Top 25 Parkland Courses

[Duckster]

I've always been a fan of The Roxburge up near Kelso & The Brabazon would also make my list.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

Out of the ones I've played, all 3 Woburn courses, The Grove and The Brabazon. All have been in fantastic condition whenever I've played them.

 

[Captainron]

Disley
Pike Fold
Vale Royal Abbey
Skipton
Northcliffe (Shipley)

PS ...I've played Little Aston and Bearwood and they don't get in my top five.

I'd love a game at Lancaster.......and Preston (will be playing next year). These are supposed to be good.

Bearwood and little Aston don’t get in amongst that lot?? Did you play badly or something?

 

[Jacko_G]

I would define Parkland as tree lined and so generally means an inland area where wind levels are lower.

Heathland would be more heather / gorse lined and while not coastal, much of the site may be elevated, with more exposure to wind, and so little scope for trees to grow naturally. Likely more natural undulations and changes in elevation.

Obviously plenty of room for courses with sections that are tree lined and sections that are more exposed and will be more heathland.

Heathland is more to do with the sandy soil and scrubland like appearance than gorse/heather, although heather will thrive in that environment.

 

[Grant85]

Heathland is more to do with the sandy soil and scrubland like appearance than gorse/heather, although heather will thrive in that environment.

Accepted - but I do think the lack of trees is a factor.

Trees will not naturally grow in areas where high winds are likely to be a factor regularly, such as the coast. Or an elevated plateau inland that many heathland / moorland golf courses are layed out on. Hence the ground is exopsed to daylight and heather and gorse is likely to be natural to the area in the UK.

Trees could still grow in sandy soil, but will be unlikely to survive if there's a few days of 40 to 50mph+ winds each year and / or a regular stiff breeze of 15 to 20mph.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Accepted - but I do think the lack of trees is a factor.

Trees will not naturally grow in areas where high winds are likely to be a factor regularly, such as the coast. Or an elevated plateau inland that many heathland / moorland golf courses are layed out on. Hence the ground is exopsed to daylight and heather and gorse is likely to be natural to the area in the UK.

Trees could still grow in sandy soil, but will be unlikely to survive if there's a few days of 40 to 50mph+ winds each year and / or a regular stiff breeze of 15 to 20mph.

Broadstone and Parkstone are both on the coast, both heathland and both have some very tall trees on them, generally pines. And they both get pretty windy.

 

[Grant85]

Broadstone and Parkstone are both on the coast, both heathland and both have some very tall trees on them, generally pines. And they both get pretty windy.

Don't know the courses but possible that trees have been planted by green keepers and staked / managed as young trees until they have gotten to maturity whereby they can withstand the winds.

If it is a coastal area, with high winds, it is is hugely unlikely that trees would be natural to that area. Unless they are all on a side of the course away from the coast and have some natural shelter directing the wind away.

 

[patricks148]

I would define Parkland as tree lined and so generally means an inland area where wind levels are lower.

Heathland would be more heather / gorse lined and while not coastal, much of the site may be elevated, with more exposure to wind, and so little scope for trees to grow naturally. Likely more natural undulations and changes in elevation.

Obviously plenty of room for courses with sections that are tree lined and sections that are more exposed and will be more heathland.

what would you call Ladybank and Nairn Dunbar?

 

[Jacko_G]

what would you call Ladybank and Nairn Dunbar?

Ladybank is definitely heathland in my book, I'm actually struggling to class Nairn Dunbar, it's a "hybrid" course!!!

🤔🤔🤔🤔

 

[patricks148]

Ladybank is definitely heathland in my book, I'm actually struggling to class Nairn Dunbar, it's a "hybrid" course!!!

🤔🤔🤔🤔

I would agree, but there are a couple of holes i'm not sure about.

NB, i'm not sure either, we were discussing it today and all 4 of us wouldn't say it was a links course, but a few guys in our roll swear blind it is. diff more Heathland, but then again its not got much heather or any i can think of... plenty of trees still though they have taken plenty out recently

 

[Grant85]

what would you call Ladybank and Nairn Dunbar?

Sorry - I haven't played either.

Noted when playing Nairn the rather obvious 'loop' into the tree lined holes on the back 9 where there is clearly not a links feel about the place.

Not dissimilar to a stretch of holes at Carnoustie, where multiple species of tree line the fairways.

 

[Jacko_G]

I would agree, but there are a couple of holes i'm not sure about.

NB, i'm not sure either, we were discussing it today and all 4 of us wouldn't say it was a links course, but a few guys in our roll swear blind it is. diff more Heathland, but then again its not got much heather or any i can think of... plenty of trees still though they have taken plenty out recently

It certainly has a links feel about it, probably more links than anything but it also has parkland, heathland like areas too!!

 

[patricks148]

Sorry - I haven't played either.

Noted when playing Nairn the rather obvious 'loop' into the tree lined holes on the back 9 where there is clearly not a links feel about the place.

Not dissimilar to a stretch of holes at Carnoustie, where multiple species of tree line the fairways.

only one hole has tree's the 13th none on 15 now and only one at the back of 14. none of those tree s were there when the course was built and only planted after the 2nd WW

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Don't know the courses but possible that trees have been planted by green keepers and staked / managed as young trees until they have gotten to maturity whereby they can withstand the winds.

If it is a coastal area, with high winds, it is is hugely unlikely that trees would be natural to that area. Unless they are all on a side of the course away from the coast and have some natural shelter directing the wind away.

No they are native trees, there are a lot of them in the area not just on the golf courses.

 

[Foxholer]

Bearwood Lakes
Centurion
Woburn Marquess
Wentworth West
Then a lot of high class but not outstanding ones including
Woburn Dukes & Duchess
Brocket Palmerston and Melbourne
Wentworth Edinburgh

In Scotland, Newmacher Hawkshill, Mortonhall, The Musselburgh (previously Monktonhll) and Glenbervie would be 'high class'

 

[HankMarvin]

I see in the GM list Gleneagles Kings course in on the list and I would have to agree with them some great holes on it and some stunning views and the Queens is just as good.

 

[Jacko_G]

Bearwood Lakes
Centurion
Woburn Marquess
Wentworth West
Then a lot of high class but not outstanding ones including
Woburn Dukes & Duchess
Brocket Palmerston and Melbourne
Wentworth Edinburgh

In Scotland, Newmacher Hawkshill, Mortonhall, The Musselburgh (previously Monktonhll) and Glenbervie would be 'high class'

Well if you include Glenbervie as "high class" you would have to include Pollok which while short in length is a significantly better layout than Glenbervie (imo). Largs as well is a beautiful parkland course in stunning surrounds and every bit as good if not better than Glenbervie.

 

[HankMarvin]

Bearwood Lakes
Centurion
Woburn Marquess
Wentworth West
Then a lot of high class but not outstanding ones including
Woburn Dukes & Duchess
Brocket Palmerston and Melbourne
Wentworth Edinburgh

In Scotland, Newmacher Hawkshill, Mortonhall, The Musselburgh (previously Monktonhll) and Glenbervie would be 'high class'

Glenbervie has been in Superb condition this year and must say I was impressed with the current condition of the greens when I played at the weekend and with the new addition to the driving range and ball dispenser it’s right up there for both playing and practice facilities, probably one of the best if not the best in the Central belt.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Bearwood Lakes
Forest of Arden
Woburn Marquess
Wentworth Edinburgh
St Mellion

 

[USER1999]

Woburn Marquess is a goat track, built in a swamp.

Cannot understand why it is so highly thought of. Just a poor example of a modern stadium course. By far the worst course on the property.