WORLD’S GREATEST GOLF COURSES

101–125 Golf Courses

Explore courses ranked 101 to 125 in our journey through the world’s greatest golf courses, featuring remarkable layouts, memorable holes and spectacular golfing destinations.

🌍 WORLD | UPDATED 2026 | RANKS 101–125

#101
Royal West Norfolk

About The Course

There have been many revelations along the way but Royal West Norfolk was certainly one of the most pleasant surprises I have had on this journey. This is a brilliant golf course where the front nine is one of the best in the world. This course comes highly recommended and if you ever get the chance, you have got to play here.

We were given a full rundown of the course and its history by Sabrina and Ross who work in the shop where the pro is Andrew. All lovely people who were very kind with their time. The course is a links course beside the beach but the course can be surrounded by water when the tide is in and cars can only get to the club when the tide is out. We found the whole story fascinating.

For example, on the day we played we were advised that cars could not get to the clubhouse until after 10.30am. Sometimes the staff walk to the course on a high ridge to the left of the road when the tide is in. It is a beautiful old clubhouse where the views from upstairs are stunning.

The course measures 6,457 yards and is a par 71. The front nine is 3,409 yards while the back nine is shorter at 3,048 yards. In essence the course, which dates back to 1892, is nine out and nine back. The prevailing wind is normally with you on the front nine which would make sense as it is the longer of the two nines but we played it on a lovely day where we played into the wind on the front nine and with the wind on the back. That made the front nine incredibly difficult.

The first three holes are par 4’s that measure 415, 449 and 403 yards. Mick and I did not reach any of those greens in regulation as the wind was howling into our faces. The 3rd hole was a particular highlight where you only get to see the top half of the flag from the fairway. The 4th is a well-known par 3 of only 129 where you cannot be short. The 6th hole at National Golf Links of America was inspired by this hole.

The 8th is a brilliant par 5 that meanders to the right and then to the left. There is marsh land to the right that floods when the tide is in. The members, we were told, sometimes plan their game so that the tide is in which means that the 8th and 9th have lakes for golfers to contend with.

The 9th plays 405 yards and is a belter. Your second shot is played over marsh or water to a green that has the sea just behind. At this stage, you realise that you have just played one of the best front nines anywhere in the world.

The back nine is decent but we did not get the full experience as it was unusually downwind. There are many good holes on the back nine including the 14th which is a par 4 played to a tiny blind green. The 15th is a par 3 of 188 yards where your tee shot is played over a colossal bunker which is well short of the green. The 16th is a short par 4 where the green is perched high on a wee hill to the right.

I would love to play here again where the wind was with us on the front nine and against us on the back just to see the difference. We had a brilliant day at Royal West Norfolk, also known as Brancaster. It was a day that will live long in the memory. You gotta play RWN. Simples.

BEST 6 HOLES

8, 9, 3, 16, 2, 14

BEST PAR 3

15

BEST PAR 4

9

BEST PAR 5

8

Course Gallery

A closer look at Royal West Norfolk

On The Course

Watch videos from Royal West Norfolk

#102
TPC Sawgrass

About The Course

We played here in 2017 and it was the day after we went to Augusta to see Sergio win the Masters. We were very tired at this stage of our trip as a day walking around Augusta is exhausting with all the hills there. Peter, Mick and I played poorly at Sawgrass but we had a super day there. It is a very cool moment when you drive through the estate and then you see the clubhouse.

BEST 6 HOLES

17, 14, 18, 10, 7, 4

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

14

BEST PAR 5

16

Course Gallery

A closer look at TPC Sawgrass

#103
Wentworth

About The Course

How is Wentworth not more highly rated on some of the golfing lists? It has the design, the history, the course condition and is a brilliant heathland golf course. It deserves to be ranked much higher than it is currently. It was designed by Harry Colt and played host to the Ryder Cup in 1953. It staged the World Matchplay from 1967 to 2007 and has also staged the No. 1 European Tour event, namely the BMW PGA Championship every year since 1984.

BEST 6 HOLES

15, 13, 3, 14, 9, 11

BEST PAR 3

14

BEST PAR 4

15

BEST PAR 5

17

Course Gallery

A closer look at Wentworth

#104
West Sussex

About The Course

There have been many pleasant surprises in terms of quality golf courses on this journey of playing great golf courses but West Sussex was a massive surprise. I had heard nothing much about the course and I have to say it was a joy to play. This course which opened in 1931 is located well south of London and is closer to the coast than most of the other great heathland courses in England. You drive up a small lane, park along the road and there is this old beautiful clubhouse on the left.

BEST 6 HOLES

12, 17, 7, 13, 16, 11

BEST PAR 3

12

BEST PAR 4

17

BEST PAR 5

1

Course Gallery

A closer look at West Sussex

#105
Western Gailes

About The Course

If you are going to play golf along the east coast of Scotland then you should play here. It’s an excellent links course. There are many famous courses close by including Royal Troon, Turnberry and Prestwick but Western Gailes deserves its own respect. It has a beautiful old clubhouse and the staff are very friendly.

BEST 6 HOLES

16, 7, 17, 5, 2, 15

BEST PAR 3

7

BEST PAR 4

16

BEST PAR 5

6

Course Gallery

A closer look at Western Gailes

#106
Yeamans Hall

About The Course

What is wonderful about playing some courses in the US is that you may not have heard anything about them but when you arrive there you realise that you are in a special place. You get to the front gate here and you are met by a very chatty and friendly man named Randy. I asked him if I could take a photo of their amazing entrance gate (check out the photos) and he said sure. Randy is quite the character and a super intro to Yeamans Hall which is located just north of Charleston in South Carolina.

Then you drive for maybe a mile to the Clubhouse. They don’t have a large square tarmacadam car park. You park here or there. It’s perfect. Just like Myopia Hunt Club. The club house and pro shop are old and majestic. Claude wasn’t there but he was super helpful beforehand. Nick, Alex Chris and Alec were there and they could not have been more pleasant or helpful. There was a really great atmosphere in the place.

The course opened in 1925 and was designed by the brilliant Seth Raynor. The greens shrunk over time so Tom Doak was contracted in 1998 to restore the greens to their former glory. He did a super job.

This course is all about the greens. The best green complexes I have played are at Chicago Golf Club. They are amazing but the greens here at Yeamans Hall are not far behind. There is plenty of room off the tee but your score will be determined by how you putt as these greens will test you to the max.

There are large slopes on the 1st, 3rd and 4th. Then we get to an absolute belter. The 6th hole is a work of art. It’s a redan. A Seth Raynor redan. Yes it slopes from front right to back left and played 186 yards off our amateur tees but the way the back of the green slopes up and then drops off at the back is quite dramatic and unique (3 bunkers await over the back of the green). It is worth coming here just to see it. On the way out the road passed this 6th hole and I stopped again just to have another look.

The next hole is rightly index (handicap) No.1 as it plays uphill on a hole that measured 428 yards off the rust tees. The 8th plays downhill towards a green that sits in front of the beautiful Goose Creek River. The 10th looks an ordinary par 4 of 379 yards but the green is anything but. There are horseshoe contours on it and its Raynor at his best. The 11th is a strong par 4 but then it’s not long before we get to the brilliant 14th hole.

It was 409 yards for us amateurs and was playing into the breeze. I had a 4 iron left for my second shot after hitting an ok drive. The green is raised and slopes a little from right to left but if you miss it left, long or to the right then you are in trouble. Thankfully I made the putting surface but I didn’t realise all the trouble around the green until I had the putter in my hand. Ignorance was bliss on this occasion. It really is one of the best par 4’s in the world.

The 15th was a very stone par 4 of some 445 yards. Tough hole with run offs on all sides of the green. The last 5 holes are excellent but you may be able to finish with a par or a birdie on the last hole, which is a par 5, if you get your drive away down the fairway.

I had not heard much about Yeamans Hall as I mentioned earlier but it is a stunning quiet place to play golf. The greens are world class and boy were they quick. To be a member there must be a joy. The surroundings, the staff, the calmness, the clubhouse, the condition of the course, the design and oh did I mention the greens!! A brilliant experience.

BEST 6 HOLES

14, 6, 15, 7, 11, 10

BEST PAR 3

6

BEST PAR 4

14

BEST PAR 5

18

Course Gallery

A closer look at Yeamans Hall

#107
Walton Heath Old

About The Course

The old course opened in 1904 and has been adapted to the times as it can now play to a full length of 7,406 yards. It hosted the Ryder Cup in 1981. It also held the European Open 5 times between 1978 and 1991. Since then it also held the Senior Open Championship, the British Masters and in 2023 held the Women’s British Open. There is so much history here. When you walk around this beautiful clubhouse you feel privileged to be here. There are lots of photos to look at. The pro shop is a separate building to the club house and the whole place is so beautiful while the staff could not be nicer.

BEST 6 HOLES

4, 14, 2, 18, 10, 15

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

4

BEST PAR 5

14

Course Gallery

A closer look at Walton Heath Old

On The Course

Watch videos from Walton Heath Old

#108
Pasatiempo

About The Course

This course opened in 1929 and was designed by the brilliant Dr. Alisteir MacKenzie who also designed courses such as Cypress Point, Augusta and Royal Melbourne. Unlike many of the best courses in the US, this course is bookable. While we were on a family holiday in California, I decided to play here and it was a great decision. There is a plaque to the left of the 6th fairway to show people the house where MacKenzie lived in from 1929 until his death in 1934. After his funeral and cremation his ashes were scattered via airplane over his beloved Pasatiempo.

BEST 6 HOLES

16, 3, 11, 5, 10, 18

BEST PAR 3

3

BEST PAR 4

16

BEST PAR 5

6

Course Gallery

A closer look at Pasatiempo

On The Course

Watch videos from Pasatiempo

#109
Sheshan International

About The Course

What a stunning place. What a stunning golf course. The clubhouse is huge but has lots of charm at the same time. I got to play here with Charlene and Chunyan and the ladies played very well. I was struggling to arrange golf in China but was greatly helped by an Irish pro named Paul who had worked in Shanghai for years. Paul was so helpful and is a super guy.

BEST 6 HOLES

17, 15, 6, 8, 18, 2

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

15

BEST PAR 5

8

Course Gallery

A closer look at Sheshan International

#110
Les Bordes New

About The Course

You know you have reached somewhere very special just on the 3km driveway that takes you from the entrance of Les Bordes through the Sologne Forest all the way to the clubhouse area. This is a 1,550 acre estate where all you can hear are the birds. It is heaven on earth. It must have been so exciting for Gil Hanse to have arrived here, walked around and then to have started the routing of this great new course.

The New Course which opened in July 2021, was designed by Gil, the architect of some of the world’s most celebrated restorations and new courses. His portfolio includes Castle Stuart and Ohoopee Match Club, as well as extensive restorations of several U.S. Open venues including Winged Foot, The Country Club in Boston and Los Angeles Country Club. In addition, Gil Hanse has restored or renovated more than twenty courses perennially included on Top 100 lists including Merion and Fishers Island Club.

The job he did here was top class. You must take a buggy from the clubhouse about 2km to the first tee. The first is a beautiful par 4 of over 400 yards. Straight away you get the heathland in a forest feel. The stretch of holes from 5th to the 7th is really excellent. The 5th is index (handicap) No. 1 and rightly so. It played 499 yards for us and is a par 4!! The 5th is a super par 5 that just keeps meandering to the right. It played 529 yards for us. The 7th might be the signature hole on the whole course. It only measured 135 yards for us but you simply must hit the green as there are 4 large bunkers that surround the green. Also, there are various slopes that can take a reasonable tee shot off the green. It is a classic short hole.

The 10th is a picturesque tee shot where you must hit over water but if you do hit the fairway then a par should be yours. The 11th is a belter of a par 4 where you can choose to hit either a long iron short of trouble or maybe a driver to try and carry a large bunker down the left. This tee shot plays tricks with your eyes and mind. The green is sideways to the fairway which makes it narrow.

The last 3 holes are a stunning way to finish off the course. You will not play many better par 4’s than the 16th here. There is a forest on both sides of your tee shot with bunkers down the left. It played 446 yards for us and my pal Peter hit a good tee shot and was still left with nearly 200 yards from the pin. The 17th is a great par 3 that played 166 yards for us but again if you stray then be prepared to suffer. There are bunkers front and left while there is a large slope to the right. The 18th is a par 5 that played 503 yards for us. If you smash a drive then it may be possible to carry the large lake in front of the green and get on the green in two. Otherwise you can go right of the lake and creep up on the green that way.

We loved our day at Morfontaine the previous year. It is located to the north of Paris while this time we were 2 hours south of Paris. Les Bordes and Morfonatine are two experiences that are very different. They are set in forests, they are brilliant golf courses but the peace and quiet is something that you rarely get to sample.

It is no wonder that the Les Bordes New course made the World’s Top 100 within two years of opening. It is well deserved. Everything about Les Bordes is top class – the golf courses, the clubhouse and surroundings while the staff could not be more pleasant and helpful. The whole experience was something special and one that my pal Peter and I will never forget.

BEST 6 HOLES

16, 7, 6, 17, 11, 5

BEST PAR 3

7

BEST PAR 4

16

BEST PAR 5

6

Course Gallery

A closer look at Les Bordes New

#111
Old Sandwich

About The Course

You would think with a name like this, that this course is in England but in fact it is about an hour south of Boston. It only opened in 2004 and was designed by Coore and Crenshaw who did an excellent job with design and routing. It is a sand based course that may be described as an inland links as it is maybe four miles from the coast as the crow flies.

BEST 6 HOLES

11, 7, 10, 12, 3, 16

BEST PAR 3

11

BEST PAR 4

7

BEST PAR 5

10

Course Gallery

A closer look at Old Sandwich

#112
Gleneagles Kings

About The Course

It is pretty much a wow moment when you drive into Gleneagles. This place is 5 star all the way. We stayed in a hotel 10 minutes away to save money but the hotel at Gleneagles looks stunning, if your pocket allows. The first tee for the Kings course is on the left as you drive in and the clubhouse is right there too. They have three courses here – the Kings, the Queens and the PGA course. They used the PGA course when they held the Ryder Cup here in 2014.

BEST 6 HOLES

3, 4, 10, 13, 7, 14

BEST PAR 3

5

BEST PAR 4

3

BEST PAR 5

18

Course Gallery

A closer look at Gleneagles Kings

On The Course

Watch videos from Gleneagles Kings

#113
Paraparaumu Beach

About The Course

This course is situated on the north island of New Zealand and is a 45 minute drive from the beautiful city of Wellington. If you get the chance, stay a couple of nights in Wellington as it’s a lovely city. The basin reserve is the main cricket stadium in the city and is used for some test matches. It is worth visiting and is in the centre of the city.

BEST 6 HOLES

13, 16, 11, 3, 5, 2

BEST PAR 3

16

BEST PAR 4

13

BEST PAR 5

12

Course Gallery

A closer look at Paraparaumu Beach

#114
Waterville

About The Course

One of the best courses in Ireland, this links beauty is located in the stunning county of Kerry on the south west coast of Ireland. I have played the course many times and certainly the work that was done in recent times on the course and around the clubhouse will ensure its greatness for a long time.

BEST 6 HOLES

3, 14, 11, 17, 7, 18

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

3

BEST PAR 5

11

Course Gallery

A closer look at Waterville

#115
Fancourt Links

About The Course

There are three courses at Fancourt and the Links is the best one. It is located five hours east of Cape Town. This is a five star resort all the way. The hotel here is beautiful. The course was designed by Gary Player and he has described it as his best ever feat as a course designer. It is widely regarded as the best course in South Africa. It opened in November 2000 and in 2003 it held the Presidents Cup. This was a famous event as it finished 17 each after Ernie Els and Tiger Woods could not be separated in the dark. Both captains agreed to call it a draw.

BEST 6 HOLES

12, 10, 7, 3, 14, 17

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

12

BEST PAR 5

16

Course Gallery

A closer look at Fancourt Links

#116
Peninsula Kingswood

About The Course

This is another brilliant sand belt course and it is situated 45 minutes south of Melbourne City which puts it within easy reach of some of the other great courses such as Royal Melbourne. It has to be one of the great golf destinations in the world. It has the perfect climate with a combination of heat and rain to help the courses to show off their brilliance. This course is fast, firm and difficult which is the norm around here. It is possible to putt into a bunker or chip off the green from the edge.

BEST 6 HOLES

10, 1, 4, 9, 14, 18

BEST PAR 3

14

BEST PAR 4

10

BEST PAR 5

15

Course Gallery

A closer look at Peninsula Kingswood

On The Course

Watch videos from Peninsula Kingswood

#117
Alwoodley

About The Course

I had never heard of Alwoodley but when I read who designed it I knew we were in safe hands and that it would be worth the trip to England to play it. It was the first course designed by the legendary Dr. Alisteir MacKenzie and it opened in 1907. Also, visually it has one of the most stunning clubhouse you are likely to see particularly when you see it playing the 18th. The course is situated in the city of Leeds in northern England and is a twenty minute drive from Leeds Bradford Airport.

BEST 6 HOLES

18, 12, 8, 17, 6, 15

BEST PAR 3

11

BEST PAR 4

18

BEST PAR 5

8

Course Gallery

A closer look at Alwoodley

On The Course

Watch videos from Alwoodley

#118
Old Head of Kinsale

About The Course

This course is the Irish version of Pebble Beach and is certainly as dramatic with so many stunning holes played along the cliffs. The course is set out on a headland that juts out into the Atlantic. If you play here then it is highly recommended to stay in the nearby colourful coastal town of Kinsale. It is one of the finest towns in Ireland where the choice of restaurants is excellent as is the hospitality. If you are coming to Ireland on a golf trip you must play the Old Head but if you have flexibility try and pick the calmest day to play here because if it is windy then it becomes an incredibly difficult course.

BEST 6 HOLES

12, 4, 17, 13, 16, 7

BEST PAR 3

13

BEST PAR 4

4

BEST PAR 5

12

Course Gallery

A closer look at Old Head of Kinsale

#119
Sebonack

About The Course

What a location Sebonack has, overlooking the Great Peconic Bay on Long Island. It is located right next to National Golf Links of America and Shinnecock Hill which are ranked in the top 5 courses in the world. The course was designed by Tom Doak and Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2006. It is an exclusive private members club and I was very fortunate to get to play here. When it opened, membership opened at a half a million dollars and has risen considerably since then. You can’t help but notice a massive American flag as you drive up to this beautiful clubhouse.

BEST 6 HOLES

18, 2, 11, 1, 7, 3

BEST PAR 3

12

BEST PAR 4

2

BEST PAR 5

18

Course Gallery

A closer look at Sebonack

On The Course

Watch videos from Sebonack

#120
Tralee

About The Course

This course was designed by Arnold Palmer and most people have heard of the famous quote “I designed the front nine and God designed the back nine”. The course starts very strongly. The 2nd hole is a super par 5, which is a dogleg right around the cliffs above Barrow beach. The 3rd hole is a par 3 where you can almost feel the waves crashing up against the tee box, the same feeling applies up at the green with water all down the right hand side. The 8th hole is a superb par 4 which is a dog left around the bay, where an iron off the tee might be best play depending on the wind direction and strength.

BEST 6 HOLES

16, 13, 12, 3, 8, 2

BEST PAR 3

16

BEST PAR 4

12

BEST PAR 5

2

Course Gallery

A closer look at Tralee

#121
Saunton East

About The Course

I have said on a few occasions that some courses have been a pleasant surprise due to their brilliance and this course in the south west of England is certainly one of those. The front nine is superb and you might think that is where the standard of the course will stay but the last 7 holes on the east course provide one of the best finishes stretches to a links course that you could wish to play. It really is a hidden treasure.

The club was formed in 1897 and the course became an 18 course in 1908. W Herbert Fowler re-designed the course in 1919 and he deserves a lot of plaudits for the job he did. The first hole is 464 yards off the amateur tees and is quite a testing par 4 to begin with especially as the green is narrow due to a hill which is just to the right hand side of the green.

The 4th is index (handicap) No.1 and is tricky as the fairway gets narrower the further you hit your drive. Nothing wrong with a bogey here. The 8th is a hole that would not be designed nowadays, which is a pity. It’s a blind tee shot and then a blind second shot to the green. The hole is only 350 yards off the amateur tees and is more than fair.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the 11th hole which is a short par 4 that plays around the out of bounds but from the 12th tee onwards this course is top class. The 13th is a beautiful par 3 that plays slightly to a perched green that has plenty of slopes on it. It possibly has the widest tee box I have ever seen and therefore the hole can be played from lots of different angles which is a major asset.

The 14th is index (handicap) No.4 and played 432 yards from our tee. It is quite a straight long par 4 but has a beauty of a green awaiting. The 16th is a magnificent par 4. It was 405 yards for us and your tee shot is mostly blind. The hole doglegs to the left and the perfect tee shot is down the left or left half of the fairway. The second shot is super as there are ridges running along the fairway and the green is hidden behind these ridges. A world class hole.

The 18th is a stunner too. It sweeps around to the right and plays between large sand dunes. Your second shot is uphill to a green in front of the beautiful old style clubhouse that was built in 1929. If you finish with a par, then well done. If I lived near Saunton, I would love to be a member here. The staff were all super friendly and everything about the place was excellent.

They have a West course here also which is situated more in the dunes. We did not get to play it but by all accounts, it is a super course also. My cousin Sean and I played with two English lads named Brian and Paddy. Yes, two Paddy’s playing an English man named Paddy! They were great company and we thoroughly enjoyed our day at Saunton. Play it if you ever get the chance and I hope you enjoy the last 7 holes as much as we did.

BEST 6 HOLES

16, 18, 4, 13, 17, 14

BEST PAR 3

13

BEST PAR 4

16

BEST PAR 5

15

Course Gallery

A closer look at Saunton East

#122
Harbour Town Golf Links

About The Course

I have always wanted to play here because we get to see it every year on TV and it always looked interesting, especially over the last 3 holes. It has hosted the RBC Heritage on the PGA Tour every year since 1969 and that is usually the week after the Masters. It was designed by Pete Dye with Jack Nicklaus also having an input.

I was due to be a single but I was paired up with a great guy named Scott Brewer and we had a caddie named Max. Scott’s girlfriend Bernadette came out on the last 3 holes to take some photos. We teed off first at about 7.50am and we flew around which was great as I was playing Yeamans Hall that afternoon. It was a very enjoyable morning and Scott, Bernadette and Max were super company.

The first thing you notice when you stand on the first tee is not only the amazing condition of the course but also how tight it is. Valderrama in Spain is very tight but this is equally so. The front nine is lovely and has some notable holes such as 1, 4, 6 and 8. The two par 3’s, namely holes 4 and 6, are certainly picturesque. You must try to avoid a tree beside the 6th green.

The 8th is a great hole and index (handicap) No.1 for good reason. It played 435 yards from our blue tees and as is the case with most holes round here, you got to keep it straight off the tee or else you are looking at bogey or worse. I started poorly but thankful I parred this one.

The 11th is a strong hole and played 413 yards off our tee box. Another thing to notice here is that the greens are small so accuracy is paramount. The course is very good up until the 13th green but it certainly moves up a notch from the 14th onwards. The 14th itself is a beautiful par 3 that is played over water to a sloping green and measured 165 yards for us.

The 15th is a famous par 5 that sometimes the pro’s can reach in two but that is not really possible for amateurs as there are trees to hit over if you wish to go for it in two. It is a gentle dogleg to the left where if you hit a good drive and a low iron then it may only be a wedge for your approach shot.

The 16th is a par 4 slight dogleg again to the left but a good drive should see you get on the green in two. The course opens out a little from here on. The 17th is a wonderful par 3 that played 178 yards for us. You must keep it right to avoid sand or water on the left.

The 18th is a famous 444 yards par 4 for us (472 yards for the pro’s) and it must be one of the widest fairways you are ever likely to play. Amateurs can hit driver and you won’t run out at the end of the fairway on the left. This hole is all about your second. I was left with about 170 yards and there is trouble short and left and don’t forget it is another small green. A par sent me home happy.

Thankfully we had a few moments to get some photos in front of that famous lighthouse behind the 18th green. The green fee is very expensive and is worth doing once. The course was in brilliant condition in fairness which is a good effort considering the traffic it gets. The first 13 holes are very nice but at times you may doubt if the large green fee is deserved but the last 5 holes are easily the best stretch on the course and they represent a strong finish.

It’s always nice to play a course that is used on one of the tours and will make watching the RBC Heritage all the better in future.

BEST 6 HOLES

18, 17, 15, 11, 8, 14

BEST PAR 3

17

BEST PAR 4

18

BEST PAR 5

15

Course Gallery

A closer look at Harbour Town Golf Links

On The Course

Watch videos from Harbour Town Golf Links

#123
The Island

About The Course

This links course opened all the way back in 1890 and is perfectly located thirty minutes north of Dublin City Centre. It may be the perfect place to start a golf trip in Ireland as the course is less than a twenty minute drive from Dublin Airport.

BEST 6 HOLES

12, 13, 18, 14, 3, 10

BEST PAR 3

13

BEST PAR 4

12

BEST PAR 5

10

Course Gallery

A closer look at The Island

#124
Nairn

About The Course

Nairn is located in the north of Scotland and is only a twenty minute drive from Inverness Airport. There are not many more beautiful tee shots than the first here with the North Sea to your right hand side. You start with three par 4’s where the second is the longest and most difficult of the three. The 5th is index (handicap) 2 and is the most difficult hole on the outer half.

BEST 6 HOLES

12, 14, 5, 13, 3, 16

BEST PAR 3

14

BEST PAR 4

12

BEST PAR 5

7

Course Gallery

A closer look at Nairn

On The Course

Watch videos from Nairn

#125
Silloth On Solway

About The Course

This course is located near the Scottish border and is 2 ½ hours’ drive north of Southport and Liverpool so it is quite remote. This is a pity because the course is certainly good enough to form part of a golf trip. My pal Johnny and I played it while our wives walked 20km along Hadrian’s Wall so it turned out to be a great day for everyone on what was a sunny afternoon.

The club was founded in 1892 and it was originally laid out by a man named Davy Grant. Over the following 30 years people such as Harry Vardon, J. H. Taylor and James Braid also had an input into this great links course.

The clubhouse is old and beautiful, just the way golfers like it. In the golf shop, Gary and Roy were so helpful and friendly. We were tight for time as our flight over had been delayed but the lads got us out on the first tee almost straight away which was great.

The course starts with a bang as the first hole is a belter. It is 378 yards but you must be straight as there is plenty of rough on both sides of an undulating fairway. The green is sunken beyond a large dip at the end of the fairway and so your approach shot is mostly blind. A great beginning.

The 2nd is a par 4 that doglegs to the right and the 3rd is also a par 4 that doglegs to the left. The strong start continues on the 4th. It is a blind tee shot to what you think is a narrow fairway but it’s not. It’s a super par 4 and the green has a large drop off on both sides just to concentrate the mind.

The 5th is a par 5 that plays all the way along the sea and therefore has out of bounds to your right too. The 7th deserves a mention as it is a brilliant golf hole. It played 398 yards off our white tees and you play to a ridged fairway at an angle. There is lots of trouble left and right and we both found the rough on the left. Your second shot is a little like the first hole, in that your approach shot is played over a hill to a blind green which is a little more to the right than you think. A par for any golfer here is a great score.

The 9th is a picturesque par 3 of 140 yards that has 6 bunkers surrounding it. Beautiful but it was tricky as the day we played here it was windy. The 11th is a fine par 4 while the 13th is a super par 5 where you must be accurate to get up on the plateau before the green with your second shot. The 16th is a stunning par 3 which played 178 for us. We had a strong cross wind which made it quite tricky. There are 4 bunkers guarding the front of a slightly elevated green.

The 18th is a cracker where you must be brave and try to stay down the left as the fairway slightly kicks to the right and there are two bunkers down that side. It was 433 yards and is a tough hole to finish on but my pal Johnny had a birdie so he was whistling as he left that final green.

We had a terrific day at Silloth On Solway. There was some gorse on the course which you would not normally associate with a links course but it only added to it. The 1st and 18th run alongside each other and it’s a beautiful area with the clubhouse in the background. The course was in excellent condition. The green fee was only £120 which represented excellent value for money, especially the way green fee prices have risen so much in recent years. Well worth the journey.

BEST 6 HOLES

7, 16, 13, 18, 4, 1

BEST PAR 3

16

BEST PAR 4

7

BEST PAR 5

13

Course Gallery

A closer look at Silloth On Solway