How Many???

[Screwback]

Hi all

Just sitting here thinking about how many new courses i have played this year and what has been my favourite.

I reckon i have played 15 new courses and my favourite has to be Royal Aberdeen simply because the front nine is simply immense. the back nine is not as good as the front nine but is still great test.

Have to say castle stuart is a close second.

So how many new courses have you played this year and what has been your favourite???

 

[richart]

Good question. Not enough in my case, just the three. Two Sauntons, and Royal North Devon. Saunton East the best for me, and can't wait to get back there next month.

 

[GB72]

It has been a really bad year for me playing new courses. Played Wyboston Lakes with Viscount17. Other than that, I have the Goswick meet on Friday.

 

[Robobum]

Eight new ones for me (9 when I play Burnham & Berrow on Monday)

Best would have to be Beau Desert, a real good quality test in a real tranquil setting despite being 10 minutes from Birmingham.

 

[richart]

Good question. Not enough in my case, just the three. Two Sauntons, and Royal North Devon. Saunton East the best for me, and can't wait to get back there next month.

Can't wait for next year as well, when i have my St Andrews trip. Only 370 days to go

 

[Dodger]

A dozen newbie's so far with 1 more still to sample.

Best? Same as Screwback,has to be Royal Aberdeen,it was stunning even on a poor day weather wise and it isn't often you play like a cock and still want to go back out!

Castle Stuart and Machrahanish and Vilamoura Old coming equal 2nd.Three superb golf courses all for very different reasons.

I have Royal Liverpool to look forward to in a couple of weeks time and I am really looking forward to seeing how high up the list it gets....I just hope the 2 choppers representing a well known Golf Magazine that are teeing off just behind me don't take anything away from what promises to be an enjoyable day!!

 

[percy_layer]

This post made me realise that i've not played a new course this year, must be the first year in a long time this has happened.
Moortown is still my favourite course that i've played on this year. I've had a couple invites to The Rennaisance but always been working, hope to get a game before the end of the year, i did caddy there in a European Tour Pro-Am and looking forward to playing it.

 

[Twire]

Sad to say, just 2 new courses this year, Castle Stuart and Nairn. Castle Stuart has jumped to the top of my list of favorites.... although I've only played about 50 ish courses, so it's not a great recommendation.

 

[jammydodger]

Played 9 new ones with 2 more to come (Felixstowe and Bury st Edmunds)

Best were Walton Heath and Sheringham , best presented/condition were Costessey Park and The Bedford.

 

[Smiffy]

Castle Stuart, Nairn, Spey Valley, Boat of Garten, Forest Pines, Karsten Lakes, East Brighton, Avisford Park.
I think that's about all of the new ones this year.

Best? Castle Stuart.
Worst? Avisford fecking Park.
Most surprising? Karsten Lakes.
Most disappointing? Boat of Garten.
Which one I'd want to go back to? Karsten Lakes.

 

[forefortheday]

A dozen newbie's so far with 1 more still to sample.

Best? Same as Screwback,has to be Royal Aberdeen,it was stunning even on a poor day weather wise and it isn't often you play like a cock and still want to go back out!

Castle Stuart and Machrahanish and Vilamoura Old coming equal 2nd.Three superb golf courses all for very different reasons.

I have Royal Liverpool to look forward to in a couple of weeks time and I am really looking forward to seeing how high up the list it gets....I just hope the 2 choppers representing a well known Golf Magazine that are teeing off just behind me don't take anything away from what promises to be an enjoyable day!!

Give us a shout when you are down I'll take you round the sights of the pool!

 

[birdieman]

Castle Stuart, that's it, poor golfing year. Great course though.
I had student membership at Royal Aberdeen for 3 years for peanuts in the late 80's, should have made more of it with hindsight. The front 9 is superb.

Thing are looking up though golf wise -
1. New irons arrived in the mail today in fab condition with project x shafts which I've wanted for 2 years now.
2. On Monday I got a cortizone shot in the shoulder which I'm praying will work well enough to get me playing golf again. Didn't hurt either which was a surprise. Been suffering for a year with rotator cuff pain.
Dying to swing the new wands but Docs orders are no golf for a week or I could really damage the shoulder.
3. Moving to a really good golfing part of the world in a few weeks, winter seaside golf here we come.

 

[Losttheplot]

I think the best new course I've played is either South Staffordshire or Beau Desert. Brabazon at the belfry for nostalgia was up there too.
Haven't really got a worst course for this year which is always good.

 

[stef92]

It is quite worrying counting up the new places I have played!

I reckon it to be 14! But what a 14 it is…!

Royal Birkdale
Royal St George's
Royal Cinque Ports
Royal Liverpool
Castle Stuart
Gleneagles (Kings)
Brora
St Andrews (Duke's)
St Andrews (Eden)
Church Stretton
Anstruther
Monmouth
Shifnal
The Wrekin

My favourite has to be Royal St George's.
The most fun course I have played is Castle Stuart
The best course has to Royal Birkdale

And it is not over!

May be off to play Astbury Hall soon, and I am definitely going to play the Marquess at Woburn in a fortnight!

I don't think I can top this year!

Plus I have had serious stints at The Open and The Ryder Cup!!!

 

[thecraw]

Jammy, I totally forgot about Walton Heath! Doh!

New

Walton Heath
Machrihanish Dunes
Castle Stuart
Aberdour


Machrihanish Dunes was my favourite though. Just shades both Castle Stuart and Walton Heath.

Walton Heath was the best inland course I have played all year, beautiful setting and great company.

 

[SwingSlow]

Not many:

Colchester GC
Hanbury Manor
Blakes (near North Weald)
Woburn (Marquess)

Best course and best presented, Woburn.
Most challenging, Hanbury Manor, especially the Nicklaus nine.



Was going to play Royal North Devon, but last week of August the rain was coming in sideways at high high speed, so bottled out.

 

[Imurg]

Not one.
Not a single solitary new course.
Got 10 weeks left so I'm going to try to play somewhere.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not played any new ones this year but revisited some old haunts including Leatherhead, Wexham Park, Sand Martins, Tylney Park, Downshire and Wimbledon Common. Some were worth the effort and some weren't. I'll definitely play Cooden and Beau Desert next year (providing I'm not on the NHS scrapheap) and hopefully meet a few new and old friends if/when I get round to organising another meet in the early Summer

 

[Gazp]

Have to agree with Losthheplot. South Staffs is probably my best new course this year. Even better, my club has just got reciptocal arrangements with them so I can play it for £15 good eh.
Other good newbies this year, Aberdovey, Walsall, Newcastle under Lyme

 

[Region3]

The Addington - Nice enough but the weather didn't help. Little bit too quirky to be great imo.

Forest Pines - Really enjoyed playing it with tight driving holes all over the place, and played my best golf of the year. Not many truly memorable holes though as I struggle to recall most of them now.

Ascot - Not in as good condition as the 2 above but I'd say I enjoyed playing it more than The Addington. I was surprised after reading some comments on here about it, it was much better than I was expecting and I can still remember most of the holes.

Bearwood Lakes - Fantastic course in superb condition. Full of memorable holes. Played it twice and still had no idea where the ball was going on the greens.

North Shore - Played it on a chilly and very windy day. Loved the parkland holes but probably because they were quite easy to score well on. Not convinced by the linksy holes. The greens were like putting on carpets... shagpile carpets!

Beau Desert - Another course in superb condition, and a very well thought out layout. Probably played my worst golf of the year here, would love to go back when I'm hitting it well (or more importantly straight!)


Not got any more lined up for this year. I think I'd have Bearwood Lakes as my favourite this year, pipping Beau into a very close second.

Neither though, top my list which only began last year.
That honour stays with the Nicklaus course at St. Mellion. Full of individualistic holes in great condition.
I can still remember every hole as if it were yesterday, and even though it's a 4-5 hour drive I'd love to go back next year if I can afford it.
Need to talk the wife into holidaying in Devon again