So what makes an outstanding course?

[chrisd]

I have never played a links course and thought "this is beautiful". "Brutal" maybe, or "rugged", but never beautiful. Maybe I've played the wrong ones???
I've played plenty of heath or parkland courses, where "beautiful" does cross my mind.

Royal Cinque Ports gets pretty close Rob

 

[Smiffy]

Royal Cinque Ports gets pretty close Rob

I admit, some of the fairway undulations are awesome Chris, but I'd hardly call RCP a thing of "beauty".
Rugged would sum it up for me.
The scenery is nothing to write home about mate.

 

[patricks148]

Not all links have decent scenic views, St Anne's Old Links is a prime example, it's pretty flat so did nothing for me, you can see the airport and Blackpool pleasure beach but it has nothing to offer on the eye IMO. Formby has some stunning scenic views but not of the sea, I think you can only just squeeze a sight of water from 1 hole, links that run right by the side of the sea offer far more scenic views like Wallasey, Wedt Lancs, Royal Porthcawl etc, even Saunton Ssnds has no sea views as I remember as it's protected by a huge dune/sand bank, however, it still has some great inland scenic views of its course, so, what makes a great scenic view is all down to the individual, I think because someone doesn't agree or see links courses offer scenic views is far from being a numpty, the biggest numpty is the person that can't accept that someone looks for different things to them and not everything is black & white.

i never said all links have stunning views and full accept that someone would not enjoy playing them but to generalise and say you like scenery and you don't like links because of that.

I can't comment on the courses down south, as ive never played them.

but I offer up;
Golpie
Brora
Royal Dornoch
Fortrose
Castle Stuart
Nairn
Moray
Machrihanish, both courses
Western Gailes
Dundonald
Kilmarnoch Barrasie
Turnberry
Gullane
North Berwick

ague with me that none of these have stunning scenery?


But to me scenery does not make me want to play a course, i go purely on quality of the course for instance, Carnoustie and Muirfield have next to no views.

 

[seochris]

i never said all links have stunning views and full accept that someone would not enjoy playing them but to generalise and say you like scenery and you don't like links because of that.

I can't comment on the courses down south, as ive never played them.

but I offer up;
Golpie
Brora
Royal Dornoch
Fortrose
Castle Stuart
Nairn
Moray
Machrihanish, both courses
Western Gailes
Dundonald
Kilmarnoch Barrasie
Turnberry
Gullane
North Berwick

ague with me that none of these have stunning scenery?


But to me scenery does not make me want to play a course, i go purely on quality of the course for instance, Carnoustie and Muirfield have next to no views.

I quite like Tain as well which has very little in the way of views unless looking at the Glenmorangie distillery is a view!

 

[patricks148]

I quite like Tain as well which has very little in the way of views unless looking at the Glenmorangie distillery is a view!

from a couple of holes you can see the Dornoch firth and the mountains down towards Bonnar bridge

 

[Fyldewhite]

Good question and one that will (clearly) get some contrasting opinions!!

The courses I enjoy most are those with a variety of holes, left/right, uphill/downhill (without it being too hilly, blind shots etc), long/short and most of all fair and not tricked up. Add to that a bit of stunning scenery, maybe a bit of history and being in immaculate condition and I think you have a good recipe for an outstanding course be that a links, a parkland or whatever. Out of the courses I've played, Turnberry and Druid's Glen spring to mind.

 

[delc]

One of my favourite courses is Ballater in Scotland, when it's not flooded that is! It backs onto the River Dee, and from some of the tees at the right time of year, you can watch Salmon fighting their way back up to their spawning streams. It also has some stunning mountain scenery around. Also in that area is the 9 holer at Tarland, that lacks Salmon, but does have stunning scenery. My own club does have a good view over the Colne Valley, only slightly spoiled by the presence of the M25 in the middle distance!

 

[garyinderry]

 

[Smiffy]

My own club does have a good view over the Colne Valley, only slightly spoiled by the presence of the M25 in the middle distance!

Any Salmon?

 

[ScienceBoy]

Rough under trees cut short enough... That's it

 

[Hobbit]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8YpUOguIBM

On Saturday, stood on the 17th tee, I watched somewhere in the region of 20 seals swimming, all within 100yds. There was upwards of a couple of hundred making a right good racket as they basked on the shore across the river. The views across the estuary to the sand dunes(mountains), including all the seabirds, is fantastic. The village, Newburgh on Ythan, just across the river is very picturesque. And the yellow is just starting to show on some of the Whin bushes.

Its rugged, and brutal, when the wind gets up but so are many courses, both links and inland.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I'd say Newburgh is beautiful. I have played many links courses that are bland and boring, but the same could be said of some parkland courses I've played.

 

[MendieGK]

If it was an hour closer to me I would join as country member - it is a superb course and look forward to playing it again this year

So heres another question, how far/long would you drive to be a country member of a course? reason i ask, i can join Burnham for £400 and its about 1hr 10 away. i'm very tempted

 

[Deleted member 15344]

So heres another question, how far/long would you drive to be a country member of a course? reason i ask, i can join Burnham for £400 and its about 1hr 10 away. i'm very tempted

I would snap up that deal a Sam

I think for me the limit would be 1 hr 30 as a country member

 

[MendieGK]

I would snap up that deal a Sam

I think for me the limit would be 1 hr 30 as a country member

It's just whether or not i'd go down there enough. In the winter i'd imagine i'd try go most weekends as condition wise it cant be compared to any other course in the area.

the joining fee for me is only £100 too!

Not sure if the Mrs will let me....

 

[delc]

Any Salmon?

Only cooked ones in the restaurant, because we don't have a river or natural stream running through the course!

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

I would do it Sam. Hayling is 1hr door to door for me. You'll probably find you'd take lots of mates down there and can take it in turns to drive.

 

[MendieGK]

I would do it Sam. Hayling is 1hr door to door for me. You'll probably find you'd take lots of mates down there and can take it in turns to drive.

hmmmmm, i think i'd be a loner joining to be honest. but i would have a number of guests i'm sure

 

[Deleted member 1147]

For me the definition of an outstanding course is one which makes me hit all the clubs in my bag, has a variety of holes in length, design & appearance and requires shot making both ways. Rewards good play, but doesn't overly/excessively punish mistakes.
Plus, if I play really badly and still enjoy it, it must be pretty special. A la, Hillside or Beau Desert

 

[Fish]

It's just whether or not i'd go down there enough. In the winter i'd imagine i'd try go most weekends as condition wise it cant be compared to any other course in the area.

the joining fee for me is only £100 too!

Not sure if the Mrs will let me....

Why

 

[Deleted member 16999]

I have never played a links course and thought "this is beautiful". "Brutal" maybe, or "rugged", but never beautiful. Maybe I've played the wrong ones???
I've played plenty of heath or parkland courses, where "beautiful" does cross my mind.

Stood on the 7th at Seaton Carew and looking at the Nuclear Power Station rise above you and if the wind is from the south the food processing plant playing with your nostrils.........Beautiful, most certainly does not spring to mind. 😃