Oliver Wilson’s favourite courses

Factfile

Born

1980 - Mansfield

Turned Pro

2003

Career Victories

1 (Tavistock Cup 2003)

Other Victories

Walker Cup (2003) Seve Trophy (2007 & 2009)

Ryder Cup

One appearance (2008)

Oliver Wilson attended Augusta State University before turning professional and still has a house in the city. So it comes as little surprise that he should choose the home of the Masters as one of his three favourite courses. Despite never making it past the cut, the 30-year-old Englishman remains a fan of the course – yet it’s not his top choice. That accolade goes to Leopard Creek, in South Africa.
Wilson said: “I love it down in South Africa and Leopard Creek is my favourite without a doubt. The setting, on the edge of the Kruger National Park, is spectacular. You’re out in the wild with all the animals. It’s a great fun course to play and is always in perfect condition. All the par-fives are reachable in two, which I like! The 13th is the standout hole. The green sits right down on the edge of the park and there’s a 100-foot drop-off behind the green down to Crocodile River. There are such fabulous views.

“When I first played at Leopard Creek, the baboons were all lined up along the 10th fairway like spectators. It was hilarious! And yes, I have seen a leopard, not during the round, but at night.”
The Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell), in Kirkby in Ashfield, is a traditional heathland layout which also holds a special place in the heart of the recent Tavistock Cup winner.

“I played there a lot when I was growing up: union matches, inter-club matches, junior matches... It’s just one mile from Coxmoor where I grew up playing. It’s a special course, very underrated. It runs through a heathland valley surrounded by woods. Really secluded. The course plays so firm and fast in the summer and the rough is high. You can’t just turn up and rip it. You have to think your way round. It’s an old-style course designed by Willie Park Jr and then tweaked by JH Taylor. It’s got the touch of the old masters.”

And talk of masters brings Wilson neatly on to his third favourite in his some-time home city of Augusta.

He explained: “I went to college in Augusta and the golf team got an invite from the members to play the course in March 2000. The course was ready for the Masters and was immaculate. I remember writing the date in my diary and checking the advanced weather forecast almost every day for six weeks.

“The greens are so quick and undulating, it really tests your putting. That’s how all courses should be set up. The quicker the greens, the better players come through. You have to think your way around the course so much so that you come into the greens from the correct angles to get close to the pins. You have to hit shots from sloping lies both uphill and downhill. You can be just four feet off a green, slightly misjudge your chip, and you’ll watch your ball run on and catch a slope and keep rolling away from you.”