GM top 120 courses - how many have you played?

[birdieman]

Here is your homework for today class -

Look at the GM top 120 courses in UK & Eire list and list how many you have played.
I have played a measly 8, so I have some work to do!

Anyway my 8 are
2 St Andrews Old
8 Kingsbarns
22 Macrihanish
26 Nairn
27 Royal Aberdeen
28 Saunton East
52 Saunton West
106 Cruden Bay.

I'm not sure how they grade these as I would put Cruden Bay a lot higher than 106, particularly if Royal Aberdeen is at 27 as the back 9 at RA is mediocre, front 9 superb though.

I am probably more accurate at played 5 as I played Saunton east and west when I was a 33 handicap junior, so didn't really play it, rather topped it. Also my trip to the Old Course was in winter so temp tees and the 11th hole was missing!

 

[brendy]

Royal County down.....the little course too, not even the main one.
Ive played most of the courses in N.Ireland except for royal portrush and the biggy at Royal county Down,either I need to get out playing more often or else the courses i do play deserve more attention, the likes of lurgan park, lisburn, bangor, belvoir, the Hilton Templepatrick and malone all deserve a little exposure too.

 

[John_Findlay]

My God, birdieman. You've got us working for our pennies today.

Been through the list and I've played 24 of them in total. 10 of the top 20

 

[birdieman]

Not bad JF, work to do Brendy, however you might just be a nipper? JF is in his 40's I think and I am only just the right side of the big 4 oh.
JF -which was your highest ranked according to the GM list and which is top according to you?

 

[madandra]

I have played a poxy TWO !!!

37. St Andrews (New)
119. The Belfry (Brabazon)

Pathetic !!!!!!!!!

 

[John_Findlay]

Birdieman, the ones in the top twenty which I've played are;-

1. Turnberry Ailsa
3. Royal County Down
5. Waterville
6. Ballybunion Old
8. Kingsbarns
9. Royal Lytham
11. Lahinch
12. Carnoustie
13. Royal Liverpool
17. Royal Portrush

Played Turnberry on my own between two fourballs on a glorious sunny day so couldn't have had better conditions. Just took my time and lots of photos. Possibly the best views of any course I've played but it's not the best course in my eyes. That would be Carnoustie or Royal Dornoch. Could play them both every day.

When I played Royal County Down it was 20 years ago when I was playing twice a year and hacking it round. It was too hard for me at the time so would love to play it again now when I could do it justice. But my favourite course in Ireland would be Tralee, which amazingly is only in at No. 34.

 

[stevelockie]

I've actually surprised myself at the number of courses I have played. I've only really been playing golf seriously for the last 4 years (after averging 2 rounds per year for the previous 14!).

1. Kingsbarns
2. Gleneagles Kings
3. St Andrews New
4. Prestwick
5. Gleneagles Queens
6. Blairgowrie Rosemount
7. Ladybank
8. St Andrews Bay Devlin
9. Gleneagles PGA

 

[DCB]

I've managed six off the current list. Reading through the courses included in the list does make you wonder just how the panel decide on the ratings. I certainly wont rush out to tick off as many as I can next year. I think we all look for and find different things that make us as individuals enjoy a course. I was somewhat surprised to see St Andrews Bay Devlin in the list, I always think the Torrance is the better of the two, but that's probably becasue I play it better!

 

[USER1999]

I have played but two:

19. Woodhall Spa Hotchkin - fully justifies its' position as this is a magnificent course, in great condition, and cheap too (although in the middle of nowhere).

95 Bovey Castle - What is this doing in the list at all? Used to be called Moretonhampstead until recent hotel facelift. Always in poor condition (have played it about 15 times - used to stay in the hotel often). Great front nine, indifferent back nine, finishing with the worst 18th I can imagine. If it was reduced to 12 holes, this could be on my list, but not as an 18.

 

[RGuk]

How depressing
Royal Lytham, Royal Liv',Royal St David's, Belfy, Aberdovey (how did this get in??? it's good but top 100???) and Little Aston.
Doesn't help living in a rubbish area for big boy's courses.
You Scottish lads have it good......oh, and the Surrey ones too (if you've got the £ cash £ )

Dave

 

[stevelockie]

I've managed six off the current list. Reading through the courses included in the list does make you wonder just how the panel decide on the ratings. I certainly wont rush out to tick off as many as I can next year. I think we all look for and find different things that make us as individuals enjoy a course. I was somewhat surprised to see St Andrews Bay Devlin in the list, I always think the Torrance is the better of the two, but that's probably becasue I play it better!

Don't know if you have had a chance to play the Devlin this year but it has been in magnificent condition.

 

[muttleee]

Get the violins out - I haven't played any! I've played Royal Portrush's little brother, The Valley Course, a few times and the Eden Course at St. Andrews but that's about as close as it gets.

 

[brendy]

Not bad JF, work to do Brendy, however you might just be a nipper? JF is in his 40's I think and I am only just the right side of the big 4 oh.
JF -which was your highest ranked according to the GM list and which is top according to you?

Plenty of work to do matey! Im 31 now and because f my year stint away from golf, ive missed at least 2 of the top 30 courses as my brother and a load of golf mates travel to mecca (st andrews!) and play 3 of the courses over a weekend each year, the old course being one of them. I also missed out on a trip to portugal which i really regret now.
Royal Portrush and Co. Down (Walker Cup was here this year) are both definates over the next year or so with Rosapenna a possibility as a society Im a member off travels there in october each year. So ask this question same time next year and Ill have added a few.

 

[RGuk]

Another question might be which courses you have played that could be in the top 200 (say) that are nearly good enough (for top 100) or are a great value green fee. Some might be in (I may have missed them)

Sutton Coldfield (same designers as Augusta and Royal Melbourne) - Same greens too!
Hayling Island....fabulous course (though not cheap)
Enville .... possibly the finest "standard" 27 holes I have ever played (Open qualifier)
West Surrey....
Royal Jersey....(is this UK?)

I'd be keen to hear about some of the lesser known on the West Coast above Liverpool.

Dave

 

[Dave3498]

You guys certainly get around. I've only played 2, they are The Brabazon and Woodhall Spa. Didn't like Woodhall Spa much, the bunkers were too deep. It shouldn't be necessary to provide ladders to get out of bunkers.

 

[DCB]

stevelockie

I've played both courses a few times and have never had cause to mump and moan about the condition of the courses. I just don't get that'feeling' about the Devlin. It just doesnt't suite my eye if you know what I mean.

 

[RGuk]

It shouldn't be necessary to provide ladders to get out of bunkers.

I know this feeling. Little Aston is a fair and "gentlemanly" course, but the bunkers (particularly on the 2nd!) are whoppers....get in there and it could be a hamlet cigar moment.


Dave

 

[USER1999]

I liked the deep bunkers at Woodhall, it made me stop complaining about the bunkers on my course.

 

[Geoff_Baker]

I've managed 29 although I'm pretty sure I won't do all 120 with some of the green fees now over £200 they are out of reach of most people even as a treat.

 

[USER1999]

Yeah, £200 green fees are a joke.

Even at £100, for eighteen holes it's £5.55 per hole. Therefore on a par three, it's nearly £2 per shot. Is this good value?