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Castlerock…. simply rocks!
Castlerock also has a superb relief 9-hole layout called the Bann Links, designed by Frank Pennick in 1986.
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.
Kirkistown Castle is a true links golf course near Cloughy on the Eastern shore of the Ards Peninsula in Northern Ireland.
Hallamshire Golf Club lies on a narrow strip of land at the edge of the city of Sheffield, overlooking the Derbyshire Peak District National Park and Pennines.
Scarborough South Cliff is one of several clifftop courses along the East Coast of Yorkshire.
You don’t need to think strategically to play Castle Stuart but to play Castle Stuart you need to think strategically.
Walking off the 1st tee at Golspie towards a featureless, flat fairway it might not be immediately apparent about all the golfing goodness that lies in store and just how terrific it is…. but by the time you have reached the turn you are acutely aware of the spectacular nature of this fascinating and varied links.
If you’ve not played the Carnegie Links at Skibo Castle since around 2008 you’ve not really played “Skibo”.
A minibus of American golfers is not the first thing I expected to see on arrival at Reay Golf Club; the most northerly 18 hole links on mainland Scotland!
Founded in 1870 Wick Golf Club is fast approaching its 150th birthday and is embracing its golden years by bringing new energy to the links.
They say that life’s all about the journey and not the destination but playing golf at Durness is without doubt both a journey and a destination.
The links at Burnham & Berrow begins at a pulsating pace and rarely lets up until the moment you reach the comfort of the historic 100-year-old clubhouse where you are able to relax and reflect.
Gleneagles boasts a trio of wonderful golf courses all offering something different.
Those familiar with other Gloucestershire oddities; Cleeve Cloud and Painswick, will have a sense of familiarity when they arrive at the charming and bunkerless Minchinhampton Old golf course.
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.
The first thing to state is that Trump International Golf Links is undoubtedly an exceptionally good golf course. The second thing to say from the off is that it’s categorically not the “World's Greatest Golf Course” as the owner makes out and their website brashly proclaims.
Chart Hills is a flamboyant Sir Nick Faldo designed layout located in tranquil Kent countryside that contains some excellent holes amongst its bold and lavish bunkering.
Piltdown, founded in 1904, is a quaint heathland golf course tucked away in a sleepy corner of leafy Sussex.
I recently played at Harrogate Golf Club in the 36-hole Vardon Grip 36 hole open competition on an early September day with a tiny hint of autumn in the air.
I recently took the opportunity to play Royal Wimbledon Golf Club in their 36-hole scratch open competition, The Royal Wimbledon Trophy.
The London Golf Club can boast two courses that have both hosted European Tour events.
Moor Park in Rickmansworth has two golf courses attached to its classy country club style estate.
Brancepeth Castle is an exhilarating parkland course played across good turf on the outskirts of Durham.
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.
No other county in England can boast such an impressive portfolio of high quality parkland golf courses than Hertfordshire.
Essex is a county with many golf courses but it is not really renowned for having any venues near the top of the pyramid when it comes to discussing the best of golf in Great Britain.
I’m easily pleased. All I ask for is good turf, natural movement in the land and engaging greens. Simply give me all of those on a golf course and I’m a happy bunny.
I’m not quite sure where to start when writing a review for Cullen. It’s probably the craziest course I’ve ever played. In truth I’m still a bit bamboozled by it all.
I’m going to buy Spey Bay a drum. They obviously haven’t got one... because nobody is banging it for them. And they should be!
I suspect many fools dash past Spey Valley, located at the foot of Cairngorm Mountains near Aviemore, as they bomb up the A9 towards Inverness and beyond.
I was very interested to see Alnmouth Village following a reader’s recommendation after the publication of our article about the best nine-hole golf courses in the United Kingdom.
The Kingdom of Fife has long been associated with world-class links golf. The region is the spiritual home of the game and Kingsbarns fits seamlessly into the modern day environment.
If you’re in Fife and looking for a game away from the links then Ladybank would be as good a choice as anywhere.
There’s very little that hasn’t been written about the golfing mecca that is St. Andrews.
Woburn can boast no less than three golf courses that all regularly feature in the various top 100 rankings.
I’ve played at Bingley St. Ives several times over the past couple of decades but it had been a few years since my last visit. Little has changed in the intervening time, however, I must admit I’d forgotten just how good a golf course this is.
The Manchester Golf Club is routed over almost 300 acres of mostly moorland with touches of heathland and a sprinkle of park thrown in. Surrounded by scenic and far-reaching rural views it is a real delight to golf on the springy fairways of ‘Hopwood’ where shades of green meet hues of brown in an altogether attractive landscape.
Leven Links, home to the Leven Golfing Society and Leven Thistle Golf Club, is just about as genuine a Scottish links as you can get. This old fashioned layout goes somewhat under the radar in Fife but it is a course you should seek out if heading to the Home of Golf.
It’s possible, and most likely probable, that the Queen’s at Gleneagles is the best golf course under 6,000 yards. Not just in Scotland but anywhere.
Not all golf courses are created equal and that can certainly be said about Trump Turnberry.
Wentworth is an exclusive private club in the heart of the Surrey heathbelt where a members invitation is required to play any of the 54 holes comprising the East, West and Edinburgh courses.
Oakdale is an established parkland golf course close to the City Centre of Harrogate. It was designed by the famous architect Dr Alister MacKenzie in 1914 and, despite its proximity to the hustle and bustle of city life, is set in well over 100 acres of peaceful North Yorkshire countryside.
The biggest compliment I can give to Parkstone is that I cannot think of many inland golf courses in the British Isles that are superior.
Designed by an experienced Harry Colt the Old Course at Leckford opened for play in 1929 and the layout has largely been preserved since then. This is a good thing, for the nine-holes at this under-the-radar venue deliver a beguiling round of golf.
Firstly, I need to state I personally don’t think that tight, tree-lined courses generally produce the best of golf. Strategy is diminished, playing surfaces can be affected and repeatedly asking a golfer to simply keep his ball on the straight and narrow, and punishing them if they don’t, doesn’t really do it for me. I prefer angles and wide open spaces.
The Wisley is a very exclusive private member golf club located in Surrey and is played solely by the 700 shareholders (and their invited guests) who have purchased a stake in The Club which opened for play in the early 1990’s.
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.
I probably lack the savoir faire that The Renaissance Club expects from a golfer but regardless of this I recently seized an opportunity to peg it up behind the closed gates and allowed myself to be indulged for a day.
Oxford Golf Club, formerly called Southfield and designed by Harry Colt in 1922, is an interesting parkland course situated close to the historic City Centre.
I wasn’t supposed to like The Oxfordshire. But I did.
Coombe Hill is a thrilling JF Abercromby design that compares well with many, if not most, of the famed nearby Surrey and Berkshire courses that occupy the various top 100 golf course lists. In fact to the untrained eye you would be forgiven for thinking you are playing one of the great heathlands at this flamboyant woodland venue.
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.
In my mind Royal St. George’s at Sandwich is a championship links golf course with few, if any, superiors.
I love pretty much everything about the intriguing and challenging links at Littlestone. There is a rustic charm to this most appealing of layouts where you enjoy all the best traits of seaside golf.
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.
Stumbling across Knole Park on a balmy May afternoon was like finding a little golfing treasure trove. There’s lots of golfing goodness to be found at this most English of golf courses.
Ferndown is one of those golf courses that simply looks the business, the bees knees, the mutts nuts… I could go on. It must be a photographer’s dream.
The Isle of Purbeck is often noted for its glorious 360 degree panoramic vista over the nature reserve that its engaging holes have been thoughtfully etched through. The views are indeed superb yet the course is every bit their match.
Stoneham’s biggest asset is undoubtedly its superb routing over adventurous terrain which ultimately lends itself to some unique and brilliant golf holes.
Coxmoor Golf Club is currently three years into a 10-15 year project to restore their course back to its true heathland characteristic.
The Fidra course plays through mature pine trees for the first two thirds of the round before venturing out onto linksier land for the remainder.
Luffness New serves up an uncomplicated yet delicious feast of pure and traditional links golf laid out naturally across unbelievably firm and fast turf, some of the best I’ve golfed on.
The Dirleton is a consistent course and billed as a traditional Scottish Links.
Caldy is situated at the end of the Wirral Peninsula, alongside the river Dee, and enjoys some wonderful views whilst playing the series of cliff top holes on the front nine. Looking across the estuary towards Hilbre Islands and the coast of Wales one can really appreciate the fabulous setting.
With more than 200 golf courses across Yorkshire Lindrink sits very close to the tip of the iceberg when it comes to discussing the best of golf in the White Rose County.
Stood on the fourth tee at Bovey Castle I’m already three golf balls down, having not found any of my tee-shots, and am hobbling like an old man thanks to a pain in my foot. I should be ready for quitting this godforsaken game and heading to the luxuries on offer at the accompanying 5-star country house hotel… yet I’m fascinated by these opening holes and am keen to see the rest.
East Devon, at Budleigh Salterton, is a golf course that had eluded me for far too long. However, I set that matter straight with a visit in the early Spring of 2017 and came away very impressed with how the course played, especially for the time of year.
London Scottish Golf Club plays over the fast-running, gravel-based course on the busy Wimbledon Common where a blend of heath and woodland converge to provide a delightful and natural golfing experience.
They say that nice things come in small packages and that is exactly what Reigate Heath is and does.
The humps, bumps, swales and hollows of Berkhamsted add a real charm and help create an atmosphere for enjoyable golf on fast-running, heathy-style terrain. Couple this with the lovely contouring of the putting surfaces and it elevates this course to one that is well above the norm.
The North Shore Golf Club at Skegness is a member of the Association of James Braid Courses and mixes parkland style holes with others that contain an element of links golf.
If you succumb to the notion of par then Aldeburgh is as tough as old boots.
The modest 6,000-yard, par 69 course at Bungay & Waveney Valley Golf Club, established in 1889, is yet another Suffolk treat in a county that continually delivers fine inland golf.
Except for the undeniable beauty of the 12th hole there’s nothing truly outstanding at Southerness. Please note that this isn’t meant with negative connotations though because everything about this true links course is of a consistently high standard and is undoubtedly one of Scotland’s sleeping gems.
Edgbaston is a highly impressive private members golf club laid out on a rolling, albeit compact, parcel of parkland just one mile from the centre of Birmingham.
Right on the edge of the City of Aberdeen lays the charming Kings Links golf course which is owned by Aberdeen City Council and also the playing arena for three golf clubs; The Northern, Caledonian and Bon Accord.
There’s a deceptive quality to the humble yet alluring links course at Arbroath which would not only make an excellent companion when playing at Carnoustie, or en route to Aberdeen from the South, but is well worthy of a play in its own right.
Balnagask is very much a case of what could be… and at one time probably was! The property has so much potential but I fear this is no longer being realised.
Saint Annes Old Links sits amongst distinguished guests along England's North West coast. It holds its own.
Enville is an extremely intriguing 36 hole golf complex located in deepest Staffordshire countryside that is slowly but surely building a reputation as one of the country’s most respected venues.
With over 100 years of history Childwall Golf Club, formed in 1912, is a traditional, tree-lined parkland course that serves up a consistent test of golf over almost dead flat terrain.
Rotherham is a really enjoyable parkland golf course located in the heart of South Yorkshire.
The 2016 Yorkshire Amateur County Championship brought me back to Moortown, a course I’ve played numerous times over the past couple of decades but not for at least half a dozen years.
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.
