A year spent visiting the top 100 golf courses in England. It doesn’t get much better. But we asked some of our panellists to dig a bit deeper and give us their over-riding memories of their journeys across the country…
For the last seven years, I’ve been doing this off my own back so it’s been a privilege to be part of the panel and to be doing this with a meaningful output. I’m very grateful for that. – Greg Webber
The best thing is seeing how much courses have improved. The money that’s going into clubs since the pandemic, with full memberships and waiting lists, seems to be put back into the course, which is fantastic. – Niall Flanagan
Meeting so many passionate Club Managers & Secretaries, who (with their teams) are really striving to improve their clubs. The over-riding feeling was that any club that stood still in 2021, in effect went backwards. I don’t think golf clubs have been this healthy for a very long time. – Neil Gray
I had the privilege of playing Lytham twice in 18 hours – with a sleep in the Dormy House in between. We were last out in late afternoon and then first out the next morning. In the second round, that trepidation and nervousness of playing a great course and wanting to do it justice had dissipated and we just loved every minute. – Dan Murphy
The opportunity to see the sheer quality of golf across England’s counties was special. The game is in a very good place in this country. – Steve Carroll
I played Thurlestone while on holiday with my son. It was a glorious day. The first six or seven holes are a bit linksy and quite short and we just had an absolute blast. – Ed Battye
Getting myself up to the far north and playing the northern links. I played Dunstanburgh Castle, Goswick, Seaton Carew, Seascale, Cleveland and Furness Old for the first time. That was certainly the highlight. – Steve Watton
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Re-familiarising myself with the four English Open Championship venues. – John Mcloughlin
It has to be Little Aston. A beautifully kept course with fantastic bunkering. – George Oldham
More from NCG Top 100 golf courses in England
- RANKING ROW: The courses that should have been higher
Visit the NCG Top 100s homepage for all this and much, much more.
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