Monthly poll 1) Which is the best modern-day English course to host a tour event

[JezzE]

Morning all,
Couple of related polls again this month in separate posts, looking to garner your thoughts as to which modern English tour course is the best.
Tour events have been played at all these courses dating from the 1970s onwards, but which is the best?

Please check out the separate post for other Home Nations...

 

[USER1999]

Hard to comment as I have only played 2 of them. It will be 3 soon, as I am playing Woburn on the 30th, snow permitting.

Not keen on the belfry. Some great holes, but too many mediocre ones. Probably a better course to spectate from than to play.

So for me, it's the grove. Really love playing here. I can play it again and again, and it is better every time. Unlike my score.

As for the rest, I don't remember most of them from the telly either. I always remember a course I have played, but not one I have seen on telly.

 

[Region3]

I've only played 2 of them as well (and one of those only 9 holes) but I think St. Mellion is awesome.

 

[JezzE]

Doesn't have to be based on having played these courses - memories of watching them on TV are fine...

 

[Ethan]

Has to be Woburn. Interesting layout, good use of natural pine forests, variety in the holes and some special feature holes.

The Belfry has never been, nor ever will be, a good course.

FoA is decent enough but nothing to write home about.

The Grove still needs another 20 years tree growth, but has potential.

Slaley Hall is OK, but no great shakes.

Haven't played London Club but doesn't look great on TV.

The Oxfordshire is in the same pot as The Belfry.

St Mellion looked good on TV in the 80s but needs to be tested again by 2011's players.

Just my opinion.

 

[Marko77]

Any reason Wentworth not listed?

 

[JezzE]

Any reason Wentworth not listed?

Because setting aside the recent remodelling work, the course has been around for decades - 1920s I think off the top of my head, but could be wrong

 

[SyR]

East Sussex National - East Course would get my vote if it had been listed. It was a tough challenge for both of the European Opens it hosted and the condition was superb. (I'm biased though).

 

[Marko77]

Because setting aside the recent remodelling work, the course has been around for decades - 1920s I think off the top of my head, but could be wrong

Fair play, I just thought the revised changes may have made it count.

 

[fundy]

wow, that could easily be a list of the most overrated golf courses in England imho. Woburn and the London prob the best of them but none of them are wow courses or must plays for me.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Based on watching events during the 80's and 90's I would have said Woburn or St Mellion although to be honest none of them are really what you'd consider top tour venues by modern standards.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Based on watching events during the 80's and 90's I would have said Woburn or St Mellion although to be honest none of them are really what you'd consider top tour venues by modern standards.

Same for me. Woburn looks great but St Mellion was a real test. Would like to see them back there.

In the end I plumped for Woburn just for those fairways carved through the trees, but isn't the Duke's the main course where the events were held in the 80's?

 

[JezzE]

Same for me. Woburn looks great but St Mellion was a real test. Would like to see them back there.

In the end I plumped for Woburn just for those fairways carved through the trees, but isn't the Duke's the main course where the events were held in the 80's?

The Duke's was the tour course for several years, but the last couple of years the British Masters was there it switched to the Marquess course. One of them was a shoot-out between Rose & Poulter (think it might have been Rose's first victory on British soil), and without checking I have a feeling Levet might have won the other one, but I stand to be corrected on that...

 

[PNWokingham]

played the Marquess for the first time this year and rate it best at Woburn - some realy great holes with a few slightly ordinary ones thrown in and some big walks! Overall, a really good course. FOA pleayed once and decent, Oxfordshire - nice and enjoy playing in good weather - in wind and rain I would rather be shopping with the missue! From what I have seen of these and the others, I vote Woburn - the London Club and St Mellion also look like they have some really nice holes - although St Mellion looks way too tight to be considered a great course.

 

[bozza]

Wouldn't even have slaley in there to be honest. Nice looking course but when I played it a couple of months ago it wasn't in that good condition. Seems to really struggle to drain well and the greens were average.

Woburn does look stunning from what I've seen so think I'll vote for that.

 

[Snelly]

Has to be Woburn. Interesting layout, good use of natural pine forests, variety in the holes and some special feature holes.

The Belfry has never been, nor ever will be, a good course.

FoA is decent enough but nothing to write home about.

The Grove still needs another 20 years tree growth, but has potential.

Slaley Hall is OK, but no great shakes.

Haven't played London Club but doesn't look great on TV.

The Oxfordshire is in the same pot as The Belfry.

St Mellion looked good on TV in the 80s but needs to be tested again by 2011's players.

Just my opinion.

By coincidence, this matches my opinion almost perfectly. The only difference being that the only one I haven't played is Slaley but have played the London Club. The same cap fits though.

Woburn is the winner here by a mile. The Grove has great potential though. And finally, if you voted for the Belfry then you can't have played these two. Either that, or you are educationally subnormal.