Best value Top 100 courses
You can play some astonishing venues for less than £70...
100 | ▼ 26 PLACES Blairgowrie, Perthshire £50 twilight
A characterful heathland that flows through mature woodland bursting with variety. Beautiful and engaging, but lacks the standout holes and the architectural mix needed for a higher status these days. While there are arguably a few too many “soft” holes, its playability is part of its charm.
97 | ■ NEW ENTRY Beau Desert, Staffordshire £270 per fourball, Apr-oct
Had Beau Desert – translation “Beautiful Wilderness” – been crafted across the Berkshire or Surrey sandbelt, it would be lauded as one of England’s finest inland courses. While it doesn’t quite hit the same high notes as a Sunningdale Old or a Swinley Forest, Herbert Fowler’s intricate layout flows over an undulating tract of the heather-laden Cannock Chase. Boasts narrow, rolling spruce-, fir- and pine-lined fairways and sprawling greens complexes with wicked undulations.
90= | ▲ 5 PLACES Pennard, West Glamorgan £65 Mon-thurs, Apr-oct
James Braid’s Pennard is slowly but surely inching up the ranking – and certainly has the potential to penetrate the top half. A great combination of strategy, stunning scenery and holes that linger long in the memory. Renowned architect Tom Doak claims it’s one of his favourite places to play. A little stark and desolate in places, but you’ll love the crazy topography and the sublime turf.
90= | ▼ 11 PLACES Broadstone, Dorset £60 Mon-fri, winter
Although Broadstone has slipped in the rankings, it’s by no means an indictment
NEW ENTRY 87 St Andrews New, Fife £60 Oct 19-Nov 30
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In all fairness, an entry in the Top 100 GB&I Courses ranking that was long overdue. A truer and fairer test than the Old, which inevitably means it’s not as characterful and quirky. Despite that, there are some superb holes – especially those that flow towards the estuary. Improved gorse management has restored the open, sandy feel, too. of Frank Pont’s astute restoration. It’s more a reflection of the strength in depth now in this ranking. Harry Colt’s dramatic bunkering and delicious heather-banked run-offs are among the many delightful features.
=90 | ▼ 9 PLACES Parkstone, Dorset £65 Mon-fri, Nov/dec
An engaging mix of holes – from driveable par 4s to a brutal uphill par 5 – over varied heathland is further embellished by interesting changes in elevation, lakes and mature pines.
=90 | ▼ 8 PLACES Ferndown, Dorset £60 Mon-fri, twilight (after 3.30pm)
This beautiful course is steadily gaining recognition and acclaim. Immaculate greens combine with pine trees, heather and springy, sandy turf to create an immensely pleasurable golf experience.
=90 | ▼ 7 PLACES Aberdovey, Gwynedd £50 after 2pm
Known for its incredible start and finish, Aberdovey contains just a few too many so-so holes in its middle section and lacks the bite and sharp cutting edge to seriously challenge for higher status here. Having said that, it’s a strong, eminently playable links that is nestled between rolling hills, a railway and the beach.
86 | ▼ 9 PLACES Southerness, Dumfriesshire £60 Mon-fri
A standard scratch of 73 for this par 69 tells the story.
‘IMPROVED GORSE MANAGEMENT HAS RESTORED THE OPEN, SANDY FEEL AT THE NEW COURSE’
An uncompromising links with eight par 4s over 400 yards. Lacks the extra charm, variety and magic needed to penetrate the top half of the ranking, though. Classy throughout, the stretch from the 8th to 13th is the best.
85 | ▼ 18 PLACES Royal Ashdown Forest, East Sussex £55 Mon-fri, Nov 1-Mar 31
This veritable, old school heathland continues to impress – only competition of the highest calibre prevents it from going higher. A natural, fastrunning layout boasting a stellar mix of holes. And who says you need bunkers to provide visual interest?
=83 | ■ NEW ENTRY Moray (Old), Inverness-shire £30 Nov 1-Dec 31
Enjoys St Andrews Old Course-type charm, starting and finishing in the town, with the added bonus of sea views and smooth greens. Deep, recently renovated revetted bunkers and lots of gorse (some say too much!) are its main defences.
81 | ■ NEW ENTRY Portsalon, Donegal €50 GUI/ILGU members
Climbed into our Irish Top 100 in 2019 and continues to attract plaudits and recognition on the back of Paul Mcginley’s astute refurbishment. The tranquillity of Lough Swilly contrasts nicely with the rugged backdrop through which the best holes are routed. It’s a strong allround links with varying scenery and landscapes that ticks all the boxes of setting, strategy and aesthetics.
79 | ▲ 9 PLACES Liphook, Hampshire £65 Mon-fri, twilight (after 4pm)
Heathland/parkland golf at its finest and most understated best, Liphook
■ NEW ENTRY 75 Prince’s Kent £50 Mon-thurs, Nov 1-Feb 28 (exc Dec 26-31)
The ranking of Prince’s has been in something of a state of limbo for the past few years as the club has tinkered with each of its three nine-hole loops to a lesser or greater degree. After a successful revamp of its Himalayas nine, Mackenzie & Ebert were brought back to upgrade the Shore and Dunes courses with special emphasis on restoring Guy Campbell’s original greens complexes as well as reconfiguring the bunkering and changing tee height and angles on several holes. In true Martin Ebert style, the reinstatement of bare sandy waste areas has also greatly enhanced the visual appeal and character of many holes.
is charming and quaint but has more than its fair share of bite. Beautiful sandy turf is framed by heather, pine and birch trees.
=71 |
■ NEW ENTRY Ballyliffin Old, Donegal €50 winter
While big sister course Glashedy enjoys the best of the higher and more characterful turf, the Old still has more than its fair share of crumpled fairways, scintillating bunkering and joyous greens. The Old has the edge, courtesy of its sublime stretch of coastal holes.
=71 | ▲ 1 PLACE Moortown, West Yorkshire £55 twilight (after 4pm, limited to two tee-times daily)
Has enough about it to give the finest Surrey and Berkshire heathland layouts a good run for their money. Recent bunker renovations and tree removal have restored its original moorland feel.
=69 | ▼ 11 PLACES County Sligo, Sligo €50 Nov 16-Mar 14
The ever-changing terrain of this Harry Colt classic ensures you’re constantly
kept off balance by the variety of holes and features, including plateaus, run-offs, swales, cliffs, burns and dunes. The course is historic, brooding menacing and engaging, in equal measures.
68 | ▼ 7 PLACES Royal St David’s, Gwynedd £60 twilight (after 3pm)
The dunes make only a fleeting appearance on this classy but treacherous links course, widely regarded as one of the toughest par 69s on the planet. With the picturesque Harlech Castle overlooking the clubhouse and Snowdonia in the distance, St David’s covers fairly flat land on its opening nine before playing alongside the dunes for four
‘IN TRUE MARTIN EBERT STYLE, THE REINSTATEMENT OF BARE SANDY WASTE AREAS HAS ALSO GREATLY ENHANCED THE VISUAL APPEAL AT PRINCE’S’
▲ 5 PLACES 46 Burnham & Berrow, Somerset £60 winter
Another healthy rise, yet still underrated. The front nine is incredible and we don’t have a problem with the so called “weak” holes around the turn. There is plenty more great golf coming in. Right from the start, with the 1st meandering through beautiful dunes, you know you’re in for a proper links experience. The green complexes are excellent, with lots of demanding run-offs. And in typical Harry Colt style, there is an outstanding set of par 3s. holes coming in. Aggressive bunkering and long rough make it one of the sternest tests of any course within this Top 100.
=65 | ■ NEW ENTRY Portstewart (Strand), Northern Ireland £65 Nov-mar (mats in use)
The opening tee shot at the Strand is worthy of a place in this ranking alone, the front nine guarantees a berth in the top 70, while only a slight drop off in pace coming home prevents Portstewart from breaking into the top 50 – for now. A scintillating stretch of opening holes sees you perched high above the property on the first tee with a panoramic view that stretches inland from the Atlantic Ocean across swathes of bracken and towering dunes. It’s the contrast in colour that is the most beguiling as blue merges into rust merges into sable merges into green. You’re then plunged into a rollercoaster journey through prehistoric dunes with multi-tiered fairways twisting you this way and that. The flatter, riverside holes coming in are in stark contrast to the turbulent opening stretch, but provide serenity to the round as well as a visual change of pace.
=65 | ▲ 1 PLACE Hunstanton, Norfolk £70 Nov-mar
An honest, no frills, traditionally stern links. It perhaps lacks the visual appeal, variety and eclectic mix of features associated with the nearby Royal West Norfolk, but for purity and the ultimate test of your ball striking, look no further.
62 | ▼ 7 PLACES Silloth-on-solway, Cumbria £60 a day, Mon-fri
Overlooked and underrated for too long, Silloth is now a Top 100 GB&I fixture. Scintillating front nine, where many greens are tucked away in dunes and dells, is not quite matched coming in, though.
61 | ▼ 5 PLACES Ballyliffin Glashedy, Donegal €50 winter
Recent refurbishment work has made Pat Ruddy’s grand course more exacting, yet this jaunt through epic dunes remains as fun and playable as ever. The layout is clever and intuitive, too, with both nines treating you to views of the best dunes and some picturesque views courtesy of some spectacular elevated tees. Although debates rage as to which is the better of the two Ballyliffin courses, the Glashedy is regarded as a tougher and tighter proposition than the Old.
=57 | ▼ 10 PLACES The Machrie, Argyll £65 Nov-mar
A tremendous piece of design to remodel the course without losing the character of the original layout. Some epic greens and blind shots are gone for good, but so are some mediocre holes. Breathtaking land and topography.
=54 | ▼ 4 PLACES Notts (Hollinwell), Nottinghamshire £60 Mon-fri, Dec-mar
After a fairly sedate opener, it’s a non-stop whirlwind of great holes, stunning location, and some magical stretches of golf. Takes you on a fantastic journey and has wonderful sections and moods.
53 | ▼ 10 PLACES Machrihanish, Argyll £45 twilight (after 4pm)
The opening tee shot over the ocean is worthy of a place in the ranking on its own. The front nine, which vies with Royal Aberdeen as the best in Scotland guarantees it top 60. Only a sedate closing nine prevents it from obtaining top 30. For the first time, neighbouring Machrihanish Dunes becomes the main attraction in the area.
=46 | ▲ 14 PLACES Carne, Mayo €55 Nov & Dec
A remote, remote links that’s grand in both scale and variety. It has been caressed through an epic, almost mountainous, dunescape by the steady hand of architect Eddie Hackett, who claimed the land was among the best he had ever been given to work with. A sensational natural routing takes you across a rampaging terrain of steep hollows and dells. The front nine is calmer amid a more rural setting, while the back nine winds through 500-foot high dunes. A deserved rise of 14 places.
=46 | ▲ 13 PLACES Machrihanish Dunes, Argyll £45 twilight
The blind shots, undulation changes and lengthy walks