Royals

Oh my word! The Balgownie Links at Royal Aberdeen is something else. It’s different gravy - an unbelievably good golf course. Not only is it the best in Aberdeenshire it’s one of the best you will play. Period.

I can’t imagine many reviews for Royal County Down – one of the world’s great golf courses – beginning with mention of the Annesley Links…. but that is exactly where I’m going to start.

It’s Christmas Eve. Well, not quite, but it certainly feels like it. It’s the evening before we are due to play Royal Dornoch for the first time.

I don’t think I would ever accept the notion that a golf course is perfect – not even The Old Course at St. Andrews – but boy does Royal Portrush come close. Tantalisingly close.

In my mind Royal St. George’s at Sandwich is a championship links golf course with few, if any, superiors.

Royal Birkdale is a golf course which is incredibly hard not to like but at the same time it’s not an easy one to truly love.

I always enjoy my visits to play Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club at Deal, the Kentish town that the course is often referred to by name.

As you would expect from a club that has seen the Claret Jug contested over its links on no less than eleven occasions Royal Lytham & St. Annes didn't disappoint.

Royal Porthcawl has a long standing and extremely fine reputation. It’s one that continues to grow at an extremely fast pace and shows no signs of relenting.

Playing Royal Troon less than a fortnight after Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson had produced what is arguably the greatest golfing duel in history, and certainly the best final day of an Open Championship, was a special occasion.

It could be argued that no golf club has had a greater influence on the amateur game of golf than Royal Liverpool, the second oldest links in England behind only Royal North Devon.

Royal North Devon, or Westward Ho! as it is often fondly referred to, is a very special place. Perhaps it should be called Royal North Heaven!

Royal West Norfolk Golf Club, often referred to as Brancaster, is a quirky course that time has forgotten about. And it’s much the better for that.

The drive into Royal Dublin Golf Club, over a splendid wooden bridge, sets a fabulous scene for golfing at one of Ireland’s most revered yet underrated golf courses.

The Valley course in its own right is a very fine links and one that makes a fine bedfellow for the Dunluce.

Royal St. David’s is regarded as one of the best links courses in Wales and has a reputation for being a fearsome test of golf.

I recently took the opportunity to play Royal Wimbledon Golf Club in their 36-hole scratch open competition, The Royal Wimbledon Trophy.

Royal Worlington & Newmarket at Mildenhall is a golf course that I have wanted to visit for a long time.

Royal Ashdown Forest is home to two fine golf courses; the Old and the West.

I can’t imagine many reviews for Royal County Down – one of the world’s great golf courses – beginning with mention of the Annesley Links…. but that is exactly where I’m going to start.

In the not too distance future The Royal Burgess Golfing Society at Barnton on the outskirts of Edinburgh will celebrate its tercentenary.

Royal Cromer, founded in 1888, was originally designed by Old Tom Morris and has recently been recognised as one of the top 100 golf courses in England.

The second links at Troon, the “Portland” created by Fernie in 1895 and formerly known as the Relief course, has its moments of excellence.

The Silverburn course, home of Aberdeen Ladies Golf Club, and offers a great deal but sadly doesn’t quite live up to its excellent early billing.

I also sampled the second course; The Struie when visiting Royal Dornoch.

The JH Taylor golf course at Royal Mid Surrey makes the best use of its pancake flat property and with 18 new USGA specification green complexes now in play there is plenty of interest at this thriving venue located just 20 minutes from Central London.