Top 100 Uk and Ireland Courses (2009 Version)

[algar5]

I have in the past year thought and thought but never quite got past the thinking stage about playing the Top 100 UK and Ireland Golf Courses as a must do whilst still playing to a reasonable standard. I have been lucky enough to play a couple of courses on the list but this was not a deliberate effort to tick them off.

I have looked at all the websites and other golfers blogs who have undertaken this mission and it certainly does seem to be time consuming, require a lot of planning and is expensive (although a number of others have made it a mission to play as far as possible as members guests to keep both the cost down and add to the enjoyment of playing the course).

Has anyone on the forum ever played all 100 courses or have similar thoughts about trying to do so ?

 

[golfcitydweller]

algar..
john findlay`s ur man..i think he`s done or is close to completing the top 100 ..pm him and he`ll help u out mate

 

[John_Findlay]

i think he`s done or is close to completing the top 100

... I wish, Euan!

I've only played 115 courses since I took up the game 30 years ago and I think maybe 25-28 of them are in the top 100 UK courses list. It's never been a mission to tick them off the list per se. Personally, I think it's an impossible mission without unlimited funds and time. They just keep changing and some are really quite exclusive, e.g. Loch Lomond

 

[RGDave]

Has anyone on the forum ever played all 100 courses or have similar thoughts about trying to do so ?

I'd sure like to, but I think I'd run out of cash too quickly!

 

[USER1999]

Sounds like mission impossible to me. Ok, a few lucky people have done it, but the money and travelling must be insane (unless you work for a golf mag?).

I have played over 100 courses, but only about 5 in the top 100.

To be honest, there are plenty of nice tracks about, that are nearer, and cheaper. Once you get out of the top 50, I am not sure how exceptional the others will be. I mean is there really a clear difference between number 99 and number 120?

 

[thecraw]

I have never once agreed with the top 100 and even last years one, how the hell anyone in their right mind can rate Blairgowrie ahead of Cruden Bay and the Machrie just beggars belief in my opinion.

Kingsbarns at number 8 in Britain is another totally false ranking. Its an over hyped better than average golf course, not great. A couple of very good holes and thats it. Compare that to Machrihanish ranked at 34 and it makes a mockery.

Royal Aberdeen better than Royal Troon? Again cant see that, both great golf courses and both better than Kingsbarns in my eyes.

I believe it was Golf Word who ranked Castlerock ahead of Portstewart which is another crazy decision in my mind.

I appreciate that people will have different opinions however some of the decisions are wierd to say the least.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
Would be very hard for me to do as there are so many of them in the UK have played a lot of the top irish courses and have given myself 5 years to play all the links courses in ireland i'v played about a 1/4 of them thing about here can get to almost any course on a day trip best of luck if you try and attempt it.
Regards Michael.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

How dose this site compare with where you are getting your top 100 I have to say they have the irish courses fairly good in my opinion.

http://www.top100golfcourses.co.uk/htmlsite/aboutus.asp

 

[matt01]

i would love to try it but i think it would be hard and cost a bit to much as i live in northern ireland so most of the trips would need to be over a weekend

hat off to you if you are able to do it

if you need any help from over here just give me a shout and will see what i can do

 

[algar5]

How dose this site compare with where you are getting your top 100 I have to say they have the irish courses fairly good in my opinion.

http://www.top100golfcourses.co.uk/htmlsite/aboutus.asp

Micheal,

That is the main site I have been using and certainly seems to be the best one of all the ones I have found so far.

Like others have said already it is amazing the difference of opinions everyone has as to what constitutes a top 100 golf course and which list to follow. Your mission of playing a specific type of course within a set area/region/country might indeed be the way to start and depending on how that goes branch out from there.

Best of luck on playing all your courses.

Cheers,

Alan

 

[algar5]

i would love to try it but i think it would be hard and cost a bit to much as i live in northern ireland so most of the trips would need to be over a weekend

hat off to you if you are able to do it

if you need any help from over here just give me a shout and will see what i can do

Matt,

Thanks for the offer. I certainly will get in touch when I am venturing over your way.

Cheers,

Alan

 

[Snelly]

Of the list shown in the site mentioned above, I have played 43 of the top 100 in England. I suppose that is quite a lot really but am lucky in that my work takes me to quite a few corporate golf events at some very nice courses.

The number I have played in the UK top 100 is much smaller at 36.

I would love to play them all but as mentioned above, some are very difficult to get a game on. Loch Lomond is one although I am lucky enough to have an invite there for 2010. Queenwood, The Wisley and Rye are also not the easiest of places to get a game.

It would be great to do it and a definite project for me if I won the lottery.

Cheers,


Snelly.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

To be honest there isn't anyway I'll ever do it and it has never really been a factor. Whilst I enjoy a testing course and decent surroundings including a comfy 19th as others have said there are hundreds of clubs across the UK that offer these and will never get within spitting distance of the top 100. I'll continue to play as many courses as I can in good company and let others spend the many thousands needed to tick everyone off the list

 

[golfcitydweller]

snelly,
what`s ur favourite so far out of the 36 in the uk ...

 

[Dodger]

I should have a total up as I have played circa 200 maybe more courses in my time.Not sure how many in top 100 as I aint really played alot in South of England (bar Saunton,Westward Ho,Sherwood Forest) that are great tracks.

 

[algar5]

To All,


Thanks for all the thoughts and replies. I think that I will leave the mission of completing the "Top 100" as just a thought and as many others have said concentrate on playing as many courses as I can in the company of friends and fellow golfers.

When adding up all the courses I have played throughout my 25 years of playing this wonderful game, I have already played 100 to 125 courses. Therefore in the future I will be able to sit down and make up my own personal list of favourite top 100 and not a list from any other source.

Also since joining the forum I have searched and read over reviews of hidden gems which are not in any magazines or websites list.

Just one example is Goswick Links. My in laws have a caravan in Kelso and I spend many a week/weekend throughout the year. I have played 2 or 3 courses nearby including The Roxburghe (which is on several top 100 lists) although if I was to review it in my opinion does not fully justify such a ranking. I had until very recently never heard of Goswick Links but it looks a great course and everybody on here agrees. It is only a short drive from Kelso and one which I now fully intend to play this year.

So once again thankyou to everyone.

 

[kevinmarkham]

I agree with you Algar, just keep playing the ones that make life enjoyable. Playing the top 100 courses is a logistical nightmare if you can't dedicate yourself to it full time. Not to mention the financial burden.

I played all the courses in Ireland in 2007 and 2008 as a dedicated project (for a book) but never even considered doing something similar in the UK. There's simply too much mileage involved. And if you're combining the two islands...

I'd set yourself the target of playing 3 or 4 a year and savior each course as you go. And as you said, you'll find beauties that are never mentioned in the usual lists.

Good luck

 

[SammmeBee]

Just had a quick count up and I have done half of the current list....I reckon I'll definitley get another 3 done this year (planned), plus hopefully another 2 more.....I have been trying to get the whole lot done by the time I'm 50 so plenty time yet!!

Best 3 - Royal St Georges, Waterville and Old Course

 

[Snelly]

snelly,
what`s ur favourite so far out of the 36 in the uk ...

My favourites are Macrihanish for links golf and Sunningdale Old for inland courses.

Other favourites of mine are West Sussex, Hankley Common, St Georges Hill, Saunton East and Muirfield.