Piece
Tour Winner
Links here, big time.
Fyldewhite
Tour Winner
I'm surrounded by great links courses and don't get me wrong I love links golf. But....... if I had to choose a course to play every day (which is how I would define a favourite) I would choose a picturesque parkland course with maybe a few undulations and views here and there. The biggest reason though is that you can find your ball under trees and get fairly penalised for bad shots and not have to spend half your round searching in foot deep clag which is so frustrating.
Also, I don't buy the "better test of golf" argument. That's just a spin that's been trotted out by the R&A for ever and a day...... good players can play on any course, it's down to hitting straight and holing putts, not judging bounces.
Also, I don't buy the "better test of golf" argument. That's just a spin that's been trotted out by the R&A for ever and a day...... good players can play on any course, it's down to hitting straight and holing putts, not judging bounces.
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
In your opinion Dodger - not matched by plenty of others.
We all have our favourites. One is not better than another just because you or I say so.
MashieNiblick
Tour Winner
Much as I enjoy the challenge of links golf, and am happy on the lush fairways of a parkland lay out I have to go for heathland.
I grew up playing heathland courses (East Berks, Hindhead, Hankley Common) and the pines, heather, birches, springy fairways, fast greens and golden sand in the bunkers just get my golfing juices flowing.
I grew up playing heathland courses (East Berks, Hindhead, Hankley Common) and the pines, heather, birches, springy fairways, fast greens and golden sand in the bunkers just get my golfing juices flowing.
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
Played Princes in Kent and thought it was the most boring place on earth. It was crying out for a few well placed oak trees and some split pine embanked lakes... an island green wouldn't go amiss either. Drab, drab & drab... perfect for drab players I expect... especially those that can't even get the ball airborne and nobble it 220yds along the ground!
I like beautiful places not crappy scrubland.
That said.... I have seen a couple of Scottish? courses set amongst the rocks on the sea front and at least they look amazing instead of the nuclear holocaust landsacpe so favoured.
I like beautiful places not crappy scrubland.
That said.... I have seen a couple of Scottish? courses set amongst the rocks on the sea front and at least they look amazing instead of the nuclear holocaust landsacpe so favoured.
D
Deleted member 1418
Guest
You shouldn't judge links courses by just Princes! There are some truly stunning links courses, a number of which are farguably superior to the 'famous' links that host the Open. After links, then it has to be heathland for me.
But backed by many experts within the golfing world.
Sadly not by the less educated golfer.
bladeplayer
Money List Winner
But backed by many experts within the golfing world.
Sadly not by the less educated golfer.
as one of the less educated golfers Al , do you think non elite amatuer golfers are good enough to be judging bounces & running the ball in from 40 yards short etc, i admit because of my lack of knowledge/ experience my preception of links could be completely wrong & mayb this is not the case with all links courses .. I think i was lucky, even very lucky with the weather for my Ballyliffin experience ..
Lollfred
Head Pro
Voted links as i'm a member of one 
..... the weather we are 'forced' to play in makes us hardy souls, tougher than you parkland / inland girlies ha ha
..... the weather we are 'forced' to play in makes us hardy souls, tougher than you parkland / inland girlies ha ha
rosecott
Money List Winner
When I last looked at the poll results, it showed who had voted for each option. My name didn't appear, so, thinking I'd miscued, I tried to vote again but was told I'd already voted. Now the poll results don't show who voted which way.
Heathland forever.
Heathland forever.
sydney greenstreet
Journeyman Pro
Parkland for me seeing that i have never played a Links or Heathland course.
D
Deleted member 1147
Guest
I've gone for Parkland because being as inland as you can get that's pretty much all I can usually play.
Although I'm desperate to try links golf - that's why I keep having to check if Mike's put the Hillside details up yet.
Although I'm desperate to try links golf - that's why I keep having to check if Mike's put the Hillside details up yet.
Region3
Ryder Cup Winner
Playing my first links course next Monday and have no idea if I'll like it or not.
I voted parkland but I have no idea what the difference is to heathland, unless it's just having heather and gorse?
I voted parkland but I have no idea what the difference is to heathland, unless it's just having heather and gorse?
bobmac
Major Champion
It is now, under heathland
Richardb1012302
Club Champion
A good mix is allways nice, nothing worse than back to back to back same ish holes
MashieNiblick
Tour Winner
Where you playing Region?
As for the difference between heathland and parkland I'd say heathland is a bit more open and the soil is lighter so the grasses are different, as you say plenty of heather and gorse and trees tend to be pine and birch rather than oaks and chestnuts etc.
Places like Woodhall Spa or Blackmoor are classic "heathland".
If I had to play golf on one course for the rest of my days it would be somewhere like this.
Should look familiar Region - 10th at Blackmoor
bluewolf
Money List Winner
Whilst I respect Links courses and always enjoy playing them, I do Prefer to play Parkland or Heathland courses. Saying that, Ive got a couple of rounds lined up at Saunton, Hillside and Lytham this year so I guess i'd better learn how to play them a bit better than I currently do....
Links for me every time.
You get different conditions most days and is always a challenge.
I feel it also makes you a better golfer; I reckon I could take my game to any parkland or heathland track and get around no problem.
And as for barren, my home course is beautiful and not in the slightest bit barren.
You get different conditions most days and is always a challenge.
I feel it also makes you a better golfer; I reckon I could take my game to any parkland or heathland track and get around no problem.
And as for barren, my home course is beautiful and not in the slightest bit barren.
richart
Major Champion
Where you playing Region?
As for the difference between heathland and parkland I'd say heathland is a bit more open and the soil is lighter so the grasses are different, as you say plenty of heather and gorse and trees tend to be pine and birch rather than oaks and chestnuts etc.
Places like Woodhall Spa or Blackmoor are classic "heathland".
If I had to play golf on one course for the rest of my days it would be somewhere like this.
Should look familiar Region - 10th at Blackmoor
Looks even nicer when the heather is out in September.
A big advantage of a heathland course over some parkland courses is drainage. Being sand based they drain well even in the winter, although the fairways can get a bit hard in the summer during a dry spell. We introduced fairway watering about 10 years ago, although it is not that popular with the more traditional members, and is rarely used.
Glad you put that picture up Mashie, as it will feature in another thread shortly.
Region3
Ryder Cup Winner
Where you playing Region?
As for the difference between heathland and parkland I'd say heathland is a bit more open and the soil is lighter so the grasses are different, as you say plenty of heather and gorse and trees tend to be pine and birch rather than oaks and chestnuts etc.
Places like Woodhall Spa or Blackmoor are classic "heathland".
If I had to play golf on one course for the rest of my days it would be somewhere like this.
Should look familiar Region - 10th at Blackmoor
I'm playing in an open at Royal Porthcawl with 3 other forummers.
Is that really the 10th?
I remember the 10th being off a tee so elevated you could see over the trees round the dogleg.
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