The UK Top 100 - Green fee changes and top deals

Last year I wrote about the significant increase in green fee prices in the UK over the last 20 years, and questioned whether the lack of international visitors due to COVID would mean that clubs had to look again at their pricing structures. One year on, what has happened?

Well, let’s start with the question of green fees themselves. My hypothesis was that many domestic golfers just wouldn’t be willing to pay the high rates, so clubs would have to cut their prices to entice in those golfers to make up the lost international revenue. How naïve I was!

In fact, of the top 100 clubs, 60 of them have increased their green fees since last year - by an average of 9.8%. This is less a typical year would see though, in 2020 more than 90% increased their rates. Overall the cost of playing all of the top 100 has gone up 5.1% this year.

2021 GREEN FEE ANALYSIS (2).png

I have surveyed the top 100 courses in the UK where green fee play is possible (so no Loch Lomond etc) and for the first part of this analysis I have used the top rate - often the weekend charge.

There are a few new trends which should be noted this year.

Firstly, the biggest price hikes have come in the less high-profile clubs. The majority of the top-ranked courses have held their prices this year. This is probably because they are the ones that get the most international visitors and are therefore hurting the most.

However, the further down the list you go, the more increases you see. These courses are more likely to have a lot of member play meaning that they may not want too many visitors given the pressure on tee time availability. You get the impression that some of these courses don’t really want any visitors this year, but they’ll get every penny they can from those who do get through!

The highest risers are Brora (up 32% to £125), Southerness (up 29% to £90) and The Addington (up 25% to £125).

Another trend is the local discount. Kingsbarns started it a few years ago and it has really caught on, particularly in Scotland. Some places, like Castle Stuart and Dumbarnie, give discounts for Scottish players only, others like Prestwick and Brora include anyone from the UK.

Sometimes residency is enough, sometimes you need to be a member of a golf club. Panmure is an odd one. They have jacked the prices up by £40, to £145 a round, over the last 2 years but Scottish and English players get a discount. I wonder what the Welsh and Northern Irish did to upset them?!

Personally I think this approach isn’t great. It looks like clubs are fleecing tourists and that will leave a bad taste in the mouth. This was the model in Australia when I went there a few years ago, I didn’t like it then and I don’t like it now!

Another trend is of some clubs charging a lower rate per player depending on how many players there are. For example, take Gailes Links, on the Ayrshire coast. If you book an afternoon tee time for one player, it’s £100, book for four players and it’s £220. As someone who plays quite a lot of singles golf that does feel a little unfair. The argument would be that singles bring less revenue than a fourball but, from what I can see, the tee sheet has plenty of times available, so I’m not sure that holds up.

However, 38 courses have held the prices with last year and two have actually cut them. Congrats to Machrihanish Dunes and Moray for that!

There has also been a significant increase in the number of special deals, aimed at bringing golfers in at a good rate without dropping the headline price.

But be warned. 2022 is already looking like a year of record increases. Several high profile clubs have already announced big rises. The supply of St Andrews tee times will also be limited as the course is closed for 6 weeks before the Open and times will be more scarce than ever. Combine that with so much pent up demand from international players - particularly Americans - and expect green fees to continue their inexorable rise this year.

But, for now, here is a list of all the deals I could find for the top 100 courses in 2021. This could be the summer to get out there before normal business is resumed!

1. ROYAL COUNTY DOWN (click for my review)
Green fee - £280 (same as 2020)
No special deals

2. TRUMP TURNBERRY
2021 Green fee - £395 (same as 2020)
Special Deals - £199 per person for tee times after 3pm, until end June

3. ST ANDREWS - THE OLD COURSE
2021 Green fee - £195 (same as 2020)
Special Deals - The Old Tom packages give guaranteed availability on The Old Course along with a meal and gifts. From £450 pp.
Details here

4. MUIRFIELD
2021 Green fee - £285 (£15 more than 2020)
Special Deals until end June -
£195 for a fourball round per person or £285 per person for 1* fourball and 1* foursome
£250 for a round at Muirfield and a round at Goswick
Juniors with a handicap 18 or under play free
Details here

5. ROYAL PORTRUSH
2021 Green fee - £240 (same as 2020)
Special deal - £500 a fourball, for Golf Ireland members
Details here

6. ROYAL DORNOCH
2021 Green fee - £210 (£15 more than 2020)
Special deals -
25% discount for Scottish Golf Club members
Twilight rates available at £125
Details here

7. CARNOUSTIE
2021 Green fee - £270 (£18 more than 2020)
Special deals - 50% off for Angus residents

8. ROYAL BIRKDALE
2021 Green fee - £275 (same as 2020)
Special deals - Meal packages available

9. ROYAL ST GEORGE’S
2021 Green fee - £250 (same as 2020)
No special deals

10 & 11 SUNNINGDALE OLD AND NEW
2021 Green fee - £275 (same as 2020)
Special deals - Play both courses for £425
Details here

12. KINGSBARNS
2021 Green fee - £328 (£16 more than 2020)
Special deal - 50% off for Scottish Golf Members

13. ROYAL LYTHAM & ST ANNES
2021 Green fee - £280 (£15 more than 2020)
No special deals

14. WOODHALL SPA
2021 Green fee - £114 (£15 more than 2020)
Special deals -
£110 for England Golf members
Twilight rates available at £80
Details here

15. NORTH BERWICK
2021 Green fee £175 (£15 more than 2020)
Special deal -
£130 for Scottish Golf members
Twilight rates available at £105
Details here

16. TRUMP INTERNATIONAL
2021 Green fee £305 (£10 more than 2020)
£25 discount for UK residents

17. ROYAL TROON
2021 Green fee £260 (same as 2020)
No special deals

18. ROYAL LIVERPOOL
2021 Green fee £250 (same as 2020)
Special deal - £151 to play on one of three ‘Open Days’. Play the Open course, with breakfast, refreshments and gift
Details here

19. CASTLE STUART
2021 Green fee £235 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - £120 for Scottish golf members
Details here

20. WALTON HEATH (OLD)
2021 Green fee £220 (same as 2020)
No special deals

21. ROYAL PORTHCAWL
2021 Green fee £165 (£5 more than 2020)
Special deals -
Weekday green fee (£150) includes breakfast or lunch
Twilight rate is £105

22. ROYAL ABERDEEN
2021 Green fee £195 (same as 2020)
No special deals

23. ST GEORGE’S HILL
2021 Green fee £195 (£10 more than 2020)
No special deals

24. GANTON
2021 Green fee £150 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deals -
£100 with English golf county card
Twilight rate is £80

25. GLENEAGLES (KING’S)
2021 Green fee £200 (£60 more than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight fourball rates £120 pp after 3pm, £72.50 pp after 4pm
Details here

26. ST ENODOC
2021 Green fee £110 (same as 2020)
No special deals

27. CRUDEN BAY
2021 Green fee £160 (same as 2020)
No special deals

28. WESTERN GAILES
2021 Green fee £185 (same as 2020)
Special deals -
£125pp or £460 for a fourball for Scottish residents
£145pp or £530 for a fourball for residents of the rest of the UK
Details here

29. WEST SUSSEX
2021 Green fee £110 (same as 2020)
No special deals

30. CARNEGIE CLUB AT SKIBO
2021 Green fee £350 (same as 2020)

31. ALWOODLEY
2021 Green fee £125 (same as 2020)
Special deal - Stay Sunday night in a hotel and play Alwoodley and Moortown for £230

32. PRESTWICK
2021 Green fee £240 (£20 more than 2020)
Special deals - £145 weekdays, £160 weekends for UK residents
Details here

33. ROYAL CINQUE PORTS
2021 Green fee £175 (£5 more than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate is £110
Details here

34. DUMBARNIE LINKS
2021 Green fee £258 (£23 more than 2020)
Special deal - £125 for Scottish residents
Details here

35. FORMBY
2021 Green fee £205 (£20 more than 2020)
No special deals

36. BURNHAM AND BERROW
2021 Green fee £155 (same as 2020)
Special deals -
£80 with County Card, midweek after 2:30pm
£260 for 1 night in the dormy house, dinner, breakfast and 2 rounds of golf
Details here

37. SAUNTON EAST
2021 Green Fee £110 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - twilight rate £70
Details here

38. HOLINWELL (NOTTS)
2021 Green Fee £130 (same as 2020)
No special deals

39. ROYAL WEST NORFOLK
2021 Green Fee £130
No special deals

40. HILLSIDE
2021 Green Fee £220 (£10 more than 2020)
No special deals

41. THE BERKSHIRE (RED)
2021 Green Fee £250 (£20 more than 2020)
No special deals

42. NAIRN
2021 Green fee £190 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deals -
UK rate - £380 per fourball
Weekday twilight rate - £160
Play Nairn and Nairn Dunbar for £210
Details here

43. SILLOTH
2021 Green Fee £75 (£5 more than 2020)
No special deals

44. HANKLEY COMMON
2021 Green fee £130 (£5 more than 2020)
Special deals - County card £110

45. RYE
2021 Green Fee £175 (£15 more than 2020)
No special deals

46. THE MACHRIE
2021 Green fee £160
Special deals -
Golf Union: £90 per round, £115 per day.
Hotel Resident: £80 per round, £100 per day

47. MACHRIHANISH
2021 Green fee £75 (same as 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate is £45

48. WOKING
2021 Green Fee £130 (£10 more than 2020)
No special deals

49. HUNSTANTON
2021 Green Fee £110 (£10 more than 2020)
No special deals

50. GULLANE 1
2021 Green fee £210 (£15 more than 2021)
No special deals

51. GLENEAGLES - QUEEN’S
2021 Green fee £200 (£60 more than 2020)
Special deal -
Twilight fourball rate £120 pp after 3pm £72.50 pp after 4pm
Details here

52. ROYAL ST DAVID’S
2021 Green fee £95 (same as 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate is £45
Details here

53. MACHRIHANISH DUNES
2021 Green fee £75 (£35 cheaper than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate is £45
Details here

54. WORPLESDON
2021 Green fee £150 (£10 more than 2020)
No special deals

55. ST ANDREWS - NEW COURSE
2021 Green fee £90 (£5 more than 2020)
No special deals

56. SOUTHPORT & AINSDALE
2021 Green fee £180 (£15 more than 2020)
Special deals -
Twilight rate - £420 for a fourball after 3pm, weekdays.
£357 for 2 rounds of golf, one at S&A and one at Hillside including dinner, bed and breakfast

57. LIPHOOK
2021 Green fee £120 (£5 more than 2020)
Speical deals -
Twilight rate £70
Country Card £70
Details here

58. WEST LANCS
2021 Green fee £160 (£20 more than 2020)
No special deals

59. THE BERKSHIRE (BLUE)
2021 Green Fee £250 (£20 more than 2020)
No special deals

60. SAUNTON (WEST)
2021 Green Fee £110 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - twilight rate £70
Details here

61. ABERDOVEY
2021 Green fee £70 (£5 more than 2020)
Special deal - £55 after 2PM

62. MOORTOWN
2021 Green fee £115 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - Stay Sunday night in a hotel and play Alwoodley and Moortown for £230

63. PRINCES
2021 Green Fee £120 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - various accommodation offers including 2 rounds of golf, accommodation, dinner and breakfast from £220
Details here

64. PENNARD
2021 Green Fee £85 (same as 2020)
No special deals

65. WALTON HEATH (NEW)
2021 Green fee £220 (same as 2020)
No special deals

66. WEST HILL
2021 Green fee £140 (£15 more than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate £90
Details here

67. CASTLE COURSE - ST ANDREWS
2021 Green fee £125 (
No special deal

68. ROYAL NORTH DEVON
2021 Green fee £75 (same as 2020)
Twilight rate - £35
Details here

69. PARKSTONE
2021 Green fee £125 (£15 more than 2020)
No special deal

70. BROADSTONE
2021 Green fee £105 (same as 2020)
No special deal

71. MORAY (OLD)
2021 Green fee £95 (£25 lower than 2020)
Special deal - Sunrise and twilight rate £80 pp or £320 for a fourball

72 & 73 - WOBURN DUKE’S AND MARQUESS
2021 Green fee £195 (£16 higher than 2020)
No special deals

74. ALDEBURGH
2021 Green fee £150 (same as 2020)
Special deals -
£100 after 3pm
£100 County Card after 11am
Details here

75. SHERWOOD FOREST
2021 Green fee £100 (same as 2020)
Special deal - May offer - £70 after 1pm including light lunch and range balls
Details here

76. BLAIRGOWRIE (ROSEMOUNT)
2021 Green fee £95 (same as 2020)
Special deal - Pre-twilight rate £70, twilight rate £50
Details here

77. ROYAL WORLINGTON AND NEWMARKET
2021 Green fee £90 (same as 2020)
Special deals -
Twlight rate £37.50
County Card £65
Details here

78. ROYAL ASHDOWN
2021 Green fee £99 (same as 2020)
No special deals

79. FERNDOWN
2021 Green fee £140 (£20 higher than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate £70
Details here

80. TREVOSE
2021 Green fee £85 (£6 more than 2020)
No special deals

81. HINDHEAD
2021 Green fee £140 (£25 more than 2020)
No special deals

82. ELIE
2021 Green fee £130 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rate £55

83. SOUTHERNESS
2021 Green fee £90 (£20 more than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight deal £60

84. PANMURE
2021 Green fee £145 (£20 more than 2020)
Special deal - Scottish/English golf members £125

85. LITTLE ASTON
2021 Green fee £115

86. BRORA
2021 Green fee £125 (£30 more than 2020)
Special deals -
UK residents £95
Twilight rate £55
Details here

87. DUNDONALD
2021 Green fee £160 (£10 more than 2020)
Special deal - Scottish resident fee £95
Details here

88. GAILES LINKS
2021 Green fee £100 (same as 2020)
Special deal - Fourballs £75 per person or £55 weekday afternoons
Details here

89. THE GROVE
2021 Green fee £179 (£20 more than 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rates Monday - Wednesday £99, Thursday - Sunday £115

90. WOBURN (DUCHESS)
2021 Green fee £195 (£16 higher than 2020)
No special deal

91. BEAU DESERT
2021 Green fee £95 (£5 higher than 2020)
Special deal - £80 if playing in a fourball

92. DELAMERE FOREST
2021 Green fee £100 (£10 higher than 2020)
Special deals -
Twilight rate £50 weekday, £60 weekend
County card £50 weekdays

93. MURCAR LINKS
2021 Green fee £150 (£10 higher than 2020)
Special deal - £151 for midweek round at Murcar and Newburgh-on-Ythan

94. DUNBAR
2021 Green fee £125 (same as 2020)
Special deal - Twilight rates from £70 - £100

95. THE BELFRY (BRABAZON)
2021 Green fee £175 (£10 higher than 2020)
Special deal - Some hotel deals

96. THE ADDINGTON
2021 Green fee £125 (£25 higher than 2020)
No special deals

97. CASTLETOWN
2021 Green fee £80 (same as 2020)
No special deals

98. CLOSE HOUSE
2021 Green fee £200 (same as 2020)
Special deal - 1 night accommodation, dinner, B&B and 2 rounds of golf for £225
Details here

99. LUFFNESS
2021 Green fee £145 (£25 more than 2020)
No special deals

100. DUKE’S ST ANDREWS
2021 Green fee £125 (£25 more than 2020)
Special deal - Scottish residents £75
Details Here

The Golf World Top 100 Golf Courses in GB & Ireland under £60

Top 100 under 60 image.jpg

Over the last few years I’ve shared and analysed plenty of the top 100 course lists. I have drooled over the top course rankings in Scotland, Europe, the UK and the world. But one frequent comment from readers is that, because of cost, many of these golf courses are simply out of their reach, so the lists aren’t particularly relevant for them. This hasn’t been helped by the recent green fee hyperinflation at the top end of the market in Great Britan and Ireland.

Whenever the issue of rising costs for green fees comes up on Twitter you get a bunch of people, often in the business themselves, who come out in defence of the incredible green fees. The arguments normally go like this:

  1. Hang on a minute, at least you can play all the top courses in the UK. You can’t do that in American you know.

  2. You can’t play tennis on Centre Court at Wimbledon or football at Wembley, so stop moaning.

  3. Golf courses have to make money too, they’re not charities! And they can’t keep them in such pristine condition, and put in new back tees, without increasing green fees.

  4. Why don’t you play with a member or in an Open Competition? Only fools pay the full rate.

  5. There’s plenty of value just outside the very top courses, play them instead.

To be honest, depending on the mood I’m in, I sometimes agree with one or more of these points and sometimes I don’t! The last point is worth thinking about though, which is why I was delighted to see that Golf World/Today’s golfer have just launched a list of the top 100 courses in GB and Ireland where you can play for £60 and under. Public service journalism at its best!

As always, I will urge you to go out and buy the magazine. It has nice little write-ups on each course and more green fee information. They have also put it up online so you can see all the details here.

The criteria for inclusion in the list is pretty straightforward. The green fee needed to be generally available on a weekday in the summer. So it excluded twilight rates or ‘specials’ only available once in a blue moon. Some of the courses will cost a bit more at weekends, but not all of them, and often not that much more.

What results is a pretty impressive list. However, when you scratch under the surface some interesting stories emerge.

Top 100 under 60 image.jpg

FOR THE BEST VALUE - HEAD TO WALES!
The value to be found in Wales is just incredible, there are 17 Welsh courses featured here. Golf World recently published its list of the Top 50 courses in Wales and, incredibly, 38 of the top 50 cost £60 or less to play! None of the other countries is anywhere close. Wales is a really untapped area for golf trips. There’s a great variety of courses and some lovely villages and towns to discover on the way.

AND FOR WORST VALUE? THE EMERALD ISLE…
There are only 7 courses from the island of Ireland on this list - quality golf appears to be a rich man’s game in those parts. If you have a trip to Ireland planned, you will either need a large budget or be willing to compromise on the quality of the courses you play.

IN ENGLAND, YOU’RE NEVER FAR FROM A VALUE COURSE
England really shines on this list. That’s probably not a huge surprise given the relative size of the population and country but it does mean that there is good value to be had wherever you are. You are never further than just a few miles from a top 100 course, wherever you are in England.

IT’S A GOOD LIST - BUT IT COULD BE BETTER
I think there are some startling omissions from this list and just a few years ago the list would have been much stronger.

Fewer than a third of Scotland’s top 100 courses are included here - only 6 of the top 50. And most of those are really remote. I think that’s a shame and some of the courses could take a different approach to pricing.

Here’s an example. If you are going to the Highlands to play the big beasts of Royal Dornoch and Caslte Stuart you might realistically expect to play some of the courses in the surrounding area for £60 or under. But here’s what you’ll find - Brora £125, Tain £70, Golspie £80, Fortrose & Rosemarkie £70. I know there are various deals to be had if you are flexible but many people will simply look at the clubs’ websites and make up their minds.

And I could do the same for pretty much any other area in the country - last year, I was amazed to see that a midweek round at Murcar was going to cost me £130. I passed.

HOWEVER, THE DEPTH IN QUALITY IS EXCELLENT…..
You may not recognise some of the names on this list but the depth is really fantastic. Play at any and you are pretty much guaranteed to enjoy a great course. The lowest ranked on the list that I have played is Dunstaburgh Castle in position 95. It’s a belter, and the fact that there are 94 better courses in the UK for £60 or under is pretty amazing.

Believe it or not, there has been a rather disturbing trend in recent years for some courses to increase their green fee to attract visitors! The idea being that people will think, ‘if it’s that expensive it must be really good’. The courses on this list have forsaken such gimmickry - the average green fee of the 100 on the list is just £43!

Overseas holidays will probably be few and far between this year and that means that those of us based in the UK and Ireland will have more time to explore our domestic courses. This list gives a fantastic reference guide and I’ll definitely be keeping it close to hand.

The story behind The Golf Course Map of Scotland

IF YOU JUST WANT TO BUY A MAP, WITHOUT READING THE STORY, THEN CLICK HERE!

If you had told me a year ago that I would be trying to sell golf maps at a tenner a pop I would have wondered what on earth you were talking about. But, thanks to an idle tweet one lockdown Saturday morning, I have ended up doing just that.

It quickly became clear that a foreign summer holiday would be unlikely for my family in 2020. So, instead, when restrictions were eased, we decided to take a fortnight’s motorhome tour around Scotland. As part of the planning, I tweeted a request for inspiration on where to go:

Twitter original map post.jpg

Plenty of helpful suggestions followed (thanks to all!) and I had this exchange -

Tweet with John Drake.jpg

John was right that there was no map showing all the golf courses in Scotland. Collins had produced one but it has been out of print for a few years.

As we travelled around a slightly damp Scotland in our motorhome I found myself using the campsite map a lot, replotting our route in an attempt to escape the rain. I don’t remember the last time I had a physical map in my hands, but it was really useful to lay out out the map on the table to discuss our panic rerouting with my wife and kids.

The tweet from @drakeydistiller came back to me and I realised that a map which showed all the Scottish golf courses would be really useful. Of course, I knew where all the big names were, but Scotland has a golf course around every corner, and being able to see them in one place would be helpful.

I think we can all agree that 2020 was a fairly dull year, and the combination of the lockdown and a winding-down job meant I had plenty of time on my hands. I’m also the kind of person who likes a project, so I set about seeing what it would take to publish a map of every golf course in Scotland.

I really liked the campsite map I’d been using on holiday so I sent an email to the company who had produced them - Nicolson Maps. I quickly got a positive response and they put me in touch with the head cartographer, Val, who explained to me what producing a map would entail.

Val is a master of her art and proved to be an absolute godsend, She patiently took me through the process of producing a map. The first step was identifying all of the golf courses in Scotland. That would be an easy one, wouldn’t it? There would surely be a list somewhere. Ah…

My requests to Scottish Golf fell on deaf ears. In fairness, they were trying to roll out the World Golf Handicap system at the time so I wasn’t high up their ‘to do’ list. Visit Scotland had an online brochure which I could have printed out but I heard rumblings that it didn’t include all the courses, and it wasn’t in the most user-friendly format for my needs.

But then I came across a website - http://scottishgolfcourses-allofthem.blogspot.com/ - which chronicled the attempts of keen Scottish golfer Alan McPherson to play every course in Scotland. Here was a man clearly obsessed with Scottish golf and he seemed like he might be the man I was looking for. Within an hour of an email, Alan was in touch and was incredibly helpful. He had a comprehensive list of every place in Scotland where golf was played.

As of last November, Alan had played at 674 places - he is trying to play anywhere that has fixed tees and greens, including pitch and putt courses and those on private land. It’s quite an endeavour and luckily for me he had a very detailed spreadsheet - by far the most comprehensive list I had found.

The next stage was to go through every one of the courses on Alan’s list to see whether they should make the cut for the final map. Quite a few had closed since Alan had played, so that was an easy decision. Others were courses played only by the owners of private estates. Alan had managed to get onto these as part of a charity quest but they weren’t looking for anyone else to visit so I excluded them too.

There were others which you could debate. Asta has 9 holes that can be played both clockwise and anti-clockwise. Alan had rightly taken it to be two courses. For the purpose of my map, it was just one.

Through a combination of web research, emails and phone calls I whittled the list down to 569 courses. There may still be a few questionable ones included - for example I have shown the North Berwick and Gullane kids’ courses for personal, sentimental reasons. I am sure I will receive feedback on some of my choices for inclusion (or exclusion) and the second edition may require some edits!

The next part of the process was a little unexpected. Val sent me a large scale map of Scotland for me to plot the courses on. This took a few days of research, Google maps was hit hard and a very fine pen was needed. There are some areas of Scotland with very tightly packed golf courses! I realised this was going to be an iterative process.

I had decided early on that I wanted the names of the courses on the map, rather than some kind of numbering index system, to make it more user-friendly. I also realised I didn’t need to put in full contact details for the courses - these days everyone can Google the details they need once the map has provided the inspiration. I also wanted the top 100 courses to be highlighted.

When Val received my scribblings she plotted them onto the digital map. There was clearly going to be an issue in the central belt of Scotland - around Glasgow and Edinburgh. There are a lot of courses in these areas meaning some creativity was needed to fit them all in. We managed to acheive this with a combination of two insets and some font size chicanery.

I was quite keen to include a journey time guide - so if you were trying to get from Troon to Dornoch in a day you would know what you were letting yourself in for! A couple of hours on Google maps was time well spent and Val produced a lovely looking table that sits at the side of the map.

You probably won’t be too interested in the mechanics of the printing process, distribution and pricing strategy. Luckily for me, lots of people have been generous with their time and have pointed me in the right direction - a big thanks to them!

And so, one bright morning at the end of February a cheery man from Glasgow turned up with a lot of boxes containing fresh new copies of The Golf Course Map of Scotland.

I’m really pleased with the way it’s turned out. I hope people will find it helpful when planning a trip to Scotland. You can buy a copy from me here. Postage and packing to the UK is free, and only £3 to the rest of the world!

So thanks to @drakeydistiller for the Tweet. I hope you’re happy with your map!

A Golf Trip to England's Golf Coast

IN A NUTSHELL

From Hoylake in the south to Lytham in the north, England’s Golf Coast has some tremendous golf to enjoy. There is also a vibrant nightlife for those looking for fun off the golf course - and if you are worried about driving with a hangover, don’t! You can travel between most courses on the train!

The 18th at West Lancs from the clubhouse terrace

The 18th at West Lancs from the clubhouse terrace

COURSES TO PLAY

You may well be attracted to the area by the three Open Championship courses. And, while you may be tempted to play all three on one trip, it’s more likely that logistics (and budgets) will mean you are best substituting one or more of the other courses in the region. Either way, expect to spend the cash wherever you play - the high quality golf in these parts comes at a price.

Royal Birkdale
Conventional wisdom says that Royal Birkdale fights it out with Royal St George’s for England’s best links golf course. For me, Birkdale takes the title. Its setting, among towering dunes, is magnificent and I have no problem with the flat fairways that sit between them. Some complain that it is just a bit too straightforward with hardly a blind shot or bad bounce to be found. While I love a quirky course, the sheer brilliance of the setting and the quality of the layout makes Birkdale a must play.

Birkdale is also really well located for ‘adding on’ other courses in the area. It just outside Southport where you will find Formby, West Lancs and others all within a 15 minute drive.

Royal Liverpool (Hoylake)
I am a big fan of Hoylake. It’s one of the least well-known Open rota courses but I have only fond memories of my round here. The welcome in the clubhouse was really warm, which is always a good start. They seemed genuinely pleased to have us visit and went out of their way to make sure we had a good day.

The course may not have as many of the stand-out holes as others on the rota, but it is a strong test all the way around. The bunkering is very clever (not overly done but definitely best avoided) and if there’s any kind of breeze expect it to be a factor due to the open nature of the course. Nonetheless, I found Hoylake more playable than some of the other Open courses.

There have been a host of changes in recent years, including a new par 3 17th hole, which means a return trip is pretty much top of my list for when I’m next in the area. There are some special Open days this year - you can play the venue of the 151st Open, on the Open Chapionship routing, for £151 including range balls, breakfast, halfway refreshments and a momento. That’s a cracking deal!

Royal Lytham
If you are looking for the ultimate trip to England’s Golf Coast then a round at Royal Lytham will be high on your agenda. But, don’t expect an easy test. Whereas I found Hoylake playable and an unexpected joy, I found Lytham a little more of a slog.

It may be that I am just not a good enough golfer to get much pleasure from Lytham. When I played, the rough was incredibly punishing and the 200+ bunkers were enough to drive a mid-handicap golfer like me crazy.

If you decide to play the course for interest rather than to obsess about your score you are far more likely to enjoy the Lytham experience. For the history alone it’s worth the trip. It’s another welcoming place, and cheaper than most other Open rota courses. You get a green fee discount if you stay at the well-priced, and impressive, dormy accommodation on site.

Formby
While most of the golf in the area is pure links, Formby offers something a little different, a kind of links/heathland hybrid. Established pine trees frame several holes and the ground has a little more give than you will find on the more traditional links courses. It’s a really good test of golf and would be at the top of the ‘second tier’ of courses to add to a trip to the area.

They are also set up very well for visitors. There is usually good availablity of tee times, open to guests 7 days a week and it’s another place with a dormy house on site.

Formby Ladies
There is a separate ladies’ club at Formby - a 5,300 yard course that sits inside the main Formby course. Like it’s sibling, expect pine trees and dunes as well as that wonderful turf. It may have plenty of short holes but accuracy will be needed to score. Well worth adding to a trip if you are looking for something a bit different!

Hillside
Top golf courses come thick and fast in this part of the world. Hillside adjoins Royal Birkdale, with Southport & Aindsale just the other side of the railway line. I’m yet to play Hillside but its reputation means it's high up the list of courses in the area that I want to see.

It is a course that has been content to fly under the radar for many years but it got a lot of exposure when it hosted the 2019 British Masters. The course was fantastically presented for that event, though apparently that is the norm at Hillside. It is often said that the back 9 here is among the very best stretches of holes in the country.

It’s traditionally been a harder tee time to get, and there is no online booking, but play is possible 7 days a week now. A tee time is expensive but the day rate is worth looking at, giving you a second round for only an extra £30.

West Lancs
I played West Lancs for the first time last year and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I’d been looking forward to it since Chris Solomon from No Laying Up had told me it was one of his favourite courses, and it didn’t disappoint.

There is something pretty special about the club and course. It’s an old-fashioned, high quality links test. The green complexes are really a joy to explore and the conditioning was fantastic. It’s no pushover, especially if you are too adventurous from the tee, but you can score here. The welcome I got from both the staff and members was as good as I have had anywhere and for me this is a must play for anyone exploring England’s Golf Coast.

Wallasey
Wallasey is famed as the place where Stableford scoring was invented - that great game that allows you to scratch a hole if you are having a bit of a nightmare without doing too much damage to your scorecard. That should give you a bit of a clue as to what to expect from a round at Wallasey. The he rough can be punishing and, if you’re not on your game, you may get through a few balls!

The course provides a good mix of holes in impressive dunes as well as more open holes in the middle of the property. There are some real stand-out holes, the 4th and 11th come to mind and it has a strong finish. Just make sure you save some balls for the end!

Southport & Ainsdale
Getting the right mix of big brutes and more playable courses is key to making a golf trip a success. Southport & Ainsdale is in the latter category but shouldn’t be overlooked when planning your itinerary. It’s located close to Birkdale and Hillside, so perfect if you are looking for a 36 hole day.

You’ll find a links with some heathland characteristics here. Oh, and a lot of sand. James Braid liked a bunker and, while not quite at Lytham levels, you will find plenty to deal with here.

WHERE TO STAY
A lot of this will depend on what kind of trip you are looking for and which courses you have got lined up. However, it’s worth saying that you don’t actually need a car to get between most of these courses as they are pretty much all just a short walk from a railway station. This brings a new dimension to a trip.

There are two main options when choosing where to base yourself. If you are looking for a really buzzing nightlife or good dining then you may be drawn to Liverpool. If you haven’t been to the city for a while you may be pleasantly suprised by the development in recent years. You’ll probably gravitate to Castle Street where you’ll find plenty of options for pubs and restaurants.

Accomodation wise, at the budget end you will find plenty of Premier Inn and Travel Lodge options. If you are looking at something a bit more upmarket then have a look at the football themed Dixie Dean or somewhat bling like Signature Living. In fact, even if you aren’t looking to stay there, have a look at the rooms in the Signature Living just to see what is available - including a party room where all 20 of you are in one basement room with swimming pool. The horror!!

Liverpool is handy for Hoylake but it will take you about an hour to get up to Birkdale and Hillside, with West Lancs and Formby on the way. So if you are majoring on these courses and happy to have a slightly more sedate nightlife then Southport may be a better bet. It’s quite an ‘old school, seaside resort’ type of place. Pleasant enough, just don’t expect anything as riotous as Blackpool.

Beyond the ubiquitous Premier Inn there aren’t really any chain hotels in Southport, rather lots of guest houses and B&Bs. Tripadvisor should point you in the right direction. The Vincent and Bliss hotels are both slightly higher-end local hotels if that’s what you’re after.

Lytham sits away from the main Golf Coast stretch, it’s an hour’s drive as you need head inland to Preston before going back to the coast. If you are looking stay up that way then the Dormy House at Royal Lytham is well worth considering. I’ve not stayed there myself but have heard great things from those who have. You are just a short drive to Blackpool if you are in Lytham where there are all kinds of accommodation options and diversions on offer.

CLIMATE
The north west of England may not be known for its Mediterranean climate but you shouldn’t let that put you off too much. It’s actually not significantly wetter than the east of the country - go in April on May and there’s only a 1 in 3 chance you’ll get wet!

Weather statistics for Crosby. Source - Met Office

Weather statistics for Crosby. Source - Met Office

HOW TO GET THERE
There are good train links from pretty much everywhere to Liverpool - Birminghan is 2 hours, London 2.5 hours, Newcastle 3 hours, Edinburgh 3.5 hours. Lytham is a bit harder to get to but the coastal train will take you between all the other courses which makes the rail option really doable. It’s unusual to be able to travel between courses on the train so worth taking advantage of.

Liverpool John Lennon airport has historically had good connections too, we will have to see what routes go back on in the post-covid world.

NEXT TIME - The Ayrshire Coast

PREVIOUS TRIPS -
East Lothian
North Norfolk
South Wales
Kent Coast

Imagine if professional golf was entertaining every week!

I’m really looking forward to the last round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. This event has captured golf Twitter’s imagination unlike any regular PGA event this season. A stellar leaderboard, with the wonderful Lee Westwood at the top, helps but the biggest story so far this week appears to have been Bryson deChambeau’s tee shot.

In case you missed it, it was on a short par 5 where Bryson took quite a spicy line over water so he was left with only a wedge in. He ended up taking three more a shots for a birdie.

First things first - it was entertaining to watch. I wouldn’t argue about that for a minute. OK, Rory McIlroy executed a similar shot with far more elegance and without the song and dance, but it was definitely fun to watch.

There was a deluge of tweets telling us that this one moment was evidence there was no problem with professional golf. That this one shot made the entire USGA and R&A report into the distance debate moribund. ‘THIS was entertainment, so just leave our game alone please’ was the gist of much of it.

Of course, it was entertaining - but it showed up more than ever the paucity of entertainment in the modern game. Moments of real jeopardy requiring skillful execution are few and far between these days.

Can you recall a single shot from DeChambeau’s victory just 6 months ago at Winged Foot? Probably not. He hit the ball for miles off the tee, usually into the rough. He then hit a wedge into the green, or near it, and took 1 or 2 more shots to get down.

Some say that moments like yesterday show there is a thrill in watching players hit a driver. Such a thrill is fleeting and rare. Bryson’s shot was only exciting because there was a lake in the way. Is it time to build lakes at St Andrews?

The advances in technology have robbed us of so many thrilling moments in the game. The driver-wedge game that has engulfed us in recent years may be impressive on one level, but it’s rarely thrilling.

Imagine if golf became genuinely exciting again. A world where professionals had to use their skill and guile. Where they have to make difficult decisions in the heat of the tournament - to bend a long iron around a tree and skip up to a back pin, or choose to lay up?

The ironic thing is that a tweak in technology could ignite excitement in the game, like we saw fleetingly last night. More people would be engaged, more would be enchanted, meaning that golf equipment manufacturers would actually sell more drivers and more balls as golf became entertaining every week, not just occasionally.

To those journalists and equipment manufacturers who tweeted last night to tell us how exciting the game was, why don’t you embrace the efforts of the USGA and R&A? If we can get away from the driver-wedge drudgery it will mean we have more moments of joy. More moments when we can marvel at the skill of the top pros. Surely that will make golf a more exciting place for us all?

A Golf Trip to the Kent Coast

IN A NUTSHELL
Nowhere else in the UK will you find, so close together, three courses that have hosted the Open. Royal St Georges, Cinque Ports and Princes on the Kent coast are head and shoulders above the other courses in the area for quality, but you will find other fun places to play and good food and drink options in the area too.

Royal St George’s is a fitting centrepiece of a trip to the Kent Coast. Pic - Royal St George’s

Royal St George’s is a fitting centrepiece of a trip to the Kent Coast. Pic - Royal St George’s

COURSES TO PLAY

Royal St George’s
Some say Royal St George's is one of the weaker courses on the Open rota. They say the bounces are too random, the bunkers too punishing and that it’s just not very fair. For me, that’s a load of rubbish. This is links golf at its very, very best and it’s close to unbeatable. It's perfectly playable, with pretty wide fairways, but there are many quirks which will keep you entertained all the way round. As for the greens, I’m not sure there’s a better collection of putting surfaces in the land.

While it’s open to members it will be mat play until June to protect the course before The Open in July. Another issue is that four ball visitor play is only allowed on Tuesdays. For two balls, there are times every week day.
UK Golf Guy Review, Planet Golf Review

Royal Cinque Ports
Royal St Georges is one of the finest courses in England without doubt. However, just along the road is a course which is arguably even more fun and can more than hold its own in such great company. Royal Cinque Ports (pronounced 'Sink' port, and also known as Deal) is a classic links course which will have you grinning from ear to ear. It's been host to the Open on two occasions and countless top quality amateur tournaments.

From the yellow tees it’s a pleasant 6,500 yard, par 71 with 3 par 3s, 2 par 5s and an abundance of par 4s. It’s a classic out-and-back course with the 1st in front of the clubhouse playing to the south before turning along the shore for holes 2-10 (normally with the wind) then turning back into the prevailing breeze for 11-18. Expect plenty of fun challenges for your short game as the swales and hollows set a great test. It’s a lovely place to play golf. Make sure you have time for a drink on the balcony overlooking the course and the channel. Idyllic!
UK Golf Guy Review, Today’s Golfer Review

Prince’s
Golf has been played on this land since 1906 when 18 holes were laid out. Such was the quality of the course that The Open was held here in 1932. Gene Sarazen emerged as the winner, popularising the sand wedge on his way to victory. The course was damaged terribly in the Second World War but three 9 hole loops rose from the ashes, incorporating 17 of the original greens.

The boundary of Prince’s is directly next to Royal St George’s so you know you are going to be on some pretty good links land. While it doesn’t quite have the spectacular dunes of its illustrious neighbour, this is a lovely place to play classic seaside golf.

Prince’s strikes me as a really progressive club. The club is welcoming of guests and all three 9s have been worked on recently, to much aclaim, as part of a major redevelopment by Mackenzie and Ebert. A must stop on your itinerary.
UK Golf Guy Review, Golf Course Architecture

Littlestone
Littlestone is an hour along the coast, to the west of Deal, so might be pushing the boundaries of a short stay in the area but it is worth the trip for lovers of understated, classic links golf. The course is very playable off the tee so you should be able to open your shoulders without feeling intimidated. You won’t find towering dunes, the land is pretty flat, but the challenge gets stiffer as the round goes on. The par 3s are particularly strong, reaching their crescendo on the 17th where you will find an elevated tee, a long shot into the prevailing wind and a very small green.

This is a very dry part of the country and little water is put on the course, so while you get the advantage of the ball running fast, conditioning is sometimes a bit of an issue. You may want to avoid after prolonged periods of drought!
Sean Arble GCA review, Littlestone Golf Club Website

Walmer & Kingsdown
This must be one of the few courses in England where you can play within sight of France! Walmer & Kingsdown is only ten minutes south of Deal so is worth thinking of as a ‘secondary’ venue to add to the classic Open courses. It’s a James Braid design, a downland course on a chalky base. Several of the holes are carved into the sides of hills, so expect to find yourself in some unusual positions with some shots you wouldn’t find on many other courses!

It’s predominantly a members club but visitors can be accommodated most days with very reasonable green fees - summer twilight golf for £25.
Walmer & Kingsdown Website

North Foreland
North Foreland lies on the northern Kent coast, near to the party town of Margate. Generous off the tee, it won’t beat you up, and you should enjoy your game. The course moves from parkland to clifftop and while never links golf, there are still some lovely views over the coastline. The course is currently in the midst of a bunker renovation process which has been well received.
North Foreland Website

Knole Park
There’s a good chance that you will be travelling by car from the M25 down to the Kent coast and if you are then make time to stop at Knole Park, close to Sevenoaks. The course was designed by JF Abercromby in the 1920s, although Tom Simpson appears to have had a strong involvement too (more from Evalu18 in the link below).

Knole Park begins as a parkland course in verdant rolling land, expect to come across the deer roaming around as an extra hazard! The early holes see a lot of elevation change, with raised greens and deep valleys. The great storm of 1987 lost Knole Park almost 70% of its trees, changing the character somewhat, and as the course continues it has a more moorland feel to it. However, the quality of the course continues throughout your round. Knole Park is lauded as the best inland course in Kent and stopping in here on your way down to Sandwich will be well worth the visit.
Evalu18.com review. Top100golfcourses.com

Chart Hills
Another stop ‘on the way’ is Chart Hills, about an hour inland from Sandwich. The course - an early Nick Faldo design - was much heralded on opening. It is pretty open from the tee and bunkers are the main challenge - the 200 yard anoconda is a highlight on the par 5 5th hole. There is plenty of strategically placed water and the course definitely has shades of a US-style layout.

The course is now owned by Princes golf club and is undergoing a major renovation project. All the fairways are being relaid with the aim of producing pristine, all-year-round conditions.It’s been a few years since I last played here and it will be interesting to see how it has changed when it reopens later this year.
UK Golf Guy Review, Chart Hills Website - renovation video

WHERE TO STAY
There are plenty of accommodation options in Kent depending on what you are looking for. If you want busy nightlife, Margate or Canterbury may be the best options. However, if you want to be close to the golf with some good pubs and restaurants around then look no further than Sandwich or Deal.

Prince’s Golf Club has a lodge and apartments which cater really well for golf parties of all sizes, and there are some good package deals available - details here. Close by in Sandwich you will find the Bell Hotel which is maybe a little old-school but is well positioned and dates back to Tudor times if you like a little history.

Deal has the advantage of being on the coast, and has a little more in the way of attractions. The Royal Hotel and Dunkerley’s are both well located on the front and The King’s Head is a nice pub with rooms.

WHERE TO EAT

Sandwich -
The Lodge at Prince’s has the two rosette Brasserie on the Bay, which is well worth trying whether you’re staying at the lodges or not.
Luigi’s has good, affordable Italian food.
Namaste is next door and serves good Indian Food with a twist.
The George and Dragon serves traditional pub food and now under new ownership.

Deal -
81 Beach Street is excellent. Ideally located on the seafront.
The Zetland Arms is in a great location, with traditional pub food.
Victuals and Co is very good but it’s hard to get a table.

Thanks to local, Rob, for the help with these!

CLIMATE

As if Kent doesn’t have enough going for it with great golf, hotels and food, the climate is one of the best in Britain. Summers are likely to bring long days of warm sun and low rain levels but spring or autumn days will often have good weather too.

Weather statistics for Folkestone. Source - Met Office

Weather statistics for Folkestone. Source - Met Office

HOW TO GET THERE
The Kent coast will be handier for some than others given its position on the extreme south-east of the UK. It’s only about an hour and a half drive from Gatwick airport to Deal so it’s pretty accessible for those in the south.

There is also a fast train to Ashford from London which only takes 40 minutes, although the last leg to Deal will take you a bit longer. You could feasibly take taxis around the area depending on the courses you are playing, but a car is useful.

NEXT TIME - I’ll be heading to Southport.

PREVIOUS TRIPS -
East Lothian
North Norfolk
South Wales

A Golf Trip to South Wales

Next up in my series of ‘places to visit when lockdown is over’ is South Wales. Scotland, Ireland and England all have well-trodden golf trip routes, written about numerous times - Wales, however, is less well documented. While it may not have the depth of other countries in the British Isles, there is some great golf to be found and you don’t have to look too hard to find it.

Picture - Royal Porthcawl Golf Club

Picture - Royal Porthcawl Golf Club

IN A NUTSHELL
The best courses in the area are all on the coast,, so expect dramatic views over the Bristol Channel with lovely links (and clifftop) golf. For nightlife, you can either choose to go classy in rural towns, or more full-on in downtown Swansea.

COURSES TO PLAY

Royal Porthcawl
The stand-out course of this trip will be Royal Porthcawl. From time-to-time the question comes up of whether Royal Porthcawl could hold the Open, and the answer is almost always the same - the course would be a great addition to the rota, but infrastructure would be an issue.

The course is well routed to take into account the frequent high winds in coming from the west. This is links golf, but Porthcawl definitely has its own look and feel. There isn’t much in the way of big dunes, and the course has several inland holes where there is plenty of gorse to deal with. I’ve not played it for a few years but recent reports on the work done on the bunkering and general course conditioning have been extremely positive. The clubhouse is an absolute delight, and the views from pretty much everywhere are tremendous. This is a must-play on any trip to the area.
Royal Porthcawl Website, Mark Crossfield Video

Southerndown
Just the other side of the Ogmore Valley you will find Southerndown. This is an unusual course in several ways, but all the more interesting to visit as a result. It is ‘downland’ rather than links golf - Tom Doak calls it the best Downland course in the UK. Basically that means that you should expect plenty of hills and, while the ball runs well on the ground, it doesn’t share the turf characteristics of a links.The first hole will give you a good taste of this, with a big climb up a hill to kick things off.

The next thing people will probably mention is the sheep. You will see plenty of them around, nibbling at the rough and generally trying to avoid getting hit by errant shots. However, the golf is of a high quality. The long par 3 7th is probably the standout hole on the course with its well protected, upturned saucer green. The 18th is a lovely finish - a double fairway to choose from off the tee, with your approach scrutinised by the members enjoying their post-match pint.
Golf Empire Review, Hidden Links Website

Pennard
For many, Pennard may be the best course they’ve never heard of. West of Swasea, on the Gower peninsula, Pennard is simply a joy to play. It’s links golf of the highest order - quite literally as you are 200 feet above the coast in a very unusual setting. The ground is more links than at Southerndown but do expect to do a lot of walking up hill and down dale - this is another downland course. The ‘quirkyness’ score is pretty high here. You will have cows and sheep on the course to contend with (there are electric fences around the greens and tees), plenty of blind shots and it is one of the most undulating courses you will have played.

The routing is fantastic. This, from Planet Golf gives you an idea of what to expect:

‘Pennard's most remarkable hole is the outrageous 7th, which heads toward the sea between the castle and the ruins of an ancient church, its small green then cruelly sitting on a ledge and sloping away from play’.

They don’t make them like that these days!

It’s quite a raw course from a condition point of view, so you should probably not worry too much about your scorecard on the first time out - just marvel at the majesty of this James Braid design. If you like your courses with character and fun, you will adore Pennard.
Pennard Website, Planet Golf Review

Pyle & Kenfig
Pyle & Kenfig (or P&K as it’s known), close to Porthcawl, is another strong addition to a South Wales golf trip. The front 9 was designed by Harry Colt and opened in the 1920s while the back 9 was designed by Philip Mackenzie Ross and opened after the Second World War. There is quite a difference between the two. Colt’s course is on flatter heathland (expect gorse but no trees) and then you enter the dunes for the back 9 - the 11th to 17th. It is a slightly odd combination and the back 9 gets all the plaudits, but don’t discount the front 9 totally. It may not hit the heights of the holes in the dunes but there are some strong holes there.
Top100golfcourses.com, Don Hendriksen Youtube

Ashburnham
You’ll get a warm welcome at Ashburnham, about 40 minutes west of Swansea. Back in the 1960s Ashburnham hosted some PGA events, though at 6,300 yards from the back tees that is beyond it now. The 1st, 2nd, 17th and 18th are played on converted arable land but the rest are pure links - a traditional ‘out-and-back’ amidst the gentle dunes. There is plenty of quirk, if that’s your thing, and the 18th will divide opinion as you try to get up the steep hill to the final green. Ashburnham may be a little behind some of the courses on this list for pure quality, but it’s worth a diversion.
Ashburnham Website, Today’s Golfer

Machynys
Just south of Llanelli you will find Machynys. Whereas the other courses on this list have old-world charm in spades, Machynys is a high-end, 2005 Jack Nicklaus course with a brasserie, spa and conferences facilities. A lot of money has been spent and the finish is of a very high standard. The course has been generally well received - expect pretty accessible fairways, fantastic quality greens and a links-like feel, but plenty of water to take into account too. Choosing the right tees, like on all modern courses, will be key to your enjoyment of the course.
Machynys Website, Youtube flyover

A couple more options…
I’m going to cover the mid and north Wales areas on other trips, but, if you have a bit more time in the area, then a trip to Tenby (an hour and a quarter west of Swansea) is well worth thinking about. It’s a beautiful part of the world and the course is nestled next to the town.

The other option to consider, if you are travelling from the east, is Celtic Manor. There are three courses there but the most famous is the 2012 Ryder Cup course. I’ve driven past it many times but never stopped in. It’s a very different style of golf from the others on this list but may be of interest for those who want to see where Monty won the BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year.

WHERE TO STAY
If you are looking for the busiest nightlife then Swansea is the obvious place to stay. It’s fairly central for the courses you are likely to be playing, with Pyle & Kenfig, Porthcawl and Southerdown just over half an hour to the East, and Ashburnham and Machynys about the same to the west. Pennard is just 15 minutes away. You will find the usual Premier Inn-type options in Swansea but if you are looking for a more upmarket boutique hotel then Morgans is a good choice.

Just along the coast from Swansea is Mumbles. This used to be an area famed for the ‘Mumbles Mile’ - a heady stretch of pubs - but those have mainly gone now. It is still a nice place to go (some would say nicer!) and Patrick’s with Rooms is the pick of the crop here.

Another option would be to stay nearer to Porthcawl and Southerndown. I spent many happy days as a child on the beach and at the fair at Porthcawl, but the more discerning traveller may want to head a little inland. The gentrified country town of Cowbridge has plenty to offer, although it is less central than Swansea. The Bear Hotel is a very pleasant old coaching inn, dating back to the 12th Century. There are plenty of places for a good meal - try Oscars or The Carne Arms. However, if you are in Southerdown playing I would recommend stopping at Frolics in the village. Portugese food, of all things, but highly recommended.

Lastly, Porthcawl and P & K both have dormy houses which are great value and allow you to roll straight out onto the course. P & K usually has some good stay and play offers on their website.

CLIMATE
Like anywhere in the UK, the weather in South Wales can be a little hit and miss. It would be fair to say that it is one of the wetter parts of the country but, equally, you can have long stretches of warm weather. The spring is generally drier than the autumn if you are looking for an off-season visit.

Weather statistics for Mumbles. Source - Met Office

Weather statistics for Mumbles. Source - Met Office

HOW TO GET THERE
It’s probably not as far as you think to get to South Wales. The fast train from London to Cardiff is under 2 hours and you can get to Swansea in less than 3 hours. If you’re in Scotland or Ireland there are flights directly to Cardiff airport and from there it’s just over half an hour to Porthcawl. You’ll probably want to pick up a hire car when you are here, but that’s easily arranged.

So there you have it. South Wales is rarely discussed as a venue for a golf trip but it has a huge amount to offer

NEXT TIME - I’ll be covering the Kent Coast.

PREVIOUS TRIPS -
East Lothian
North Norfolk

The Golf World Top 100 Golf Courses of Scotland

Scotland top 100 cover.png

Hooray! Just as the tedium of a Scottish lockdown was getting close to unbearable we have something to get us all het up - a top 100 of Scottish golf courses from Golf World/Today’s Golfer

Before I go into the analysis, I should say I was delighted to be asked by the Editor, Chris Bertram to join the panel for this list, though my contribution was modest compared to some of the others. Three of the 13 panelists have played every single one of the 560+ courses in Scotland! The others all have a tremendous depth of knowledge, so this is a really well-played panel.

I would urge you to get your hands on a copy of this month’s Today’s Golfer where the list is published. Chris has written great pen portraits of the courses with some deeper features too. 

I really wish Today’s Golfer would put their rankings online - it would to save me having to retype the list here risking typos! But seriously, it’s such a fantastic resource I really wish they would sort out their online presence for golfers around the world to enjoy in perpetuity.

So here’s the list in full, showing changes from the last Golf World list of 2019:

Golf World Top 100 courses in Scotland

A few thoughts on the list:

A LIST WHICH REWARDS THE CLASSIC, AND A LITTLE QUIRK
If you had told anyone 25 years ago that North Berwick would be ranked higher than the likes of Carnoustie or Troon they might have asked what kind of whisky you’d been over-imbibing! But the increasing appreciation of fun, accessibility, quirkiness and interesting golf means that North Berwick has shot up the charts to fifth place. Plans to bring back some traditional mowing lines and work on bunkers and greens should help solidify that position.

There has also been a resurgence from other old classics. Royal Troon has returned to the Top 10, and Prestwick (up 2 places to 14) and Royal Aberdeen (up 3 to 17) have been rewarded too.

For every course that goes up, one needs to come down and the more modern courses, Trump Aberdeen (down 3 to 9), Loch Lomond (down 6 to 15) and Castle Stuart (down 5 to 16) have suffered.

THE POSITIONS OF TWO NEW ENTRIES WILL BE CAUSE FOR DEBATE
Many will have been awaiting this list to see where recent high profile launches - Dumbarnie and Ardfin - have landed.

Dumbarnie is a Clive Clark designed, modern links course in Fife. It’s built as a crowd-pleaser, with wide fairways and several ‘half holes’. It’s the kind of course that people will play with stories of great scores, and wonderful views. It is straight into the top 25 at number 24. This feels about right, although if this was a ‘fun’ list I think it would be higher still.

The Bob Harrison creation, Ardfin, has had far less play than Dumbarnie and offers a contrasting test. One of the harder courses on the list, this clifftop wonder has come in at 11th place. Personally, I would have it even higher. It really is something to marvel at and I could make an argument for a high top 10 position.(Another plug, if you’ve not seen it already, for my drone run-through of all 18 holes here!)

PLENTY OF NEW ENTRIES - BUT BE PREPARED TO TRAVEL!
There is a significant turnover of courses in this list, with some big risers (and fallers). But many of them are in the harder-to-reach parts of Scotland, so you will need to plan well to visit some of them. Notable moves are:

Shiskine - Up 20 places to 33. This 12 hole course on the Isle of Arran is described in the magazine as ‘varied, interesting, dramatic, beautiful and, above all, good’.
Dunaverty - New in at 48. Right at the southern tip of the Kyle Peninsula, Dunaverty will be picking up even more visitors to Machrihanish now after this ranking.
Moray (New) - Another new entry, at 57, the New course at Moray is well worth playing if you are already there to enjoy the classic Old Course.
Durness - In at 65, this is one of the most remote courses you will ever find. Far in the north-west of the highlands, your journey will be rewarded with one of the most stunning locations, and very best 9 holes, anywhere in the world.

FIFE PIPS THE REGIONAL BREAKDOWN
Scotland is blessed with several regional ‘hubs’ for planning a golf trip and I suspect the argument over which is best will rage on forever.

You can break the numbers in so many ways but when it comes to inclusions in the top 100, Fife leads the way with 14, East Lothian has 13 and Ayrshire has 12. When you add in the North-East (10) and the area from Nairn to Brora in the Highlands (also 10) you really are spoilt for choice when planning a trip.

I’m going to give a particular shout out to my home-town of Gullane in East Lothian. For the first time, all three Gullane courses have made the list and 12 of the top 100 courses in Scotland are within a 10 minute drive. That’s pretty good going.

THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERY BUDGET
Much has been said about the accelerating cost of high-end green fees in Scotland. Whenever the subject comes up, some will fiercely defend the rights of courses to charge whatever they want (which of course they can) and others will discuss the various wheezes to get on courses more cheaply. All of this I will cover in a later piece!

The average green fee for the courses on the list is £114 - with a range from £10 at Covesea to £328 at Kingsbarns. I have taken a summer, midweek green fee for someone travelling from outside of Scotland. Only two courses are excluded - Loch Lomond, where no outside play is possible, and Ardfin where the charge is a flat fee including accommodation and multiple play.

The split by position shows how better value can be found as you head down the list:

Average for Top 25 Courses: £213
Average for courses 26-50: £102
Average for courses 51-75: £89
Avereage for courses 76-100: £61

As I say, these are summer prices. In the off-season, these rates all tumble. 80 of the top 100 offer special winter rates, with an average of just £55!

So there you are, another list to mull over. While it will never please everyone, I do like this list. As you would expect, the top of the list is is dominated by the real headliner courses, but you don’t need to go too far down the list to find some real gems .

A Golf Trip to North Norfolk

Picture - Royal Cromer Golf Club

Picture - Hunstanton Golf Club

The next in my series of places to visit in the UK (when lockdown is behind us) is North Norfolk. I haven’t taken this trip yet myself, but it’s one that I’ve long planned and have researched quite extensively over the years. I’m just waiting for the right time to get there! If you have been and have any nuggets to share, please do leave a comment.

IN A NUTSHELL
If you are looking for old-school golf in an archytepal English setting then North Norfolk is the place to go. Charm - on the golf course by day and in the cosy pubs in the evening - will be the vibe to expect on this trip.

COURSES TO PLAY
Brancaster and Hunstanton are the two big stars you probably won’t want to miss but there are some other great options to add to your trip.

Royal West Norfolk (Brancaster)
Brancaster is likely to be the main magnet for your pilgrimage to the North Norfolk Coast. Golf World ranks it as the 17th best course in England and describes it as ‘up there with Lahinch, Prestwick and North Berwick for fun, idiosyncratic golf’ - that’s good enough for me! The course plays on a narrow strip of links land between the dunes and salt marsh - it can be cut off at high tide so plan your tee time carefully. You’ll find shared fairways, sleepered bunkers and a classic old-school clubhouse. This is a two-ball course though so either twoballs or foursomes is the order of the day - if you are a four, expect to either split into two groups or play alternate shots. Oh, and you can’t play as a visitor on the weekend or in the month of August!
Fine Golf Review, Evalu18.com review

Hunstanton
Just a 20 minute drive from Brancaster, Hunstanton is another classic links golf course. It is an out-and-back links, running either side of a central dune spine. The course has held numerous top amateur events and is considered one of England’s finest championship tests. The bunkering is particularly praised, both for placement on the fairways and the quality of greenside bunkering. The condition at Hunstanton is said to have dramatically improved in recent years and is now of a high standard. It’s another twoball club, although fourballs are allowed on Tuesdays and after 1pm on summer Sundays.
Sean Arble’s Review, Hunstanton Website Hole Guide

Sheringham
It may not look too far on the map, but it is the best part of an hour’s drive east of Brancaster to Sheringham, though well worth the trip. This is the obvious next course to add to your trip to north Norfolk. Sheringham isn’t a links, but rather a clifftop course on fast-running ground. After a relatively benign opening you will arrive at the cliffs and will play much of the rest of the round between the coast and the North Norfolk railway. Some suggest it’s a little too generous from the tee for their liking and therefore plays a little easier than its illustrious neighbours. That’s never been a cause of complaint for me!
Sheringham Website Video, Golfshake review

Royal Cromer
Cromer is just a short drive along the coast from Sheringham and has a similar clifftop setting. Like Sheringham, the first few holes are just a warm-up for the coastal holes where the great views kick in. Expect changes in undulation to be a feature of many holes and small, fast-running greens make scoring a test. There are maybe a few more ordinary holes at Cromer compared to others on the list, but the highs are high too.
Golf Empire Review, Today’s Golfer Review

King’s Lynn
It’s likely you will be passing close to King’s Lynn on your journey to the North Norfolk coast and it’s well worth stopping there for a round. The challenge there is very different from the other courses on this list. Kings Lynn is a tight, tree-lined course where accuracy is rewarded, indeed demanded. While that may put some off, Kings Lynn is a really pretty course in a lovely setting so you are unlikely to regret your stop on the way to the links on the coast. Indeed one golf architect describes the Alliss/Thomas course as ‘very much like Woburn, maybe better’.
Top100golfcourses.com, King’s Lynn Golf Club

WHERE TO STAY

If you are planning a trip to North Norfolk don’t expect late night clubs and 24 hour kebab shops. This is olde worlde England and cosy pubs and quaint villages are the order of the day.

Burnham Market is (possibly self proclaimed) ‘Norfolk’s Loveliest Village’ and this is a good spot to base yourself. It’s 15-20 minutes from the golf at Royal North Norfolk and Hunstanton and 45 minutes to Sheringham and Cromer. At the heart of the village you will find The Hoste Arms which has been refreshing visitors for 400 years now, and other B&Bs in the village.

Another option would be to stay in Brancaster and The Ship Hotel is the obvious choice there. Close to the coast and the golf course, with recently refurbished rooms and high quality restaurant, it makes for a good base.

Just outside of Brancaster you will find the small village of Titchwell with The Briarsfield Hotel and Titchwell Manor, again handy for the golf.

This area has seen quite some gentrification over recent years so accommodation isn’t always cheap, however you could stay in King’s Lynn and travel up for the the golf if you are looking for a cheaper stay at a Premier Inn.

Some reader recommendations -
@mrnicktaylor - Pub recommendation from me goes to The Rose & Crown in Snettisham. Great grub and gets the Royal seal of approval from time to time.
@deanotommo - Some really good fish and chip choices in North Norfolk too (if that’s your thing)
@HertsTimelord - The generosity of the fairways at @SheringhamGolf means it is playable even in a stiff breeze. Also worth the trip just to play the Joyce Wethered “What train” hole as I did with a steam train clanking past.
@FlatCapGolfer - Have a few jars in The Mariner and stay in The Best Western in Old Hunstanton. Jolly Sailors in Brancaster Staithe superb for real ale. Played most of tracks up there with Flat Cap Senior when he was still around. Epic battles. Tall tales. Wonderful place for a golf trip.
@WendorfDan - Don’t forget the new Royal Norwich. Also, agree Royal West Norfolk is so interesting and the past Captains list is quite something.
@codney67 - Some really good golf and some lovely pubs ....Royal Cromer was my fave although not to everyones taste ..a wonderful and quite crazy back nine and my fave pub /restaurant Whitehorse at Brancaster Staithe..sit up top or out back and watch the sun drop. Links hotel Sheringham good for golfers. Also stayed at the Victoria Inn at Holkham..v nice but obviously pricier. For restaurants The Wiveton Bell was cracking...great place for a quality golf trip
@SoulsbyRichard - Brilliant trip... Dersingham is a good place to stay in that area... A couple of lovely pubs. The coach and horses was a cracking pint
@BCMfyi - You'll certainly get a very warm and hospitable welcome at Hunstanton and Royal Cromer. I'd recommend a stay in Wells, Blakeney or Cley with some great pubs and views too

CLIMATE

The east of England is materially drier, and sunnier, than the west of the country and Norfolk is a pretty good bet for summer sun. However, the temperature at the coast will often be a little cooler than inland and you should expect to find a bit of wind too. It gets pretty busy in the height of summer, so June or September could be good bets for nice weather and more affordable accommodation

Weather statistics for Hunstanton. Source - Met Office

Weather statistics for Hunstanton. Source - Met Office

HOW TO GET THERE

This area isn’t blessed with great transport links so factor in plenty of time for driving on the slow country roads. If you’re driving from either London or Birmingham expect the journey to be between 2 1/2 and 3 hours.

The train to King’s Lynn is about 2 hours from London but if you are coming from the north or west you will take a much more convoluted route, on slower trains, via Ely.

NEXT TIME - I’ll be covering the links courses of South Wales.

PREVIOUS TRIPS -
East Lothian

A Golf Trip to East Lothian

Golf is integral to life in East Lothian, the 18th at Gullane 1 finishes right in the heart of the village

Golf is integral to life in East Lothian, the 18th at Gullane 1 finishes right in the heart of the village

As the nations of the UK continue in lockdown, thoughts of holidays with friends seem a long way off. It’s likely that even when things do open up, travel for UK residents is likely to be domestic only for a while. But it’s nice to have things to look forward to, so I am going to spend the next few weeks writing about UK golf trips that may inspire you for the days when we can travel again.

Many of these trips I’ll have been on myself, some will be inspired by ideas people have sent me, and some are trips I have always wanted to do.

I am going to start close to home. I live in the village of Gullane in East Lothian, in the heart of Scotland’s Golf Coast. It’s a great place to come for a trip. A warm welcome awaits you, and I’m always up for a game when you’re in the area!

IN A NUTSHELL
Lying on the coast, to the East of Edinburgh, East Lothian is one of the world’s real golf-mad centres. There are 21 golf courses within a 30 minute drive of Gullane. Links golf dominates and there are options for all budgets. The sandy ground means that the courses are playable all year round. If you are looking for wild nightlife as well as golf, this may not be the trip for you - but there are plenty of good restaurants and pubs in the area to entertain you in the evenings.

COURSES TO PLAY
You really are spolit for choice in East Lothian when it comes to choice of courses. However, if you are coming for the first time then you may want to get one of these ‘big guns’ in:

Muirfield
It’s genuinely one of the very best golf courses in the world. The routing is wonderful, the bunkering sublime and the condition is always immaculate. In 2021 it’s open for visitor play on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. If lockdown rules allow the clubhouse to be open, then do try to stay for lunch and play a fourball in the afternoon. Despite what you may have heard, the welcome is very warm and this is one of those golf experiences that will stay with you forever. It’s an expensive tee time in the summer but the price more than halves in the off-season.
UK Golf Guy Review, Graylyn Loomis

North Berwick
North Berwick has shot up the World Rankings in recent years - it’s now at 38 in the world. That’s because those rankings have started rewarding fun and enjoyment more than tough, punishing slogs. It may be a cliche, but North Berwick is a course you will play with a smile on your face all the way round. You can see the coast from most holes (you may well need to play off the beach on several) and there are quirks galore. But this isn’t just a novelty act; North Berwick has some of the best golf architecture you will find anywhere in the world.
UK Golf Guy review, Scottish Golf History, Planet Golf

Gullane 1
There are three courses at Gullane and ‘Number 1’ is the pick of the crop. The Scottish Open has been held there twice in recent years and the players raved about the great links test of Gullane in the week before The Open. The setting is just wonderful. You start in the village before heading up the hill to one of the most spectacular views in the world of golf - you can see to Edinburgh and beyond in the west and to glorious views of Fife in the North. The course isn’t as tough a test as Muirfield but it will challenge you well enough. Golf on Gullane Hill is an experience every golfer should have at least once.
UK Golf Guy review, Cookie Jar video

The quality hardly drops off when you go down to the next ‘tier’ of courses. I’d thoroughly recommend any of these to add to the trip:

Dunbar
20 minutes to the east of North Berwick, Dunbar is set right on the coast, with some spectacular views. A great variety in holes - you don’t get your first par 4 until the 4th! Always in good condition.
UK Golf Guy review, Dunbar Golf Club website

Kilspindie
Kilspindie lies in the village of Aberlady, just 5 minute from Gullane. It’s not a long course - a 5,500 yard par 69 - but one that will still test your game. Wind is normally a factor here, you are playing right on the coast, and the views are simply magnificent. It’s the perfect place to practice all the links shots you’re going to need to take on some of the bigger names.
Kilspindie website, No Laying Up video,

Gullane 2 or 3
Gullane 2 and 3 are both well worth a play when you’re in the area. While they each have a few more inland holes than number 1, they share the same wonderful links terrain and many of the same views. Number 3 is particularly worth a visit if you’re looking for a quick round - if you’re first out in the morning, a two hour round is very doable!
Gullane 2 review, Gullane 3 Review

The Glen
The Glen is the ‘other’ North Berwick club. Set at the east end of town, the Glen is unlike most of the other courses in the area in that it’s not a pure links. It’s a clifftop course that has some fantastic views and nice holes. This is a members’ course where visitors are made more than welcome.
UK Golf Guy Review, Average Golfer Video

Luffness
As you drive into Gullane from Edinburgh you will see the Luffness clubhouse on your right and the golf courses on either side. In recent years the course has become a lot more accessible to visitors and you will find a course that is firm, fair and fun. It has a similar vibe to Muirfield, and a lunch and wine cellar of similar standard too!
UK Golf Guy Review, Top100golfcourses.com

Musselburgh (The Old Course)
For something completely different consider renting a set of hickory clubs (available at the club) and playing a round on the 9 hole course at Musselburgh Links. The Open was held here 6 times in the early days and it’s well worth a visit to get a glimpse of what golf was like back then.
UK Golf Guy Review,

If you are a high-roller then it is possible to book stay and play packages at the Renaissance Course and there are sometimes playing opportunities available at Archerfield (home to Fidra and Dirleton).

WHERE TO STAY
There are plenty of options around the East Lothian area and a lot will depend on the kind of trip you want.

North Berwick is the centre of Golf Coast and has a good selection of pubs and restaurants as well as places to stay. The Marine Hotel is the largest hotel in town and has a wonderful setting, overlooking the famous 16th hole at North Berwick. It is currently being refurbished under new ownership and expectations are high. Beyond that, North Berwick has many B&Bs and plenty of Airbnb options which are worth checking out. They’ll all be used to golf parties visiting so should be able to assist.

Gullane is the golf capital of East Lothian really but it is a smaller place than North Berwick. There are two high end hotels here - Greywalls, overlooking Muirfield, and the Bonnie Badger in the middle of the village. Both are fairly expensive options with upmarket restaurants and bars but there are plenty of places for rent in the village as well. While not as big as North Berwick, Gullane has a good selection of places to eat and drink in the village and no-one will blink if you turn up with your golf clubs. The Main Course, directly opposite the first tee at Gullane 1, and where you’ll always get a warm welcome, is my number 1 pick in town!

Aberlady is another option to consider. It’s smaller again but is home to the Duck’s Inn. This is very much a hotel that caters to the golf market. You can hear owner, Malcolm Duck, talking all things East Lothian golf on this podcast.

If you are happy to stay more rurally then you will wanter to consider Garleton Lodge - a boutique hotel a little inland. It comes very highly recommended by those who’ve stayed - check out these Tripadvisor reviews.

CLIMATE

East Lothian is one of Scotland’s sunniest (and driest) regions. You can get a lovely day any time between April and October and some beautiful winter sun. Having said that the weather can’t be guaranteed in this part of the world, so whatever time of year you are coming it’s worth packing for all weathers.

The other thing to take into account when coming to Scotland is that the summer days are so long. The sun is up at 5am and sets well after 10pm in East Lothian in the summer which means 36 holes in a day won’t be a problem.

If I had to pick one month of the year to visit East Lothian it would probably be May. It’s drier than the peak summer months and you’ll get more hours of sunshine too.

Weather statistics for Dunbar. Source - Met Office

Weather statistics for Dunbar. Source - Met Office

HOW TO GET THERE

If you are flying into Edinburgh airport then the best bet is to pick up a hire car and drive the 40 minute to North Berwick. You’ll pass Musselburgh Links after about 25 minutes if you fancy stopping in! From central Edinburgh you can get one of the regular trains to North Berwick. However, when you are in the area, a car will be useful. If you do want to use taxis make sure you book them well in advance as they can be few and far between.

NEXT TIME - Next up I’ll be covering a golf trip to North Norfolk. Feel free to message me with any suggestions for inclusions!

Top Tips for Planning a Golf Trip

I live in hope. It’s almost a year since the world locked down as a result of the Covid pandemic. I’m not going to moan about the golf trips I’ve cancelled in the last ten months as a result - that would show a certain lack of empathy with the world’s plight.

However, I am hopeful. I’m hopeful that in the months ahead I will be able to travel beyond East Lothian in Scotland, at least to the rest of the UK. I suspect that international travel may not be on the agenda for this summer, but I am optimistic we will be able to leave our own houses before the summer is out!

So over the next few weeks I’m going to run a series of articles on golf trips to take in the UK. Some of them will be based on trips I have done myself, others from what I’ve gleaned from the internet and from my lovely Twitter followers.

But before I launch into that, a few tips for planning a golf trip. It’s amazing what a big difference getting some of these things right can make. Good luck, wherever you manage to get to in 2021!

UNDERSTAND WHAT EVERYONE’S PRIORITIES ARE
This may seem blindingly obvious but I have heard some horror stories before. A friend of mine went to Portugal thinking he was on a golf holiday and it turned out to be a hard core drinking festival with a couple of rounds of golf thrown in. It took him weeks to recover.

Another friend was destroyed on a trip to Scotland where the opposite was the problem. He was faced with 36 holes a day on some of the toughest courses in the world, and when they weren’t playing golf they were travelling many miles to the next venue. All he wanted was to stay in one place for 24 hours and have a sit-down meal!

Some people cope with an early start after a big night better than others!

Some people cope with an early start after a big night better than others!

So if you are organising a trip, get everyone together before you get carried away and make sure you all agree what kind of a golf trip you all want. Do people want to stay in a city or are they happy being in a resort? Are people happy playing 36 holes on some days or is one enough? Morning or afternoon tee times? Getting these things clear up front will be worth it down the line.

AGREE A BUDGET - AND TRY AND MINIMISE THE SUPRISES
Again, obvious you would think but I have heard of some massive fall-outs when some members of a trip are trying to insist on a Michelin meal when others’ budgets only stretch to a burger. Try and agree a budget up front and then plan it out. And do factor in drinks, taxis and all of the other things that add up.

I’d recommend a great app I’ve used on my last few trips, called Splittr. It lets you add in expenses for each individual member as the trip goes on and, at any stage, will give you a reconciliation of who owes who what. No more losing receipts or gettting out the calculators after the last round.

DON’T BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW
One of the biggest problems I hear about is people who try to cover too much ground in too short a period of time. This happens especially for Americans desparately trying to squeeze all corners of Scotland into just a few days. Ru Macdonald runs the excellent Scottish Golf Podcast and this is one of his themes. So, if you are just doing a few days, try to base yourself in one place and travel to courses within an hour’s drive. There’s nothing worse than constantly packing and repacking a car at dawn and dusk and never feeling settled.

AND CHOOSE YOUR COURSES SENSIBLY TOO
It is worth spending some time making sure you have got the mix of courses right. For a long weekend trip I normally aim for 4 rounds in 3 days, that allows enough time for some relaxation but everyone feels well-golfed too.

Unless you are really at the top of your game I would recommend mixing up the quality of the courses a little. It’s nice to start on a slightly easier course to get everyone warmed up. Also, it’s good to have something to build up to, so if you are planning to play one of the country’s top courses then leave that until the last round if you can.

Make sure you check out what restrictions courses have so you can build the trip around any ‘must-plays’. For example, Muirfield only allows unaccompanied play on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays so, if you were planning a trip to East Lothian, you might want to look at availability at Muirfield and then work out which courses to play either side. It’s always a relief when I find courses where guests are welcome at the weekend - it makes the logistics so much easier.

IF YOU’RE GETTING A HIRE CAR - GO BIG
A relatively small point, but one worth remembering. Car hire should be really good value this year and often will be much cheaper than using taxis to get to courses. The difference in price between a nice big people carrier with tons of space and a ‘compact’ car is often negligible.

I’ve lost count of the number of times four of us have turned up at a car hire and looked in despair at the car given to us (‘But it looked so much bigger on the website’...’No sir, this is the category you booked'). So, now we always go up several sizes when booking. Don’t forget, your stuff seems to multiply in size every day of the trip, so make allowance for that too!

CHOOSE A FORMAT THAT GIVES EVERYONE A CHANCE
It’s nice to have a competitive edge to a trip. Firstly, unless you are all golfers of considerable talent, I would suggest avoiding medal play. Subjecting yourself to that kind of pressure is unlikely to make for much fun.

Also, try and find a format that builds to a crescendo. It can be a little dispiriting for a player who has a nightmare in the first couple of rounds and is left with no chance of winning after that. For our main annual trip we have a Stableford competition over four rounds but introduce a multiplier. The third rounds point are worth 1.5x and the last round double. It means that there’s a better chance of everyone having a shout in the last round and helps ratchet up the pressure.

If you are looking for some inspiration this site has plenty of different ideas to consider.

Oh, and one other thing. Pick tees that everyone will enjoy. It’s much better for the long hitters to have to play up a bit than for the short hitters never to reach a fairway. Believe me!

SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST DEALS - ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR
Uncertainty will dominate any plans for a golf trip this year. It’s unlikely you will be able to book anything too far out. I would recommend holding fire on booking so you can be flexible about where you go, depending on what areas of the country are open for travel at any given time.

Another factor to take into account will be that many courses will be really busy with members playing beacuse they can’t get away for a holiday. On the other hand, most clubs really need green fee income to make their financial models work. The very top-end clubs will be suffering particularly this year because of the lack of transatlantic visitors, so look out for some offers - I expect that many will be trying to encourage visitors with some special deals.

Another option is to book through one of the UK-based golf travel agencies. They often negotiate good rates at clubs and accommodation and will give you the extra protection and cancellation policies that comes through booking with an agency. Also, with so much uncertainty it means that you only need to make one call if you need to rearrange everything at the last minute, rather than half a dozen!

SOME FINISHING TOUCHES
Not everyone is a fan of the ‘tour shirt’, but it does give you something to wear when you do the decorating in future! I know of some who have a more subtle approach and have tour badged headcovers or other such memorabilia. Whatever takes your fancy!

Trophies can be picked up for a reasonable cost too. We have been playing for the same claret jug for over 20 years now and while it does still have a few bashes it is now part of the ritual of the trip. We’ve even bumped into a couple of famous faces to make the end of trip presentation.

trophy.jpg

Wherever your golf travels take you, I hope this might have given you a few ideas and you have a wonderful time. I’ll be posting different UK golf trips over the next few weeks - some a little more obvious that others. I hope there’s something in there for you!

For inspiration, you can see a list of all courses reviewed on UK Golf Guy site here

Richie Ramsay's Favourite Courses

Pic - European Tour

Pic - European Tour

In a glittering amateur career, Scotland’s Richie Ramsay was the first British winner of the US Amateur Championship for almost 100 years when he won at Hazeltine in 2006. He turned pro in 2007 and has won the South African Open, the Omega European Masters and the Trophee Hassan II since then.

Richie has played many of the world’s best courses and, somewhat unusually for the modern day professional, is a keen student of golf course architecture. He is often to be found on social media commenting on architectural features or questioning the route the professional game is taking. It’s really refreshing to see a professional engaging with his followers in such an open way.

I’m grateful to Richie for sharing his favourite courses. He has given some commentary on why he’s picked the top 5 and also listed the courses he would most like to see next. It will be fascinating seeing how Richie continues to develop his passion for architecture in the years to come. He certainly has an eye for what makes a good course!

MUIRFIELD
Always a joy to play. Lunch helps. I have been fortunate to play it over the last 20 years, from bounce games in January when it’s soft to The Open 2013, firm and fast. The slow evolution of the course is something to be admired. They have stood strong, realised they have a gem of a course and resisted big alterations. The strategy, gentle slopes, variety of shots and routing keeps you coming back for more.
UK Golf Guy Review, Graylyn Loomis

ST ANDREWS - THE OLD COURSE
It possesses something special - an atmosphere unlike anywhere else and a challenge where one round is simply not enough. Playability is off the charts and probably the biggest difference anywhere between easy and hard pins. This of course is attributed to the width and angles. A must play for any golfer!!!
UK Golf Guy Review

LOCH LOMOND
The beauty of this place sometimes masks the brilliance of the design. The back 9 especially really gives you an opportunity to score, but misplaced shots can be heavily punished. Recent changes to sand cap the course have made a huge difference. The experience, from entering the gate to leaving, is truly world class.
UK Golf Guy Review, Breaking Eighty

AUGUSTA NATIONAL
Everything here is just done so well. Welcome, service, range but the course is obviously the star. To provide that amount of entertainment year after year it has so many crucial holes which test you mentally almost forcing mistakes. 12 and 13 are two of the best holes anywhere. The tee shot of 12 may be the hardest club to pick the whole year, swirling wind, angle, depth of green and the punishment that awaits. Greens complexes are incredible undulating with a speed to hurt even the best putters. The fairways slope which also adds another dynamic when trying to coming into the greens. The condition? Well it’s always perfect.
Masters.com, Planet Golf, GolfClubAtlas.com, Augusta Chronicle

OCEAN FOREST
The venue for the 2001 Walker Cup. It lies just outside Sea Island, Georgia and provides a mixture of Augusta National and Kiawiah Island. The tall pines line the fairways while the marshland creeps, providing a great test. Yes, you may lose a few balls but what a cool, understated and fun course to play.
Golf Course Gurus, YouTube

KINGSTON HEATH
UK Golf Guy Review, Planet Golf, Golf Course Architecture

ROYAL BIRKDALE
UK Golf Guy Review, Golf Empire

SUNNINGDALE
UK Golf Guy Review, View from the 19th, Planet Golf

MEDALIST
Top 100 Golf Courses

MERION
UK Golf Guy Review, NY Times, Philly.com

As for the hit list of courses Richie really wants to see next? It’s pretty good:

Ardfin, Congaree, Cypress Point, Fishers Island, Maidstone, Ohopee Matchplay Club, Pine Valley, Royal Melbourne, Sand Hills, Swinley Forest and Tara Iti!

A big thanks to Richie for sharing his list.

The Top 100 Golf Courses in the World You Can Actually Play!

golf world top 100 courses you can play

Debating lists of the Top Golf Courses in the World has become common in the last 40-odd years. Ever since US publication, Golf Magazine, published its first regular list in 1983 (Muirfield came in at the top spot) new incarnations of the rankings have been eagerly awaited. 

However, for 99.999% of the readership, these lists were nothing more than an excuse for some idle day-dreaming and wishful thinking. Many of the top courses in the USA, and a handful beyond, are just impossible to play unless a member invites you. Pine Valley, Cypress Point, Augusta and Shinnecock Hills have all been staples of the top 10 lists, but playing them is impossible for most.

Well, the UK’s Golf World has come up with what I think is the first ever list of the ‘Top 100 golf courses you can play’.

Before getting into the list, I have a couple of caveats. Firstly, when it says these are ‘golf courses anyone can play’ it means anyone can contact the course and arrange a round. However, some of the courses are very expensive. Two immediately come to mind, Tara Iti in New Zealand and Ardfin in Scotland. Both can be played if you stay on the property, but the cost for both is very high.

Secondly, declaring an interest, the course Editor at Golf World, Chris Bertram, asked me to contribute to the list. The panel is made up of experts far more qualified than me but it was fun to be part of the process.

panel.jpgworld top 100

If you are in the UK I would recommend going out and buying a copy of Today’s Golfer (Golf World courses review now appear in TG). They’ve done a great job putting the publication together with a lot of rich commentary. 

I consume pretty much all of my golf media online these days but there is something nice about having an actual magazine in the hand. Satisfyingly retro! In time, this list will be published online and I’ll link to it here when it is. In the meantime, here’s the list -

world ranking 4.jpg

Here’s a few thoughts on what the list tells us:

BRITAIN AND IRELAND DOMINATE
An amazing 46 courses come from Britain and Ireland, with England (20) just pipping Scotland (19). A Northern Ireland course, Royal County Down, takes the top spot, but if anything I was a little surprised that there were only 4 in the Republic.

The sheer number of courses in England and Scotland shouldn’t be a shock. The only private course on these shores which could be considered in this class is Loch Lomond. This underlines that if you are looking for a destination to play the very best golf in the world, then you need look no further than Britain.

RESORT GOLF DOMINATES IN THE USA
Accessing great golf really is such a different story in the US and this list underlines that fact. While the US has 23 entries, only 2 are in the top 30. You are unlikely to find a top 100 course you can access if you are in one of the big cities. Almost all of the courses listed here are more rural, resort courses.

Bandon is the obvious place to head to. It’s quite clearly now the number 1 resort you’ll find anywhere in the world, with four courses on the list. The new Sheep Ranch has debuted at an impressive 40th position alongside Pacific Dunes (11th), Bandon Dunes (32) and Bandon Trails (62). Maybe the only surprise is that the fifth course on the property, Old MacDonald, didn’t make the list too. 

Elsewhere, all three courses at Streamsong in Florida make an appearance, as well as the Sand Valley and Mammoth Dunes resort in Wisconsin.

AUSTRALIA HAS IT ALL
Australia really packs a punch in this list. It has taken on the British philosophy to making courses accessible and has 10 entries. It’s no surprise to see the West Course at Royal Melbourne in third place, but some may be surprised at how high Cape Wickham comes (10th). Those who have made the pilgrimage to the isolated King Island course will have no such surprise, such is the quality of this cliffside course.

If you are thinking about a trip to Australia when travel reopens then have a look at my itinerary from a couple of years ago, it should be enough to tip you over the edge!

EUROPE JUST DOESN’T HAVE THE DEPTH
This is a list dominated by the English-speaking world and the European influence is sparse. Utrecht de Pan (53) and Royal Hague (74) are in there from The Netherlands, Fontainebleau (91) is the sole French representative and the spectacular Lofoten Links (96) in Norway, completes the European contingent. 

To be honest, I find it hard to make a case for too many any other entries. Falkenstein, the Colt, Simpson and Alison course outside of Hamburg, is being renovated and could be a contender next time; and Morfontaine would be a shoe-in for a high position were tee-times available. However the resort courses of Spain and Portugal just aren’t of the standard needed to make it.

AND A FEW THINGS I COULD QUIBBLE WITH…
I was only one voice on the panel of 12 so needless to say there are a few things I may slightly question, but not many. As regular readers will know, I fell in love with Ardfin when I played it this year. I think it’s a better course than several ahead of it on the list and deserving of a higher position. Maybe as more people play it over the next few years it will rise up?

Conversely, I think Pebble Beach is ranked too highly. It’s just not as good a course as a bunch below it on the list. It trades off its setting more than the quality of the course. Other courses do both better.

But these are minor quibbles. It’s nice that there’s now a list available that ‘anyone can play’. You may just need very deep pockets and a lot of air miles to do it!

10 English Courses for 2021 (hopefully...)

There has been plenty of time this year for idle day-dreaming and list making. I have got notes on my phone listing everything from the 10 best clubhouse lunches to the 10 best long par 4s. The first list was a lot easier to populate!

A list I put together recently was of the 10 courses I wanted to play in England. The only criteria I had was that I hadn’t played them yet.

I’ve played quite a few courses ‘down South’ but mainly at the really top end - you can see my reviews here. A tough critic might say they were more top-100 chasing than connoisseur selections! So, returning from a day at the excellent Prince’s Golf Club I started making some notes about which English courses I wanted to get to next, when travel is easier and the days are a little longer.

By chance, ‘The Golf Lover’s Guide to England’ has been published in the last couple of weeks and I have devoured the contents to help shape the list a little. I was a big fan of last year’s ‘The Golf Lover’s Guide to Scotland’ and Michael Whitehead has really delivered again.

The book covers 33 courses in England. For each, Michael provides the historical context to the club followed by a course description. He also gives you some selections for other courses to play in the area. What really makes the book come alive is the amount of research Michael has clearly put in. Only the most ardent golf historian wouldn’t find out something new.

Here are the 10 English courses, from north to south, that I am really looking forward to playing, hopefully before 2021 is out! I’ve included some interesting links I came across in the course of my research but if you are looking for something to ask Santa for, I would strongly suggest adding ‘The Golf Lover’s Guide to England’ to your list.

SILLOTH ON SOLWAY
Silloth lies some way off the beaten track in the very north west of England. I was actually booked in to play there earlier this year but there was a power cut at Tebay services and my electric car didn’t have enough charge to make it all the way! When I do get there I’m expecting to find a links course with maybe a few more quirks than the ‘classic’ English links setup. When you have a course designed by a North Berwick man I guess that’s to be expected. Everyone I know who has played it raves about the lovely people and great value too.
Silloth Golf Club Website, Cookie Jar film, Golf Empire Review

Pic - Silloth on Solway Golf Club

Pic - Silloth on Solway Golf Club

GANTON
This is a course that has been touched by greatness. Originally designed by Tom Chisholm of St Andrews, Braid, Taylor, Vardon, Colt, MacKenzie and Simpson have all had a hand in the architecture of Ganton over the years. The course has hosted the Curtis Cup, Walker Cup and Ryder Cup and is considered one of the finest inland courses in the country - Michael describes it in his book as an ‘inland links’. There’s dormy house accommodation onsite which looks like a great place to stay before an early tee time!
Ganton Golf Club Website, Fine Golf Review, Hidden Links

Pic - Ganton Golf Club

Pic - Ganton Golf Club

ALWOODLEY
Alwoodley, just outside of Leeds, was the very first course designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie, before he set about creating such masterpieces as Augusta National, Cypress Point and Royal Melbourne. It looks like a heathland golf course to savour and the bunkering looks particularly interesting. Architect Clyde Johnson has been undertaking what he describes as ‘light polishing’ to ensure the course stays true to the good doctor’s vision.
Alwoodley Golf Club Website, Golf Monthly, Cunnin’ Golf Design

Pic - Alwoodley Golf Club

Pic - Alwoodley Golf Club

WOODHALL SPA
The third of the northern(ish) inland courses, Woodhall Spa is revered as one of the very best courses in England, and is 56th in the World in my ‘Ultimate Top 100’ list. Tom Doak rates it very highly and says in his Confidential Guide, ‘There are great short par 4s like the 10 and 17th, great longer par 4s like the 3rd and 11th, and great par 5s like the 9th and home hole. But it is the three short holes and their deep guardian bunkers you’ll have the hardest time forgetting’. Doak has been doing restoration work on the course in recent years which has been widely appreciated. It’s very high up my ‘must play’ list!
Woodhall Spa Website, Top 100 Website, Today’s Golfer

Pic - Woodhall Spa Golf Club

Pic - Woodhall Spa Golf Club

HOLINWELL (NOTTS)
Michael Whitehead says that ‘If you’ve never played golf at Holinwell before, everyone who has will tell you that you should. Everyone is right. This is one of golf’s finest walks’. Well that’s exactly what has happened to me. I hadn’t heard much about it before taking a keener interest in golf course architecture but several people have since urged me to get to this Nottinghamshire course. It’s a mixture of heathland and moorland with some woodland thrown in for good measure. I think there’s a wee trip to be done, stopping at Ganton and Woodhall Spa en route to Holinwell, and taking in Alwoodley on the way home to Gullane!
Hollinwell Website, Golf Club Atlas, Green Keeping article

Pic - Holinwell

Pic - Holinwell

ROYAL WEST NORFOLK
Royal West Norfolk (otherwise known as Brancaster) is another hard-to-get-to course that is said to reward in spades the effort made to get there. This is a links course unlike any other - when the tide is high the golf course becomes an island! I’ve read that Brancaster takes quirkiness to a whole new level and the old-world vibe in the clubhouse makes for quite an experience. With Hunstanton just next door this is definitely an area of the world I need to discover before there are too many more high tides!
Royal West Norfolk Website, Golf World Top 100, Golf Club Atlas

Pic - Golf Monthly

Pic - Golf Monthly

ST GEORGE’S HILL
I had a great trip to Surrey a couple of years ago but alas St George’s Hill couldn’t be fitted into the schedule - this is a members’ club and, while visitors are welcome, times are limited. When I do get a tee time I expect to find a Harry Colt masterpiece. Darius Oliver describes it as ‘The prettiest, and possibly the best, of all heathland courses in Great Britain’. You’re spoilt for choice on a trip to Surrey but St George’s Hill really looks stunning
St George’s Hill Website, Planet Golf, Golfing World Youtube

Pic - St George’s Hill

Pic - St George’s Hill

SAUNTON
There’s definitely a trip to the south-west of England to be planned before too long. Nearby Burnham and Berrow and Westward Ho! are both on my list to see down there as well as Saunton. This is links golf but most comment on the challenging green complexes and the interesting land. Some have talked about it as a potential Open host venue. While that may be fanciful, it has definitely piqued my interest to visit!
Saunton Website, Sean Arble on GCA, Top 100 Website

Pic - Saunton Golf Club

Pic - Saunton Golf Club

ST ENODOC
It looks quite close on the map but it is another two hours drive past Saunton to get to St Enodoc. By all accounts it is well worth the effort. This James Braid layout is famed for its huge dunes, crinkled fairways and small greens. The 6th hole is probably the most famous, with a second shot required over the huge Himalayas bunker, but this is a course with many highlights. It’s a long way to go but looks like a must for all lovers of great golf architecture.
St Enodoc Website, jdrewrogers.com, Evalu18

Pic - St Enodoc Golf Club

Pic - St Enodoc Golf Club

RYE
Rye is another classic English course, and another Harry Colt design. It has been famed for years as one of the most private courses in the country, but visitor play is possible. The website explains, ‘Invitations to visiting golfers are made at the Secretary’s discretion. Players wishing to play their own ball will generally be invited to play late morning or after lunch’. No Groupon deals here! I’m intrigued to see what the club is like but am equally intrigued by the golf course. A 6,300 yard par 68 course that runs along and over sandy ridges it sounds like one of the longest short courses anywhere, with 9 par 4s over 400 yards. A truly unique place!
Rye Golf Club Website, Top 100 Website, National Club Golfer

Rye Golf Club

Rye Golf Club

Every hole at Ardfin - from the air

I recently visited Ardfin, Bob Harrison’s masterpiece on the island of Jura. You can read my review of the course which contains advice on how to plan a trip, what to expect when you get there and a hole by hole guide.

After playing the course twice, I had a couple of hours before catching my ferry back to the mainland and was able to take some drone footage. I only had one run at most holes as time was short but I hope this gives you an idea of what to expect. Many thanks to my friend James for providing the voice-over - I thought it needed a Scottish accent!

It’s hard to get to Jura, and Ardfin is an expensive trip. But the golf course that awaits you is simply stunning. So put your YouTube settings to HD, turn up the volume, and enjoy!

You can find reviews from over 125 of the world’s top golf courses on this site. You can see a list of all of the courses covered here

Druh golf belt review

I get fairly frequent requests to review golf-related products. Some of the offers have been tempting. There was the golf shaped urn for your loved one’s ashes, the knee length socks that were guaranteed never to fall down and the golf tee that gave you 10 yards extra on every drive. Somehow I have managed to refuse these offers.

However, when Druh Belts got in touch I was keen to have a closer look at the product. I’ve been aware of Druh belts for some years now. If you watch much golf on the television then you will have seen the top pros wearing them. The company was founded by European Tour player Simon Hurd, and players from Lee Westwood to Tiger Woods have been seen wearing these belts, as well as members of the European Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup teams. So I was anxious to see what all the fuss was about.

When it comes to choosing your belt I would recommend clearing a good half an hour to savour the experience! First up you choose your leather. You can have plain or go for one of the more exotic selections - crocodile, ostrich, lizard, snakeskin or stingray. I was slightly concerned of the ethics of such skins being used but it turns out these are actually embossed cow skins. Phew.

Once you’ve selected the type of leather, you’re on to colours. I decided to play it safe with a dark brown but those with more flair could have gone for one of a whole plethora of options, you should definitely find something to match your wardrobe or taste!

But the choosing is still not over! Oh no. The buckle is next. Take a deep breath for you are about to enter a whole new world. You can choose from a quite incredible range - from a flamboyant diamante to a classic brushed steel with everything in between. If you would like to wear your national flag around your midrift then look no further!

The finished article!

The finished article!

Nonetheless, I went for one of the more conventional choices - dark brown on crocodile with a striped buckle. The price of this particular combination would be just over £100. Now I’ll confess, I rarely spend that much on an item of clothing, let alone a device to hold my trousers up

A couple of weeks later the package arrived. It was very nicely presented, with a little message from the founder Simon Hurd included. It oozed quality. It felt sturdy and looked just as I had expected from the ‘artist’s impression’ on the website - definitely a statement piece.

However, I was slightly dismayed to find it was too long for me. What kind of giant was this designed for? Fear not, a quick read of the instructions (yes, for a belt!) showed that I just needed to trim it with a normal pair of scissors to get the right size. A very easy procedure and it fitted perfectly. One other slight teething problem was that the hole to put the buckle fixer into was quite tight, but a waggle with a golf tee sorted that out!

I’ve been wearing the belt now for the last few rounds and am really pleased with it. It looks great and goes with anything. It is a lot of money to spend on a belt but you can mix and match with other buckles on the site and you will never want for a golf belt again, I promise.

So there you have it. Who’d have known a belt could bring such pleasure?!

Druh Belts are available at www.druhbeltsandbuckles.com/

Europe's most exclusive golf courses

I wrote recently about some of the very hardest courses in Europe to access but that still had ways in for unaccompanied play – though often at quite a price. However, there are some which are more elusive and can genuinely lay claim to be Europe’s most exclusive golf courses. Here they are, with a few ideas on what may be possible...

BEAVERBROOK
There are a cluster of courses in the Surrey heartlands which are the preserve of the uber-rich and Beaverbrook is the newest member of the gang. It has been described as having a ‘Soho Farmhouse vibe’. That may not mean much to you but think ostentatiously unpretentious – somewhere to lounge rather than to sit up straight. A friend who visited told me that no-one would bat an eyelid if you teed off in a six-ball, in jeans! The wine cellar is said to be one of the very best in England so make sure you have some time to enjoy a glass or two.

Picture - DMK Golf Design

Picture - DMK Golf Design

The Course
The golf course at Beaverbrook only opened in 2016 so still has some maturing to do. David McLay Kidd teamed up with Tom Watson to design the course and typical of more recent work by McLay Kidd has produced a golf course that can be enjoyed by all but will also be a good test for the better player.

How to play Beaverbrook
Like many of the courses on this list you need to find a member to host you. From time to time you will find one of them offering the opportunity to play in a charity auction, like tennis player Tim Henman did here. It will cost you, but what a chance to see how the other half live for a day.

LA ZAGALETA
OK, hands up if you’d heard of La Zagaleta before? There’s a good chance that you haven’t because this is one of Europe’s truly exclusive resorts. In the hills above Marbella, La Zagaleta is the playground of some of Europe’s wealthiest families. It claims to be the most secure golf club on the continent - expect incredible facilities and discretion guaranteed!

Picture - Lazagaleta.com

Picture - Lazagaleta.com

The Course
There are two courses at La Zagaleta. The Old Course (par 72, 6,600 yards) was opened in 1991 and renovated in 2016. Think verdant fairways, lush valleys and inspiring mountain views. The New Course was added in 2005 and sounds like a thrilling mountain course with danger at every turn.

How to play La Zagaleta
If you want to play the Old Course you need to be with a member – and there are only 150 of them. Access to the New Course is a little easier as the member doesn’t need to be with you but you do require an introduction. On average there only 40 rounds a day on the property. However, keep your eyes out for charity golf days – every once in a while a member will auction a round which you may be able to blag your way into.

LES BORDES (Click title for my full course review)
Les Bordes is not only one of the most exclusive courses in the continent, it’s also one of the best. The history or the course is fabled – a rich businessman building the ultimate playground for him and his friends. Despite several changes of ownership the course has maintained its quality and supreme conditioning.

Water and rough abound at the original Les Bordes course

Water and rough abound at the original Les Bordes course

The Course
This Robert von Hagge course is one of the sternest test of golf you will find anywhere in the world. It’s an American-style course and the conditioning is breathtaking. However, leave the carpet-like fairways and you will be likely to find deep rough or a watery grave. This is a serious course for the serious golfer. A second course, designed by the more forgiving Gil Hanse, is in the final stages of build along with a 9 hole course. These additions are expected to bring a little more fun for the average player but they have a high quality standard to live up to.

The new course at Les Bordes will be open soon. Picture - @JackLaws_

The new course at Les Bordes will be open soon. Picture - @JackLaws_

How to Play Les Bordes
For a couple of years Les Bordes was opened up to casual visitors at a very reasonable price. However, the door has closed on that opportunity and now the only way in is to be invited by one of the handful of members. It will be interesting to see what business model emerges as the new course opens but for now it looks like it will remain one of the most exclusive clubs in Europe. You could try a high-end agency that specialises in French Golf like Private Golf Key and see what they can do.

QUEENWOOD
Queenwood is one of the high-end Surrey clubs opened in recent years, but probably stands a little above the rest when it comes to pure luxury. When I played here I was accompanied by a European Tour player and the only other two people we saw were a billionaire businessman and one of the highest paid Premier League footballers. This place is a different league - the service levels at the course are quite incredible and nothing is too much trouble for their members.

queenwood

The Course
This is another David McLay Kidd creation which is built for enjoyment – in line with his ethos it’s fairly easy to get off the tee but questions come the closer you get to the green. Queenwood is like a blend of Surrey heathland and US parkland. There’s water in play on several holes and it really is a beautiful place. Architecturally I don’t think it quite holds its own with the Sunningdales and Swinley but it’s a lovely place and the conditioning is world class.

How to Play Queenwood
I would say this is the hardest of the Surrey courses to play - you will absolutely have to have a member with you to get on the property. Again, a charity auction will probably be your best bet but they very rarely come up.

VIDAUBAN, PRINCE DE PROVENCE
There are golf courses which are very hard to get on, and then there’s Vidauban. This was a passion project of Robert Trent Jones Snr, who fell in love with the land and setting, built by his son. It ranks in the top 10 in France but hardly anyone has played this course so it remains one of the ultimate enigmas in European Golf.

Picture - vidaubangolfclub.com/

Picture - vidaubangolfclub.com/

The Course
There are few first hand accounts of Vidauban but the course is set among a Provencal landscape of vineyards, pine trees and rocks. It is said to have similarities with another Trent Jones creation, Valderrama.

How to play Vidauban
OK, this is a tough one. However, where there’s a will... There’s a top-end experience here which includes a stay at the lovely Terre Blanche, attendance at the Monaco Grand Prix and a game at Vidauban. Not cheap but you would be one of the very few to see beyond the gates of this mysterious club!

WENTWORTH
A few years ago Wentworth went from being a members’ club which you could play for a rather saucy green fee, to one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the world. Controversy has dogged Wentworth for the last few years but it still remains one of the most evocative names in European golf.

Wentworth.jpg

The Course
The West Course at Wentworth is a Harry Colt design dating back to 1926. Unlike many of its Surrey neighbours this is parkland golf rather than heathland. Local resident Ernie Els made some controversial changes in 2007 which many feel changed the nature of the course considerably. However, since then some of these changes have been undone and there have been big investments in the conditioning as it continues to evolve and attempts to regain its reputation as one of the best courses in the country.

How to Play Wentworth
Green fee play was removed under the new ownership and you are now required to play with a member. Very occasionally there are high-end charity days you may be able to gain access to and the old auction route can be your friend. In fact, at the moment, there’s one live here to play with European Tour player Steven Brown.

THE WISLEY
You’ll never guess where the Wisley is. Surrey!! They really do like a proper ’members only’ course there don’t they?! However, the vibe at The Wisley is different. It’s all relative, but The Wisley just feels a bit more normal. OK, the members are likely to be top touring pros or famous sportspeople but you won’t feel like you’re stepping into a movie set when you drive through the gates at The Wisley.

the wisley

The Course
There are 3 nines at The Wisley and you can expect to find plenty of water out there – it’s target-style golf a lot of the way around. The condition is great, as you would expect, although maybe just a touch behind the magnificence of Queenwood. For sure, you would be more than happy playing your golf at The Wisley every day, but don’t expect the course to be an absolute rockstar.

How to play The Wisley
While you do need to play with a member there are 700 of them so getting access is a little easier than at some of the other courses on this list.

SEE THE UK GOLF GUY COURSE RATINGS HERE.

How to play some of the most exclusive courses in the UK and Europe

Those of us living in Europe are blessed that access to our finest golf courses is pretty straightforward. All courses on The Open rota are available to be played by anyone with a handicap and there are only a few courses where access is nigh on impossible for the average golfer.

This is in huge contrast to many of the best courses in the USA where access is often only with a member’s introduction or a with a member present.

Nonetheless, there are several courses in the UK and Europe that have a reputation for being hard or impossible to play. There remains a handful of truly exclusive courses in Europe where there are few, if any, known ways to get a tee time which I’ll cover next time. But, with a bit of digging, there are routes in to some. This article covers how to play these courses. I must warn you though, the costs can be eye-wateringly expensive.

This list features some of the most spectacular golf in the continent so, even if you don’t think you’ll ever make it there to to play, enjoy the photos!

ARDFIN (click on title for my review)
For some time after the retired hedge fund owner, Greg Coffey, built his fantasy golf course on the Isle of Jura, off the west coast of Scotland, it was unclear whether anyone would see the course other than him and his friends. But in early 2020 it was announced that the course would be available to the public.

Ardfin Golf

The Course
Australian architect Bob Harrison has created a cliff top course on a spectacular piece of land which thrills from beginning to end. It has yet to establish itself in the world rankings because it’s been played by so few, but those who have been are raving about the experience. Expect to see it appearing in the World Top 100 lists soon.

How to play Ardfin
In order to play at Ardfin you need to stay in the onsite accommodation. The ‘cheapest’ way to do that is to book one of the 13 rooms at arorund £1,600, which includes all of your golf.

There are other options as well if you fancy pushing the boat out. For small groups wanting a little more privacy, 4-bedroom apartments are available for £6,000 a night. For the ultimate though why not book Jura House? It has 10 bedrooms and a swimming pool, shooting gallery and golf simulator. The only catch is the three night minimum stay which will set you back a mere £72,000…!!

Ardfin is clearly a high-end experience but the standard of both accommodation and golf appears to be something pretty special. I was lucky enough to get to Ardfin last year so you can my review and see my video here.

CASTIGLION DEL BOSCO
The stunning Castiglion del Bosco project is the brainchild of Italian fashion scion, Massimo Ferragamo. It sits at the heart of a luxuriously restored Tuscan wine estate built on a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Italy may not be famed for its golf but this is one of the very highest quality, and most exclusive, golf resorts anywhere in the world.

Castilignon.jpg

The Course
The course was designed by American Tom Weiskopf who has form designing golf courses for the rich and famous – Loch Lomond being another in his portfolio. Those who have played here talk about the sheer beauty and serenity of the setting, with the course presented immaculately.  By all reports this isn’t a course that will beat you up but rather one to be enjoyed by golfers of all standards. Having said that, it does feature the longest hole in Europe – the 685 yard (!) par 5 13th – which will test even the longest hitters in the world.

How to Play Castiglion del Bosco
Castiglion del Bosco is only played by around 40 golfers a day. It is open to members, their guests and residents at the spectacular onsite accommodation. There are a 20 suites and 14 villas available and the reviews of the lodgings are pretty phenomenal. Expect to pay around €1,100 a night for the entry level accommodation with another €250 on top for the golf.    

LOCH LOMOND
Loch Lomond is a private members course which can lay claim to being the only truly exclusive club in Scotland. To play here you need to be accompanied by a member, and with a joining fee of £100,000 they are few and far between.

loch lomond.JPG

The Course
I've been lucky enough to play Loch Lomond twice and was blown away by the setting and the quality of the experience. I don’t think I have ever played a parkland golf course with a more inspiring setting than Loch Lomond. The front 9 is largely set by the loch before turning to a more parkland area for most of the back 9, returning to the water for the spectacular finish. For me, Loch Lomond offers the best non-links golf in Scotland.

How to Play Loch Lomond
If you don’t know a member then I have only found one other way onto Loch Lomond. Every year the charity Variety has a golf event here – usually at the beginning of September. There are limited places but expect to pay around £5,000 for three of you. For that you will have a round at Loch Lomond with a rugby legend, a night’s accommodation and all catering, including an awards dinner. It’s clearly expensive but this course is well worth seeing and you will be raising some money for charity at the same time.

MORFONTAINE
Morfontaine is unquestionably the number 1 golf course in Continental Europe. Within an hour of central Paris you will find one of the most exclusive and enchanting golf clubs anywhere in the world. It is famed for being one of the very hardest tee times to get in golf.

morfontaine golf

The Course
Morfontaine is home to 2 courses - the Valiere, a 9 hole course, and the Grand Parcours, opened in 1927.  The courses are designed by the Englishman Tom Simpson and if you make it to Morfontaine you must play both. The architecture here is, in many ways, reminiscent of the great Surrey heathland courses, but with an intimacy due to the forest that you find in few places. It is simply a delight.

How to Play Morfontaine
This is one of the very toughest tee times to land. John Sabino, who has played the world’s top 100 courses, talks amusingly here of the challenges he had securing a time. Normally you can only play if accompanied by a member who are predominantly members of the French establishment.

However, there is a company which provides golf tours of the Paris area, including Morfontaine. There are several other really interesting courses to play in the area and Private Golf Key will sort out your golf, accommodation and fine dining. However, expect to pay several thousand Euros for a such a trip.

SKIBO CASTLE – THE CARNEGIE CLUB
The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle may be the biggest secret in British golf. Golf World have it ranked 21st in their UK & Ireland list, while the latest National Club Golfer ranking has it in position 13. Just think about that a minute, a course few have heard of and even fewer have played ranks above the likes of Sunningdale, Kingbarns and Ballybunion. At the heart of the uber-exclusive Skibo Castle estate, there is a way to play The Carnegie Club.

Skibo.jpg

The Course
The Carnegie Club opened in 1995, a Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie creation. However, since the property changed hands in 2003 the course has been significantly changed. Gorse has been removed, bunkers rivetted and new holes added. The course plays as a traditional Scottish links, with the last eight holes all close to the nearby loch. At Skibo the exclusivity is matched only by the quality of the golf.

How to play Skibo Castle
Skibo Castle is a private members’ residence. The membership is largely international with members arriving by private jet from all over the world – it’s a millionaire’s playground and they like to keep it a secret. However, from the beginning of June until the end of September, there is one tee time at 9am every day reserved for a visitor’s fourball.

For £350 a person you can tee it up and have the millionaire experience. It may seem steep but your green-fee includes on course refreshments (from the steward’s cart as well as the well stocked half-way house) and a three course lunch of the very highest calibre.

THE RENAISSANCE CLUB
Building a modern course between Muirfield and North Berwick was quite an ask but one which Tom Doak relished when he created The Renaissance. This is an unashamed high-end experience. The American owners have created a club with a small membership and a high price tag. However, despite its reputation, getting tee times is relatively straightforward.

renaissance golf

The Course
Doak was asked to build a course fit for modern tournament play and he delivered just that. This isn’t a quirky traditional-style Scottish Links course. Instead, expect to hit long carries from the tee with tricky greens in places. In recent years the farirways have been narrowed to add to the challenge. Nevertheless, the pros still ‘went low’ when the Scottish Open visited in 2019 as the benign conditions took away the normal defences.

How to Play The Renaissance Club
The Renaissance Club has a ‘One Time Experience’ which allows you to play the course (and stay if you would like). It’s all a bit convoluted but the cost is either £300 or £480 per person, depending which day of the week you book for. You can also stay at the lodging onsite which may include multiple plays in your package.

There is one other way for locals. As part of the deal to host the Scottish Open the club has made limited winter tee times available to Scottish golfers for a mere £70. If you are a member of a Scottish golf course then you can access these times on Monday and Wednesdays from November to March. Details are here.

TWO HONOURABLE MENTIONS
When canvassing on Twitter for exclusive, hard-to-play courses, two names came up several times - Swinley Forest and Muirfield. Both of these are open, and welcoming to visitors.

For Muirfield all of the information is on the website. You can book to play on Tuesdays and Thursdays and, from 2021, on Mondays too.

Swinley Forest used to be playable by interview only (!) but it’s a lot easier now and most the details are here apart from the price – expect to pay around £200 for your round.

So there you have it, some of the most exclusive golf courses in Europe which you can play with a little planning and a big bank balance. Next time I’ll be writing about the truly exclusive courses in the UK and Europe. Those may take a little more ingenuity to play!

Colin Montgomerie's Favourite Courses

colin montgomerie favourite

I am delighted to be able to bring you Colin Montgomerie’s 10 favourite golf courses. Colin is simply one of the finest European golfers ever to have played the game. He has won 31 European Tour events and his 8 European Tour Order of Merit trophies is unsurpassed in the history of the game.

His Ryder Cup record is incredible - in eight appearances he has never been defeated in a singles match and has amassed an incredible 23.5 points. His association with the Ryder Cup was underlined in the history books when he captained the European team to victory at Celtic Manor in 2010 in one of the all-time classic matches.

Not one to rest on his laurels, in recent years Colin has found great success on the Seniors’ Tour with 3 major victories so far. Colin has also turned his hand to broadcasting, proving an insightful addition to the Sky Sports commentary team. He has also appeared on several podcasts where his refreshing candor has revealed a side to his personality the wider public hasn’t seen before.

Hearing Colin talk you know he is someone who loves the game of golf. A huge thanks to Colin for spending the time to put his list together. He has played all of the world’s best courses, many in the heat of the most intense competition, so he brings a great perspective. The list he has come up with is pure quality from top to bottom. Enjoy!

1. PINE VALLEY
Quite simply the best course in the world.
UK Golf Guy Review, Golf Digest Flyover, Golf Club Atlas

Pine Valley 4th

2. CYPRESS POINT
The most scenic course in the USA.
Graylyn Loomis, Golf Digest, Playing the Top 100 

Picture - Geoff Shackelford

Picture - Geoff Shackelford

3. AUGUSTA NATIONAL
To me it’s the best tournament course in the world.
Masters.com, Planet Golf, GolfClubAtlas.com, Augusta Chronicle

augusta national

4. KINGSTON HEATH
The best bunkered course anywhere in the world.
UK Golf Guy Review, Kingston Heath Website, Planet Golf, Golf Course Architecture

Kingston Heath is famed for its amazing bunkers

5. TURNBERRY
It’s the most scenic and best course in the UK.
UK Golf Guy Review, Graylyn Loomis, Top100courses.com

Tunberry Colin Montgomerie

6. LOCH LOMOND
The best inland course in Scotland.
UK Golf Guy Review, Graylyn Loomis, Golf Empire

Loch Lomond golf review

7. SUNNINGDALE OLD
The best feeling on any golf course in the world.
UK Golf Guy Review, Golf Club Atlas, Top100golfcourses

Sunningdale

8. SHINNECOCK HILLS
The best links layout in the USA.
UK Golf Guy Review, Golf Monthly History

Shinnecock Hills Colin Montgomerie

9. VALDERRAMA
The hardest and tightest course in Europe.
Valderrama Website, top100courses.com, Planet Golf

Valderrama Golf

10. ROYAL DORNOCH
The Sutherland coast line is quite simply stunning.
UK Golf Guy Review, top100golfcourses.com, telegraph.co.uk, Graylyn Loomis

Pic - royaldornoch.com

Pic - royaldornoch.com

A big thanks again to Colin for sharing these. You can see more in the Favourite Courses series here

UK Clubs should turn to the domestic market when the green fee recession comes

In recent years, if you walked by any top UK or Ireland golf course in the summer months you would have been greeted with a familiar scene. You wouldn’t have had to wait too long before seeing an SUV pull up and a driver help a group of well-heeled golfers out of the vehicle. You would probably smell a whiff of cigar and then catch the American accents. If you followed them into the pro shop you would be likely to see the jumpers and other merchandise being piled up on the counter, much to the pro’s delight. Wander with them to the tee and you may well have seen four caddies lined up, ready to make sure the tourists got the most from their visit, as well as a few anecdotes to keep them chuckling in the pub afterwards.

Over the last few years it has become the norm for visitors’ tee-times at top-end courses to be dominated by international visitors. This trend has come along with a quite incredible increase in green fees at these clubs.

I’ve looked at the increase in green fees for a selection of top courses since 2000. The average summer weekend green fee for these courses in 2000 was £88. Coming in to summer 2020, the average for that same group is over £240. Had the cost increased in line with UK inflation then the average would be only £145.

uk golf green fees.png

The highest percentage rises have come at three Open courses - Royal St George’s, Carnoustie and Muirfield. All have gone from sub-£80 a round to over £250. Others, like North Berwick and Cruden Bay, have seen improvements in their course rankings which will have been a catalyst for their increases.

The great Australian golfer, and professor/student of the game, Peter Thomson said that no golf course in the world should charge more than a round at the Old Course, but now a round at Turnberry is almost twice as much.

The increases have been eye-watering, but tee-time sheets have still been filled. There have always been enough visitors willing to pay the prices, while the local market has largely been priced out of playing some of the nation’s most revered courses.

For some, it may be the only visit to these shores in their lifetime and they have been understandably keen to squeeze everything in to their trip. Most golfers from the US won’t have access to the uber-private courses that dominate the top of the rankings at home. So while green fees here have increased, visitors are often surprised and delighted to find that the top UK courses are open at all.

Social media will have had a part to play too - courses that were previously only a name are now poured over on Instagram - and slick marketing with beautiful drones shots all adds to the ‘must play’ nature of these courses.

On top of that, the pound has weakened significantly over this period so the increases in green fees aren’t felt as acutely when you convert them to dollars. There are many reasons why golf in the UK still has a strong allure for golfers from around the world.

From the clubs’ point of view, the pricing of a green fee is a simple case of supply and demand. If people are willing to keep paying for the tee times then they will keep on putting the prices up.

Most clubs will have a target for green fee income in a year baked into their financial plan and they basically have two levers to pull - the cost to the visitor per green fee and the number of visitor tee times they make available.

Muirfield recently announced they were going for the double whammy next year - adding Mondays to the existing Tuesdays and Thursdays for visitor play and putting the price up another £15 a person too. There’s another million pounds income for them right there.

I know of one course where they found that the more they put their green fees up, the more foreign visitors wanted to play the course! They had a mentality that ‘if it costs that much it must be really good’. Behavioural economics in the real world!

There have been several by-products of this burgeoning green fee income. Some courses have employed more green keepers - you need to keep your place in the rankings and if you drop down the list, you may not be able to get the visitors whose green fees you have come to rely on.

Clubs have invested in refurbishing their locker-rooms, expanding their pro-shops, improving their bars or doing up their practice areas so they can increase revenue per visitor and ensure they give the high-end experience that the green fee demands.

Muirfield has recently undergone a major refurbishment including a merchandise area (nothing as vulgar as a pro shop!)

Muirfield has recently undergone a major refurbishment including a merchandise area (nothing as vulgar as a pro shop!)

However, this model only works as long as there are people out there willing to visit the courses and pay these green fees.

No-one knows what’s going to happen in the future as we learn to adapt to a world with Coronavirus, but one thing we can be fairly certain of is that there won’t be any international visitors to UK golf courses this season. The impact of that on many clubs who now rely on green fee income will be profound. Clubs will have to dig deep into reserves, some staff will lose their jobs and members may be asked to help their club financially.

I was due to go on a trip to the north of Scotland next week and had prepaid many of the rounds. The courses are keen to hold onto this money and some are being imaginative in their approach. Castle Stuart said that we could play 36 holes instead of 18, at no extra cost, at any time up to 2025 if they could retain our money for now. Cashflow at this time is vital.

Castle Stuart is a firm favourite on many visitors’ tours to Scotland

Castle Stuart is a firm favourite on many visitors’ tours to Scotland

If you ask the average UK-based club member whether they are prepared to pay the green fees that many courses are asking today then the answer is generally a resounding ‘no’.

I ran a not-very-scientific poll on Twitter which gives at least an idea of the public’s appetite for paying green fees. And it’s not high. Only 18% of respondents would be prepared to pay over £200 for a round at a top course. These aren’t just your average club golfers, these are people keen enough on the game to follow me on Twitter!

Even when you go outside the very top clubs in the country there are some green fees which look quite incredible. 18 holes at the weekend on Gullane Number 1 is £195, Nairn is £180 and Western Gailes, £185. All of these will be mopping up foreign visitors playing the likes of Muirfield, Royal Dornoch or Turnberry and looking for additional rounds, but the costs are out of reach for the vast majority of local golfers.

While no-one knows for sure what the future holds, I have some thoughts of what we may see. Firstly, international travel is unlikely to get back to previous levels for quite some time. Travel is likely to be a less pleasurable experience, people will be worried about being stranded abroad if the virus flares up, and restrictions on hospitality could just make travelling less appealing.

This will go both ways. We will see fewer visitors to the UK, but conversely, there will be many British golfers who cancel or postpone their annual golf trip abroad. This should provide a great opportunity for domestic golfers to discover the amazing courses we have at home.

However, that’s just not going to happen if courses don’t adapt - and they need to be brave on green fees. If they keep the green fees where they are today then visitor numbers will dwindle and revenue will decline .

So here’s an idea. Top clubs should embrace the domestic market for the foreseeable future. They should cut the green fees significantly and open up attractive times to play. It won’t be good enough to offer cheap rates on a November afternoon, they will need to accept golfers when they want to play.

Golf courses could get together and offer regional packages. Some have done this before in the off-season but wouldn’t it be great to see a group of courses close together, like Muirfield, North Berwick and Gullane, offering a break in summer next year at a reasonable rate and partnering with local hotels to support the area’s local economy? That would have been unthinkable before now, but without the tourist dollar, maybe it could happen?

If UK golf clubs are to survive the green fee recession that is coming their way they will need to adapt quickly. Not only will this help them stay afloat but will also introduce a whole generation of British golfers to the amazing courses they are currently missing out on.

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