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To view No. 50 – 41 CLICK HERE
40. ASHBURNHAM
South Wales, Wales
Designer(s): JH Taylor, Fred Hawtree, Ken Cotton
Weekday green fee: £40Â
+ Position: 67
Overall Score = 107
EB: At least five wonderful golf holes.
DM: The middle stretch is sensationally good.
Commentary: It doesn’t quite keep up the pace for all 18 holes but still a links that must be experienced.
39. SOUTHERNESS
Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
Designer(s): Philip Mackenzie Ross
Weekday green fee: £50
+ Position: 56
Overall Score = 106
JB: A really wonderful test of golf. Lovely.
DM: Tough, uncompromising yet very attractive.
Commentary: One of the great outposts of British golf and a trip that is worth every last mile of the journey.
38. HUNTERCOMBE
Oxfordshire, England
Designer(s): Willie Park Jr
Weekday green fee: £65
+ Position: 41
Overall Score = 106
SA: The greens are very, very good. A model design for a relatively flat property which still offers thrilling moments and yet is a great walk.Â
JB: The greens are wonderfully designed ” you can get some really tough putts when they are slick. They aren’t obviously defended but they don’t need to be.
There is not much landing space from the tee which makes scoring harder than you might expect given the length.
DM: If you haven’t been here, you’re in for a treat. There’s a lovely, detached sense of calm about the place and some fascinating holes in architectural terms.
Commentary: Huntercombe has been unfashionable for a while ” or maybe those in the know like it just the way it is. Either way, you must arrange a visit if you are a cerebral golfer.
37. ROYAL NORTH DEVON
Devon, England
Designer(s): Old Tom Morris/Herbert Fowler
Weekday green fee: £60
+ Position: 45
Overall Score = 105
EB: I love the old-fashioned romance and it works for me.
DM: Open, confusingly so at first visit but also intriguing.
Commentary: It takes a few rounds to understand that the apparently open expanses are of strategic importance.
36. SEATON CAREW
Durham, England
Designer(s): Alister MacKenzie/Frank Pennink
Weekday green fee: £42
+ Position: 62
Overall Score = 104
JB: I don’t know anyone who hasn’t enjoyed playing here.
EB: Very underrated because of the location. Rugged and raw. The 17th is one of the great links par 4s.
Commentary: Not glamorous but a fine links.
35. HAYLING
Hampshire, England
Designer(s): JH Taylor/Tom Simpson
Weekday green fee: £70
+ Position: 33
Overall Score = 103
EB: It’s a low-key opener but the stretch of holes running from the 2nd to the 13th can hold its own against the very top links courses in my eyes.
JB: I don’t think it tests you everywhere, and there’s a few holes with plenty of margin for error, but in some ways that actually makes it more enjoyable. It is a true links course in an area that doesn’t have very many so it should be treasured.
Commentary: Hayling enjoys a natural layout with memorable, fast-running, uneven fairways. The southern coast of England isn’t renowned for its classic links courses but Hayling Island is a beacon.
34. ALDEBURGH
Suffolk, England
Designer(s): John Thompson/Willie Fernie (and others)
Weekday green fee: £80
+ Position: 23
Overall Score = 103
JB: A top-quality heathland criss-crossing through gorse.
DM: Some say it’s relentless without any par 5s but there is more subtlety to Aldeburgh than that.
Commentary: Fast-running fairways; fascinating greens.
33. SEACROFT
Lincolnshire, England
Designer(s): Willie Fernie/Guy Campbell
Weekday green fee: £50
+ Position: 51
Overall Score = 101
DM: I always want to fight Seacroft’s corner because it’s easy to overlook.
EB: I always enjoy playing at this true links.
Commentary: Certainly not overlooked by our panel.
32. BRORA
Highlands, Scotland
Designer(s): James Braid
Weekday green fee: £55
+ Position: 46
Overall Score = 101
JB: A lovely place to play, but some holes blend together.
EB: Flows so gracefully. A strong finish and very little weaknesses throughout.
Commentary: Simplicity is the key to this Braid classic.
31. SAUNTON (WEST)
Devon, England
Designer(s): Frank Pennink
Weekday green fee: £80
+ Position: 21
Overall Score = 101
SA: There are in truth just as many excellent holes on the West as the course uses the dunes more than the East.
JB: Always in good condition and a great fun place to play.
Commentary: Deserved recognition for the West.
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