Your Favourite Courses
Golf courses rankings have mostly been compiled by 'experts' so we thought we would find out what Going for Golf readers think. Hundreds of amateur golfers have been voting and here is the current top 40 courses
1 - St Andrews Old
It splits opinion. Some say the greatest course, others that there’s not a great deal to it other than history and tradition. But the number of people putting in for the tee ballot suggests more love it than hate it. We all know the iconic images, but don’t be fooled into believing you know the course - if you play it, make sure you hire a caddie…
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2 - Turnberry - Ailsa
The Ailsa provides some of golf’s most iconic views: across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran and, preventing shipping from catastrophe on the nearby Bristo Rock, the Turnberry Lighthouse. The course isn’t bad either, having survived being turned into an airfield during both wars, it was tweaked again for this year’s Open and very nearly supplied us with golf’s most romantic major victory. A true gem.
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3 - Valderrama
The only course on mainland Europe to host the Ryder Cup, Valderrama is consistently rated one of, if not the best course in Europe. It doesn’t have the variety of some of its main rivals but it is always in glorious condition and provides a very stiff test of golf – whether you’re a weekend hacker or a Ryder Cup star.
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4 - Woodhall Spa - Hotchkin
The century-old Hotchkin course at the Lincolnshire venue, was originally the work of Harrys Vardon and Colt. It was redesigned by then owner Neil Hotchkin before he sold up to the English Golf Union which transformed Woodhall Spa into the National Golf Centre. One of 18 courses ranked 19/20 by the 08/09 Peugeot Golf Guide, it’s also in Golf World’s top 10.
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5 - San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo, in the south-east corner of Quinta do Lago, on the Algarve, borders the Ria Formosa nature reserve and estuary. Designed by Joseph Lee and opened in 1988, San Lorenzo uses well the undulating pine woodland topography of the resort and its location, with the Dona Filipa Hotel on the doorstep, makes this a lasting favourite among golf tourists.
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6 - Gleneagles - King's
The Kings is another James Braid course with heather, gorse, firs, pines and silver birch lining the fairways. The views of the moors from every tee are stunning and it’s just a pity the course is now considered too short for the tour.
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7 - Muirfield
Home to the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and host to a staggering 15 Open Championships, Muirfield gained joint top spot and full marks in the recent Rolex World’s Top 1000 Golf Courses. It has everything you could want from a course in Scotland: dunes, pot bunkers, scrub, gorse and testing rough. And very often it blows a ‘hoolie’. The only surprise is why it’s taken so long to hit our top 20.
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8 - The Belfry - Brabazon
The Ryder Cup has been played on the Brabazon course on four occasions, and while there are many better golf courses, there are few which offer the same iconography. Two holes in particular are etched on the memory: the 10th and the 18th. Worth playing just for those two.
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9 - Royal Dornoch
Located 45 miles from Inverness, Dornoch – where golf was first played in 1616 – is a classic links, with the 14th hole having been described by the great Harry Vardon as ‘the most natural hole in golf’. It is also a great favourite of Tom Watson, who revels in the plateau greens on the longer holes and the upturned-woks of the par-threes.It is always there or thereabouts in the ‘best courses’ lists thanks to Old Tom Morris, Donald Ross and Mother Nature, who were largely responsible for one of the best experiences in golf.
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10 - Vilamoura Old
Beloved of Going for Golf readers, but the 08/09 Peugeot Golf Guide doesn’t even rate the Old course the best at Vilamoura. That accolade went to the Victoria. The par-73 Old course is reminiscent of a British parkland course in places which may explain its popularity. Remodelled in the 90s it is regarded by golfers as one of the best courses in the Algarve... whatever the Peugeot Golf Guide says.
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11 - St Mellion - Nicklaus
Set in 450 acres of stunning Cornish countryside, St Mellion now boasts 36-holes of championship golf following the opening of the Kernow course. But it’s the Nicklaus course which always sets pulses racing. Its refurbishment was completed in 2009 – it opened in 1987 – and from next year it will play host to the English Open. It has its own Amen Corner not dissimilar to Augusta, including the signature hole 11, a daunting but stunning par-three.
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12 - Le Meridien Penina - Championship
Penina is a flat, Henry Cotton-designed layout which has the honour of being the Algarve's first golf course. It was built on land originally designated for growing rice, but has curried favour with British Golfers since day one - and not just with the wonderful aroma of eucalyptus. At 6,860 yards - and with a par of 73 - it's a great resort course, challenging and enjoyable and has played host to the Portuguese open.
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13 - Hindhead
A delightful heathland course set in the rolling Surrey hills – with the outstanding front nine played in a valley dating from the ice age. Arthur Conan Doyle was one of its founder members and it is much beloved of nearby resident and commentating legend Peter Alliss – and it’s easy to see why. Always maintained to the highest standards, this Open qualifying venue is secluded and picturesque and a tough challenge.
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14 - Kingsbarns
This Kyle Phillips’ design opened in 2001to a fair amount of hype … all of it justified. Built on genuine links land and with most holes overlooking the sea, it contains a variety of challenges all of which will delight the connoisseur.
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15 - Sunningdale Old
Originally a Willie Park Jr design, and opened in 1901, the Old course at Sunningdale has “boundless charm and appeal” according to the 08/09 Peugeot Golf Guide. Nick Faldo won the 1992 European Open here, among the heather and trees which make the course one of the best inland lay-outs in England, a claim reinforced by its top-10 rating by Golf World.
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16 - Vale do Lobo - Royal
This course features one of the most photographed holes in golf: the 16th, played across three fingers of cliff-side. Vale do Lobo is the old lady of Portuguese golf, having been founded in 1962 – and is doing its best not to show its age. Despite the rest of the course not living up to the spectacular nature of the 16th it has always been an immensely popular spot, particularly for travelling Brits, probably because it is charming – with thousands of fig and olive trees – and immensely playable.
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17 - Waterville
The Tom Fazio renovations on this great old course, which were completed in 2006, have taken Waterville to a whole new level. The extensive changes included a radical reshaping of the front nine which was completed sympathetically while managing to enhance the overall natural appearance of the layout. It’s a great golf course in a stunning location.
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18 - Wentworth West
The excessive green fee at Wentworth means you visit here only if you have your ‘A’ game, though the cost is reduced between November and May. Ernie Els tweaked the West course recently and the fact it’s used successfully on the European Tour means you can follow in the footsteps of the likes of Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Seve Ballesteros.
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19 - La Manga Club - West
The West Course at La Manga stands out as the resort’s truly unique layout. As a 5,770 yard par-72, the course does not require you to be a long driver but its undulating fairways and numerous blind shots make it an enthralling challenge for golfers of all abilities and separate it from its more traditional neighbour courses.
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20 - Killarney Killeen
A relative newcomer, having opened only in 2005, this Dorset course has quickly established itself as one of the best in the south. In at 89 in the last Golf World top 100, it seems sure to move higher next time round, given its advanced maturity. It’s located within 256 acres of ancient woodland which adds to the impression that it’s older and more established than it actually is.
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21 - Walton Heath
Although it was designed by Herbet Fowler, James Braid was the professional for half-a-century and would undoubtedly have tweaked it here and there. The venue for the 1981 Ryder Cup is a perennial favourite among golfers of all abilities.
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22 - Saunton Sands
In a sport where ‘nearly men’ titles are plentiful, Saunton, burrowing its way delightfully through UNESCO-recognised sand dunes at Braunton Burrows, might well be the best links course never to ‘win’ a major. Don’t take our word for it though, it was Henry Longhurst who said Saunton was “the finest course never to have hosted the Open Championship”.
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23 - Ballybunion
Ireland is synonymous with links golf and it simply does not come any better than at Ballybunion Golf Club. With two very different, but equally challenging, links courses, the club just exudes character. The club’s Old Course alone has received countless rave reviews over many years and yet remains an unspoiled jewel in the crown of Irish Links golf.
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24 - Carnoustie
Another on the Open rota, Carnoustie would not be included in the top 10 of a certain Jean van de Velde – but Going for Golf readers like it despite its reputation as a ‘beast’. The famous Barry Burn – sorry Jean – comes into play no fewer than five times on the two closing holes, so you can’t afford to switch off at any stage, eh Jean?
