Best course played & why?

[Highfade]

Which course has have you enjoyed playing the most as a visitor?
What was it about the visit that made it great?
Was it more than just the course but the club house and full experience?

Players will get opportunity to play high profile courses and almost feel compelled to say the course was great and was a fantastic experience etc but it could be mainly based on reputation and buy into the hype.

Rory said as much today when giving opinion on royal Melbourne which has a fantastic reputation, saying it’s not even the best course in Melbourne. (But still conceding it’s a top 10)

Similarly, people are considering blasphemous is they say anything critical about the hallowed turf of the old course.

Where are the hidden gems that don’t rely on profile.
What makes a great course/experience for an average Joe?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Royal County Down

Best course in the world , condition was immaculate, views are stunning , not a single weak hole , welcome was excellent,


For hidden Gem

It’s not really hidden but it’s a Gem

Cleeve Hill

Just great fun

 

[Orikoru]

Hankley Common was the best I've played. Fantastic use of space there, so it feels like you're the only group playing at times. Looks beautiful with the heather and gorse around (as long as you keep your ball out of it). Just a lovely place to play. It helped that I played reasonably well too - suggests it isn't too punishing.

 

[D-S]

Skukuza or Leopard Creek immediately spring to mind , nothing better than being very close to nature in the raw whilst also enjoying your hobby. Memorable experiences.

 

[Mel Smooth]

It's a toss up.

Halifax Golf Club - some absolutely superb holes with some absolutely amazing views. Not expensive to play - they have loads of opens as well so you can get on the course that way for minimal expenditure.

Las Ramblas - like Halifax, the hole design and variety just keeps coming at you. If you bomb and spray it - you probably won't like it. One of the more budget friendly courses on the Costa Blanca. As you play the back nine you can hear the music and sound of people having a bloody good time in he bars in the La Fuenta area.

Las Ramblas edges it 'cos it was used for a scene in Taken 3, whereas I don't think Liam Neeson has ever played golf in Halifax.

 

[Golfnut1957]

The Glenn, North Berwick. Fabulous course with stunning views of the sea on ever hole, which was undoubtably enhanced by the unexpectedly brilliant weather we had when we played.

For a couple of hidden gems then I'll second Cleeve Hill, which isn't particularly hidden these days, and give you wild and rugged Baildon, just north of Bradford, which is golf at it's rawest.

 

[ger147]

The Ailsa at Turnberry, no further explanation necessary...

 

[anotherdouble]

I always answer The Ailsa at Turnberry for this but then I think back many years and my many rounds at Monte Mayor and for sheer uniqueness I would have to say that

 

[IanM]

I've absolutely no idea and I'm sure on a different day, I might give a different answer.

Right now, for "full experience," so course, hospitality and facilities, a couple come to mind.

Birkdale and Muirfield. Faultless.

Edit: proving my initial comment, Archerfield and Trump Aberdeen do a decent day out!

 

[JonnyGutteridge]

Royal County Down

Best course in the world , condition was immaculate, views are stunning , not a single weak hole , welcome was excellent,


For hidden Gem

It’s not really hidden but it’s a Gem

Cleeve Hill

Just great fun

Royal County Down for me as well. If someone phoned me now and said they’ve got a 9.30 tee time tomorrow, I’d be there.

It was utter perfection.

The next best experience was at Terras da Comporta on the Dunas course. I would recommend that to every single person reading this. Go to Lisbon, drive down to Comporta. There’s a newly opened course too (Torre). Top top top venue that will be unaffordable in a few years. First class.

honourable mentions; I’ve had memorable and brilliant days at The Berkshire, Rye, Swinley Forest, Woking, Hankley Common, West Sussex, St Enodoc and Royal West Norfolk as well. They are all charming in their own ways.

 

[clubchamp98]

Sawgrass.
Everything about it was first class.

Another for Monte Mayor .
One of the lads hit a goat in a tree.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Royal County Down for me as well. If someone phoned me now and said they’ve got a 9.30 tee time tomorrow, I’d be there.

It was utter perfection.

The next best experience was at Terras da Comporta on the Dunas course. I would recommend that to every single person reading this. Go to Lisbon, drive down to Comporta. There’s a newly opened course too (Torre). Top top top venue that will be unaffordable in a few years. First class.

honourable mentions; I’ve had memorable and brilliant days at The Berkshire, Rye, Swinley Forest, Woking, Hankley Common, West Sussex, St Enodoc and Royal West Norfolk as well. They are all charming in their own ways.

Wonderful list of honourable mentions

I would also sneak the other two W’s and both courses at Sunningdale

 

[evemccc]

I spent a fortune and basically all my holiday from work (pretty much) playing most of the top links and heathlands in the UK between 2021 and 2023….and I loved every single minute

I can’t really choose the best or my favourite, and can make a claim for a large handful being the best….i loved my day out at RSG with full English and steak & chips bookending it @IanM - Ailsa was probably the most awe-inspiring, TOC was dreamlike, Muirfield would be the course I’d like to play again and again and again and again, North Berwick the most fun, and Dornoch was where I fell in love with golf

Since then and for a while yet, I’m only able to play two or three ‘treat courses’ a year

 

[AussieKB]

I always answer The Ailsa at Turnberry for this but then I think back many years and my many rounds at Monte Mayor and for sheer uniqueness I would have to say that

Played Monte Mayor about 14 years ago, you have to hit the ball straight off the tee......playing partner held up a bag of balls and said I am only going to lose two balls per hole....

 

[AussieKB]

For once Rory is right IMO, think Kingston Heath is better by a smidgen.

 

[ExRabbit]

I haven't played any major golf courses - but I think the best I have played is Silloth on Solway - before it got a lot more expensive when it was rated so highly in one of the golf magazines.

Just a beautiful place to be at to play golf.

I've played West Lancs a few time, but preferred Silloth.

​

 

[rulie]

Muirfield - my wife and I had a wonderful day there with a member and his spouse. Could play it every day! Strong seconds to Royal Dornoch, Sunningdale (one of the few courses in England that I've played) and Capilano in Vancouver.

 

[Imurg]

Swanley Forest.....nuff said really.
Just a wonderful place...

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Tie between Turnberry Ailsa and Muirfield
Why......because they have better 18 golf holes than the rest.

 

[simsini]

Played at Kapalua Plantation course on my honeymoon with my wife. What a course. It was in amazing condition, a fantastic layout with huge fairways and greens, and massive undulations and canyons everywhere. The 18th is one of the most fun holes I've ever played. Amazing views too of Molokai and dolphins in the Pacific.

The restaurant in the clubhouse was incredible too, probably the best ribs I've ever had. If you are ever in Maui, you have to play there. Just a huge shame they are currently dealing with a severe drought that has caused the PGA Tour to cancel their tournament there next month.