Hardest course you have ever played?

[Deleted member 23270]

I've played some tough tracks in my time but I think Valderrama has to be up there for me. The overhanging cork trees lining the fairways often mean you can still be blocked out from the fairway. Add in the super slick greens and it's a very strong test of golf.

Toughest courses you've played?

 

[Dando]

The V Club in Lithuania made harder as i had hired clubs for the trip

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Hankley Common was fairly brutal. So was Hillside

Strangely both in my top 5 all time!

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Wentworth West

 

[Don Barzini]

In 2015 I went up to watch the final day of the Open at St Andrews. The Saturday of that Open had to be called off because of very high winds.

Despite the fact that the winds were too high for the pros to play, me and my mates foolishly went to play Gullane Golf Course. Hardest golf ever. Never mind affecting normal swinging - the wind was even blowing my arms off line when I was putting!

Had a good time though! Lovely course.

 

[Imurg]

Any course I play for the first time!

Hankley was hard, but mainly because I was playing crap.
On a normal day I reckon I could post a reasonable score there.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Dundonald off the back tees was brutal for me.
I was getting older and starting to lose my distance so it was an end of an era thing as well.

 

[Captainron]

Hardest in terms of layout (bunkering/rough/length etc.) for me was Carnoustie

Hardest in terms of Environment (Wind/Rain) coupled with layout was Baildon in a monsoon driven by some ferocious winds. It is right up on the moors in Yorkshire and it was unpleasant!

 

[Hosel Fade]

Previous iteration of Wentworth West

 

[connor]

St mellion Nicklaus course is most challenging.

Although I once played million on an extremely windy day last December and that was a struggle

 

[Canfordhacker]

St mellion Nicklaus course is most challenging.

+1 for this

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Wentworth West

I also really struggled with Royal Birkdale - but I was very, very hungover at the time

 

[chrisd]

I wonder if the question should be "the hardest course you've ever played when you're playing ok" as I've played so badly on some easier courses and well on courses, mentioned here by others, like Wentworth West to name but one.

The hardest test for me has been the International course at the London Club the 1st time of trying

 

[Deleted member 23270]

The difficulty of a course doesn't change depending on how you playing. Hankley isn't particularly difficult, the fairways are very generous and it isn't long. St Mellion on the other hand is difficult, narrow fairways and some long par 4's.

 

[Qwerty]

It's a close call between Southerness and Royal Lytham.

 

[Jacko_G]

Has too be Royal Troon in any sort of wind.

Back 9 is absolutely brutal, more so than Carnoustie. It's a brilliant test of golf that really chews you up and spits you out!

 

[The Fader]

+1 for this

+2

The toughness comes in that there is nowhere to "miss" on the majority of holes.

But still one of my favourites and imo is a course any serious golfer should try to visit

 

[FairwayDodger]

Carnoustie! Beats me up every time.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Royal St George's and the wind wasn't even that strong.

Mind you the rough was brutal. Can't imagine what it might have been like had I not had the benefit of a caddie.

 

[louise_a]

One of the hardest I recall, is Formby, there are red tees but they are not based on ladies distances for par rating some of the pars 4s seem very and long I couldn't get near the greens in regulation. Its a super course but I found it a bit of a slog.
That said it was a few years since I played it so I would like to play it again.