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20. WEST SUSSEX
Sussex, England
Designer(s): Guy Campbell/CK Hutchison
Weekday green fee: £85Â
+ Position: 8
Overall Score = 93
JB: Miss the sloping greens and it could be a tough day. Large run-off areas are a feature.
DM: Brilliant par 3s.
Commentary: One of our great inland courses. The layout twists and turns through heathland and has some stunningly picturesque short holes.
19. ROYAL WEST NORFOLK
Norfolk, England
Designer(s): Holcombe Ingleby
Weekday green fee: £85
+ Position: 7
Overall Score = 93
DM: This is a play-it-before-you-die course.
SA: Must surely be one of the least changed of the renowned England links.Â
Commentary: There is so much to recommend the course ” the 3rd, 4th, 8th, 9th and 14 on their own are worthy of a lengthy drive to the wilds of Norfolk.
18. ST ANDREWS (NEW)
Fife, Scotland
Designer(s): Old Tom Morris/Benjamin Hall Blyth
Weekday green fee: £75
+ Position: 16
Overall Score = 91
DM: Consistently good from start to finish.
EB: Any course that lives in the shadow of the Old Course will always be second fiddle but the New plays a pretty good tune.
Commentary: Adjacent to the Old Course but so very different in character.
17. ABERDOVEY
North Wales, Wales
Designer(s): Herbert Fowler/Harry Colt/ James Braid
Weekday green fee: £64.50
+ Position: 25
Overall Score = 89.5
DM: This is a course with real soul to it.
SA: A handful of grand holes and a wonderful Welsh welcome.
Commentary: As Darwin wrote: ”A round at Aberdovey is always a brave and gay adventure, whatever the wind’s quarter”.
16. PERRANPORTH
Cornwall, England
Designer(s): James Braid
Weekday green fee: £36
+ Position: 52
Overall Score = 88
DM: Fun, fun, fun. The kind of course that reminds you why you play this game.
EB: It is a little bit quirky. The fun element really comes through. It’s wild and crazy and a great golfing experience.
Commentary: Few courses in this list are as enjoyable to play, according to the panel.
15. ALWOODLEY
Yorkshire, England
Designer(s): Alister MacKenzie
Weekday green fee: £85
+ Position: 3
Overall Score = 88
JB: Just a great golf course.
EB: The best course in Yorkshire for me.
Commentary: Alwoodley comes together in an exceptional manner. Not that there aren’t exceptional holes as well ” like 4, 5 and 14 ” while the 8th is one of the best three-shotters most will experience.
14. DELAMERE FOREST
Cheshire, England
Designer(s): Herbert Fowler
Weekday green fee: £55
+ Position: 32
Overall Score = 86
EB: What’s not to love about it? Fowler’s layout creates some exciting golf.
DM: Very quirky in places and a real experience throughout. A very interesting place to play.
Commentary: Brilliant use of the land on a site that is challenging in places.
13. SHERWOOD FOREST
Nottinghamshire, England
Designer(s): Harry Colt/James Braid
Weekday green fee: £65
+ Position: 22
Overall Score = 87
EB: Make your score on the delightful and varied front nine… then hang on for dear life on the tough inward half.
DM: I’m not saying I prefer Sherwood to near-neighbour Notts ” but what a combination they make for a trip.
Commentary: Attractive and challenging.
12. NOTTS (HOLLINWELL)
Nottinghamshire, England
Designer(s): Willie Park Jr/JH Taylor
Weekday green fee: £80
+ Position: 6
Overall Score = 86
DM: Is there a course in this list that is better to arrive at than Hollinwell?
EB: The best inland course on the list in my opinion. A joyous wooded-heathland nirvana with a flow and rythym that doesn’t miss a beat.
Commentary: A class act, say our panel.
11. ASKERNISH
Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Designer(s): Old Tom Morris/Martin Ebert
Weekday green fee: £35
+ Position: 50
Overall Score = 85
DM: I’ve walked Askernish but not yet played it. I’m going to put that right very soon. It’s an extraordinary site and the course is only going to get better as the conditioning improves with the passing of time.
EB: This is beautifully raw golf distilled to its origins where endless options abound on virtually every single shot (and often putt!).
A mix of simplistic brilliance and crazy genius on unbelievable golfing terrain creates pure golf that in my opinion stands up to the highest scrutiny.
Commentary: One for the golfing romantics among us.
Only the most determined ever get to Askernish, on the Outer Hebridean island of South Uist, so this is a way to set you apart from your friends and nourish your golfing soul.
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