th which is a classic risk and reward design but also beautiful. The finishing hole (par 4 of 440 yards) is just nuts and possibly too tough with a 100 foot drop to the fairway which left circa 200 yards in over 2 streams before the green. In summary, a really decent track which compliments a strong cohort in the area.

The hype has not been exaggerated - this is a staggeringly scenic golf course. Stand on the 16th tee and look towards the ocean and you feel privileged to be a golfer. The contrast of colours is breathtaking. In terms of playability, the 4s and 5s are generous while the 3s are tough. This may diverge from fellow reviewers comments but although the course can look narrow from the tee, invariably there is a wide fairway when you get there. The 3s are tough though very attractive. The pick may be the 16th which may have been inspired by the seismic 14th at Oitavos ( playing through dunes on both sides). One grumble may be that the green of the 5th is too extreme for the length of the hole. If you are on the wrong side of the pin, it is impossible to get within 15 feet of the hole (4 of us played, all single figures with a plus 1 player, and we all struggled )There are no weak holes on the course with standouts 4, 7, 13, 14 and 18. The 18th is just wow - even if you don't play from the tips, go to that tee and enjoy the view ! Having a beer in the clubhouse after, all of us said in unison, the 10th would be a brilliant opening hole. In summary, please play this golf course. Combine with Praia d'el Rey, Obidos with the sublime Oitavos and Penha Longa just an hour away, Lisbon is a top destination.

The rankings are absolutely correct in terms of ranking versus the Surrey courses (ex Sunningdale) and StGH is certainly a level above them, including Swinley, which is ranked 1 place higher. In terms of aesthetics, this course is on a par if not better than the 2 courses at Sunningdale. The gorgeous first hole with the tee shot from a elevated tee is a memorable way to start. It is tempting to go through hole by hole as StGH is that good with no weak holes. The set of par 3s offering both beauty and variation in length - wedge to 3 iron. The only slight downside is that, as a surprising hilly course, whilst the downhill vistas are extraordinary, what goes down must come up at some stage and there are a couple of holes where you cannot see much of the green and flag (I realize this a very personal view). Standout holes include:- 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 13 & 16. In summary, this is a seriously good golf course.

As my 100th review, I thought it would be an idea to review my home course - I will be as impartial as possible. The course has undergone some extensive changes in the last few years which has improved the aesthetics of the course. The changes have included some tree clearance (not enough), re-modelling of bunkers and the construction of new tees. The first 4 holes are the closest to the sea and are without doubt spectacular. The 1st hole is a short par 5 that hugs the sea wall. This hole enjoys three fairly unique features: 2 concrete bunkers built during the WW2 occupation, on the right side of the fairway at 200 yards and 375 yards off the tee respectively and a decent sized fort on the left side of the fairway running from 250 off the tee to 350 (these features are very much in play as the fairways touch these features). The combination of the bunkers, fort and the proximity of the beach on the right, provide a very memorable and intimidating start to the round. If the course had been built today, it is likely that the architect would use the natural focal point of the sea more and the green for the par 3, 2nd would have been closer to the sea wall and that the 580 yard par 5, 3rd, would have hugged the coastline a la 18th at Pebble and 12th at Kingsbarns, rather than meander down into a valley about 80 yards inland. Notwithstanding this, the 3rd hole is superb. There is a slight imbalance in the two nines, with the front 9 comprising 3 par 3s, 4s and 5s and the back 9, 7 par 4s and 2 par 3s. The back nine naturally players tougher. The 2 signature holes (for me) are the par 4, 11th, which is a medium length par 4 slight dogleg right to left which has the magnificent Gorey castle as a backdrop and the 17th which is a 400 yard par 4 which heads towards the fort on the 1st hole with the sea and French coast behind. Overall the course is short by modern standards (its 137 years old) but is tight especially when the wind blows. It is a true links with fast firm fairways and greens. It is a treat to play, as is the other main course on Jersey, La Moye, which is built on a spectacular cliff top. The 1st hole is sufficiently "wow" to be worth the green fee itself.

The Island of Jersey offers 2 excellent golf courses, the Royal Jersey, which is a traditional links course and La Moye which is cliff top course which combines links like terrain and more parkland holes. Much debate over which course is best, the fact is that they are both excellent and very different. Firstly La Moye. As befitting a course that used to host a European tour event and currently hosts a Senior tour event,it has decent length and the course can be stretched to circa 6900. The front 9, which includes the majority of the “inland” holes offers a good variety of holes, with the par 4th and 5th as the standouts. Standing on the 7th tee provides a breathtaking view of St Ouen’s bay, with a glimpse of sister island, Guernsey in the distance on a clear day. The back 9 offers a more traditional links offering with dunes evident and hard fast running fairways. The club have re-designed the 10th to 12th holes, which has improved the course. The new par 3, 12th is in my view the best par 3 in the Channel Islands and 1 of the best par 3s I have played. To the right of the 13th tee, you can gaze longingly at some stunning dunescape, which would have produced world class holes if it had been made available. The 17th is a long and beautiful par 4 which heads once more towards the sea. I am a member at the Royal Jersey but thoroughly enjoy my trips to the “dark side” to play La Moye. In my view, with a few tweeks here and there, La Moye is close to being a Top 100 course.

Lovely mixture of tree lined (first 3 holes) and links golf. Course opens up with the lovely par 3, 4th hole. Holes 5 and 6 have a more links feel before holes 7 to 11 are back to tree lined. The best stretch for me is 12 and home where apart from a line of trees to the right of 17 and 18, it is great links terrain. Holes 14 and 15 are outstanding holes, the best on the course. I notice that Fidra is on the cusp of Top 100 GB&I. That is a fair assessment

Walton Heath provides a 36 hole offering the equal to Sunningdale, including, in my view, minimal difference in quality between the 2 courses on the “resort”, including similar length off the whites. The New offers pretty much what the Old does but has a slightly more open feel to it, which I personally enjoy ie heathland vs parkland. World class holes include 3, 5, beautiful and tough, 9 (although the trees encroach on the eye line) 11 and 13. The finishing hole is also very strong.

If 18 holes at Palmares were on the beach (Praia 9), this would be comfortably in the World's top 100. Just stunning, stark proper links topography and terrain. In particular, you would struggle to find a more beautiful par 3 as the 3rd hole on the Praia 9. The inland holes are decent enough but the coastal holes are epic.

Stunning golf course and a step up from the 3Ws and both courses at the Berkshire. No weak holes, which is very unusual. The Club could not be more accommodating when I enquired about a green fee.

Mmm a very difficult review to write ! Played on a sunny breezy day. Absolutely loved the course and the experience, just great fun and to a certain extent eccentric. From a purists perspective, it is a good course – there are too many slight negatives to be a great course, such as 1/. No really “great” holes. There were some that were “great” off the tee, but lacked in some way thereafter eg 7th. Others had world class approaches but off blind tee shots eg 9, 14 and 17. 2/. 7 dogleg right to left holes against 1 slight left to right moving hole. 3/. The par 5 10th is not a good hole. With the severe slope from the tee and the fairway running out of room at 260, it is a 5 iron off the tee, and everyone is left with the same length shot for their second shot. In summary though, there is far more to love and enjoy (the views (6th fairway, 7th green and approach to 16 (wow), the quirkiness, variety of par 3s, the friendly welcome, proper links turf

Beautiful golf course, which in my view, as a guide is a touch better the 3Ws and they are seriously good courses. The par of 68 is tough with just the one par 5. As a consequence, naturally, there is less variety to the course – is there room to maybe convert a couple of par 4s into 5s ? Maybe the 11th, although the other holes that are closest to a par 5 length are magnificent holes. Standout holes 3, 4, 5, 7 (wow), 13, 14 & 16. The finishing 2 holes are as good a pair as I have played (85 of top 100).

Played the 3 Ws recently. Must admit to finding it difficult to choose between WH and Worplesdon but if I had to choose it would be WH as its par 3s are at a level higher than Worplesdon’s.The best holes include:- 3, 6, 8, 10 and 12 which is a great short par 4. The 14th is very tough which, notwithstanding what the course planner says, has to be played with a fade off the tee (as a right to left golfer, I could only hit an iron straight (ish), just before running out of fairway, leaving myself 220+ in – so a par 4 and a half. Obviously trees grow and this has caused some issue on this tee although if I could hit a fade, I would love the hole ! 15 in are the best holes on the course and 18 is a worthy finish.

Start is gentle, which is good and holes 2 and 3 are possibly the least scenic on the course. 4 is a super par 3, uphill and tough to hold the green. The back 9 is better than front in terms of strength of holes and visuals. The best stretch is 9 to 11. Hole 13 is best par 3 on the course, although apart from the 10th, the other 4 par 3s all play between 156 and 164 off the yellows, so a bit “samey”. Better than Woking, but less “pretty” than West Hill.

Having played the 3 Ws recently, my order of preference is West Hill, Worplesdon and Woking. My reasoning is that there at least 6 holes on Woking that have more of a tree dominated parkland feel (2, 3, 4, 9, 17, 18), rather than heathland which is my preference. So this order of preference is aesthically based rather than design etc. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and the 2 stretchs of holes (5 to 8) and (10 to 14) are superb. The 8th is as good a par 4 as Ive played (played 85 of top 100). A couple of other observations. 1/. Not sure of the 9th hole. Very tough and unless you can shape the ball right to left off the tee, the approach to the green which is severely uphill, will be in the 180 to 200 yard range. 2/. Perhaps some more trees can be removed as there is a claustrophobic feel on 12 (off the tee), 13, 14 and 15. 3/. The odd, out of character tree on the right side of the 13th fairway is most bizarre. It is completely out of character (much greener and lusher than the pines and firs) and spoils an otherwise brilliant hole. Was it planted nefariously or with permission of the club by some eccentric dignitary or patron ? Either way it is a shocker !

Was able to obtain a round at the New Zealand with a phone call an hour before the tee time. Club very hospitable and playing as a 1 ball was able to skate round in 2 hours 15 minutes, thanks to some friendly and accommodating members. A very good golf course but just a touch below the 3Ws, although it is marginal. The par of 68 is tough with just the one par 5. As a consequence, naturally, there is less variety to the course with 10 or so par 4s all of similar length. I absolutely recognise that there is a lack of land, as with most older inland courses, that prohibit converting a couple of the par 4s into par 5s. Very good variety of par 3s, with the 16th the toughest. The first is understated but a top start to the round, mixing length with width off the tee. The 2nd is the toughest hole on the course, being both long and narrow. In my view, the stretch of holes from 7 to 12 are the strength of the course. Have to admit that I am not keen on 17 and 18 which are a little too “parkland” for my taste. A spot just outside the top 100 is about right. Very much worth a play though.