THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES
101 CHART HILLS KENT
Founded in 1993, the 7,132-yard original design by Sir Nick Faldo and Steve Smyers was taken over by the Mcguirk family in 2000 and closed for a complete refurbishment. The condition of Chart Hills has been revitalised and it will move back into the 100 when more panellists have seen the renovated course.
102 SUTTON COLDFIELD STAFFS Increasing support for this firm, fastrunning Staffordshire course. Don’t be surprised if it’s in the next list as it continues with a renovation programme. It’s a wonderful Alister Mackenzie layout winding through heather and woodland. Like Alwoodley, it has excellent sandy, undulating turf and really fast and true greens. A good variation of holes and some clever bunkering.
103 BUDE & NORTH CORNWALL CORNWALL
Shades of St Andrews as the clubhouse lies in the centre of the town, with the first few holes in full public view and pot bunkers and burns to catch the unwary later in round.
104 THE WISLEY (CHURCH & MILL) SURREY
Beautifully maintained American-style parkland with water frequently in play, either from the River Wey or from the lakes. The 9th on Mill is especially taxing, as water runs all the way from tee to green. However, the fairways are wide and always in immaculate condition. Big holes with length to challenge all. Sensational greens and beautiful landscaping thanks to its neighbour, the RHS.
105 CROWBOROUGH BEACON SUSSEX
Elevated heathland with some wonderful holes that is indubitably Top 100 calibre.
106 CLEVELAND NORTH YORKSHIRE
Fantastic links with a rustic feel. The steelworks, a wind farm and a car scrap yard as points of interest either side of the course mean it is not one for those seeking views, but the golf itself is so very good.
107 YELVERTON DEVON
In addition to the traditional hazards of bunkers and streams comes the real possibility of hitting a pony or sheep wandering around this Dartmoor layout. Bursting with character.
108 DUNSTANBURGH CASTLE NORTHUMBERLAND
Striking location with castle and coastal views. The undulating fairways and true, testing greens are presented in top-class order. Dog-legs and blind shots add to the fun. Good routing and a serious history with some bunkers built into the course near the beach. The short par 3 shooting out towards the sea/castle is a beauty.
109 ENVILLE (HIGHGATE) WORCESTERSHIRE
This part-heathland, part-woodland got a lot of love from the panel. The heathland holes have been there since the 1930s and are top class, with the woodland phases added later.
110 CLOSE HOUSE NORTHUMBERLAND
Intelligent routing which traverses a hilly site without too many holes going straight up or down. It has a nice counterpoint with several holes in woodland dells. Some very steep approach shots and thrilling downhill tee shots. Condition always fantastic.
111 FOXHILLS (LONGCROSS) SURREY
This regular Top 100 entry winds through towering pines and has solid elevation changes. A full restoration, focusing on greens and bunkers, would see it restored to the main list.
112 THE HALLAMSHIRE SOUTH YORKSHIRE
Heathy Sheffield course that is the home of Matt Fitzpatrick and rewards shot-making. Undergoing a CDP restoration.
113 TADMARTON HEATH OXFORDSHIRE Characterful course with springy turf and idiosyncratic holes. Just a joy to play and Top 100 class.
114 COPT HEATH WEST MIDLANDS
Host of championships and renowned for its conditioning, a fine, interesting course that has been skilfully crafted out of a flat parcel of land.
115 APPLEBY CUMBRIA
Moorland of rare entertainment and charm. Sheep keep the springy turf in perfect order. The short 15th, ‘Dell’, is majestic.
116 NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTY NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
An impressive Harry Colt design of which one panellist said, “I would have this right at the top of this list”. It has a feeling of both parkland and heathland. Excellent green sites.
117 WESTON-SUPER-MARE SOMERSET
We are unquestionably still in ‘Top 100 calibre’ territory with WSM; this is a super links, shaped by the greats Tom Dunn and Alister Mackenzie.
118 THETFORD NORFOLK
The combined nous of James Braid, Philip Mackenzie Ross and Charles Mayo have left a fine course among the pine, birch, heather and gorse of Breckland heathland.
119 LONDON CLUB (HERITAGE) KENT
A Jack Nicklaus course built with tournament golf in mind, it resembles a US parkland with large, fast greens, multiple bunkers, thick rough and water hazards.
120 ROYAL NORWICH NORFOLK
Ross Mcmurray’s new design on a new site for this old club has really impressed. A thoughtful, well-conditioned parkland that gives modern golf a good name.
121 ROYAL CROMER NORFOLK
Clifftop course with extraordinary views and plenty of drama. It’s no exaggeration to say it would not be out of place in the 90s.
122 FRILFORD HEATH (RED) OXFORDSHIRE
The best of the trio at this Oxfordshire club. There are no weaknesses in the Red, an excellent all-rounder.
123 MOOR PARK (HIGH) HERTFORDSHIRE
Once a regular venue on the European Tour, the course has a number of highlights, not least the long par-3 12th with its devilish two-tier green cut into a distant hill and with bunkers catching anything slightly short. That it has a stately home as a clubhouse adds to the experience.
124 WILDERNESSE KENT
Designer unknown, but with later James Braid influences. A picturesque, mature parkland course, lined by trees.
125 EAST SUSSEX NATIONAL (WEST) SUSSEX
Has its equivalent of ‘Amen Corner’, with the magnificent double dog-leg par-5 12th, long par-3 13th and daunting SI1 14th played from a high tee to a valley fairway before rising to a well-defended green.
126 SANDIWAY CHESHIRE
Woodland course with some of the most entertaining holes in the list.
127 BAMBURGH CASTLE NORTHUMBERLAND
Breathtaking views from its elevated, cliffedge fairways, but also some really clever holes and wonderful green sites.
128 REIGATE HEATH SURREY
Nine holes and 18 separate tees. Don’t be fooled, this is still a test with some of the strongest heathland holes across this Top 200.
129 FAIRHAVEN LANCASHIRE
From the 1st tee it is apparent that the fairway bunkering will become a feature as you plot your way around this wellpresented inland course. Fast fairways and subtle, fast greens complete the picture.
130 WEST CORNWALL CORNWALL
An elevated and entirely natural location offering fabulous views. An old-fashioned layout helps to provide a links with a unique personality, with its undulating fairways, sand dunes and slick greens. Exciting routing.
131 GOODWOOD (DOWNS) SUSSEX
Found in the dreamy South Downs, which provide excellent drainage. The routing takes full advantage of the topography with some fine views. Green complexes given visual impact by imaginative bunkering.
132 STOCKPORT LANCASHIRE
This Harry Colt layout sits so well into the natural topography. Interesting greens complexes and bunkering; it oozes traditional class.
133 NEWQUAY CORNWALL
“A mini Muirfield! It’s also a Harry Colt! And it has the clockwise outer loop and an inner loop! The best links on this list, in my opinion,” enthused one panellist.
134 LONDON CLUB (INTERNATIONAL) KENT
The second course at the club has its share of lakes and deep bunkering in play, but it’s a touch less intimidating for a handicap golfer.
135 ENVILLE (LODGE) WEST MIDLANDS
The No.2 course here, but as its position shows, there’s not much between them (Highgate is at 109). Some may even prefer the shorter Lodge – although that yardage is influenced by only two par 5s. A mix of open heathland and woodland holes.
136 CHURCH STRETTON SHROPSHIRE
In our Fun Top 100 and would be in our ‘Views Top 100’ too. Epic setting and lots of dramatic, memorable holes.
137 TEIGNMOUTH DEVON
Set high above the Devon resort, this Alister Mackenzie moorland offers fine views, exposure to the breeze and greens with subtle slopes.
138 MANCHESTER LANCASHIRE
This Harry Colt design is routed through a grand old estate. Generous fairways across the springy turf of rolling moorland and a good variety of holes. The detail of the routing brings your game to life.
139 WEST SURREY SURREY
Some good topography and some dramatic moments. Set in the Surrey Hills, playing this attractive wooded course will get your cardio rate up. Brilliant green sites.
140 COXMOOR NOTTS
Pedigree heathland that rolls over firm turf with heather and trees lining the fairways.
141 BEACONSFIELD BUCKS
A beautifully presented Harry Colt woodland where slopes come more into play on the middle section on the far side of the railway line that bisects the course. Each of the excellent par 3s is stoutly defended.
142 BRAMPTON CUMBRIA
Scenic and interesting. It’s not especially long but the routing maintains your interest and puts a premium on accuracy, and it has a handful of top 50-calibre holes.
143 ESSENDON (OLD) HERTFORDSHIRE
Undulating parkland designed by Fred Hawtree in 1976. The tree-lined Old has notable greens, such as the two-tiered affair on the epic 2nd, and the double that connects the 3rd and 11th.
144 THORNDON PARK ESSEX
Harry Colt and his associate, Charles Alison, designed Thorndon and while it is parkland with luxuriant turf, it’s firm and springy. Plays among ancient oak, elm and cedar trees.
145 BURHILL (OLD) SURREY
A classic Willie Park Jr. design which winds through mature trees and is notable for its small greens. The course is entering into early stages of a bunker renovation.
146 KING’S LYNN NORFOLK
Located near the sea, but this is a wellestablished woodland course with holes framed by trees.
147 RAC (OLD) SURREY
Herbert Fowler originally designed the Old and it has been renovated by Mackenzie & Ebert. A classic parkland experience in Surrey.
148 NORTHUMBERLAND N’LAND
An interesting design that runs in and out of the race track and with a balance of really good holes. The opener is a drivable par 4 and the wonderful back nine is a mix of heathland/parkland.
149 WENTWORTH (EDINBURGH) SURREY
More fiddly than its brothers – with tricky dog-legs requiring the need to shape it both ways – but still a full test. The large greens allow for forgiveness in approach, but not so much off the tee.
150 MULLION CORNWALL
The 10th hole is outstanding at this ‘end of the earth’ clifftop course. Gets into the 150 for its epic setting.
151 HALIFAX WEST YORKSHIRE
An unfussy moorland course that offers a wonderful example of raw, dramatic and memorable golf.
152 BROKENHURST MANOR HAMPSHIRE
A Harry Colt woodland course with hints of heathland that’s a delight off little more than 6,200 yards. Fine par 3s and interesting greens elevate it to this position. A real treat in the New Forest.
153 LECKFORD (OLD) HAMPSHIRE
This nine-holer is a mini Harry Colt classic on undulating, chalk-based downland. Characteristically memorable short holes.
154 WEST BYFLEET SURREY
A tight, flat site that makes the most of being shoehorned in against the railway. A collection of special holes. Mackenzie & Ebert restoration strengthened its standing.
155 REDDISH VALE LANCASHIRE
An Alister Mackenzie gem hemmed in by housing that takes a little away from the ambience, but the brilliant routing takes advantage of the rolling landscape and the excellence of the architect shines through.
156 FRILFORD HEATH (BLUE) OXFORDSHIRE
The Blue was designed by Simon Gidman in 1994 and starts with water-dominated holes before making way for some strong twoshotters and nice par 3s later on.
157 HUDDERSFIELD WEST YORKSHIRE
‘Fixby’ is a stellar course with a rich heritage. Undulating fairways with springy turf.
158 MINCHINHAMPTON (OLD) GLOS
A natural, lie-of-the-land course with wonderful green complexes and intriguing holes, set in the quaint village.
159 BOVEY CASTLE DEVON
Part of a fine resort, this J.F. Abercromby course is a very elegant experience.
160 EDGBASTON WARWICKSHIRE
A Harry Colt course in Birmingham that is only just over 6,000 yards. But with a par of 69 and typical nous from the designer, it has just the right amount of test.
161 HOCKLEY HAMPSHIRE
A James Braid downland within the South Downs National Park.
162 BINGLEY ST IVES YORKSHIRE
Three courses in one at this former Tour host. Starts in parkland and flits in and out of woodland, but the highlight is the heather-framed moorland phase.
163 PANNAL YORKSHIRE
A couple of different feels to the course. You have to be in the fairway to score well. And its par 5s and 3s are really strong, even if they don’t look that tricky on the card.
164 WORKSOP NOTTS
A high-calibre heathland which often has holes framed by mature trees. Outstanding maintenance.
165 ROSS-ON-WYE HEREFORDSHIRE
A Woburn-esque experience, with holes cut through woodland.
166 SLALEY HALL (HUNTING) NORTHUMBERLAND
Owes its position mostly to the old front nine, now its back nine, with holes nine, 10 and 18 real standouts. “For me this is one of the best nine-hole stretches in the country,” said one panellist.
167 ROYAL MID-SURREY (J.H. TAYLOR) SURREY
A wonderful place for a late afternoon round on a summer’s evening. Bags of character around the greens and a forgiving experience.
168 WINDERMERE CUMBRIA
The setting is as delightful as you would assume, but what really sells Windermere are its unique, quirky holes.
169 EAST SUSSEX NATIONAL (EAST) SUSSEX
Used twice for the European Open, the setting is more open than its sister, albeit less picturesque as a result. It has excellent par 5s and the long par-4 17th is a standout in an exacting finish.
170 FOXHILLS (BERNARD HUNT) SURREY
Second entry for Foxhills in the list, this time by the former Ryder Cup player. A similarly elegant, tree-lined experience.
171 WHITTINGTON HEATH STAFFS
Jonathan Gaunt’s rerouting of this heathy course to take account of HS2 has been deemed a success.
172 ROCKLIFFE HALL DURHAM
Marc Westenborg design starts with a great tempo. Holes 10 and 11 are standouts before a good finish, with 15 and 18 the pick. Easywalking, modern course in super nick.
173 MANNINGS HEATH (WATERFALL) SUSSEX
One of its features is unusually small greens, another the remarkable par 3s at 4 (with its amphitheatre-like setting) and 10 – a plunging tee shot to a shallow green with out-ofbounds close behind. Terrific in the summer.
174 GREAT YARMOUTH & CAISTER NORFOLK
Set within the racecourse, which makes for an awkward 1st hole, but the links holes – which are by far the majority – are really strong and make it worth the effort. Steeped in history.
175 BRANCEPETH CASTLE DURHAM
Another Harry Colt design with typically good short holes that are beautifully designed. The parkland sits nicely in its undulating topography, which leads to some fun blind drives.
176 CARLISLE CUMBRIA
Less moorland than near neighbour Brampton, so not as good all-year-round, but this remains a fine parkland with several outstanding holes.
177 HARTLEPOOL COUNTY DURHAM
Good links layout and while overshadowed by Seaton Carew just up the road, it’s still worthy of your attention.
178 CANTERBURY KENT
A lovely Harry Colt parkland that’s a mix of attractive holes and challenging ones. Terrific on a summer’s evening.
179 SANDWELL PARK WEST MIDLANDS
A Harry Colt parkland livened by the strategic incorporation of ditches and excellent bunkering. Movement in greens are also a key defence.
180 YORK NORTH YORKSHIRE
A Jonathan Gaunt restoration and admirable investment ensure the heathland-woodland of ‘Strensall’ secures a place among England’s elite.
181 THE BUCKINGHAMSHIRE BUCKS Championship parkland that has undergone recent investment that lifts it comfortably inside the Top 200.
182 SAND MOOR WEST YORKSHIRE
Lives a little in the shadow of Alwoodley and Moortown, but Sand Moor is a pedigree woodland-heathland.
183 HANBURY MANOR HERTFORDSHIRE
A former European Tour venue in a sprawling estate. Strong holes and well presented.
184 ILKLEY WEST YORKSHIRE
A real charmer. Set in the river valley with views of nearby Ilkley Moor. An unusual array of three par 3s, one par 4 and two par 5s in the opening six holes, with the River Wharfe always to the left.
185 FELIXSTOWE FERRY (MARTELLO) SUFFOLK
A few flat, less links holes or it would be higher, but the seaward section provides Martello’s character. Fast running along rolling, tumbling fairways.
186 HEADINGLEY WEST YORKSHIRE
After astute recent improvements to a course shaped in part by both Colt and Mackenzie, Headingley holds its own in stellar Leeds company. Its routing clings impressively to undulating terrain.
187 FLEMPTON SUFFOLK
A J.H. Taylor nine-holer that locals believe is perhaps as good as Worlington. The turf is firm all year round and the clever design returns you to the clubhouse after every three holes. Subtle undulations and movement in greens.
188 SUNNINGDALE HEATH SURREY
On the up. Don’t be fooled by the 3,705 yards on the scorecard. This is arguably the most fun routing on the list. And it’s in great nick all year round.
189 THE PLAYERS (STRANAHAN) BRISTOL
A clever modern course by Adrian Stiff that’s short on the card but very strategic, with cunning use of undulations.
190 THE OXFORDSHIRE OXON
Rees Jones’ brilliant par-5 17th, its fairway curving around a lake, asks questions about bravery and technique. The par-4 8th is a shorter, similarly-teasing version.
191 MINCHINHAMPTON (CHERINGTON) GLOUCESTERSHIRE
This Martin Hawtree course has wide fairways and undulating greens. Consistently good – as is its condition.
192 HESKETH MERSEYSIDE
Middle section is flat and less interesting and if it was all located on land such as the opening and closing holes it would be much, much higher. The par-3 16th is a famous Lancashire object of beauty.
193 WILMSLOW CHESHIRE
Plays nicely over undulating terrain in wellheeled Cheshire. You can score well here if you find the fairways.
194 NEWBIGGIN NORTHUMBERLAND
Historic but low-key links. Characterful and with undulating fairways, blind holes and fast, true greens. The North Sea wind makes it a fun examination.
195 ROYAL ASHDOWN FOREST (WEST) EAST SUSSEX
Short, but the small, undulating greens plus significant slopes around them make the West play as hard as its more famous sister.
196 NORTH FORELAND KENT
Former Open final qualifying course, this downland layout offers magnificent views of the White Cliffs.
197 THURLESTONE DEVON
For the first seven exhilarating clifftop holes, Thurlestone might well seem to be Devon’s answer to Pebble Beach. The magic, if not the quality, is lost as the course turns inland, but the memory lingers.
198 FARNHAM SURREY
Partly plays over lush, undulating parkland, with a faster-running heathland section providing a welcome contrast in the middle. Also known as ‘The Sands’.
199 DAWLISH WARREN DEVON
This links sits on a peninsula within the River Exe, offering good views over to Exmouth and with the associated charms and challenges of wind-blown seaside golf.
200 MANOR HOUSE WILTSHIRE
A schizophrenic layout with some flat, modern parkland holes, mixed with more interesting and slightly quirky hillside ones.