Great second courses
These first-class second courses at Top 100 and Next 100 venues are more than worthy in their own right
Ballybunion Cashen
The Old course at Ballybunion is one of the most famous in the world, and although there are some who don’t favour its tight lines, tricky angles and generally small greens, the Cashen course is great fun, scenic and memorable. Designed
The
17th on the Cashen is a short but thrilling par 5 that hugs the shoreline – a lay up will usually be better than going for the green in two. by Robert Trent Jones – renowned for his bold statements and enthusiasm for the dramatic – it opened for play in 1984 and makes for an adventurous companion to its celebrated sibling. Play it when the wind is behaving and you should have a smile on your face all the way.
GF: round: €80
Rye Jubilee
The club and the Old course at Rye are pretty much as traditional as links golf gets, and the Jubilee course offers a slightly more forgiving layout that makes for an excellent companion. Unusually, there are 12 holes, and a variety of tee placements helps create two quite varied loops of nine. It is also blessed with arguably the best green site at Rye, with the 4th sitting in a natural amphitheatre not dissimilar to the opening hole at Doonbeg. The two short holes at 7 and 16 are crackers. GF: round: £70
Woodhall Spa Bracken
With the recently upgraded Hotchkin course one of the very finest inland championship tests in the UK&I, the adjacent Bracken course is a remarkably different affair. The former runs over sandy heathland, but the latter is far more parkland in nature and has several water features. One of its key defences is the undulating greens. Designed by Donald Steel, it opened in 1998 and makes Woodhall Spa one of the most varied and enjoyable 36-hole venues in the country.
GF: round: £57
Blairgowrie Lansdowne
The Lansdowne course at Blairgowrie in the beautiful Grampian Mountains was designed getting on for 50 years ago by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas. It too runs through delightful and dense pine forest, which offers peace and seclusion at the same time as putting a premium on straight hitting. Both slope rating and yardage are higher than on the older course, but the easy-walking nature of the crisp turf here makes a day playing both layouts extremely tempting. The par-32 Wee course is also well worth a game.
GF: round: £95wd, day £140
Slaley Hall Priestman
This is one of those lucky venues where there isn’t a huge amount to choose between its primary and secondary courses. Part of a very attractive 1,000acre estate, both the Hunting and Priestman are enjoyable, modern parkland courses. The Priestman was designed by Neil Coles and runs through mature trees that at times open up to wider vistas. It calls for a strategic approach as there are frequent encounters with ponds, streams and ditches.
GF: round: £30