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 - 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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3 - 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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4 - 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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5 - 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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6 - 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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7 - Penina
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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8 - 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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9 - Royal County Down
Rated the joint-best course in Europe by the 08/09 Peugeot Golf Guide – sharing the accolade with 17 others! – this classic Old Tom Morris-designed links is also ranked the second best in the UK&I by Golf World magazine. The legendary Tom Watson said: “Royal County Down is a pure links in the truest sense of the word. My advice... is to keep it straight off the tee – stray from the fairways at your peril. It’s a tremendous test and the outward half is as fine a nine holes as I’ve ever played.” And he knows a thing or two about links golf...
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10 - Woburn Dukes
Like its not-quite-so-highly-rated sibling, the Dukes is tree-lined and in a wonderful setting, albeit in Milton Keynes. An abundance of heather, bracken and gorse add to the allure and the much-vaunted third hole, surrounded as it is by rhododendron bushes, is in Golf magazine’s ‘World's Top 500 Holes’.
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11 - 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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12 - Gleneagles Kings Course
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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13 - Portmarnock
The Peugeot Golf Guide lists Portmarnock - a perfect, classic links course dating from 1894 – as the joint top course in Europe. “You haven’t lived if you haven’t played Portmarnock,” says the guide. But a hefty green fee may leave a lot of people bereft of life…
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14 - Woodhall Spa
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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15 - 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?
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16 - 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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17 - Royal, Vale do Lobo
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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18 - Belfry
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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19 - Monte Rei
This stunning Nicklaus design is American in its appearance, but that shouldn't put you off. What might put you off, however, is a high handicap, as it is quite daunting for those who can't exert complete control over their golf ball. But if you do fancy taking it on you will entranced by its layout
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20 - 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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21 - Hillside
Celebrating its centenary next year, Southport-based Hillside is often overlooked in favour of its more illustrious neighbour, Royal Birkdale. But Hillside is a tremendous links course in its own right and located anywhere else in England would be rightly lauded. Partly-lined by pine trees it’s an unusual, yet delightful, setting for a links and will not disappoint. Indeed Greg Norman once wrote that the back nine holes were ‘the best in Britain’.
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22 - Royal Birkdale
A regular in the top-five of any golf publication, Royal Birkdale has hosted the Open Championship on nine occasions and is regarded by pros and amateurs alike as a ‘fair’ course. Designed by George Low, and opened in 1897, the course was remodelled by FW Hawtree and JH Taylor in the 1930s and has been one of the country’s best since then.
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23 - St George’s Hill
Surrey is spoilt for good golf courses, providing more than 10 per cent of Golf World’s top 100 in Britain & Ireland. And this is one of the best inland courses in the country, let alone the county. Arguably Harry Colt’s best design, the three loops of nine holes provide many memorable holes.
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24 - Celtic Manor 2010
Home to the Ryder Cup in 2010, the specially constructed course, which opened in 2007, is the latest edition to a resort let down only by the Travelodge appearance of its five-star hotel. It features nine holes from the Wentwood Hills course and nine new holes, with half the holes featuring water. It was designed with spectators in mind and presents a formidable challenge befitting of such a historic tournament as the Ryder Cup.
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25 - Marriott St Pierre
Almost £2m has been spent by owner Marriott on improvements to the two courses at the Chepstow resort – one of only three golf resorts in Wales. The Old course, built around an 11-acre lake, celebrates its 50th anniversary (so not that old then) in 2012, and features a cracking finish. Read more in our Autumn 2009 issue.
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26 - Penha Longa
A demanding and enjoyable Trent Jones Jnr layout, in an impressive historic location, Penha Longa’s Atlantic course enjoys the Sintra mountains as a backdrop. The course winds its way through the hills affording great views of the nearby towns and the Atlantic Ocean.
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27 - St Mellion
Thirty years old now the tree-lined Duchess is a gem in its own right as part of Woburn’s trio of highly rated courses. Ranked lower in the Peugeot Guide and Golf World’s top 100, than both the Dukes and Marquess tracks, the Duchess’ presumed shortfall is probably its length. But while it is the shortest of the triumvirate it is also arguably the most attractive.
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28 - Woburn Duchess
There are occasions when a golf course might not get the recognition it deserves merely because its owned by a major hotel change. But Going for Golf readers are too savvy for that... The East course at Dalmahoy, a Marriott Hotel & Country Club - to give its full title - makes it into our top 20 despite being owned by a leisure behemoth. Just seven miles from the centre of Edinburgh, this James Braid-designed course hosted the Solheim Cup in 1992 and is set in 1,000 acres of parkland. It is heavily bunkered affording the immaculate greens much protection. Trees help to frame the holes while water comes into play on just two of them.
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29 - Dalmahoy East
Set in the stunning Loire Valley, Les Bordes is as deadly as it is divine and with fewer than 90 golfers having broken 80 off the back tees, it is justifiably considered one of the finest tests of golf on the planet. However, Les Bordes is now strictly a members-only club. Development plans include the construction of a new golf course which will be open to the public. Watch this space, as they say…
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30 - Les Bordes
Set in the stunning Loire Valley, Les Bordes is as deadly as it is divine and with fewer than 90 golfers having broken 80 off the back tees, it is justifiably considered one of the finest tests of golf on the planet. However, Les Bordes is now strictly a members-only club. Development plans include the construction of a new golf course which will be open to the public. Watch this space, as they say…
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31 - 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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32 - Swinley Forest
Eccentric or traditional? Maybe even both. That’s Swinley Forest, located on the Surrey-Berkshire sand belt, home to some outstanding golfing venues. And you can add Swinley to that list. It may seem a bit stuffy to some with its ‘gentleman’s club’ ethos, but its par-69, Harry Colt-designed course is a gem. Purple heather, pine trees and rhododendrons (in the spring at least) abound and it feels like you could bump into Bertie Wooster. Mind you, Hillside is considerably cheaper…
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33 - Machrihanish
Not the easiest place to get to but well worth making the effort. This is the 1876 Old Tom Morris version not the nearby 2009 David McLay Kidd Macrihanish Dunes lay-out, which will surely soon garner its own cult following. Arguably the most enjoyable place you can golf in the UK, Macrihanish is set in dunes on the western Kintyre peninsula and was laid out by the Almighty.
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34 - Victoria
Vilamoura’s Arnold Palmer-designed fifth course opened in 2004, and is well landscaped, as you would expect from a USA resort-style layout. Hazards are visible from the tees and it gets progressively more difficult. It’s an ideal place for a round of holiday golf.
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35 - 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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36 - Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond, home of The Barclays Scottish Open, is one of Europe’s most luxurious and exclusive golf clubs. Considered one of the best parkland courses in the UK and Ireland, the highlands resort offers breathtaking views, pristine fairways and superb hospitality and with watersports, fishing and hiking also available you will never get bored of this Scottish sanctuary.
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37 - 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.
