Best course played & why?

[IanM]

What’s a Half Par hole?

Never heard of it either...

AI search delviered this,

A "half-par hole" in golf refers to a hole, often a par-4 or par-5, that offers a genuine chance for a birdie (a score of one under par) or where a bogey (one over par) isn't a terrible outcome, suggesting strategic ambiguity or an "in-between" length/difficulty, essentially playing like a hole with a fractional par.

Gives you a choice, some ambiguity etc .

Some reasonable stuff in there. Mind you, "no lost balls" is ambitious!

 

[sunshine]

Some reasonable stuff in there. Mind you, "no lost balls" is ambitious!

Every member of my 4 ball at The Park lost a ball. Two of them were scratch golfers. But there were very few opportunities to lose a ball. A bad shot was punished by ending up blocked out by trees or in a sandy waste area. You could chip out sideways to get it back in play but then you had a tough angle in so it cost 1 or 2 shots.

 

[sunshine]

What’s a Half Par hole?

A long par 3 where bogey is very likely. Think 16th at Carnoustie, it's a par 3.5
A short par 4 which is driveable and a good birdie chance. Also par 3.5
A long par 4 where golfers might choose to lay up and accept bogey. The 17th at the Old Course is a par 4.5
A short par 5 which is reachable in 2. Also a par 4.5

These holes are fun because they challenge your strategy, do you go for it or do you play safe? If you go for it, you're taking a risk, it's demanding, and it's satisfying / enjoyable when you pull it off.

 

[clubchamp98]

Never heard of it either...

AI search delviered this,

A "half-par hole" in golf refers to a hole, often a par-4 or par-5, that offers a genuine chance for a birdie (a score of one under par) or where a bogey (one over par) isn't a terrible outcome, suggesting strategic ambiguity or an "in-between" length/difficulty, essentially playing like a hole with a fractional par.

Gives you a choice, some ambiguity etc .

Some reasonable stuff in there. Mind you, "no lost balls" is ambitious!

I always find drivable par fours are more like a double bogey.

 

[bobmac]

Mount Juliet.
Long.
Immaculate condition.
Long.
Empty
Loads of big trees and long.
7,200 yards

Championship Golf Course Kilkenny Ireland | Mount Juliet Estate

Experience a multi-championship golf course in Kilkenny designed by Jack Nicklaus, 5-star luxury accommodation, PGA pro lessons & trackman

www.mountjuliet.ie

 

[Billysboots]

Abroad it's got to either be Victoria in the Algarve, which is now part of the Els Club so was fortunate to play it before or Torrquebrada in Spain is one of the most fun courses I have ever played.

Always liked Victoria - a very playable course. And it looks stunning now it’s been subject of what appears to be a considerable redesign.

But the prices are eye watering. Two rounds (one at The Els Club and one at The Old Course) and three nights accommodation FROM nearly 1,000 Euros? Sorry, but no package where 50% of your golf is played at The Old Course, where they pack tee times in to the point where they seem unconcerned if you finish in darkness, is worth that sort of money.

So I doubt I’ll play the new incarnation.

 

[JonITFC]

Always liked Victoria - a very playable course. And it looks stunning now it’s been subject of what appears to be a considerable redesign.

But the prices are eye watering. Two rounds (one at The Els Club and one at The Old Course) and three nights accommodation FROM nearly 1,000 Euros? Sorry, but no package where 50% of your golf is played at The Old Course, where they pack tee times in to the point where they seem unconcerned if you finish in darkness, is worth that sort of money.

So I doubt I’ll play the new incarnation.

Yeah the new prices are eye wateringly bad. I won't be returning there for the foreseeable. Glad I played it when I could do at decent price, think I paid 90 Euros for a twilight a few summers ago.

There's still some good courses in the area for decent prices. The other Don Pedro courses are still decent, it helps that two of them are in view from the in laws apartment haha!

 

[IanMcC]

Best for me would be Banff Springs.
The setting is spectacular.
There are two plaques on the course. If I remember correctly, one says best par 3 in Canada, and the other says best par 4 in the world. I wouldn't argue.
Best in UK for me would be Delamere Forest, with honourable mentions for Gullane 2 and Royal St. Davids.

 

[louise_a]

Most of my golf is played in the north of England so I don't have experience of many courses south of Birmingham, I have played a few of the Open venues but think my favourite to play is Silloth, it is links but has quite a bit of elevation changes, which for me makes a course more interesting than a flat one.

others ithat have impressed, Ailsa at Turnberry & Hollinwell

Best "fun" course Anstruther.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Best for me would be Banff Springs.
The setting is spectacular.
There are two plaques on the course. If I remember correctly, one says best par 3 in Canada, and the other says best par 4 in the world. I wouldn't argue.
Best in UK for me would be Delamere Forest, with honourable mentions for Gullane 2 and Royal St. Davids.

Very envious. We drove through it in order to see the wildlife in the evening, we saw a herd of moose running up a fairway, a coyote on a raised tee box and a deer . It looked a gorgeous course, stunning scenery as you say. I would love to go back and play it at some point.

Whistler GC was pretty impressive as well. Not quite alongside Banff but you certainly would not say no .

 

[Wilson]

Very envious. We drove through it in order to see the wildlife in the evening, we saw a herd of moose running up a fairway, a coyote on a raised tee box and a deer . It looked a gorgeous course, stunning scenery as you say. I would love to go back and play it at some point.

Whistler GC was pretty impressive as well. Not quite alongside Banff but you certainly would not say no .

You've just reminded me of the golf I played on my Honeymoon in Vermont - https://www.sprucepeak.com/play/mountain-golf/ - the Mountain course was top notch, amazing views!

 

[Klimski]

I already mentioned my favorite (Minch Old) but wanted to mention that they fellows in my group unanimously called out their favorite that we've played: Carlyon Bay in Cornwall. A clifftop, rolling course, with a nice US style parkland stretch on the back 9. I really liked it, they really LOVED it.