Church Stretton

This Shropshire club has more than 100 years of history and its course was shaped by the eyes and brains of Harry Vardon and James Braid.

It is an undulating inland course whose sandy soil drains so well it plays over firm, closely-cropped turf. It offers a rare variety of holes, from intimidating par 4s to sporty two-shotters that can be driven.

Church Stretton is short, but heather and bracken line the fairways to give it enough bite to challenge all who visit.

Many greens are raised or built into the side of a hill – the 175-yard 12th is one fine example. Here you must keep to the right to allow the slope to take the ball onto the green.

Its setting takes the breath away but there is also plentiful interest in the holes, from the cute green complexes to the routing over interesting terrain.

Found just off the A49 south of Shrewsbury and west of Birmingham and Wolverhampton, it has been enjoyed by Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam and Sir Henry Cotton among others.

Just over the border in Wales is fellow Fun Top 100 course Welshpool and slightly further west is another, GB&I Top 100 links Aberdovey. Chris Bertram