Your Top Five Courses

[DCB]

OK we've had the GM top 120 debate, now how about our own recommendations for top five courses to play.

Mine are,

Carnoustie
Gullane No1
North Berwick
Macrahanish
Lochgreen (Troon)

Ok these are mostly links courses, but they are a good test of anyones ability and all have great locations/situations.

DCB

 

[John_Findlay]

Good choices, DCB.

Think my favourites so far have been the following, not necessarily in order;-

Carnoustie
Royal Dornoch
Tralee
Gary Player G & CC, Sun CIty
Ballybunion, the Cashen course

I would play any of these every day for the rest of my life!

 

[StuartD]

Mostly Links courses for me

Carnoustie
Kingsbarns
Muirfield
Turnberry Ailsa
Blairgowrie Rosemount

 

[Atticus_Finch]

Haven't played as many prestigious tracks as some here, but here are the ones I have played...

Carnoustie Championship (speaks for itself)
Carnoustie Burnside (Often overlooked, underated gem)
Montrose Medal (Classic ancient links)
Letham Grange Old (Been described as Scotland's Augusta)
Downfield (Open qualifier for Carnoustie)

 

[Junior]

Not had the pleasure of Carnoustie or St Andrews yet, here are mine . . . .

Turnberry (Ailsa Course)
Port Stewart (Strand Course)
North Berwick (West Links)
Ballyliffin (Glashedy Links)
Aphrodite Hills (Cyprus)

 

[shanker]

Interesting topic. Made me realise how few I'd played.

1 New South Wales GC, Sydney. (Greg Norman is a member)
2 Sunningdale Old Course.
3 Ferndown.
4 Isle of Purbeck (Dorset).
5 Parkstone.

I have played Lytham but wouldn't include it.

 

[brendy]

Ive not played one of them but
St andrews old course
Carnasty
Turnburry
R. Lytham St Annes and possibly Royal Dornoch, ive heard so many fellas talk about it I want to go!

Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus, Junior, what did you think of the course?

 

[Junior]

Hi Brendy,
Loved Aphrodite hills, we normally head off to Majorca but decided to rent a villa on the Aphrodite resort (between 4 of us) and it was well worth it.

We played the course 4 times as part of the package and it was (as well as the greens)in great condition. There are some several truly breathtaking holes around the canyon.

The resort itself was a bit expensive but had a good choice of restaraunts, also Paphos is only a short taxi ride away.

 

[rgs]

Top 5 of courses i have played--

1 Valderrama
2 Vilamoura Old
3 Mount Juilet
4 Carton House Monty Course
5 The European Brittas Bay Co Wicklow

 

[brendy]

Ive been to cyprus a few times including getting married last year but never got to take my clubs with me, maybe next time

 

[shanker]

Top 5 of courses i have played--

1 Valderrama
2 Vilamoura Old
3 Mount Juilet
4 Carton House Monty Course
5 The European Brittas Bay Co Wicklow

How much did it cost you at Valderrama? I've heard it's astronomical.

 

[rgs]

Shanker

Cost me nothing--my brothers wife as a prezzie for his 40th birthday paid for a few of us to play Valderrama. Had to go and enjoy myself. Played 2 wks before the Volvo Masters a few yrs ago-course was in superb nick.

 

[Marko77]

My top 5, in no particular order:

Kingsbarns
St Andrews Old
Santana
Gleneagles Kings
Alyth

 

[DCB]

Interesting selection form all who have put up their favouriites. It just shows how we all like certain things about certain types of courses. It's interesting that their is a fair proportion of links golf mentioned.
Atticus_Finch makes a good point about Burnside being overlooked. I last played there three years ago and we had no-one within three holes of us, either in front or behind us. Nice course kept to almost the same standard as the big one.

 

[Ulsterman1930]

Having spent my formative years in Ireland, it is natural to select the courses I have played there, however I must also include where I have played since 1980. It is almost totally unknown, but in my book it will never be bettered and well worth looking up on the web.
1 Royal Portrush
2 Royal County Down
3 Clandeboye
4 Kirkistown Castle
5 Charnwood Forest

 

[DCB]

Ulsterman,

Played Clandeboye and Kirkistown a good few years ago. Clandeyboye between N'Ards and Bangor? and t'other down near the old racetrack?

Also fought my way round Scrabo a few times, interesting layout and some cracking views from the top of the hill.

DCB

 

[brendy]

My course is not far from Clandeboye DCB, Both courses are very good tests in the wind. Scrabo is a different kettle of fish, the first few and final few holes are some of the most difficult and tight holes I've ever played.
Kirkistown is a bugger in the wind too, it turns scratch golfers into uivvering wrecks on a proper windy day there.

 

[madandra]

Kirkistown is a bugger in the wind too, it turns scratch golfers into uivvering wrecks on a proper windy day there.

I guess your course isn't too busy ... No Q's

 

[shanker]

If Ulsterman1930 is now 77 years old I'm sure he will have bags of golfing tales. Let's hear them.

 

[brendy]

Kirkistown is a bugger in the wind too, it turns scratch golfers into uivvering wrecks on a proper windy day there.

I guess your course isn't too busy ... No Q's

Baduum Tish, Ere All Week! Very good!
Got round today in around 4 hours and were held up for 9 of the holes, still managed +3 with ropey putting and a missed tap in. from not marking a ball that I should have and waited.