Steve Carroll: A New Year, a new me. Yeah right. I was back on the booze and takeaways long before this month got out of first gear.
But even though my resolutions have ended up scattered like all my other broken dreams, there is one ambition I plan on achieving over the next 12 months.
As I enter my 40th year on this rock, I’ve set up a golfing wishlist. Right at the top, the golf course I want to play most this year, is Trump Turnberry.
If you can forget all the politics – difficult I know but give it a go – then the Ailsa has got to be up there as one of the world’s great golf destinations. Doesn’t it?
I’m a sucker for dramatic dunes and a clifftop location (I’m desperate to play Old Head for similar reasons) and it would probably take me an hour to play the 9th as I’d be taking so many photos.
Finishing up with that iconic hotel in the background, holing out where Open Champions have gone before, is just the icing on the cake.
So that’s me sorted. Where do you most want to tee it up this year? Which course would make your golfing year complete if you were to get a round in?
James Savage: I’ve still never played Moortown despite spending plenty of time there.
For similar reasons I’d also like to play at Wike Ridge as it’s something we always talk about in the office but never do.
But if I had to pick one it’d be Royal Birkdale as I was very jealous of Steve playing Troon just before the Open last year.
I went to the Ricoh Women’s British Open there a couple of years ago and thought it looked epic.
Craig Middleton: I’d really like to play the Old Course this year. But, being a bit less obvious, I’d quite like to have a round at Formby.
I walked the course with Dan last year and was gutted I didn’t have my clubs with me.
Hopefully I can have a round there at some point this year. It’s a pretty spectacular course.
Dan Murphy: I’d like to play super-exclusive Surrey course Queenwood for the simple reason that every time I’ve tried to do so to date, they wouldn’t let me on.
That’s fine, it’s their prerogative, I respect their policy, I have no right to be granted access to the course. They don’t court publicity, they’re managing just fine without me and my ilk – but I’d still like to go and have a game there. Just once would be fine.
Beyond and including that, my goal this year is to play courses in England I have not yet visited. High on my priority list are the likes of Crowborough Beacon, Enville, Knole Park, East Devon and Gog Magog.
James Broadhurst: Based purely on the pictures I have seen in our mags, I would love to play Trump International in Aberdeen. I have never played on a links course and Trump International would be near the top of my links list.
Joe Urquhart: I’d like to play Kingsbarns this year, having seen and heard wonderful things from walking up and down the Fife coastal path for many years its about time I took it on…(might be asking a bit much to do it justice though!)
Mark Townsend: I’d love a day at Sunningdale; play 36 holes, both fourball matchplay, start about 9am on the New, eat an enormous sausage sandwich midway through the first round, tuck into the carvery at lunch, have three pints of something nice and then tootle round the Old at a snail-like pace.
Another two pints, some prawn cocktail crisps and stop for a Thai (meal) on the way home.
Georgina Simpson: I’d like to play more golf anywhere this year. Despite golf being my living for a long time, I haven’t played a lot in Great Britain since Amateur days.
I am looking forward to playing some superb links golf like we used to back in the day – like Saunton Sands, Silloth, Lytham, Barrassie and Royal Porthcawl.
The Women’s British Open is at Kingsbarns this year, a golf course I have always wanted to play. I must admit it is quite tempting to get myself in shape to Monday qualify…