Luke Donald’s favourite courses
Factfile
Born
1977 - Hemel Hempstead
Turned Pro
2001
Career Victories
Nine
Ryder Cup
Three appearances (Debut 2004)
There has been some debate over whether or not it’s right to have a world number one with no Majors to his name. That may be relevant to the media and the fans but it won’t perturb the current incumbent, Luke Donald.
It’s his consistency which has earned him his place at the top of the pile and few would begrudge him that status. Not least because he is a fan of shorter, classically designed golf courses.
Although the 33-year-old Englishmen grew up playing at Hazlemere and Beaconsfield golf clubs, his favourite courses are not of this land. He now spends most of his time in the USA so it should come as little surprise that his first course of choice is Stateside; in Monterey, California, in fact.
He explained: “Cypress Point is like playing three courses in one. It has the holes through the trees, the holes in the sand dunes and the picturesque ones running along by the ocean. It’s an amazing place. It has such a magical feel about it. It’s not a long course, either. It is so refreshing to play such a different style of course to the ones I compete on all year.
“It has been a while since I teed it up there. I usually play when I’m playing the AT&T or when the US Open is at Pebble Beach. Cypress is so special I would rather play it than Pebble Beach – and I like Pebble. It is obviously spectacular but on some of the holes by the water you hit good drives and the ball is way below your feet and you have to hit to greens that run away from you. Architecturally, it’s not the best design but it does have fabulous views. I just love Cypress.”
Donald’s second pick is something of a surprise. Known as ‘America’s snootiest golf course’ because of its exclusivity, National Golf Links of America is a links-style course in Southampton, New York, located on Long Island between Shinnecock Hills and Peconic Bay.
“It’s so enjoyable,” said Donald. “Long Island has such a bounty of really great courses. Designed by CB Macdonald (in 1909) it has a lot of replica holes from famous links courses in England and Scotland. It has a Hell Bunker from St Andrews and the Road Hole with the famous deep bunker to the left of the green, but without the hotel and road obviously. There’s the blind shot of the Alps from Prestwick; Sahara from Royal St George’s; one hole called Westward Ho!; and the Redan hole from North Berwick. You never get bored with the National.
“Part of the reason I love these courses is they are a relief from the relentless slog of tour golf. You get to make a lot of birdies and you are not hitting three and four-irons in every par four. That’s fun. I am not a bomber and grew up playing at Beaconsfield and Hazlemere, which are about 6,000-6,500 yards. You don’t get to do that anymore.”
Closer to home, Donald also has a penchant for the wonderful Ballybunion, in Ireland, and its two courses, the Cashen and the Old.
“Just the dunes, and those greens, and the landscape, and the views along the coast. That’s what a links course is all about. And that’s Ballybunion,” he smiled, wistfully.
“The last time I played there was a week before the Open last year just to get a little links tune-up. It’s the sort of place you can go to for a holiday with your mates and maybe drink a few Guinness, too. That’s what I did last year.
“All these courses are not very long.
I enjoy playing courses that are not massively long and ‘out there’. I don’t want to have to be slogging away when I’m playing for fun. Slogging away is what I do every day for months and months on tour.
“I love playing courses that have short par threes, too. I think some of the world’s greatest par-threes are very short. Like the seventh at Pebble Beach, the 12th at Augusta National and the eighth at Royal Troon. I’m never a big fan of long par threes. There are not too many that are very memorable. The only one I can really think of is Cypress Point’s 16th.
“I love enjoyable old classic courses that are fun to play and offer different conditions and challenges every day.”
