Golf Monthly Top 100

100% agree about Woburn, I did play it in the winter months which will affect my opinion but when i played there it was not good, could barely stand up with how wet and muddy it was

Woburn are courses that need to be played in the summer to get the full benefit

The three courses have differing characteristics

The Marquess is your typical stadium parkland courses with big undulating greens and some very interesting and long holes

The dukes which is my favourite is the original with huge rhododendrons all over the place and one of the prettiest par 3s

And the duchess is a test of accuracy

When the flowers are in full bloom it’s a stunning walk and it’s prob the best parkland courses
 
Not en
Woburn are courses that need to be played in the summer to get the full benefit

The three courses have differing characteristics

The Marquess is your typical stadium parkland courses with big undulating greens and some very interesting and long holes

The dukes which is my favourite is the original with huge rhododendrons all over the place and one of the prettiest par 3s

And the duchess is a test of accuracy

When the flowers are in full bloom it’s a stunning walk and it’s prob the best parkland courses
Not enough in my mind to get into the top 100 and I'd actually put Addington ahead of all 3. Anywhere where you have to play at a certain time to get the full benefit seems at a disadvantage and you could say that about a host of courses. Royal Wimbledon for example in the 100-200 list has some beautiful scenery including heather that looks lovely but is a nightmare, gorse with the yellow flowers and their trees and bushes. How does that differ
 
Woburn are courses that need to be played in the summer to get the full benefit

The three courses have differing characteristics

The Marquess is your typical stadium parkland courses with big undulating greens and some very interesting and long holes

The dukes which is my favourite is the original with huge rhododendrons all over the place and one of the prettiest par 3s

And the duchess is a test of accuracy

When the flowers are in full bloom it’s a stunning walk and it’s prob the best parkland courses
that would make it worse for me rhododendrons are like a magnet for my golf balls :) :)

I will play it again, as i think my opinion is unfair as the condition of the course was terrible. Just its a hefty price tag considering my first experience was so poor
 
that would make it worse for me rhododendrons are like a magnet for my golf balls :) :)

I will play it again, as i think my opinion is unfair as the condition of the course was terrible. Just its a hefty price tag considering my first experience was so poor

Yeah it’s a tough slog in cold soft wet conditions- as are most parklands

The price though now is keeping in with all the other ridiculous high prices

Even a members guest fee is mad hence I won’t go there with the bro in law much anymore

IMG_9377.jpeg

This is just a stunning hole and there are many like it on all three

The 7th on the marquess is prob one of the best parkland holes in the UK

IMG_9378.webp
 
Just watched a 47 minute video of Gary Wolstenholme playing Ganton - recent upload I think from Cookie Jar Golf

Nice to relive one of my absolute favourite inland courses, but…McKenzie and Ebert (if it’s them..and I think it is😡) have massacred parts of it with their obsessive and overblown ‘sandscapes’ —- they did this to the 18th at Royal Cinque Ports too and it’s hideous and I hate it

I heard that they were commissioned to alter Aldeburgh too…another course I really rate

Admittedly I think they were involved in Turnberry Ailsa’s redesign, which is superlative but I do not think they have improved Ganton whatsoever
 
Just watched a 47 minute video of Gary Wolstenholme playing Ganton - recent upload I think from Cookie Jar Golf

Nice to relive one of my absolute favourite inland courses, but…McKenzie and Ebert (if it’s them..and I think it is😡) have massacred parts of it with their obsessive and overblown ‘sandscapes’ —- they did this to the 18th at Royal Cinque Ports too and it’s hideous and I hate it

I heard that they were commissioned to alter Aldeburgh too…another course I really rate

Admittedly I think they were involved in Turnberry Ailsa’s redesign, which is superlative but I do not think they have improved Ganton whatsoever
Are the changes recent and which holes do they involve?
 
From what I could see:
A bit on 5
Left side of 9
To the left and in front of the green on 10
Left side of 14 (a beautiful hole, with the Church steeple behind)
A total mess - huge swathes cut away to the short and left of 17
And 18

I have read the rationale behind such changes - I understand, cognitively, the rationale — but I do not think it is an improvement whatsoever and I don’t see how it looks appealing nor does it come into play at all. It just isn’t a hazard. Gorse bushes are a hazard and one in keeping with the type of course it is, and are visually appealing

It is a fad…pertaining or claiming to ‘re-create’ the courses of old. But I think it’s a fallacy
 
If the raters genuinely believe there are 100 courses that better The Nicklaus Course at St.Mellion - IMHO the ratings cannot be taken too seriously.

It's all subjective though isn't it?

But I feel that some of the same old names get "in" regardless just because they always did and no-one is brave enough to drop them.
 
If the raters genuinely believe there are 100 courses that better The Nicklaus Course at St.Mellion - IMHO the ratings cannot be taken too seriously.

It's all subjective though isn't it?

But I feel that some of the same old names get "in" regardless just because they always did and no-one is brave enough to drop them.

St Mellion is a decent course but wouldn’t put it near any top 100 list tbh
 
I notice that The Buckinghamshire hasn’t made the list again - whilst it’s not the greatest course, I had an absolutely first class day there last year. The service was the best I have seen in the UK. I’d take a day there over a day at a good chunk of courses on the list, so it doesn’t necessarily mean everything.
 
I notice that The Buckinghamshire hasn’t made the list again - whilst it’s not the greatest course, I had an absolutely first class day there last year. The service was the best I have seen in the UK. I’d take a day there over a day at a good chunk of courses on the list, so it doesn’t necessarily mean everything.

No way is the Buckinghamshire anywhere near the top 100. Nice food and service does not improve the quality of the course.
 
Any list that has Addington as better than

Broadstone
Hindhead
S&A
Wallasey
Moortown
Purdis
Beau
Ferndown
Sherwood
Saunton West

And many more

Needs to be seriously looked at

There is always anomaly’s but that’s mental

Can only think the owners of the website play there

To be fair the Addington has rocketed up the list in recent years as a result of all the work they've done. 5 years ago when I played there it was much lower in the rankings, and it was overgrown and scruffy. I'd like to go back and see what all the fuss is about. Have you played the course recently?

Top 100 website rankings are based on a blend of factors, which includes taking into account other rankings e.g. Golf Monthly. Generally I find it the most balanced ranking, but I do believe the clubs with strong social media marketing are able to influence the ranking more than they should. Whereas some of the other ranings are a little more set in their ways.
 
To be fair the Addington has rocketed up the list in recent years as a result of all the work they've done. 5 years ago when I played there it was much lower in the rankings, and it was overgrown and scruffy. I'd like to go back and see what all the fuss is about. Have you played the course recently?

Top 100 website rankings are based on a blend of factors, which includes taking into account other rankings e.g. Golf Monthly. Generally I find it the most balanced ranking, but I do believe the clubs with strong social media marketing are able to influence the ranking more than they should. Whereas some of the other ranings are a little more set in their ways.

Any list that has Addington as better than

Broadstone
Hindhead
S&A
Wallasey
Moortown
Purdis
Beau
Ferndown
Sherwood
Saunton West

And many more

Needs to be seriously looked at

There is always anomaly’s but that’s mental

Can only think the owners of the website play there

I played The Addington yesterday.
I cannot help but think the Top100 guys are having a laugh by placing it so highly. I can’t think of a better way to reduce the integrity of your list than to rank it where they have done so.

I suspect there is either; an influential member of the Top100 team that is a member there, or Top100 have taken a substantial amount of money from the club to make it happen.

Bit disappointed with them, not least because it’s just been ranked better than my club. If someone played both courses back to play and truly thought Addington was better, I’d recommend them a brain scan, not even comparable really.
 
How many top 100 courses have you played?
6. But I fail to see what that has to do with the quality of Delamere Forest. All of the 6 I have played are links, or at least linksy in nature, so it is hard to compare an inland course to these.
 
The top100 website is a joke.
And a waste of time. Who gives a csrp? Sadly over priced imo. They have push the envelope on pricing over the last few years and now are way out of most peoples buget. Even those who can afford, do not, and will not pay the prices they are charging. For those who wish to play a superb course at a very reasonable cost should pop to St Annes Old Links in Lytham. £65 with County Card. I say this with caution as when I reccommend something it becomes very had to get. Ramonas Humous is almost impossible to obtain anymore. Out of stock yet again at big Tesco. Grrrrrrrr
 
Top