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<strong>TOP</strong> <strong>100</strong><br />
GOLF COURSES<br />
IN ENGLAND<br />
The definitive list ranked by golf’s most distinguished panel<br />
ALSO<br />
INSIDE<br />
AN EXPANDED<br />
‘NEXT <strong>100</strong>’ LIST<br />
FOR 2015<br />
INSIGHT FROM: FALDO, JACKLIN, NICKLAUS, ALLISS, CRITCHLEY AND WESTWOOD
Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
how we produced The lisT<br />
Welcome to the most<br />
comprehensive ranking<br />
to date of the finest<br />
courses in england.<br />
There are so many courses to<br />
highlight (we have focused on<br />
numbers 51-<strong>100</strong>, as they didn’t feature in last<br />
year’s GB&I ranking), so many stunning<br />
images to find a place for and so many<br />
feature articles to cram in, we need to get<br />
straight to the business of how we put it all<br />
together. Hopefully what follows answers<br />
any questions you have about our Top <strong>100</strong>:<br />
Who decided the positions?<br />
Our panel of readers, who are efectively<br />
‘Mystery Shoppers’. They visit the courses<br />
unannounced, pay the green fee and make<br />
their judgements. The list (and the Next <strong>100</strong>)<br />
is an amalgamation of their opinions.<br />
do you ‘mark’ each course?<br />
No. This is done by other rankings inside and<br />
outside golf, but at this time the panel purely<br />
rank the course using a ‘mental’ aggregate of<br />
the various factors*. A numerical breakdown<br />
might well add ballast but it’s not something<br />
I personally yearn for, at least not until every<br />
panellist has played every course and we can<br />
thus produce a valid statistical breakdown.<br />
At the moment, producing one would be no<br />
more useful than the ‘mental’ ranking. Watch<br />
this space – although I am personally more<br />
keen on working to get a large panel who’ve<br />
played every single course. That would, in<br />
my view, further improve our Top <strong>100</strong> lists.<br />
What are the factors* in assessing?<br />
This seems obvious to me, but people do<br />
ask; we ask panellists to consider strategic<br />
merit, presentation, memorable holes,<br />
playability, consistency of test and visual<br />
appeal. But not anything of the course. See,<br />
told you it wasn’t nuclear physics...<br />
do tour pros or architects feature?<br />
Using ‘celebrity’ panellists is in my view a<br />
vanity project. Many others do it, and GW<br />
has done in the past – I’ve been involved in<br />
those lists. But I just don’t see how even the<br />
most famous Tour player or the most feted<br />
architect can add credible assistance to the<br />
ranking given they may well have played less<br />
than half of the contenders. The only reason<br />
the panel and I have any justification for<br />
contributing to a list of the ‘best’ courses in<br />
England is because, by virtue of having<br />
played all or the vast majority of the<br />
contenders, they have the ability to compare.<br />
Some architects have indeed played as<br />
widely, but there could be vested interests<br />
given they may well judge their own work.<br />
do readers make good panellists?<br />
I absolutely believe they do. In addition to<br />
their ability to compare, I also very much like<br />
the fact they have paid their green fees; it<br />
removes any possibile inhibitions and also<br />
means they can relate to our readers – and<br />
hopefully vice versa. Remember, they are<br />
readers themselves; our Top <strong>100</strong>s are lists for<br />
golfers who like to go on golf trips to the<br />
best courses, created by golfers who like to<br />
go on golf trips to the best courses. Our aim<br />
is for you to feel confident that what we<br />
suggest in our Top <strong>100</strong>s will be the reality<br />
when you arrive; it’s such a disappointment<br />
when it isn’t – our panellists know, they’ve<br />
been there too. It’s not to say we aren’t<br />
interested in the views of famous names. In<br />
this supplement alone we hear from Jack<br />
Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo, Peter Alliss and Lee<br />
Westwood to name a few, plus architects of<br />
the stature of Tom Mackenzie, Frank Pont<br />
and Martin Ebert. A pretty good list!<br />
can i Join the panel?<br />
Yes! The only proviso is you have a wealth of<br />
experience of what are regarded as the<br />
finest courses in GB&I. There are no freebies<br />
or expenses, this is a labour of love – but all<br />
panellists seem to enjoy being involved.<br />
...and a thank you from me<br />
I’d like to record my sincere appreciation for<br />
the time the panel give us in assimilating<br />
their views. Many thanks to one and all.<br />
chris Bertram<br />
Top <strong>100</strong> Editor<br />
The Top <strong>100</strong><br />
england panel<br />
mike Bailey<br />
Club: Formby Hcp: 12<br />
Brendan Blair<br />
Club: Bristol & Clifton Hcp: 12<br />
peter Bosworth<br />
Club: Hellidon Lakes Hcp: 14<br />
John chapman<br />
Club: Royal Cromer Hcp: 5<br />
dale concannon<br />
Club: Press Golfing Society<br />
Hcp: 7<br />
nick dungay<br />
Club: Singing Hills Hcp: 11<br />
stuart edgington<br />
Club: Ladbrook Park Hcp: 12<br />
alan ferguson<br />
Club: St Andrews New/<br />
Glenbervie Hcp: 4<br />
vic hart<br />
Club: Foxhills Hcp: 22<br />
ian Johnston<br />
Club: The Oxfordshire Hcp: 7<br />
richard lillesmart<br />
Club: Thorpeness Hcp: 12<br />
ian macdonald<br />
Club: Ramside Hcp: 11<br />
peter rudd<br />
Club: Woodbridge, Thorpeness<br />
and Woodhall Spa Hcp: 7<br />
Ben sargent<br />
Club: The Wisley Hcp: Pro<br />
mark squire<br />
Club: Scarcroft Hcp: 8<br />
andrew stracey<br />
Club: Four clubs including R&A<br />
Hcp: 0.6<br />
mike stuckey<br />
Club: Lochinvar, Houston,<br />
Texas. Hcp: 15<br />
gary vaulks<br />
Club: Royal Liverpool Hcp: 8<br />
stephen vincent<br />
Club: Bearwood Lakes Hcp: 10<br />
Bearwood Lakes –<br />
one of our climbers.
Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
<strong>100</strong> Fairhaven (▼ 2 )<br />
Lytham St Annes, Lancs. Par 72, 7,015 yards.<br />
Designers: JA Steer/James Braid.<br />
IM: The numerous deep revetted bunkers are a<br />
hallmark – they will cost you at least one shot<br />
every time.<br />
MB: always in great condition but so many<br />
bunkers so you must take your strategic game.<br />
GW VERDICT: a mix of links and parkland, this<br />
is a fantastic and fair test. What you see is<br />
what you get.<br />
99 Brocket Hall (Palmerston) (▼ 5)<br />
Welwyn, Hertfordshire. Par 73, 6,503 yards.<br />
Designer: Donald Steel.<br />
ND: Built on the wooded, higher ground of this<br />
historic estate, it requires stout hitting and<br />
good putting on the large greens.<br />
VH: all the holes are very individual.<br />
GW VERDICT: edges the Melbourne here<br />
(next <strong>100</strong>), a fine parkland that plays across<br />
undulating ground. Some very good holes<br />
among mature Hornbeam, pines and oaks.<br />
97 Stoneham (▼ 13 )<br />
Southampton, Hants. Par 72, 6,392 yards.<br />
Designer: Willie Park.<br />
IJ: a good test among heather and pine which<br />
starts with a par 5 that can be reached in two<br />
by many. First of several fine par 5s.<br />
ND: an oasis of heathland golf with holes<br />
meandering through attractive woods.<br />
GW VERDICT: a slight fall for this heathland,<br />
more as a result of the rise of other similar<br />
courses that found more favour with our panel.<br />
96 Frilford Heath (Red) NEW ENTRY<br />
Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Par 72, 6,912 yards.<br />
Designer: JH Taylor.<br />
PB: Best of the three courses on a site that is<br />
used for open regional qualifiers.<br />
DC: The best day’s golf in the english Midlands.<br />
GW VERDICT: Rather like Foxhills, there is<br />
debate as to which of Frilford’s courses is the<br />
best! The Red was a clear winner (Blue and<br />
green in next <strong>100</strong>). The Red is the oldest of<br />
them, laid out in 1908 by the iconic JH Taylor.<br />
95 London Club (Heritage) (▼ 13 )<br />
Brands Hatch, Kent. Par 72, 7,005 yards.<br />
Designer: Jack Nicklaus.<br />
RL: Having built the clubhouse here I feel a<br />
part of this course! Very tough; long with water<br />
coming into play on six holes. The par-3 7th is<br />
great – all carry over water – and the par-5 15th<br />
is a brute. love the 18th, with water on the left.<br />
GW VERDICT: Is a noted Tour host but our<br />
panel prefer cute heathlands to americanstyle<br />
golf. But enough fans to stay in the <strong>100</strong>.<br />
94 King’s Lynn (▼ 4)<br />
King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Par 72, 6,640 yards.<br />
Designers: Peter Alliss & Dave Thomas.<br />
CB: This is an historic club but only moved to<br />
this site in 1975. despite being close to the sea,<br />
this is a woodland with birch and heather<br />
giving it a terrific heathland feel.<br />
GW VERDICT: en route to Hunstanton and<br />
Brancaster? do not pass up the chance to play<br />
at this superb woodland-heathland and try to<br />
keep your tee shots out of the trees.<br />
4 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
98<br />
Foxhills (Longcross) NEW ENTRY<br />
Ottershaw, Surrey. Par 72, 6,750 yards. Designer: Fred Hawtree<br />
VH: There is a lot of discussion as to which of the Foxhills<br />
courses is the best. Both have improved enormously over<br />
recent years. one of these should be in the mid 90s and the<br />
other in the next <strong>100</strong> in my opinion. Both have superb greens<br />
and many top-quality holes.<br />
PB: Must be included in the Top <strong>100</strong> – and in my view<br />
alongside its sister course the Hunt. Both are special; the<br />
longcross is the more challenging venue.<br />
GW VERDICT: Some prefer the Hunt, which is in the next <strong>100</strong><br />
for this year but could easily come into the main list in 2017,<br />
such is the afection for the work of Ryder Cup man Bernard<br />
Hunt, the club’s first pro who served for 25 years. The<br />
longcross has the edge for the majority of our panel, though,<br />
as it beautifully combines challenge and charm, with a<br />
serious test of 6,750 yards being softened by the aesthetic<br />
charm of a course that is routed through Scots pine, beech<br />
and silver birch trees. Comparisons with Sunningdale’s old<br />
Course are not fanciful. Well-balanced nines give you<br />
chances of scoring with two par 5s on each half being nice<br />
respite from the exacting two-shotters. a class act.<br />
EXClUSIVE<br />
I am fortunate in that I play the<br />
top courses in england on the<br />
amateur circuit, and my three<br />
favourites might surprise some.<br />
The first would be Royal<br />
lytham & St annes. It is<br />
probably the toughest course<br />
I have ever played but it still<br />
manages to be enjoyable.<br />
“People miss out on some of the inland courses”<br />
ashley Chesters, the 2014 open’s amateur star, on why links courses are favoured too much.<br />
next I would go for Woburn,<br />
which is always in such good<br />
condition. I am a big fan of<br />
parkland/heathland courses in<br />
the amateur game; I feel like we<br />
don’t play enough parklands – a<br />
lot of the links courses get talked<br />
about and people miss out on<br />
some of the inland courses.<br />
My third would be Forest of<br />
arden, for much the same<br />
reasons as Woburn. It is always<br />
in such good condition and I also<br />
like the two par 5s – the 12th and<br />
17. It is also a really pretty course<br />
with deer walking round.<br />
of course, I enjoyed Hoylake<br />
for The open. They were the<br />
best greens I have putted on on<br />
a links course by a mile. They<br />
were so fast and so smooth.<br />
My favourite hole was the<br />
15th; I like short par 3s and there<br />
was a massive stand around that<br />
green so it was exciting.<br />
• Ashley plays England’s finest<br />
courses on the amateur circuit.<br />
Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015 golf World 5
Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
93<br />
Camberley Heath NEW ENTRY<br />
Camberley, Surrey. Par 71, 6,426 yards. Designers: Colt/Pont.<br />
DC: absolute class only held back from an even higher entry spot because of its<br />
few poor holes that are currently being addressed.<br />
PB: Classic Surrey heathland – includes a couple of short but challenging par 5s.<br />
GW VERDICT: often one of those most unlucky to miss out on the main list in<br />
previous years, Camberley Heath comes into the Top <strong>100</strong> as a result of the work<br />
carried out by Frank pont and the greenkeeping staf over the past two years. a<br />
programme of forestry and heathland conservation management means it now<br />
plays to its sand-based best with heather proliferating and the whole experience<br />
benefiting from a more open feel. a future rise higher is entirely possible.<br />
6 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
92 Berkhamsted ( )<br />
Berkhamsted, Herts. Par 71, 6,605 yards.<br />
Designers: Harry Colt/James Braid.<br />
IJ: a superb heathland/woodland with a series<br />
of solid holes, where there are no bunkers to<br />
interfere with your score.<br />
IM: If it is possible to find a hidden gem in<br />
suburban Hertfordshire, this is it.<br />
GW VERDICT: a good test but playable for all<br />
skill levels, it relies on ridged gulleys and clever<br />
contouring to protect the greens. Fine par 3s.<br />
EXCLUSIVE<br />
My Camberley plan<br />
By leading architect Frank pont.<br />
I initially got involved with<br />
Camberley Heath after their<br />
Centenary captain really liked<br />
my work at Broadstone, another<br />
heathland Colt course. The club<br />
had the strong desire to develop<br />
a long-term plan to bring back,<br />
restore and safeguard critical<br />
elements of their Colt course.<br />
I was chosen from a shortlist and<br />
started working on a long-term<br />
plan. phase I entailed restoring<br />
the four par 3s – the 2nd, 8th,<br />
11th and 14th – by restoring their<br />
Colt bunkers, expanding the<br />
greens to their original sizes and<br />
cutting the trees which had<br />
started blocking the views on<br />
the greens from the tees and<br />
were too close to the greens.<br />
Work started last autumn, with<br />
shaping done by george Waters,<br />
one of the best guys in the<br />
industry (pinehurst 2,<br />
Renaissance Club, Cal Club),<br />
assisted by the greenkeepers of<br />
the club led by nick paris, who<br />
totally ‘gets’ the things we need<br />
to do to bring back Colt. The<br />
bunkers were finished with<br />
chunks of heather being<br />
transplanted into their edges to<br />
give them the instant classic<br />
look of neighbours such as<br />
Swinley and new Zealand.<br />
• Frank Pont is one of the world’s<br />
leading architects and renowned<br />
for restoring Harry Colt courses.<br />
91 Stoke Park (▼ 4)<br />
Stoke Poges, Bucks. Par 71, 6,751 yards.<br />
Designer: Harry Colt.<br />
SV: a handful of fantastic holes – with the two<br />
par 3s, especially the 7th, springing to mind.<br />
VH: a very historic parkland of high quality<br />
with a magnificent clubhouse and hotel.<br />
GW VERDICT: There are not many courses like<br />
this in england; a lush parkland but which is<br />
not dominated by trees. It is in terrific nick and<br />
a wonderful all-round experience.<br />
90 Saunton (West) (▼ 4)<br />
Braunton, Devon. Par 71, 6,403 yards.<br />
Designers: Herbert Fowler/Frank Pennink.<br />
SV: a nice contrast to the even tougher east<br />
course, with some stunning holes.<br />
BS: despite being the ‘weaker’ of the two at<br />
Saunton, still one of the best links in england.<br />
SE: lovely, just don’t expect beach views.<br />
GW VERDICT: Winds through large dunes at<br />
times but despite largely sitting on flatter ground,<br />
there is still much to enjoy on the springy turf.<br />
Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015 Golf World 7
Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
89<br />
Close House (Colt) NEW ENTRY<br />
Heddon-on-the-Wall, Northumberland. Par 71, 6,813 yards.<br />
Designers: Lee Westwood/Simon Macpherson.<br />
GW VERDICT: opened in 2011, it is a nod in terms of its name and influence to<br />
Harry Colt; rectangular tees, the bunkering, and the style of the par 3s are all<br />
influenced by the great man. located in a picturesque northumberland valley on<br />
the banks of the Tyne, this is Roman army territory – indeed ‘Hadrians Wall’<br />
almost abuts the course itself. a quality new addition to england’s portfolio.<br />
“A great strategic<br />
test of golf”<br />
You’re going to get distracted by the scenery<br />
at Close House but you can’t aford to let your<br />
guard drop. The Colt is a great tactician’s golf<br />
course. every tee shot asks a question and every<br />
hole rewards a good decision and well-executed<br />
strategic play. a lack of power won’t cause you<br />
too many problems here, but lack of thinking<br />
certainly will trip you up.<br />
Nick Wright,<br />
Golf World editor<br />
8 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
Why I’m so proud<br />
of my first design<br />
By lee Westwood.<br />
Close House is a perfect<br />
members’ course that is capable<br />
of staging a major tournament in<br />
years to come. For a brand-new<br />
course it is in great condition.<br />
The greens are of a very high<br />
quality and I always look<br />
forward to going back and<br />
playing it again, as I usually do<br />
when I am back in england.<br />
on the front nine the 6th is a<br />
great hole, a downhill drive that<br />
looks tight but has more fairway<br />
over the wall than there looks.<br />
Then it’s a nice downhill second<br />
with out of bounds on the left<br />
and a deep bunker front right.<br />
on the back nine, there is a<br />
great run in the middle. The 12th<br />
is a lovely slightly uphill par 3 to<br />
a sloping green and is followed<br />
by a long par 4 with incredible<br />
views from its wide fairway.<br />
There are lots of bunkers to<br />
avoid of the tee and a stream to<br />
the right of what is a large green.<br />
another good short hole<br />
follows at the 14th, with this one<br />
located in the trees. It’s the<br />
shortest hole on the Colt but you<br />
must find the course’s smallest<br />
green and also clear a stream.<br />
after a short but dangerous<br />
uphill par-4 15th, comes the dogleg<br />
left 16th that plays through a<br />
corridor of trees. You need to<br />
get past the corner to have a<br />
shot to the green then hit over<br />
the cross-bunkers and try to use<br />
the slopes left of the green to<br />
run the ball in. a very good hole.<br />
• Lee Westwood is a former<br />
world no.1 and a Ryder Cup<br />
stalwart for europe since 1997.<br />
Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015 golf World 9
Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
88<br />
Chart Hills (▼ 3)<br />
Biddenden, Kent. Par 72, 7,132 yards. Designer: Sir Nick Faldo.<br />
BS: Underrated. I’d argue it is a better design and a<br />
more enjoyable experience than nearby inland courses.<br />
VH: First-class design with very good greens. The best<br />
inland course in Kent. Could easily be a lot higher.<br />
ND: Characterised by large dramatic bunkering,<br />
including the anaconda which covers much of the<br />
length of the par-5 5th. only the strangely modest<br />
par 3s let down this otherwise impressive design.<br />
PB: long and punishing course – tough for all levels<br />
of golfer.<br />
SV: Serious test; I used every club in my bag here.<br />
GW VERDICT: a lot more than just a lot of sand. our<br />
panel may love links, but they generally rated Sir nick’s<br />
design very highly. exacting but satisfying, this inland<br />
course among oak trees and around water proves Kent<br />
is more than just a trio of ‘open’ links in Sandwich.<br />
EXClUSIVE<br />
My design ethos<br />
By Sir nick Faldo.<br />
While my favourite courses all<br />
possess the visual ‘wow’ factor,<br />
they also feature the great holes<br />
which visually tell you how to<br />
play the golf shot.<br />
The fun for me is that if you<br />
can do what the hole visually<br />
indicates, you are rewarded and<br />
if you don’t the experience gets<br />
more challenging.<br />
Chart Hills was a challenge,<br />
given the abundance of classic<br />
courses in the UK – but I feel we<br />
produced a very strong layout.<br />
The gently undulating landscape<br />
is populated by ancient oaks –<br />
very english countryside setting.<br />
Within this beautiful site are<br />
18 very distinctive holes which,<br />
collectively, demand a great<br />
variety of shot-making skills. It<br />
is a very strategic test; a real<br />
thinking man’s course.<br />
I wanted to design a course<br />
that would ofer diferent<br />
challenges to diferent players<br />
and I believe we succeeded.<br />
• Sir Nick is a six-time major<br />
champion who is now one of the<br />
most respected architects.<br />
10 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
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Undoubtedly, the front nine is the most dramaƟc, but<br />
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Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
87 Royal Worlington ( ▲ 10 )<br />
Bury St Edmunds, Suf. Par 70, 6,228 yards.<br />
Designers: Tom Dunn/Harry Colt.<br />
IM: an absolute treat. The routing of the holes<br />
maximise the terrain.<br />
ND: The game could do with more nine-hole<br />
masterpieces to attract the time-poor. The 5th<br />
is a hall-of-famer for its triangular green.<br />
GW VERDICT: We love the subtleties, the<br />
springy turf and the quick, undulating greens.<br />
86 Trevose ( ▲ 2 )<br />
Padstow, Cornwall. Par 72, 6,967 yards.<br />
Designer: Harry Colt.<br />
MB: played when it was a windy day yet had<br />
one of the best days ever. The photographs do<br />
not lie – there are some exhilarating holes.<br />
SV: a challenging links and one that I never tire<br />
of playing. Most attractive holes are the first<br />
six, but thereafter you will not be disappointed.<br />
GW VERDICT: Real wow factor on first nine.<br />
84 Huntercombe (▼ 1)<br />
Nuffield, Oxfordshire. Par 70, 6,301 yards.<br />
Designer: Willie Park.<br />
SV: a day here is always a lovely experience.<br />
It is a delightfully old-fashioned course.<br />
ND: distinguished parkland has a traditional air<br />
harking back to the days of open top motoring<br />
and plus fours, but is none the worse for it.<br />
GW VERDICT: a beautiful mix of heathland<br />
and parkland that is a real delight.<br />
85<br />
Goswick NEW ENTRY<br />
Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. Par 72, 6,803 yards. Designer: James Braid.<br />
IM: Inexplicably usually overlooked, probably because<br />
of the remote location – this is one of the last ‘hidden<br />
gems’ in england. a strong links; when the breeze is up<br />
it is as challenging as its more famous links cousins.<br />
JC: excellent when I played there. Better, in my view,<br />
than some links that are around the no.50 mark.<br />
GW VERDICT: not much has changed here to get this<br />
open Qualifier in the Top <strong>100</strong>, except the afection for it<br />
from our extremely well-travelled panel. It is now where,<br />
we strongly believe, it belongs.<br />
EXClUSIVE<br />
North-east seaside courses are superb<br />
2013 amateur champion garrick porteous on his region’s quality.<br />
goswick is a proper links with<br />
proper bunkers, turf and dunes.<br />
a championship test, it doesn’t<br />
have much in the way of views,<br />
as it sits on much the same level,<br />
but doesn’t need them. I’m a<br />
member at Bamburgh Castle<br />
and it is a diferent experience;<br />
it’s all about the views. The first<br />
four of five holes along the<br />
beach are linksy but then you<br />
climb into a more heathland feel.<br />
The view from the 15th tee is<br />
sensational – it’s a 360˚ of<br />
stunning scenery. It has to be<br />
one of the world’s most<br />
picturesque courses. also,<br />
Foxton is a nice parkland and<br />
The northumberland is a good<br />
heathland with linksy bunkers<br />
set inside the race course.<br />
12 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
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Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
83 Goodwood (Downs) (▼ 11)<br />
Chichester, Sussex. Par 72, 7,104 yards.<br />
Designer: James Braid.<br />
BS: Very pleasant – and a top halfway hut!<br />
IJ: downland golf at its best. a super layout on<br />
the chalk downs. Well routed, it gives options.<br />
SV: goodwood is a wonderful set up and the<br />
views from parts of the course are fantastic.<br />
GW VERDICT: didn’t find as much favour as in<br />
previous years but a Tom Mackenzie upgrade<br />
may help to regain some popularity.<br />
82 Luffenham Heath (▼ 12)<br />
Stamford, Lincolnshire. Par 72, 6,563 yards.<br />
Designer: Harry Colt.<br />
RL: Top holes are the tremendous 7th and 17th.<br />
not long so not a slog and very enjoyable.<br />
PB: Challenging heathland in superb<br />
surroundings. Hosts open qualifiers ’til 2017.<br />
GW VERDICT: Quite difcult to define, being<br />
a mix of parkland and heathland but what is<br />
certain is that it is classy and plays superbly.<br />
doesn’t get the credit it deserves.<br />
81 Tandridge (▼ 4)<br />
Oxted, Surrey. Par 71, 6,395 yards.<br />
Designer: Harry Colt.<br />
BS: often overlooked among its illustrious<br />
neighbours, but Tandridge is a Colt classic.<br />
ND: after a fairly flat start, the back nine<br />
covers heavily undulating ground with the<br />
par-3 13th and long par-4 14th glorious.<br />
GW VERDICT: Recent improvements so could<br />
rise in future lists as the work matures and the<br />
panel become more familiar with the tweaks.<br />
80 Seascale (▼ 2)<br />
Seascale, Cumbria. Par 71, 6,495 yards.<br />
Designers: Willie Campbell/George Lowe.<br />
GV: although somewhat blighted by the<br />
nuclear power plant, it has so many standout<br />
holes and the finish from 13 is hard to beat.<br />
IM: exceptional value, superb views across the<br />
Irish Sea and the holes at the far end are great.<br />
GW VERDICT: Simple but brilliant. Sellafield in<br />
your eyeline is a negative, otherwise this would<br />
be top 60. as it is, it remains must play.<br />
78 Ashridge (▼ 15)<br />
Berkhamsted, Herts. Par 72, 6,634 yards.<br />
Designers: Hutchison/Campbell/Hotchkin.<br />
IJ: loved the par-5 2nd through a valley.<br />
ND: a delightful routing through<br />
rhododendron-clad valleys on the front nine<br />
and on ancient parkland on the back nine.<br />
PR: a real favourite of mine; I like the tranquil<br />
setting and wooded background.<br />
GW VERDICT: lovely location and is a fine<br />
parkland without pyrotechnics of those above.<br />
77 Fulford (▼ 12)<br />
York, North Yorkshire. Par 72, 6,743 yards.<br />
Designer: Charles Mackenzie.<br />
VH: a great heathland with first-class greens<br />
and some very good par 5s.<br />
MB: Historic course and top 50 for me.<br />
GW VERDICT: an enjoyable parklandheathland<br />
that becomes extremely testing in<br />
the wind. Much more than just the site of<br />
Bernhard langer’s famous tree shot to the side<br />
of the 17th green.<br />
14 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
79<br />
Royal North Devon (▼ 8)<br />
Bideford, Devon. Par 72, 6,653 yards. Designer: Old Tom Morris.<br />
BS: originally laid out by old Tom Morris, Westward Ho! is<br />
a hoot. Yes there are half a dozen ‘weaker holes’, but the<br />
overriding feeling after playing Rnd is one of fun,<br />
satisfaction and the desire to go back out and play it again!<br />
SV: Quirky and fun with some really good holes. golf in its<br />
purest form? possibly not everyone’s idea of great golf.<br />
SE: True old-fashioned golf as it was meant to be.<br />
MB: Historic and atmospheric course with some unique<br />
features. a must play.<br />
GW VERDICT: The ‘St andrews of the South’ is golf for the<br />
traditionalist and the historian. You could wander through<br />
the clubhouse for ages taking in all the memorabilia on<br />
show but that only serves to keep you from the course –<br />
which divides opinion. For some it is the epitome of how<br />
golf used to be played... and still should be played. For<br />
others it is in need of some loving care. a very flat links, it<br />
boasts vast sleepered bunkers and a fearsome hazard on<br />
the back nine of sea rushes which are a definite lost ball.<br />
EXClUSIVE<br />
“I prefer Royal North Devon to St Andrews...”<br />
Jimmy Mullen, amateur star in the 2013 open, on his love for Rnd – plus lytham and Formby.<br />
I get the chance to play the top<br />
links on the amateur circuit, but<br />
I wouldn’t want to be a member<br />
anywhere else but Royal north<br />
devon. The 4th’s huge bunker<br />
will intimidate the club golfer –<br />
even though it is actually quite<br />
easy to clear. I always think<br />
people knock it in there just so<br />
they can have the challenge and<br />
experience of trying to get it out!<br />
The 4th starts a great linksy<br />
stretch along the beach, where<br />
you can see Saunton Sands . a<br />
great experience. I honestly<br />
prefer it to St andrews! The 7th<br />
is my favourite, it has a great<br />
view of the tee and you have<br />
the option of going left or right.<br />
lots of south-west links have<br />
blind holes, but the only Rnd<br />
holes like that are 10 and 11. even<br />
then, it is just rushes and you<br />
have an idea of where you are<br />
going. There isn’t much rough,<br />
due to the sheep, and fairways<br />
are wide, so it’s good for visitors.<br />
I’m a member at Saunton too<br />
and love it there; the east is a<br />
proper tough track, especially in<br />
the dunes of the 3rd and 4th. It<br />
is tough so ideal to warm up for<br />
a tournament whereas the West<br />
is ideal for the members. St<br />
enodoc, with a brilliant start and<br />
finish, and Trevose – probably<br />
my favourite in Cornwall – are<br />
other fine courses in the area.<br />
elsewhere, I love Formby.<br />
I like the linksy-heathland feel to<br />
it; the view from the clubhouse<br />
is sensational and you can’t wait<br />
to get out there. The stretch<br />
from the 8th to 10th is amazing.<br />
I have never played well at<br />
lytham but still love it. The<br />
bunkering is amazing; even top<br />
amateurs have to come out<br />
sideways. I actually like the fact<br />
it is in a housing estate! You can<br />
just see the golf course, and I am<br />
just into looking at the course.<br />
• Jimmy Mullen plays England’s<br />
finest courses on the elite<br />
amateur circuit and was T73 in<br />
the 2013 open.<br />
Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015 golf World 15
Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
76 Sheringham (▼ 12)<br />
Sheringham, Norfolk. Par 70, 6,456 yards.<br />
Designer: Tom Dunn.<br />
RL: Super views as you play along the coast.<br />
PB: Undulating fairways and true fast greens –<br />
the 5th to 8th is spectacular with steam trains<br />
in abundance on the closing stretch.<br />
GW VERDICT: laid out on a narrow strip, some<br />
love Sheringham’s high-rise holes on the edge<br />
of the clifs and others those along lined by<br />
gorse or hemmed in by the railway line.<br />
75 Woodbridge ( ▲ 16 )<br />
Bromeswell Heath, Sufolk. Par 70, 6,299<br />
yards. Designers: Davie Grant/James Braid.<br />
PB: Top-class heathland layout with narrow<br />
fairways and very quick greens.<br />
PR: an excellent heathland with the only<br />
downside the crossing holes on the back nine.<br />
GW VERDICT: Uses the hilly terrain to create a<br />
notable variety of holes, there was unanimous<br />
agreement for this significant elevation up the<br />
list. expect sandy turf, slick greens and gorse.<br />
74 Blackmoor ( ▲ 1 )<br />
Bordon, Hampshire. Par 69, 6,164 yards.<br />
Designer: Harry Colt.<br />
IJ: a beautiful course between heather and<br />
pine which has some excellent holes.<br />
PB: Colt parkland requiring excellent approach<br />
shots – all your clubs are used into the greens.<br />
GW VERDICT: Harry Colt designed the original<br />
12 holes between the north and South downs,<br />
with birch and fir trees lining many sandy<br />
fairways. a very widely-touted rise.<br />
73 Coombe Hill ( ▲ 8 )<br />
Kingston-Upon-Thames, Surrey. Par 71,<br />
6,401 yards. Designer: JF Abercromby.<br />
JC: Stunning par 3s and similar charm to<br />
Swinley Forest.<br />
ND: This one-time favourite of Bing Crosby<br />
and Bob Hope, has a stunning collection of<br />
par 3s and beautiful floral surroundings.<br />
VH: one of Surrey’s great surprises.<br />
GW VERDICT: Beauty and conditioning make<br />
this exquisite parkland now a Top <strong>100</strong> fixture.<br />
72 Wisley (Church & Mill) ( ▲ 7 )<br />
Ripley, Sry. Par 72, 3,356/3,385/3,473<br />
yards. Designer: Robert Trent Jones.<br />
ND: This unashamedly extravagant US<br />
parkland dropped incongruently into the heart<br />
of Surrey succeeds because it is superbly<br />
executed and expertly maintained.<br />
SV: a special atmosphere and a wonderfully<br />
conditioned course, with some brilliant holes.<br />
GW VERDICT: garden loop also got a mention;<br />
a quality parkland that’s very well designed.<br />
71 Parkstone ( ▲ 18 )<br />
Poole, Dorset. Par 72, 6,241 yards.<br />
Designer: Willie Park.<br />
BS: This heathland/woodland/links hybrid<br />
draws you in as it charms you around its many<br />
great holes, its stunning pine trees and<br />
colourful rhododendrums, and occasional<br />
glimpses of the sea and nearby poole Harbour.<br />
GW VERDICT: a round here, especially in the<br />
warm and colourful summer months, is as<br />
good as golf gets. Terrific recent upgrade.<br />
70 Hindhead ( ▲ 4 )<br />
Hindhead, Surrey. Par 70, 6,356 yards.<br />
Designer: Unknown.<br />
BS: So much to get excited about Hindhead.<br />
It has a handful of world-class holes, varied<br />
topography and is in fantastic condition.<br />
PB: Best front nine in Surrey if not the South.<br />
VH: Very good heathland, superb greens.<br />
SV: I love the eclectic mix of holes. Real fun.<br />
GW VERDICT: Much-merited rise with the<br />
front nine in bracken-sided valleys a big hit.<br />
69 Blackwell ( ▲ 4 )<br />
Bromsgrove, Worcs. Par 70, 6,260 yards.<br />
Designer: Herbert Fowler/Tom Simpson.<br />
DC: a real golfers’ golf course.<br />
CB: Typical clever Fowler-Simpson design<br />
work helps make this one of england’s finest<br />
inland courses.<br />
GW VERDICT: dominated by mature<br />
woodland, it is often very underrated and we<br />
are pleased to give this quintessential parkland<br />
the status it deserves.<br />
68 Crowborough Beacon ( )<br />
Crowborough, Sussex. Par 71, 6,319 yards.<br />
Designer: Alister MacKenzie.<br />
IJ: a fairly hilly layout that is a good test with<br />
plenty of heather, bunkers and woodland.<br />
RL: Just down the road from Royal ashdown,<br />
but no poor neighbour. Bouncy fairways, long<br />
rough, and small greens that don’t ‘hold’<br />
accuracy over distance is key here.<br />
GW VERDICT: This pretty heathland ofers<br />
lovely views 30 miles down to the coast.<br />
16 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
THE SEMInal HolE<br />
THE 9TH AT<br />
ROYAL WORLINGTON<br />
By renowned architect Martin ebert.<br />
The nine-hole course at Royal<br />
Worlington & newmarket, the home of<br />
the Cambridge University golf Club, has<br />
often been hailed as the best nine-hole<br />
course in the world.<br />
Fitted onto an incredibly small<br />
acreage, in many ways it typifies all that<br />
is best about traditional golf and it takes<br />
little more than an hour to play one<br />
circuit.<br />
Its final hole is a short par 4. It is<br />
driveable by the very best players<br />
(there are stories of Ted dexter, when<br />
he was the Captain of Cambridge,<br />
pitching it into the car park beyond the<br />
green!) but, remarkably, the hole plays<br />
across a public road – albeit a quiet<br />
country lane.<br />
The front of the green lies around 20<br />
yards beyond the tarmac.<br />
That adds to the danger, although<br />
the out of bounds running diagonally<br />
across the line of play to the right of the<br />
hole and beyond the green is more<br />
threatening.<br />
For ordinary mortals, the bravery of<br />
the drive will dictate the difculty level<br />
of the second shot. The tighter to the<br />
out of bounds on the right – which is<br />
aligned along a small stream – the tee<br />
shot ends up, the easier the pitch from<br />
short of the road will be.<br />
The nature of the green, with a steep<br />
bank along its left hand side, means<br />
that any drive pulled safely left but into<br />
the rough will leave a devilishly<br />
troublesome second with virtually no<br />
hope of getting close to the flag when it<br />
is on the left side of the green.<br />
This wonderful short par-4 hole<br />
provides a great definition of ‘risk and<br />
reward’ for all standards of golfer.<br />
■ Martin’s firm Mackenzie & Ebert are<br />
the preferred architects of the R&A<br />
and he is currently advising Royal<br />
Troon ahead of next year’s Open, as<br />
well as working on Turnberry’s Ailsa.<br />
Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015 golf World 17
Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
67<br />
The Centurion Club NEW ENTRY<br />
Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Par 72, 7,195 yards. Designer: Simon Gidman<br />
PR: Should undoubtedly be in the list. It has some very good holes and even though its<br />
proximity to the M1 might be a small drawback, as a course it should make the Top <strong>100</strong>.<br />
GW VERDICT: new courses bring with them serious hype these days, because there just<br />
aren’t many being built. This is one that manages to live up to expectations. Serious<br />
investment has patently been made, so the level of quality should be high. But for it to<br />
look and play so beautifully already suggests it has been money well spent. every<br />
panellist who has enjoyed it was impressed – as more visit and it matures further, it will<br />
be interesting to see how high The Centurion rises.<br />
EXClUSIVE<br />
Why The Centurion has a stamp of Tour class<br />
Raymond Russell and oliver Fisher on the instant quality of our highest new entry.<br />
“I have been impressed with the<br />
mature look and conditioning,<br />
especially the greens which I<br />
would rank year round among<br />
the best in the UK,” says Tour<br />
player Raymond Russell. “It<br />
reminds me of the new at el prat<br />
near Barcelona in Spain.<br />
“I love the 6th, which is a very<br />
good hole visually with the<br />
elevated tee giving you a great<br />
view of a very strong par 4.<br />
There is a generous fairway but<br />
the left half of it opens up the<br />
large green for a difcult second<br />
with bunkers short and left.<br />
“The 17th is another I rate, a<br />
lovely short par 3 with lots of<br />
danger; water at the back and<br />
bunkers short with a slopey<br />
green so accuracy a premium.<br />
“The Centurion is a second<br />
shot course as there are lots of<br />
subtle slopes on and around the<br />
greens and also run-of areas<br />
which make chipping it close<br />
difcult – so accuracy is key.”<br />
“It’s a club I’d been hearing<br />
about for a while and for a new<br />
course it has a maturity far<br />
beyond its years,” adds Oliver<br />
Fisher. “I always look forward to<br />
spending my time at the club.<br />
It’s clear the green staf take a<br />
lot of pride in their course. It’s<br />
immaculate. even when I’ve just<br />
played some of the best courses<br />
on Tour in Turkey or dubai,<br />
Centurion matches up as good<br />
a test as does the condition.”<br />
• Raymond Russell and Oliver<br />
Fisher play on the european<br />
Tour and are ambassadors for<br />
the Centurion Club.<br />
18 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
EXClUSIVE<br />
My English<br />
favourites<br />
by peter alliss<br />
It was Henry<br />
longhurst who<br />
first said golf<br />
does take us<br />
to so many<br />
beautiful places;<br />
bearing that in mind it’s hard to<br />
pick out just a few but these<br />
have particular memories for<br />
me. Ferndown, north of<br />
Bournemouth, was where my<br />
father was a professional for<br />
many years and I learnt my<br />
trade. It has heather, pine,<br />
silver birch, plenty of gorse, my<br />
favourite terrain.<br />
Royal Birkdale is one of my<br />
favourite championship<br />
courses; majestic sand dunes,<br />
a fascinating course ever<br />
changing direction, an inviting<br />
clubhouse with friendly<br />
members. In 1954 I had a<br />
chance to win the open there...<br />
My father was invited to be<br />
the pro at Sunningdale after<br />
World War II but was settled at<br />
Ferndown. It’s delightful, elitist<br />
and has excellent catering<br />
facilities. It’s best to book a taxi<br />
home after a splendid lunch.<br />
Finally, old Thorns. Since I<br />
was involved with the creation<br />
of golf there, I have been<br />
amazed at its development<br />
from a private membership,<br />
instigated by Ken Wood, the<br />
electrical genius, to the<br />
magical creation we see today,<br />
one of the best overall facilities<br />
in Britain. The course although<br />
in a small area, is exciting,<br />
interesting and a challenge for<br />
all levels of golfers. I am very<br />
proud to have been associated<br />
with its growth. You should go<br />
and see for yourself.<br />
• Peter Alliss was a Ryder Cup<br />
player, is regarded as the<br />
‘Voice of golf’ and is also a<br />
respected course designer.<br />
Ferndown.<br />
Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015 golf World 19
Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
66 Bearwood Lakes ( ▲ 10)<br />
Reading, Berkshire. Par 72, 6,850 yards.<br />
Designer: Martin Hawtree.<br />
ND: designed with intelligence to make the<br />
most of the attractive lakes and woodland.<br />
SV: I must declare an interest as a member, but<br />
I do think it is one of the most relaxed and<br />
beautiful places. no two holes are the same.<br />
GW VERDICT: Scenic, strategic and popular.<br />
65 Isle of Purbeck ( ▲ 4 )<br />
Swanage, Dorset. Par 70, 6,295 yards.<br />
Designer: Harry Colt.<br />
SE: Some lovely scenery on a course which I<br />
look forward to playing over and over again.<br />
IJ: Visually appealing, and the 5th wouldn’t be<br />
out of place in a World Top 18 holes.<br />
GW VERDICT: Some holes are simple, some<br />
quirky – but you’ll walk of with a smile.<br />
64 Hayling Island ( ▲ 2 )<br />
Hayling Island, Hampshire. Par 71, 6,531<br />
yards. Designer: Tom Simpson.<br />
BS: Fantastic combination of challenging holes<br />
and some typically quirky and fun links holes.<br />
VH: Very good links, especially the back nine.<br />
PB: generous fairways but exacting greens.<br />
GW VERDICT: Magnificent links among sand<br />
dunes, heather, gorse, and deep bunkers.<br />
63<br />
Perranporth (▼ 1)<br />
Perranporth, Cornwall. Par 72, 6,296 yards. Designer: James Braid.<br />
BS: The highest links in europe, as you might expect,<br />
delivers breathtaking beach and ocean vistas. The<br />
course moves up and down and around the hugely<br />
undulating terrain. If you can accept you’ll get some<br />
‘unlucky’ bounces and also be faced with some very<br />
strange shots, then you’ll love perranporth.<br />
IM: a series of delightfully quirky holes make for a<br />
memorable day. The view from atop the massive sand<br />
dune on which the course is built is simply magnificent.<br />
PB: Quirky links with lots of blind drives and hilly terrain.<br />
GW VERDICT: We love it here – don’t come to the<br />
south west and miss it.<br />
EXClUSIVE<br />
I play the Cornish Festival every<br />
april at St enodoc, Trevose and<br />
newquay. They are great<br />
courses… weather permitting!<br />
apart from the two holes up<br />
the hill at St enodoc, it is<br />
My links for a lifetime<br />
By Ryder Cup player paul Broadhurst.<br />
sensational. newquay is a fun<br />
holiday course where the views<br />
are amazing. But if I had to<br />
choose one course for the rest<br />
of my life, I’d go for perranporth.<br />
You either hate or love. I love it.<br />
There are a lot of blind shots,<br />
it’s very natural and unspoilt. I<br />
play it a lot and it never plays the<br />
same on two days. I would never<br />
get fed up there. Some pros<br />
don’t, but I love quirky tracks.<br />
My coach is based at<br />
northants County, a lovely mix<br />
of parkland and woodland holes.<br />
• Tour stalwart Paul Broadhurst<br />
was a Ryder Cup player in 1991.<br />
www.TotalMotion.co.uk<br />
20 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
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Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
62<br />
Delamere Forest (▼ 2)<br />
Northwich, Cheshire. Par 72, 6,348 yards. Designer: Herbert Fowler.<br />
GV: I play this course a lot and it is one of my favourites.<br />
It’s got four very short par 5s but you nearly always<br />
come of having enjoyed your game rather than having<br />
been beaten up. I am interested to see how the changes<br />
that have been made recently to the par-5 11th and in<br />
particular par-5 18th settle in.<br />
RL: a great-looking course; look out of the clubhouse<br />
window and you think ‘wow’. The 9th is especially<br />
stunning; hit a rescue to a plateau fairway then a short<br />
iron to an uphill green with the clubhouse to the right.<br />
GW VERDICT: laid out by heathland expert Herbert<br />
Fowler and revised by Tom Mackenzie in the last 18<br />
months, our decision to elevate delamere just outside<br />
the top 50 in 2011 now looks well judged.<br />
EXClUSIVE<br />
It’s a heathland with extensive<br />
views over open terrain with a<br />
lovely scale to it. It’s not long by<br />
modern standards but it doesn’t<br />
need to be. We feel it is now<br />
well-bunkered.<br />
I’d heard of it as it is an<br />
original Herbert Fowler and<br />
once I got there it was an<br />
enlightening experience. It is<br />
one of those places you arrive at<br />
and immediately like. anyone<br />
who loves traditional courses<br />
The architect’s view<br />
Tom Mackenzie on his work at delamere.<br />
and clubs will love it. If I lived up<br />
there, I’d join if they’d have me.<br />
We first went in January 2013<br />
and the work is complete.<br />
Initially the brief was to add a<br />
bit of length but agreed with the<br />
club there was a bit more we<br />
could do. So there has been<br />
work on bunkering – both<br />
reshuffling as well as restyling –<br />
because they had been edged<br />
out of shape down the years.<br />
We looked at the old<br />
photographs we had and<br />
returned them to the style<br />
Fowler intended, with softer<br />
edges, as well as re-sited some.<br />
The aesthetics have changed<br />
but so has the challenge; six new<br />
back tees have gone in and<br />
moving bunkers such as on the<br />
7th has stifened it. They had<br />
started to take some trees out<br />
and we continued that process<br />
to encourage the heather, so the<br />
onus is on heather, pines, sandy<br />
turf and open space.<br />
delamere is on a par with<br />
most inland courses in england.<br />
• Tom Mackenzie is one of the<br />
UK’s most respected architects<br />
and vice-president of the eIgCa.<br />
22 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
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Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
61<br />
Ipswich (Purdis Heath) ( ▲ 6 )<br />
Purdis Heath, Sufolk. Par 71, 6,439 yards.Designer: James Braid.<br />
IJ: If moved to the Surrey/Hampshire heathlands it<br />
would be more widely known.<br />
RL: I have played this course over 20 times; the 1st is<br />
relatively weak but after that the fun begins. It is a gB&I<br />
Top <strong>100</strong> course in my view – a better course than<br />
Wentworth West.<br />
ND: as good as many of the more vaunted Surrey<br />
heathlands.<br />
PR: a fine course. The bunkers have been upgraded<br />
and will mean purdis should go higher.<br />
GW VERDICT: a joy to play, aesthetically pleasing, with<br />
heather and pine in abundance. It benefits from some<br />
delightfully unusual holes with greens where you would<br />
not expect to find them. Bunker work and tree removal<br />
in line with the original design have categorically<br />
improved it – hence this significant rise.<br />
60 St Annes Old Links (▼ 1)<br />
Lytham St Annes, Lancs. Par 72, 6,941 yards.<br />
Designers: George Lowe/Sandy Herd.<br />
IM: a delight. The par-3 9th is a stunning 174-<br />
yard hole in front of the red brick clubhouse.<br />
RL: I enjoyed it more than Royal lytham! With<br />
the Blackpool tower in the skyline it has a<br />
magic to it. not one bad hole.<br />
GW VERDICT: More than just a famous 9th<br />
green (of which Bobby Jones made measure).<br />
Traditional links that is consistently good.<br />
59 Prince’s (Shore & Dunes) (▼ 4)<br />
Sandwich, Kent. Par 72, 3,638/3,637 yards.<br />
Designer: Charles Hutchings.<br />
BS: Impressed with how this course and its<br />
facilities have developed in recent years.<br />
IJ: Superb course that is a brute at times, with<br />
narrow fairways bordered by fearsome rough.<br />
ND: True links in a breeze and hard fairways.<br />
GW VERDICT: Changes by european golf<br />
design and a new greenkeeper have improved<br />
the course to keep it on the brink of the top 50.<br />
58 Littlestone ( ▲ 2 )<br />
Littlestone-on-Sea, Kent. Par 71, 6,676<br />
yards. Designer: William Purves.<br />
BS: possess plenty of really good holes.<br />
IJ: a cracking course with a stunning par-3<br />
17th. The greens have year-round quality.<br />
VH: a very good links albeit fairly flat.<br />
RL: The best ‘hidden gem’ I have ever found.<br />
probably the best greens I’ve ever putted on.<br />
GW VERDICT: Terrific start and finish and<br />
plenty of good fare in between. Wonderful.<br />
24 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
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Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
57 Beau Desert ( ▲ 1 )<br />
Hazel Slade, Stafs. Par 71, 6,300 yards.<br />
Designer: Herbert Fowler.<br />
DC: Isolated but superb to play.<br />
JC: good course with huge fast greens.<br />
PB: Quality heathland with lots of memorable<br />
holes.<br />
GW VERDICT: Your heart rises as you drive<br />
into the ‘Beautiful Wilderness’, knowing you<br />
are in for a genuinely-good heathland treat.<br />
a gB&I Top <strong>100</strong> contender.<br />
56 Seacroft ( ▲ 1)<br />
Skegness, Lincolnshire. Par 72, 6,492 yards.<br />
Designer: Willie Fernie.<br />
DC: an absolute gem with many hugely<br />
entertaining holes.<br />
RL: nine out, nine back classic links. always<br />
windy so you will get nine holes of tough golf.<br />
GW VERDICT: The long journey is rewarded<br />
by a links with no towering dunes but just well<br />
routed holes through subtle rolling dunes and<br />
gorse and scrubland. Well worth the fuel.<br />
55 Seaton Carew ( ▲ 1)<br />
Hartlepool, Durham. Par 71, 6,603 yards.<br />
Designer: Alister MacKenzie.<br />
IJ: great links with an industrial background.<br />
out and back nature means you have an easy<br />
and brutal nine, but an always enjoyable 18.<br />
IM: a fine links with 22 holes that can be set up<br />
as the ‘old’ or the ‘Brabazon’. The former is<br />
more out and in, and the more enjoyable.<br />
GW VERDICT: not especially scenic links but<br />
miss it of your wish list at your folly.<br />
54 Lindrick ( ▲ 1)<br />
Worksop, Notts. Par 71, 6,606 yards.<br />
Designer: Tom Dunn.<br />
IM: an enjoyable course always kept in good<br />
condition. a top notch course.<br />
VH: over <strong>100</strong> years old and the first-class turf<br />
reflects this.<br />
GW VERDICT: Recent changes have tightened<br />
up the 1957 Ryder Cup venue and it is unlikely<br />
to fall much lower. Yet still does not charm as<br />
some other top-class heathlands do.<br />
52 Wallasey (▼ 1)<br />
Wallasey, Wirral. Par 72, 6,572 yards.<br />
Designer: Old Tom Morris.<br />
BS: Has some stunning views and a handful of<br />
excellent holes.<br />
RL: Stand on the 1st tee and you know you are<br />
in for a lot of fun. For me, more enjoyable than<br />
nearby Hoylake.<br />
GW VERDICT: an enjoyable and historic links<br />
with some serious dunes and great views out<br />
into the Irish Sea.<br />
51 Liphook ( ▲ 1)<br />
Liphook, Hampshire. Par 70, 6,295 yards.<br />
Designer: Arthur Croome.<br />
BS: a delight to play. great variety of holes<br />
and plenty of architectural interest.<br />
SV: always a great experience and pleasure.<br />
a really pretty location and an eclectic mix of<br />
holes that keep you constantly interested.<br />
GW VERDICT: Tom Simpson reputedly rated<br />
this undulating heathland of heather, pine and<br />
gorse as the best inland course in the UK.<br />
26 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
53<br />
St Mellion (Nicklaus) ( )<br />
Saltash, Cornwall. Par 72, 7,019 yards. Designer: Jack Nicklaus.<br />
ND: Spectacular routing through plunging valleys where the<br />
slightest miscue can lead to complete disaster.<br />
SV: If you like challenging golf courses this is one to play.<br />
Haven’t played it for years but can still remember some of<br />
the holes vividly and loving the experience.<br />
VH: an american-style feel and Jack nicklaus has designed<br />
a really good course which can be a real test.<br />
SE: a great test, with many long and challenging holes.<br />
Straight shots of the tee are essential. The resort is good.<br />
GW VERDICT: one of the toughest tracks, one of the best<br />
inland courses and one of the finest all-round venues in the<br />
country. a star of the British inland golf scene.<br />
EXClUSIVE<br />
Why it’s special to me<br />
By Jack nicklaus.<br />
St Mellion was my first course in<br />
england and will always be very<br />
special to me. It holds a special<br />
place in my heart. I am proud of<br />
the exceptional experience we<br />
created and hope golfers will<br />
continue to enjoy it for<br />
generations to come.<br />
It is a breathtakingly beautiful<br />
course that belongs with the<br />
best. I don’t think there is<br />
another course like it in the UK.<br />
I twice – maybe three times –<br />
turned down the Bond brothers,<br />
Herman and Martin, when they<br />
asked me to design the course<br />
because of the challenge of the<br />
property – on the sides of a hill.<br />
eventually, I said, ‘ok, but we will<br />
have to design the course into<br />
the side of the mountain’. In the<br />
end each individual hole is<br />
pretty darn good. They might<br />
be in a unique location, but it<br />
turned out to be really good<br />
from a playability standpoint.<br />
I have always been very<br />
proud of taking the site given to<br />
us and turning it into something<br />
that has hosted professional<br />
events. I think the golf course,<br />
hole for hole, turned out to be<br />
very good.<br />
I believe St Mellion, as a test<br />
of golf, as a design, and looking<br />
at each individual hole and its<br />
beauty would rank very high in<br />
the courses I have done.<br />
Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015 golf World 27
Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
44 West Hill ( ▲ 5 )<br />
Brockwood, Surrey. Cuthbart Butchart/Willie Park.<br />
GW VERDICT: a testing heathland course that is not over<br />
manicured. It retains its rough edges that make it more<br />
testing and appealing to the eye.<br />
50 The Belfry (Brabazon) (▼ 3)<br />
Wishaw, Warwickshire. Alliss/Thomas.<br />
GW VERDICT: once little more than a seeded<br />
field with sapling trees, it has now matured<br />
into a lush parkland, with famous holes like the<br />
10th and 18th augmenting its status as an<br />
iconic four-time Ryder Cup venue.<br />
49 Woburn (Duchess) ( ▲ 31 )<br />
Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire. Charles<br />
Lawrie.<br />
GW VERDICT: The prettiest of Woburn’s trio is<br />
back in our gB&I Top <strong>100</strong>, a situation reflected<br />
in this high rise up the england list. a<br />
delightfully subtle course among towering fir<br />
trees; skill and finesse are essential and overt<br />
brute force is a hindrance. Fully worthy of this<br />
top-50 position.<br />
48 The Grove (▼ 2)<br />
Chandler’s Cross, Herts. Kyle Phillips.<br />
GW VERDICT: More strategic and less penal<br />
than most modern parklands, with wide<br />
fairways and ‘trouble’ centred on and around<br />
the cleverly-designed greens. an<br />
unremarkable site was worked beautifully by<br />
Kyle phillips.<br />
47 Sherwood Forest (▼ 3)<br />
Mansfield, Notts. Harry Colt/James Braid.<br />
GW VERDICT: a tough heathland with a string<br />
of 400+ yard par 4s on the back nine.<br />
Underrated by many – but not us.<br />
46 Broadstone (▼ 3)<br />
Broadstone, Dorset. Dunn/Colt/Pont.<br />
GW VERDICT: Frank pont’s revision has<br />
ensured this remains one of england’s top<br />
heathlands and an essential in any dorset trip.<br />
45 West Lancs (▼ 6)<br />
Blundellsands, Lancs.<br />
Ken Cotton/Fred Hawtree.<br />
GW VERDICT: Ferocious rough, deep bunkers,<br />
strong cross winds and tees that can extend<br />
this exposed links to over 7,000 yards.<br />
43 New Zealand ( ▲ 1 )<br />
West Byfleet, Surrey. Samuel Fergusson/<br />
Tom Simpson.<br />
GW VERDICT: less than 6,000 yards it might<br />
be, yet finding the pins requires forensic<br />
placement from the tee and becomes<br />
impossible from the thick heather.<br />
42 Royal Ashdown Forest ( )<br />
Forest Row, E Sussex. Unknown.<br />
GW VERDICT: It may not have any bunkers,<br />
but bracken, streams and dog-legs provide<br />
hazards aplenty to catch the golfer already<br />
distracted by the glorious views.<br />
41 Little Aston (▼ 6)<br />
Sutton Coldfield, Stafs. Harry Vardon.<br />
GW VERDICT: like a well-mannered guest,<br />
this perfectly-manicured parkland does<br />
everything to impress. arguably the finest<br />
parkland course in the UK.<br />
40 Burnham & Berrow (▼ 4)<br />
Burnham on Sea, Som. Taylor, Gibson.<br />
GW VERDICT: Brilliant links may be of the<br />
beaten track, but should be on everyone’s<br />
‘must-play’ list, for its unusual and exciting<br />
holes, such as the long par-3 17th.<br />
39 Woburn (Duke’s) (▼ 5)<br />
Woburn, Beds. Charles Lawrie.<br />
GW VERDICT: Towering pines and deep<br />
valleys are superbly used to create a variety<br />
of challenges, especially early on.<br />
30 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
10 PLAY & STAY IDEAS<br />
Use one of these Top <strong>100</strong> venues dotted around england as your base for a terrific trip.<br />
1 THE BElFRY<br />
Where: South-east outskirts of<br />
Birmingham.<br />
Play: The iconic host of four<br />
Ryder Cups, backed up by the<br />
exacting pga national and the<br />
charming derby.<br />
Stay: The on-site hotel has been<br />
upgraded to the tune of £20m+.<br />
The trip: Heathlands Beau<br />
desert and Whittington Heath<br />
to the north and parklands<br />
Blackwell and Forest of arden.<br />
2 ST MEllIon<br />
Where: Saltash in Cornwall.<br />
Play: either the Jack nicklaus<br />
championship course or the<br />
revamped Kernow.<br />
Stay: a swish hotel with an array<br />
of leisure and dining options.<br />
The trip: St enodoc and Trevose<br />
on the north Cornish coast – or<br />
south to cliftop hero Mullion.<br />
3 SToKE paRK<br />
Where: near Slough, and the<br />
M25, M40 and M4.<br />
Play: an open parkland with a<br />
classic par-3 hole, the 7th.<br />
Stay: The hotel, the set for films<br />
such as goldfinger, is one of the<br />
finest in england of any nature.<br />
The trip: Head south to the<br />
Surrey and Berkshire heathland<br />
glitterrati or north to The grove.<br />
4 CloSE HoUSE<br />
Where: near newcastle in<br />
northumberland.<br />
Play: The new entry to our Top<br />
<strong>100</strong>, by lee Westwood, as well<br />
as its sister course the Filly.<br />
Stay: Brand-new opulent but<br />
cosy courtyard rooms.<br />
The trip: Terrific options on the<br />
coast at goswick (north) and<br />
Seaton Carew (south).<br />
5 THoRpEnESS<br />
Where: aldeburgh, Sufolk.<br />
Play: a James Braid coastal<br />
heathland among heather,<br />
gorse, pine and silver birch; very<br />
close to the main Top <strong>100</strong> list.<br />
Stay: a smart 36-bedroom<br />
hotel overlooking the course.<br />
The trip: aldeburgh and inland<br />
to Woodbridge and Ipswich.<br />
6 pRInCE’S<br />
Where: Sandwich, Kent.<br />
Play: The three loops of nine<br />
that make up this polished links<br />
course, host of the open.<br />
Stay: Splendid apartments right<br />
on the edge of the course, with<br />
views of prince’s as well as<br />
neighbouring Royal St george’s.<br />
The trip: easy and delightful –<br />
play all three loops here then<br />
head of to Sandwich and Royal<br />
Cinque ports.<br />
7 old THoRnS<br />
Where: of the a3 north of<br />
petersfield.<br />
Play: a terrific parklandheathland<br />
in mature woodland<br />
whose elevation changes give it<br />
some super views.<br />
Stay: a super hotel or twobedroom<br />
apartments next door,<br />
it is one of the most appealing<br />
golf complexes in england.<br />
The trip: Superbly positioned to<br />
play nearby liphook as well as<br />
the rest of the Hampshire<br />
classics – right down to Hayling<br />
on the coast.<br />
8 doRSET g&CC<br />
Where: Wareham, nr poole<br />
Play: one of the most improved<br />
courses in england, with three<br />
very even loops of nine that are<br />
ideal for a golf trip.<br />
Stay: Choose from the cottages,<br />
the hotel or the log cabins –<br />
again, ideal for a trip.<br />
The trip: as the name suggests,<br />
perfect for a break playing the<br />
many superb courses of dorset<br />
– arguably england’s most<br />
underrated county.<br />
9 HEYTHRop paRK<br />
Where: Chipping norton,<br />
oxfordshire<br />
Play: a course of next <strong>100</strong><br />
quality with greens noted for<br />
their year-round quality.<br />
Stay: a beautiful hotel and<br />
sparkling spa.<br />
The trip: enjoy the three at<br />
Frilford Heath, plus Tadmarton<br />
Heath and The oxfordshire.<br />
10 THE gRoVE<br />
Where: Rickmansworth near<br />
Watford.<br />
Play: a Kyle phillips-design in<br />
mature countryside.<br />
Stay: Chic hotel that is a base<br />
for england’s football team:<br />
The trip: Move round the M25<br />
to ashridge, Brocket Hall,<br />
Berhamsted, and Centurion.<br />
The course attraction at The grove<br />
is another triumph for Kyle phillips.
STONEHAM<br />
GOLF CLUB<br />
Southampton’s Hidden Gem<br />
Established in 1908 and designed<br />
by Willie Park Junior, two time<br />
Open Champion and designer of<br />
Sunningdale Old.<br />
A wonderful course in the undulating<br />
heath and parkland.<br />
Significant investment over the last year<br />
and ongoing is seeing the course<br />
return to its former glory making it<br />
an exciting time to visit.<br />
www.stonehamgolfclub.org.uk<br />
023 8076 9272<br />
Come and join us in celebraƟng 125 years of golf at<br />
Berkhamsted Golf Club by playing in our<br />
125th ANNIVERSARY FESTIVAL OF GOLF<br />
between 7th & 11th September 2015.<br />
The FesƟval features:<br />
Seniors’, Ladies’, Men’s, & Mid-Am CompeƟƟons,<br />
as well as a Pro-Am.<br />
To get your brochure and entry form just contact<br />
steve@berkhamstedgc.co.uk or call us at 01442 865832<br />
and “Experience Berkhamsted” with us.<br />
Burnham and Berrow Golf Club<br />
Celebrating<br />
125 Years<br />
Host to 2015<br />
England v Spain Match 9-10 May<br />
&<br />
2015 PGA Professional<br />
Championship 2-5 June<br />
Burnham and Berrow Golf Club<br />
warmly welcomes golfers to<br />
come and enjoy this fantastic<br />
Championship Links Course<br />
www.burnhamandberrowgolfclub.co.uk<br />
Tel. 01278 785760
Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
38 Walton Heath (New) (▼ 5)<br />
Tadworth, Surrey. Herbert Fowler.<br />
GW VERDICT: a heather-framed heathland<br />
with bags of class.<br />
37 Aldeburgh (▼ 5)<br />
Aldeburgh, Sufolk. Fernie & Thompson.<br />
GW VERDICT: a quality heathland with a<br />
number of excellent holes defined by dense<br />
gorse neighbouring the fairways.<br />
36 Wentworth (East) (▼ 5)<br />
Virginia Water, Surrey. Harry Colt.<br />
GW VERDICT: Very good heathland course<br />
that’s more fun than the West. Unusual and<br />
attractive mix of par 4s.<br />
35 Southport & Ainsdale ( ▲ 13 )<br />
Southport, Merseyside. James Braid.<br />
GW VERDICT: Boasts a fine collection of links<br />
holes further enhanced by surroundings of tall<br />
whispering pines, abundant gorse and the<br />
occasional passing train.<br />
34 Remedy Oak (▼ 6)<br />
Ringwood, Dorset. John Jacobs.<br />
GW VERDICT: Has a maturity beyond its<br />
young age. a pretty course with four or five<br />
fantastic holes such as the 2nd, 9th and 18th.<br />
33 Moortown ( ▲ 12 )<br />
Leeds, Yorks. Alister MacKenzie.<br />
GW VERDICT: Ken Moodie’s changes have<br />
ensured this is now a fixture in the gB&I <strong>100</strong>;<br />
more light, more heather and more expansive<br />
heathland views make it a terrific experience.<br />
32 Worplesdon (▼ 6)<br />
Woking, Surrey. Abercromby & Colt.<br />
GW VERDICT: Quality heathland where you<br />
cross a busy a-road mid-round to find the<br />
reward of four holes on the far side that are<br />
probably the most rugged and attractive.<br />
30 The Addington (▼ 1)<br />
Croydon, Surrey. JF Abercromby.<br />
GW VERDICT: a real pleasure to play for all<br />
handicaps. Some magical holes including an<br />
all-star collection of par 5s. Boasts some of<br />
the most unusual holes around – which we<br />
absolutely mean as a compliment.<br />
29 Ferndown (Old) (▼ 1)<br />
Ferndown, Dorset. Harold Hilton.<br />
GW VERDICT: Inland golf at its aesthetic best.<br />
achingly beautiful heathland.<br />
28 Woking ( ▲ 9 )<br />
Woking, Surrey. Tom Dunn.<br />
GW VERDICT: The highest ranked of the<br />
‘Three Ws’, with recent tweaks to enhance<br />
what was an already outstanding heathland.<br />
Impossible not to enjoy it here.<br />
27 Hunstanton (▼ 1)<br />
Hunstanton, Norfolk. Willie Fernie.<br />
GW VERDICT: an excellent and challenging<br />
links that has been improved by Martin<br />
Hawtree by rebunkering while greens have<br />
gone from good to excellent. a proper<br />
championship test in breezy conditions.<br />
31 Woburn (Marquess) (▼ 1)<br />
Woburn, Beds. Alliss, Clark, McMurray, Hay.<br />
GW VERDICT: The longest and most open of<br />
Woburn’s courses, with a bold design. liberal<br />
use of bunkers and water hazards.<br />
Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015 golf World 33
<strong>TOP</strong> <strong>100</strong> ENGLAND 2015<br />
JACKLIN’S DREAM<br />
Tony Jacklin, who lifted the Claret Jug in 1969, helps select a composite course<br />
1 ROYAL ST GEORGE’S<br />
Par 4, 442 yards<br />
Extremely undulating fairway<br />
that sets the tone for a round at<br />
Sandwich. This hole, more than<br />
any other on the Open rota,<br />
really takes you out away from<br />
the clubhouse and other<br />
distractions, into your journey.<br />
Honourable mentions: Hoylake<br />
(Open routing), Birkdale<br />
2 ROYAL BIRKDALE<br />
Par 4, 418 yards<br />
Another strong par 4 which<br />
narrows to an amphitheatre of<br />
a green nestled in the dunes.<br />
Honourable mentions: St<br />
George’s, Birkdale, Lytham<br />
3 ROYAL LYTHAM<br />
Par 4, 477 yards<br />
A classic Lytham hole. Incredible<br />
bunkering, strategy all the way<br />
up. And a fantastic green<br />
complex.<br />
Honourable mentions: Hoylake,<br />
Royal Cinque Ports<br />
4 ROYAL CINQUE PORTS<br />
Par 3, 151 yards<br />
Sumptuous, short par 3, played<br />
from an elevated tee. Steep runofs<br />
on both sides and an angled<br />
green make for a fun hole.<br />
Honourable mentions: Lytham,<br />
St George’s<br />
5 PRINCE’S (SHORE)<br />
Par 4, 418 yards<br />
A heavily-tilted green on the<br />
boundary with Royal St George’s<br />
which needs to be hit in<br />
regulation to avoid a tricky chip.<br />
Played as 18th in the Open so we<br />
have cheated a bit...<br />
Honourable mention: Hoylake<br />
6 ROYAL ST GEORGE’S<br />
Par 3, 176 yards<br />
Deep bunkers stand sentinel at<br />
each side of this rectangular<br />
green which lies in the shadow<br />
of the imposing Maiden dune.<br />
Stunning visually, excellently<br />
bunkered with an interesting,<br />
well-contoured green.<br />
Honourable mention: Hoylake<br />
7 HOYLAKE<br />
Par 4, 480 yards<br />
One of the hardest holes at last<br />
year’s Open requiring both<br />
length and accuracy. Tough par<br />
4 that played as the 7th at the<br />
Open (so we’ve sneaked it in<br />
here). Demanding drive and a<br />
semi-blind approach.<br />
Honourable mention: Cinque<br />
Ports<br />
8 ROYAL ST GEORGE’S<br />
Par 4, 457 yards<br />
A deceptively tricky dog-leg<br />
right with a two-tier green<br />
tucked in a dell. It’s a tough drive<br />
as fairway slightly unsighted<br />
from tee. The semi-blind<br />
approach is to a green tucked<br />
back in a mini horseshoe dune.<br />
Well-placed pot bunkers cut into<br />
the ridge surrounding the green.<br />
Honourable mention: Lytham<br />
9 ROYAL LYTHAM<br />
Par 3, 165 yards<br />
Incredible bunkering protects<br />
the tricky raised green. The<br />
teeing ground is raised up high<br />
and overlooks the nearby train<br />
station and surrounding houses,<br />
creating some extra drama and<br />
majesty about the hole.<br />
Precision is needed on this wellbunkered<br />
hole.<br />
Honourable mention: Hoylake<br />
10 ROYAL BIRKDALE<br />
Par 4, 408 yards<br />
A tight left-hand dog-leg with a<br />
green surrounded by thick rough<br />
mean this hole often causes<br />
more trouble than its length<br />
suggests it should. That dog-leg
OPEN COURSE<br />
from holes used in Open Championships staged in England.<br />
is almost 90˚ and uphill. There is<br />
excellent fairway bunkering and<br />
a well-sited green.<br />
Honourable mention: St<br />
George’s<br />
11 ROYAL LYTHAM<br />
Par 5, 598 yards<br />
A par 5 with a tight drive and<br />
well protected green which<br />
caused much grief to Graeme<br />
McDowell at the last Open. The<br />
rippling fairway is protected by<br />
good fairway bunkering.<br />
Honourable mention: St<br />
George’s<br />
12 ROYAL BIRKDALE<br />
Par 3, 181 yards<br />
Arguably the finest par 3 in the<br />
UK, with its green lying between<br />
two sandhills and four bunkers<br />
sited asymmetrically to make<br />
lining up a tee shot difcult. A<br />
fantastic test of golf.<br />
Honourable mention: Lytham<br />
13 HOYLAKE<br />
Par 3, 194 yards<br />
The 11th in normal routing is<br />
played as the 13th at the Open,<br />
a medium-length par 3 to an<br />
angled green making judging<br />
the length of an approach<br />
difcult. From the left-hand tee<br />
has a Redan feel to it. The green<br />
is angled 30˚ to the left –<br />
pointing out to the nearby<br />
estuary. A tough hole, that also<br />
happens to be arguably the<br />
most picturesque of any of the<br />
holes on the English Open rota.<br />
Honourable mention: Birkdale<br />
14 ROYAL ST GEORGEÕS<br />
Par 5, 545 yards<br />
Usually a pivotal hole on Sunday<br />
with out of bounds all along the<br />
right, as Dustin Johnson found<br />
to his cost in 2011. A burn and<br />
out of bounds are the stress<br />
factors from the tee. If you can<br />
get close enough to the burn<br />
without going in, you get to go<br />
for the tricky raised green whose<br />
right edge literally touches the<br />
out of bounds.<br />
Honourable mention: Birkdale<br />
15 ROYAL ST GEORGEÕS<br />
Par 4, 493 yards<br />
A narrow fairway and small<br />
green make this a brute of a par<br />
4, which boasts exacting and<br />
well placed fairway bunkers. The<br />
approach is protected by cross<br />
bunkers 50 yards short of the<br />
green. The green itself is raised<br />
and angled slightly, with wicked<br />
contours to boot... as well as<br />
deep rough left and behind.<br />
Honourable mentions: Birkdale,<br />
Prince’s (Shore)<br />
16 ROYAL ST GEORGEÕS<br />
Par 3, 165 yards<br />
The scene of Thomas Bjorn’s<br />
downfall in The Open and my<br />
hole in one – the first on<br />
television in the UK – in the 1967<br />
Dunlop Masters.<br />
Honourable mentions: Cinque<br />
Ports, Lytham<br />
17 ROYAL LYTHAM<br />
Par 4, 467 yards<br />
As tough as the Road Hole at St<br />
Andrews, it was the scene of one<br />
of the greatest shots in Open<br />
history, Bobby Jones’ mashie<br />
from a sandy area into the<br />
middle of the green.<br />
Honourable mentions: Hoylake,<br />
St George’s, Birkdale<br />
18 ROYAL LYTHAM<br />
Par 4, 410 yards<br />
As good a finishing hole as there<br />
is in golf. Exacting, demanding<br />
and theatrical. Cleverly bunkered<br />
hole, both around the green and<br />
the fairway. A grand finish, even<br />
without the Championship<br />
grandstands in place.<br />
Honourable mention: Birkdale<br />
Drama, beauty<br />
and challenge:<br />
The 18th at<br />
Royal Lytham.
Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
26 Notts/Hollinwell (▼ 1)<br />
Kirkby in Ashfield, Notts. Willie Park.<br />
GW VERDICT: Some on the panel feel notts,<br />
along with Swinley Forest, are the most<br />
underrated courses on this list. Better than<br />
much higher-ranked ganton for some.<br />
25 Berkshire Blue (▼ 2)<br />
Ascot, Berkshire. Herbert Fowler.<br />
GW VERDICT: Beautiful layout and a more<br />
conventional mix of holes than the six-of-each<br />
Red. Solid heathland fare.<br />
24 Rye (▼ 2)<br />
Rye, Sussex. Harry Colt.<br />
GW VERDICT: Few courses have more<br />
strategic interest than this stunning fastrunning<br />
links. Some fabulous green complexes<br />
and terrific links topography.<br />
23 Royal West Norfolk (▼ 1)<br />
Brancaster, Norfolk. Holcombe Ingleby.<br />
GW VERDICT: a tremendous experience, from<br />
the tides to the clubhouse and the labradors to<br />
the views. a golfing relic that you need to play<br />
a few times to fully appreciate.<br />
21 Swinley Forest ( )<br />
Ascot, Berkshire. Harry Colt.<br />
GW VERDICT: Swinley Forest is one of the<br />
most enchanting settings you will ever find.<br />
The most tranquil and exclusive of heathlands.<br />
20 Royal Cinque Ports (▼ 2)<br />
Deal, Kent. James Braid.<br />
GW VERDICT: old-fashioned out and back<br />
layout remains a strong and enjoyable links<br />
with standouts such as the topsy-turvy 3rd<br />
with its comical concertina fairway.<br />
19 Hillside (▼ 3)<br />
Southport, Lancashire. Fred Hawtree.<br />
GW VERDICT: The best back nine in UK golf<br />
for some, including greg norman. But if you<br />
don’t like those dramatic dune holes, you’ll<br />
love the more sedate opening half.<br />
18 Silloth-on-Solway (▼ 2)<br />
Silloth, Cumbria. David Grant/Willie Park.<br />
GW VERDICT: Tightly-mown undulating<br />
fairways fully exposed to the Irish Sea winds<br />
are typical of this old-fashioned, demanding<br />
links. an underrated, classic course.<br />
17 Hankley Common ( ▲ 2 )<br />
Farnham, Surrey. James Braid, Harry Colt.<br />
GW VERDICT: Very good course laid out over<br />
more expansive, open heathland than many<br />
of its Surrey neighbours, the heather seems<br />
particularly purple and the greens especially<br />
emerald. We absolutely adore it here.<br />
16 Wentworth (West) (▼ 4)<br />
Virginia Water, Surrey. Harry Colt, Ernie Els.<br />
GW VERDICT: now very difcult for those who<br />
play it 51 weeks of the year (outside the pga)<br />
and thus lacks the seductive quality of<br />
Sunningdale or Swinley Forest.<br />
15 St Enodoc ( ▲ 1 )<br />
Wadebridge, Cornwall. James Braid.<br />
GW VERDICT: What golf is all about – St<br />
enodoc is memorable, scenic, challenging and<br />
fun. Twelve truly outstanding holes.<br />
14 Formby ( ▲ 3 )<br />
Southport, Lancs. Willie Park.<br />
GW VERDICT: a hybrid links/heathland/<br />
parkland but consistently firm, sandy, links<br />
fairways – and a classic layout.
13 West Sussex ( ▲ 2 )<br />
Pulborough, Sussex. Campbell/<br />
Hutchenson.<br />
GW VERDICT: delightful heathland with<br />
perfect turf, glistening white sand, and some<br />
of the most picturesque holes imaginable.<br />
12 The Berkshire (Red) ( ▲ 1 )<br />
Ascot, Berkshire. Herbert Fowler.<br />
GW VERDICT: With each hole in splendid<br />
isolation and six cracking par 3s of diferent<br />
lengths, this is a woodland delight.<br />
11 Alwoodley ( )<br />
Leeds, West Yorks. Alister MacKenzie.<br />
GW VERDICT: Retains a feeling of isolated<br />
heathland, with highlights including the<br />
sweeping par 5s, stellar two-shotters and<br />
classy par 3s.<br />
10 Royal Liverpool (▼ 3)<br />
Hoylake, Merseyside. Chambers & Morris/<br />
Colt.<br />
GW VERDICT: a traditional and fair challenge<br />
with much character which reflects the club’s<br />
heritage. Very strong open host last year.<br />
9 Saunton (East) ( ▲ 1 )<br />
Braunton, Devon. Herbert Fowler.<br />
GW VERDICT: With its springy turf, fast and<br />
true greens and the smell of the sea, it is<br />
impossible not to be intoxicated by the east.<br />
8 Ganton ( ▲ 1 )<br />
Scarborough, Yorkshire. Tom Chisholm.<br />
GW VERDICT: Few finer places to play and get<br />
away from it all . a challenging and beautiful<br />
inland links/a windswept heathland<br />
masterpiece, depending on your view of it.<br />
7 Walton Heath (Old) (▼ 1)<br />
Tadworth, Surrey. Herbert Fowler.<br />
GW VERDICT: Heather-clad, fast-running<br />
traditional heathland that is a very challenging<br />
but fair test, laid out in a natural open setting.<br />
6 Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin) (▼ 2)<br />
Woodhall Spa, Lincs. Vardon, Colt, Colonel<br />
Hotchkin.<br />
GW VERDICT: great heathland with amazingly<br />
deep bunkers superbly positioned on what is<br />
otherwise completely flat ground. a course<br />
which needs to be played at least once.<br />
5 Sunningdale (New) ( ▲ 4 )<br />
Sunningdale, Surrey. Harry Colt.<br />
GW VERDICT: Modest opening and closing<br />
holes – otherwise world class. More difcult<br />
and complete than the old, even if not quite<br />
as much fun or as beautiful.<br />
We rate Sunningdale<br />
new close to the old.<br />
22 St George’s Hill ( ▲ 5 )<br />
Weybridge,Surrey. Harry Colt.<br />
GW VERDICT: Set among the mansions of pop stars, this magnificent<br />
heathland rolls up hill and down dale in a figure of eight, always with a<br />
refined elegance of which Harry Colt was a master. Magnificent.
Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
4 Royal Lytham (▼ 1)<br />
Lytham, Lancashire. Lowe, Colt.<br />
IM: Famously removed from the sea, and also<br />
with very little elevation change, yet a classic<br />
test on sandy soil punctuated by a couple<br />
hundred well-placed bunkers.<br />
RL: a stringent test on the open rota due to<br />
the bunkering and closing stretch.<br />
GW VERDICT: There really is nothing to<br />
choose between these superstars of the top<br />
four. For some, it could easily be no.1.<br />
1<br />
Royal Birkdale<br />
Southport, Merseyside. Par 72, 6,817 yards. Designers:<br />
George Lowe/JH Taylor/Fred Hawtree/Martin Hawtree<br />
ND: like Muirfield, its challenges are clear and visible, but<br />
no easier as a result.<br />
SE: a great test of golf, with some exceptionally difcult<br />
par 3s on which a par feels like a birdie.<br />
GW VERDICT: Strong start, strong finish, yet the most<br />
memorable holes are arguably in the middle section; the<br />
9th, 10th and 12th, make full use of the huge dunes.<br />
Birkdale is the complete package.<br />
3 Royal St George’s ( ▲ 2 )<br />
Sandwich, Kent. William Purves.<br />
SE: lots of humps and bumps with crazy but<br />
interesting greens. I can’t wait to play it again.<br />
MS: england’s best course in my view; ofers<br />
‘pleasurable excitement’ with variety, solitude<br />
and challenge. If you don’t like RSg, you’re<br />
taking yourself too seriously.<br />
GW VERDICT: Terrific fun, possibly the most<br />
enjoyment on a championship course in<br />
england. We love Mike’s comment above.<br />
2 Sunningdale (Old) ( ▲ 1 )<br />
Sunningdale, Surrey. Willie Park, Harry Colt.<br />
ND: Continually charms, with something to<br />
excite and encourage on every tee. also<br />
always enough to punish. The run of par 4s<br />
from 5th to 7th and again between 10th and<br />
12th are as good as inland golf has to ofer.<br />
SE: Very little to choose between the old and<br />
the new for me. always in spotless condition.<br />
GW VERDICT: The quintessential english<br />
inland experience; the hype is justified.<br />
38 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
EXClUSIVE<br />
I regard Royal Birkdale as the<br />
finest course in Britain. I prefer<br />
links to inland courses and I<br />
don’t think there is a better links<br />
in the country.<br />
It is a supreme test without in<br />
any way being unfair; what you<br />
see is what you get, so the<br />
professionals love it.<br />
The routing is beautifully<br />
varied, the dunes create natural<br />
ampitheatres and each and<br />
every one of the par 3s are<br />
outstanding.<br />
Why the supreme test of Birkdale is my No.1<br />
By Iain Carter, BBC golf correspondent on his admiration for Southport’s star attraction.<br />
The closing hole is as<br />
demanding as they come<br />
regardless of the wind direction<br />
because even if it is helping you<br />
it makes it difcult to control<br />
your approach shot.<br />
even the one perceived<br />
negative – the redesign of the<br />
17th green – has been<br />
addressed. If that is the weakest<br />
aspect of the course, it shows its<br />
strength as it provided the<br />
defining moment of the 2008<br />
open Chamionship when<br />
padraig Harrington used the<br />
contours so memorably after<br />
hitting a sweet 5-wood in there.<br />
I am also fond of ganton, a<br />
superb inland course with links<br />
characteristics. I loved it when I<br />
was there for the Walker Cup in<br />
2003 but fully got to appreciate<br />
its charms when I was writing a<br />
piece on it for a book.<br />
I walked it rather than played<br />
it and found I absorbed more of<br />
its intricacies that way. The<br />
bunkers are obviously its big<br />
defence, and some may feel<br />
they are unfair – especially with<br />
the big lip at the back of them<br />
which afects your backswing.<br />
They are very strategically<br />
placed and very penal.<br />
There are numerous splendid<br />
holes with a fantastic finish<br />
which provide a great climax to<br />
either a strokeplay or matchplay<br />
round. The 17th is a driveable par<br />
4 yet you are sometimes glad to<br />
come of with a 4 such is the<br />
difculty of the sloping green.<br />
Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015 golf World 39
<strong>TOP</strong> <strong>100</strong> ENGLAND 2015<br />
85<br />
89<br />
55<br />
8<br />
18<br />
1<br />
19<br />
35 14<br />
45<br />
60<br />
80<br />
<strong>100</strong><br />
4<br />
10<br />
52<br />
11<br />
33<br />
40<br />
57<br />
69<br />
62<br />
96<br />
34<br />
84<br />
91<br />
77<br />
12<br />
21<br />
41<br />
26<br />
47<br />
67<br />
50<br />
78 92<br />
48<br />
66<br />
54<br />
82<br />
95<br />
94<br />
31<br />
39<br />
49<br />
6<br />
87<br />
99<br />
88<br />
75<br />
61<br />
56<br />
27<br />
23<br />
76<br />
37<br />
3<br />
20<br />
59<br />
90<br />
9<br />
79<br />
25<br />
17<br />
58<br />
86<br />
15<br />
63<br />
53<br />
46<br />
29<br />
97<br />
64<br />
51 74<br />
2<br />
5<br />
7<br />
38<br />
22<br />
28<br />
32<br />
44<br />
16<br />
36<br />
43<br />
70<br />
72<br />
73<br />
81<br />
42 24<br />
68<br />
13<br />
83<br />
30<br />
93 98<br />
40 Golf World <strong>TOP</strong> <strong>100</strong> ENGLAND 2015
ENGLAND’S <strong>TOP</strong> <strong>100</strong> –<br />
WHERE TO FIND THEM<br />
Use this map of all the courses to help plan your Top <strong>100</strong> trip.<br />
1 Royal Birkdale Lancashire<br />
2 Sunningdale (Old) Surrey<br />
3 Royal St George’s Kent<br />
4 Royal Lytham & St Annes Lancashire<br />
5 Sunningdale (New) Surrey<br />
6 Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin) Lincs<br />
7 Walton Heath (Old) Surrey<br />
8 Ganton Yorkshire<br />
9 Saunton (East) Devon<br />
10 Royal Liverpool Cheshire<br />
11 Alwoodley Yorkshire<br />
12 The Berkshire (Red) Berkshire<br />
13 West Sussex Sussex<br />
14 Formby Lancashire<br />
15 St Enodoc Cornwall<br />
16 Wentworth (West) Surrey<br />
17 Hankley Common Surrey<br />
18 Silloth-on-Solway Cumbria<br />
19 Hillside Lancashire<br />
20 Royal Cinque Ports Kent<br />
21 Swinley Forest Berkshire<br />
22 St George’s Hill Surrey<br />
23 Royal West Norfolk Norfolk<br />
24 Rye Sussex<br />
25 The Berkshire (Blue) Berkshire<br />
26 Notts (Hollinwell) Nottinghamshire<br />
27 Hunstanton Norfolk<br />
28 Woking Surrey<br />
29 Ferndown Dorset<br />
30 The Addington Surrey<br />
31 Woburn (Marquess’) Bedfordshire<br />
32 Worplesdon Surrey<br />
33 Moortown Yorkshire<br />
34 Remedy Oak Dorset<br />
35 Southport & Ainsdale Merseyside<br />
36 Wentworth (East) Surrey<br />
37 AldeburghS u f o l k<br />
38 Walton Heath (New) Surrey<br />
39 Woburn (Duke’s) Bedfordshire<br />
40 Burnham & Berrow Somerset<br />
41 Little Aston Stafordshire<br />
42 Royal Ashdown Forest Sussex<br />
43 New Zealand Surrey<br />
44 West Hill, Surrey<br />
45 West Lancs Lancashire<br />
46 Broadstone Dorset<br />
47 Sherwood Forest Nottinghamshire<br />
48 The Grove Hertfordshire<br />
49 Woburn (Duchess’) Bedfordshire<br />
50 The Belfry (Brabazon) Warwicks<br />
51 Liphook Hampshire<br />
52 Wallasey Cheshire<br />
53 St Mellion (Nicklaus) Cornwall<br />
54 Lindrick Nottinghamshire<br />
55 Seaton Carew Durham<br />
56 Seacroft Lincolnshire<br />
57 Beau Desert Stafordshire<br />
58 Littlestone Kent<br />
59 Prince’s (Shore & Dunes) Kent<br />
60 St Annes Old Links Lancashire<br />
61 Ipswich (Purdis Heath)S u f o l k<br />
62 Delamere Forest Cheshire<br />
Hindhead deserves to be classed<br />
alongside Surrey’s classics.<br />
63 Perranporth Cornwall<br />
64 Hayling Island Hampshire<br />
65 Isle of Purbeck Dorset<br />
66 Bearwood Lakes Berkshire<br />
67 The Centurion Club Hertfordshire<br />
68 Crowborough Beacon Sussex<br />
69 Blackwell Worcestershire<br />
70 Hindhead Surrey<br />
71 Parkstone Dorset<br />
72 Wisley Surrey<br />
73 Coombe Hill Surrey<br />
74 Blackmoor Hampshire<br />
75 WoodbridgeS u f o l k<br />
76 Sheringham Norfolk<br />
77 Fulford Yorkshire<br />
78 Ashridge Hertfordshire<br />
79 Royal North Devon Devon<br />
80 Seascale Cumbria<br />
81 Tandridge Surrey<br />
82 Lufenham Heath Lincolnshire<br />
83 Goodwood Sussex<br />
84 Huntercombe Oxfordshire<br />
85 Goswick Northumberland<br />
86 Trevose Cornwall<br />
87 Royal WorlingtonS u f o l k<br />
88 Chart Hills Kent<br />
89 Close House Northumberland<br />
90 Saunton (West) Devon<br />
91 Stoke Park Buckinghamshire<br />
92 Berkhamsted Hertfordshire<br />
93 Camberley Heath Surrey<br />
94 King’s Lynn Norfolk<br />
95 London Club (Heritage) Kent<br />
96 Frilford Heath (Red) Oxfordshire<br />
97 Stoneham Dorset<br />
98 Foxhills (Longcross) Surrey<br />
99 Brocket Hall (Palmerston) Herts<br />
<strong>100</strong> Fairhaven Lancashire<br />
<strong>TOP</strong> <strong>100</strong> ENGLAND 2015 Golf World 41
Sherwood ForeSt<br />
GolF Club<br />
“One of the fnest heathland golf<br />
courses in Great Britain.”<br />
“A true hidden gem!”<br />
Visitors are welcome Monday to Friday.<br />
Green fees: April £45, May to September £65.<br />
discounts are available for parties of 20 or more.<br />
Please contact the Professional Shop to make a booking.<br />
‘EAST ANGLIA’S FINEST’<br />
Photo courtesy of Chris Onions<br />
Sherwood Forest Golf Club,<br />
eakring road, MANSFIeld,<br />
Notts NG18 3ew<br />
telephone: 01623 626689<br />
Professional Shop: 01623 627403<br />
website: www.sherwoodforestgolfclub.co.uk<br />
27 holes of classic heathland golf in Suīolk<br />
www.woodbridgegolfclub.co.uk<br />
01394 382038<br />
YOUR COURSE AWAITS…<br />
Although Dorset-based Remedy Oak is an exclusive golf club for<br />
members and their guests, we reserve a few tee times to welcome<br />
a small number of visitors. Constructed in 2006, yet already rated<br />
in the top 50 courses in GB and Ireland, Remedy Oak offers one<br />
of the most personal golf experiences on the South Coast.<br />
EXCLUSIVE CHALLENGING WELCOMING<br />
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Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
THe NeXT <strong>100</strong><br />
We’ve expanded this list by <strong>100</strong> per cent… yet there are still fine courses outside it.<br />
Here are <strong>100</strong> super venues, with comments on those that were Top <strong>100</strong> contenders.<br />
alnmouth, northumberland<br />
Bamburgh Castle, northumberland<br />
a quirky course built close by to the sea<br />
but not a links course other than a few<br />
early holes. With spectacular views of<br />
Bamburgh Castle and Budle Bay, few golf<br />
courses can rival it for location. The golf<br />
course is short with six par 3s.<br />
Bath (Sham Castle), Somerset<br />
Bingley St Ives Yorkshire<br />
Bovey Castle, devon<br />
Bradford (Hawksworth), Yorkshire<br />
Brampton, Cumbria<br />
Brancepeth Castle, durham<br />
This is a gem of a Harry Colt course. a well<br />
thought out bunker replacement and<br />
refurbishment scheme over the last few<br />
years has re-instated the challenge. The<br />
9th and 10th are stunning back to back<br />
par 3s with the magnificent Brancepeth<br />
Castle providing a stunning backdrop.<br />
Brocket Hall (Melbourne), Hertfordshire<br />
Brokenhurst Manor, Hampshire<br />
designed by Harry Colt in the new Forest<br />
it is short but delightful.<br />
Bude & north Cornwall, Cornwall<br />
Carlisle, Cumbria<br />
Cavendish, derbyshire<br />
Clevedon, Somerset<br />
Cleveland, Yorkshire<br />
Clitheroe, lancashire<br />
Cooden Beach, Sussex<br />
an absolute gem and one of the few<br />
downland courses in Britain.<br />
Copt Heath, Warwickshire<br />
Coventry Finham, Warwickshire.<br />
a top-class layout and the one-time home<br />
to the piccadilly Medal matchplay<br />
tournament in the 1970s.<br />
Coxmoor, nottinghamshire<br />
Crosland Heath, Yorkshire<br />
dartmouth (Championship) , devon<br />
It was an astonishing feat to build such a<br />
fine course on this steeply sloped site. The<br />
curving 4th, with out of bounds all the<br />
way up the right and a stream along the<br />
left, is one of the UK’s top par 5s.<br />
diss, norfolk<br />
dunham Forest, Cheshire<br />
a very, very good tree-lined course with<br />
wonderful greens.<br />
East devon, devon<br />
excellent views along the Jurassic coast<br />
from the bracing clifs above Budleigh<br />
Salterton.<br />
East dorset, dorset<br />
East Sussex national (East), Sussex<br />
With a finish designed for tournament<br />
play and some great par 5s, it has more<br />
subtlety than appears on first playing.<br />
East Sussex national (West), Sussex<br />
Both courses are top <strong>100</strong> quality, but we<br />
slightly prefer the West, which is high<br />
calibre. a superb collection of par 5s with<br />
the double-dog-leg 12th demanding a<br />
stream to be crossed and a lake avoided.<br />
Edgbaston, Birmingham<br />
Enville (Highgate), Stafordshire<br />
Combines a mixture of heathland and<br />
parkland and was a very real contender<br />
for the main Top <strong>100</strong> list.<br />
Felixstowe Ferry, Sufolk<br />
Underrated ‘linksy’ course which is<br />
extremely difficult when the wind blows –<br />
lovely surroundings and views.<br />
Forest of arden, Warwickshire<br />
Forest pines, lincolnshire<br />
Formby ladies, lancashire<br />
Royal Cromer ’s seaside<br />
location offers stunning views.<br />
Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015 golf World 43
Top <strong>100</strong> England 2015<br />
old Thorns is a spectacular<br />
course among mature trees.<br />
Foxhills (Hunt), Surrey<br />
There is a lot of discussion as to which of the<br />
Foxhills courses is the best. Both have<br />
improved enormously over recent years and<br />
both have superb greens and many top holes.<br />
Frilford Heath green, oxfordshire<br />
Fulford Heath, Worcestershire<br />
Gog Magog (Old), Cambridgeshire<br />
Hadley Wood, Hertfordshire<br />
Halifax, Yorkshire<br />
Hallamshire, Yorkshire<br />
Hanbury Manor, Hertfordshire<br />
Hawkstone park (Hawkstone), Shropshire<br />
Ilkley, Yorkshire<br />
John O’Gaunt, Bedfordshire<br />
Kington, Herefordshire<br />
Knole park, Kent<br />
a surprisingly good course that thrills all the<br />
way round. It opens with a tough par 3 and<br />
then has some magnificent holes on the way<br />
round. a glorious test played around Knole<br />
House that was probably the most unfortunate<br />
course to drop out of the main list .<br />
ladbrook park, Warwickshire<br />
Many suggest this is an undiscovered gem on<br />
the south side of Birmingham. It’s a Harry Colt<br />
design noted for its challenging par 3s and<br />
reachable par 5s in two shots. over recent<br />
years this parkland has been improved and<br />
ofers a challenging round with the standard<br />
scratch nearly always being higher than the<br />
course rating.<br />
littlehampton, Sussex<br />
Manchester, lancashire<br />
Manor House, Wiltshire<br />
enjoyable to play with some terrific views and<br />
delightful scenery. only drawback are the long<br />
distances between holes which, combined<br />
with the steep hills, means a buggy is<br />
necessary and using one is not for everyone.<br />
Mannings Heath (Waterfall), Sussex<br />
a picturesque course with a handful of<br />
fantastic holes. Some on the panel were very<br />
keen on it being elevated to the main list by<br />
virtue of its beautiful holes as well as its<br />
greens, which are routinely in great condition.<br />
Moor park (High), Hertfordshire<br />
There are some great par 4s and the<br />
clubhouse has to be seen to be believed. a<br />
palladian mansion full of genuine old Masters.<br />
PLUS 10 more we LIKe...<br />
Astbury, Shropshire<br />
Church Stretton, Shropshire<br />
Great Yarmouth & Caistor, norfolk<br />
Heythrop Park, oxfordshire<br />
Knighton Heath, dorset<br />
London Club (International), Kent<br />
Newbiggin, northumberland<br />
Stratford (Welcombe Hotel), Warks<br />
West Cornwall, Cornwall<br />
Yeovil (Old), dorset<br />
The course is a typically-inspirational design<br />
by Harry Colt through mature parkland and<br />
includes the intimidating par-3 12th with its<br />
significantly-tiered green.<br />
Mullion, Cornwall<br />
North Foreland, Kent<br />
north Hants, Hampshire<br />
Some excellent holes and a tough test.<br />
northamptonshire County, northants<br />
The Northumberland, northumberland<br />
old Thorns, Hampshire<br />
Really terrific inland course and were it not on<br />
the Hants-Surrey border it would be much<br />
better known. See picture above.<br />
painswick, gloucestershire<br />
piltdown, Sussex<br />
penrith, Cumbria<br />
penrith is a real undiscovered secret of a<br />
course, with four really good opening holes<br />
before crossing a quiet road to play a very<br />
tough index 1 par 4. They are followed by a<br />
number of lovely holes before returning over<br />
the road to play a very tidy finishing stretch.<br />
pleasington, lancashire<br />
prestbury, Cheshire<br />
great mix of long and short holes, all with<br />
classic Colt bunkering; shot shaping is critical<br />
here for a good score.<br />
Reddish Vale, lancashire<br />
Rocklife Hall, durham<br />
44 golf World Top <strong>100</strong> england 2015
Ross on Wye, gloucestershire<br />
a proper undiscovered classic with tight holes<br />
that is always in tip-top condition.<br />
Royal ashdown Forest (West), east Sussex<br />
Traditional club and like its sister a superb<br />
moorland-heathland with no bunkers. Some<br />
really excellent holes and for some on the<br />
panel, should join its sister in the main list.<br />
Royal Wimbledon, Surrey<br />
less well known of the london courses but a<br />
great test. This course prefers a low profile –<br />
but is a ‘hidden gem’ steeped in history – and<br />
is worthy of open qualifying status.<br />
Royal Cromer, norfolk<br />
Huge improvements at Royal Cromer over the<br />
last four years. arguably better views than at<br />
Sheringham – and Cromer is in consistently<br />
good condition.<br />
Spalding, lincolnshire<br />
a fantastic layout and some of the best<br />
starting and finishing holes you will find<br />
anywhere in england.<br />
Sandiway, Cheshire<br />
Sandwell park, Stafordshire<br />
Sandy Lodge, Hertfordshire<br />
Selby, Yorkshire<br />
Sherborne, dorset<br />
Shipley, Yorkshire<br />
Slaley Hall, northumberland<br />
South Stafs, Stafordshire<br />
Stockport, Cheshire<br />
St Mellion (Kernow), Cornwall<br />
Tadmarton Heath, oxfordshire<br />
a really interesting, old-fashioned course.<br />
always enjoyable and although relatively<br />
short, there are many challenges at this fine<br />
heathland. an imaginative short game is vital.<br />
Teignmouth, devon<br />
Telford, Shropshire<br />
The Buckinghamshire, Buckinghamshire<br />
For many on the panel, a more interesting and<br />
challenging course than other ‘Shire’ courses<br />
such – and it would be a worthy Top <strong>100</strong><br />
course, as it has been in the past. a smoothly<br />
flowing modern design with just the right<br />
amount of risk and reward on ofer.<br />
The oxfordshire, oxfordshire<br />
Visually not inspiring but a fantastic, tough<br />
challenge with some superbly-designed holes.<br />
need to be on top of your game to score well<br />
here – and on a cold windy day its exposed<br />
nature means is a most exacting test. a great<br />
course with a lot of water and a design more<br />
often seen in the US mid-west. excellent holes<br />
such as the par-4 8th and par-5 17th give it a<br />
strong case to be included in the Top <strong>100</strong>.<br />
The players Club (Codrington), glos<br />
Fine course that will rise up the list in the future.<br />
Thetford, norfolk<br />
Thorndon park, essex<br />
Thorpeness, Sufolk<br />
proper heathland set out close to the sea.<br />
Thurlestone, devon<br />
Ulverston, Cumbria<br />
Walmer & Kingsdown, Kent<br />
Wentworth (Edinburgh), Surrey<br />
a super challenge with a variety of holes that<br />
make you think. For some, a few too many<br />
dog-legs but generally a little easier than the<br />
West or east, with generous landing areas of<br />
the tee. Wentworth is close to matching<br />
Woburn in having all three in the <strong>100</strong>.<br />
West Herts, Hertfordshire<br />
West Surrey, Surrey<br />
Weston super Mare, Somerset<br />
Whittington Heath, Stafordshire<br />
Woodhall Spa (Bracken), lincolnshire<br />
York (Strensall), Yorkshire<br />
Formby Golf Club, one of the<br />
World’s great links courses<br />
Set on the shores of the Irish Sea, Formby is blessed with undulating sand dunes and towering<br />
pines which combine to make this incredible golf course truly unique. The course, renowned<br />
as one of the World’s great links courses, was voted 77 in the world by the association of<br />
golf course architects, and is a challenging, idyllic and unforgettable experience with a club<br />
history and golfing pedigree going back to 1884.<br />
The iconic clubhouse, rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1901, is one of the most recognisable<br />
golf clubhouses in the world. Recently renovated, the clubhouse boasts dormy rooms sleeping<br />
10 and a fine dining restaurant which enjoys stunning panoramic views over the course. Our<br />
Golfers Bar is the perfect place to relax and refresh, either before or after your round, with<br />
real ales, fine wines and a comprehensive selection of bar snacks.<br />
Formby has also hosted the Amateur Championship on four occasions and boasts Jose-Maria<br />
Olazabal and Matteo Manassero amongst its champions.<br />
The Club also hosted the Curtis Cup in 2004.<br />
Formby Golf Club Limited | Golf Road | Formby | Liverpool | L37 1LQ | United Kingdom<br />
twitter: @formbygolfclub email: info@formbygolfclub.co.uk<br />
web: www.formbygolfclub.co.uk Tel: 01704 872164
<strong>TOP</strong> <strong>100</strong> ENGLAND 2015<br />
FANTASY GOLF<br />
MY PERFECT DAY<br />
By Sky Sports commentator Bruce Critchley.<br />
Awaking in the Mermaid Inn in<br />
Rye – rebuilt in 1483 – a day on<br />
the links beckons. A ‘Full<br />
English’ precedes the six-mile drive out<br />
over the Marshes to Camber Sands, the<br />
journey enlivened by conversation with<br />
my old Halford Hewitt chum, Tim Koch<br />
de Gooreynd, who’s currently ‘excused<br />
driving’. ‘How fast this time Tim?’ ‘Oh,<br />
probably 87 gusting to 92, I suppose’,<br />
the laconic reply.<br />
It’s early March, and the annual Rye<br />
versus the Oxford and Cambridge<br />
Golfing Society; 36 holes of foursomes,<br />
30 players on either side, Gerald<br />
Micklem selecting both teams and who<br />
plays with whom. No argument or no<br />
invite next year. As a handicapper he<br />
knows no equal and rarely does any<br />
match finish before the 16th green.<br />
My morning partner is Peter<br />
Richardson, the old England opener<br />
and as competitive on the course as he<br />
was at the crease; a 4 handicap and<br />
pretty tasty of that.<br />
Tee of at 9.50am and back in the<br />
clubhouse shortly after midday, a tight<br />
but comfortable victory chalked up.<br />
Lunch has to be carefully paced as<br />
I’m not of ’til 1.40pm, more than<br />
enough time to do serious damage. The<br />
Bloody Marys at Rye tend to be three<br />
measures of Vodka and two small<br />
bottles of tomato juice. A couple of<br />
these, club claret with the rudimentary<br />
but excellent Rye Lunch and just one<br />
large Kummel on the rocks while you<br />
change your shoes.<br />
My partner in the afternoon is Quinny<br />
Hoare – he of the banking family – who<br />
is a much better player after lunch. The<br />
secret with Quinny is to use his welllubricated<br />
skills early on to get a few<br />
holes up and then have enough in hand<br />
to see you through as he ‘tires’ on the<br />
back nine. This we just manage and<br />
then it’s time for tea and cake before<br />
the shower.<br />
Emerging in black tie at the Savoy<br />
Hotel to join John Bayman – husband of<br />
Lindy who played in the Curtis Cup in<br />
the 1980s – who is hosting a bridge<br />
evening in one of the Gilbert & Sullivan<br />
suites. A true oenophile, John greets<br />
us with Gosset champagne, a mature<br />
Montrachet with the fish and the good<br />
news that he has just broached his<br />
hogshead of ’61 Latour which had been<br />
lying in bond in Bordeaux. Decent<br />
cards, a few quid and a night at the<br />
Savoy rounds of a perfect day.<br />
■ A GB&I player in the 1969 Walker Cup,<br />
Bruce was a commentator with the BBC<br />
before moving to Sky Sports in the ’90s.<br />
He is part of golf’s premier commentary<br />
partnership alongside Ewen Murray.<br />
46 Golf World <strong>TOP</strong> <strong>100</strong> ENGLAND
Notts. Golf Club<br />
(Hollinwell)<br />
Host to the 2015 Brabazon Trophy<br />
A stunning Championship venue<br />
Glorious all-year golf is played on free-draining heathland<br />
defned by waving grasses, yellow gorse and birdsong.<br />
Fairways undulate, greens run fast and true, making this<br />
the favourite course of many.<br />
Characterised by speedy 2-ball format and traditional<br />
membership, Aldeburgh ofers a satisfyingly generous<br />
welcome in the clubhouse.<br />
Contact Te Secretary: 01728 452890,<br />
info@aldeburghgolfclub.co.uk.<br />
www.aldeburghgolfclub.co.uk<br />
SOCIETIES WELCOME<br />
Discount prices available for large groups<br />
To discuss these please call the Ofce<br />
Te Championship Course at 6,603 yards but with no par fves on the men’s<br />
card is a substantial challenge for even the best golfer. Te SSS of the Blue tees<br />
is 73 against a par of 68. Every hole presents an examination in shotmaking<br />
and accuracy; a stroke given away to the course is difcult to recover. It is also<br />
a beautiful place to play golf. Te views of the River Alde and glimpses of the<br />
North Sea, grey one day blue another, are enough to raise the spirits even when<br />
the score is not quite up to expectation.<br />
Notts. Golf Club (Hollinwell)<br />
Kirkby In Ashfeld | Nottingham | NG17 7QR<br />
T :01623 753225 | E: ofce@nottsgolfclub.co.uk<br />
W. www.nottsgolfclub.co.uk<br />
Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club is<br />
a true championship links course,<br />
with first class facilities to match.<br />
The course is set amongst the dunes<br />
on the North West coastline and is<br />
another of course designer,<br />
James Braid’s great creations.<br />
The course is challenging but fair and the profusion of heather, gorse and<br />
year round top class greens combine for an immensely enjoyable experience.<br />
The renowned 16th hole (Gumbleys) always provides excitement. Our recently<br />
refurbished clubhouse ( March 2015) and exceptional dining opportunities<br />
ensure that your day with us can be the highlight of your golfing year.<br />
www.dorsetgolfresort.com<br />
admin@dorsetgolfresort.com<br />
Club House: 01704 578000<br />
www.sandagolfclub.co.uk<br />
Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club, Bradshaws Lane, Ainsdale, Southport, Merseyside. PR8 3LG
CAMBERLEY HEATH<br />
GOLF CLUB<br />
One of Surrey’s Finest Courses<br />
• Memberships • Golf Days • Visitors Welcome<br />
• Ranked in the Top <strong>100</strong> Courses in England<br />
T: 01276 23258<br />
W: www.camberleyheathgolfclub.co.uk<br />
E: info@camberleyheathgolfclub.co.uk<br />
Camberley Heath Golf Club, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 1JG