Rivalling the Old Course for the title of Oldest Course in The World, Musselburgh Links has documented evidence of golf being played as early as 1672. Ganton is a gem of a course with an embarrassment of riches, and a number of holes that will quickly expose your weaknesses, especially if you stray into one of many bunkers that wouldnt look out of place at Woodhall Spa. The first ever Ryder Cup in Britain was held here and it is one of Alister MacKenzie's finest designs. Celebrating 25 years with 25 EXCLUSIVE offers >. The heathland/moorland hybrid has been re-worked to re-establish it's traditional heathland characteristics in recent years. Royal Birkdale Golf Club Lancashire Rated 10 by 24 golfers (Read reviewsof Royal Birkdale Golf Club) 1 Night, 2 Rounds Bed and Breakfast 1 round at Hillside Golf Club 1 round at Royal Birkdale Golf Club from549 Hmm, something went wrong would you mind trying again? As course design debuts go, this Alister MacKenzie heathland beauty on the outskirts of Leeds takes some beating - it's so good that MacKenzie even based a couple of holes at Augusta National on it. Originally, the Scotscraig Golf Course was located within the Garpit racecourse. Get the Latest Deals for Royal North Devon, Get the Latest Deals for The Old Course St Andrews, Get the Latest Deals for Real Club De Golf De Las Palmas, Get the Latest Deals for Oporto Golf Club, More information on Tee Times, Golf Breaks & Holidays, Berckmans Place at Augusta National The Worlds Most Exclusive US Masters Hospitality Experience, Best Golf Holes in the World The Ultimate 18, How to play Augusta National by Your Golf Travel, 2023 Open Championship Regional Qualifying Venues, An Open Letter on Thomas Cook from Ross Marshall - Your Golf Travel CEO. 9. In 1893, the Scotscraig Golf Course was expanded to nine holes and eventually to its present 18 holes in 1904. A stunning Tom Doak renovation project has recently been completed at Woodhall Spa, where the vision was to restore much of the course's original character with some trees, shrubs and gorse removed and bunkered returned to their original style with other long-lost ones re-introduced. More info on Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin Course) >>, "Easily one of the best heathland golf course you can play anywhere in the world. The 6th, 7th, 8th holes, and part of 9th hole of the of the modern course now stretch over parts of the original course. Although flanked in some areas by pine trees, you will certainly still feel the sting if the wind picks up speed, it can be tricky to find the fast green from the rolling fairways. Impressive sand dunes frame the course but the fairways have relatively little movement and awkward lies are rarely encountered. It is also where Peter Alliss grew up playing, as his father Percy was the club pro. Type: Public No need to worry though, it plays like a fast-running links course in summer. With a rich history including the likes of Harry Colt, Bobby Jones and most recently Stephen Dodd, The Old and New Golf Courses at Sunningdale are revered as some of the finest inland courses played anywhere in the world. However, women were not given full membership rights until 2005. The heathland layouts provide a stern test of golf that meanders through mature pine and oak trees that live long in the memory of any golfer fortunate to spend a day here. Royal North Devon is a fast-running links so the natural undulations and the prevailing wind are the main considerations for the golfer looking for a solid score. Having hosted 15 Open Championships to date, the Sandwich course has survived the test of time and is still a very memorable layout. The course eases you in with a short-par-4, delightful-par-3 combination, before a beautiful and, at times, very challenging heathland examination. It's a very strong course with a great variety of holes forging out to the turn and then back into the prevailing wind. The Blue Course is an absolute cracker; a perfect complement to the Red over a similar, glorious landscape, but somehow still completely different. Copyright 2020 Links Magazine, All rights Reserved. Type: Public 1 - Royal Burgess Golfing Society (1735) Looking back down the closing hole at Royal Burgess (Image credit: Jeremy Ellwood) Location Edinburgh Founded 1735 Royal St George's Golf Club in Kent is considered to be the best links golf course in England. of Holes: 54 Scotland, UK, is the oldest golf course in the entire world. Architect: Willie Park Jr. (1901), Harry Colt It's a fine and challenging links that sets out its stall from the word go, with a daunting par 3 of nearly 200 yards as the opener. Year Established: 1589 The course's par-3s are particularly memorable. The glorious Parkstone is a Willie Park Junior creation dating back to 1909. Two-time Ryder Cup host S&A is a welcoming golf club with a rich and interesting history. Fine opening and closing holes bookend this testing inland classic, which is one of England's finest heathlands and one of the very best golf courses in Yorkshire. Here is our top 10 golf courses in England: 10. Length: 6669 yards (6098 m). The course in Sandwich was first laid out by local surgeon, Laidlaw Purves, and has grown over the last century into one of the finest courses on the planet. Looking out from the fine red-brick clubhouse, youll see a number of flat holes playing around what was once a racecourse but is now the practice ground. 10. Old Tom designed the initial 12-hole layout at Prestwick, before going on to lift the Claret Jug on four occasions, although he finished runner up in the first Championship to Willie Park Jr. Old Toms input wasnt restricted to Scotland, and in 1864 he headed to Royal North Devon (often known as Westward Ho! The Old Course at St. Andrews still reigns supreme as the eldest among the bunch and will gain even more distinction as the 150th Open Championship tees off this week. Rye is where you play foursomes golf (as in alternate shot), where you are encouraged to complete 18 holes in under three hours, and where you wont look out of place wearing plus fours. Cleveland Fullface 60 However, it has hosted more than 50 amateur competitions and provides a fair challenge that links enthusiasts will relish. (Read reviews of Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club). The North Berwick Golf Club was formed in 1832 and they began playing organized golf on what is now the West Links golf course. Here is an extra bonus one thrown in from Wales. It's a stunning heathland layout that more than packs its punch in a popular area, and a 36-hole day at the Berkshire playing the Red as well as the superb Blue course is a day to remember. Type: Public The Fortrose & Rosemarkie Golf Course cites 1793 as its official start date. Total No. More info on Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club >>, "Get there early and visit the clubhouse to experience the history, you are bound to by a souvenir from the clubhouse too. Part beauty, part beast. It is not the toughest test, and there are one or two heather- and pine-studded layouts that are equally pretty, but there is nowhere quite so charming. of Holes: 18 The fantastic club is home to three of the best golf courses in Buckinghamshire and the newest of the three, the Marquess', is the best on the property. Owner of 2 holes in one and some of the most crooked drives you have ever seen! Cleveland RTX Zipcore 52 & 56 A beautiful heathland track where heather and pine run riot is completely unexpected, as is the quality and severity of the ensuing challenge. Like most classic links courses, Montrose very much follows the lay of the land, designed by Mother Nature you could say, but throughout its history, it has also been lucky enough to have the notable trio of Old Tom Morris, Willie Park Jnr, and finally, Harry Colt, sprinkle their magic dust over the springy links turf. Paul (UK & Ireland Team: Handicap 1). A mighty links where what you see is what you get. More recently, Martin Hawtree has overseen some significant course improvements. - Full Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club review. Not only is Musselburgh home to one of the worlds oldest golf courses, but the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club dates back to at least 1774, making it one of the earliest golf clubs. USE CODE LOVE5 AT CHECKOUT TO GET AN EXTRA 5% OFF! The original course was created in 1898 by Tom Dunn before aHarry Coltredesign in 1914, which introduced a number of new holes to take fuller advantage of its stunning location on expansive heathland. It can take a couple of rounds to begin to understand the subtleties of this great links, but that is all part of its charm and character. Rated 10 by 24 golfers Its most recent Open was in 2017 when Jordan Spieth came out on top to lift the Claret Jug. Royal Liverpool Golf Club, venue for the 2023 Open Championship, (Image credit: David Cannon/Getty Images), (Image credit: Geoff Ellis (golfworking.co.uk)), Arnold Palmer Invitational Power Rankings: Ranking the Top Golfers in this Weeks Field, These 2022 Golf Products Are About To Be ReplacedGrab A Bargain, Sergio Garcia Opens Up On 'Very Sad' McIlroy Fallout, I Tracked Every Shot Of Tiger Woods' Warm-Up, Rick Shiels' Ultimate 30 Minute Range Session, Harry Colts legendary architectural genius, Fall in love this February with a Golf Monthly subscription. MLB is, The Premier League has a long tradition of being an elite soccer league of the highest quality. of Holes: 18 St Andrews Old Course needs little introduction and is widely regarded as the spiritual home of golf. Elliott Heath is our Senior Staff Writer and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. This already highly ranked course has undergone a major transformation over the past four years under the guidance of Tom Mackenzie with three goals in mind: 1) to improve safety when crossing the road after the 14th; 2) to create a better routing and flow, and; 3) to maximise the full potential of this glorious heathland terrain. had long been the size of the implement used to create the holes at Musselbrugh. A number of seaside links in our Top 100 have reaped the benefits ofHarry Colts legendary architectural genius, either in the capacity of original designer or sought-after remodeller. But it is largelyJames Braidsmodifications in 1937 that define this top-drawer layout, which offers a thoroughly desirable mix of examination and enjoyment. The Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa is undoubtedly one of the finest heathland courses in the United Kingdom, comparable to the Sunningdale Old Course for natural beauty at an inland golf course. As one of the oldest seaside courses in England, Royal Liverpool naturally has tonnes of history and heritage behind it; in 1871 the course was extended to 18 holes, paving the way for the royal title in the same year. I thought Montrose 1562 course is the 5th oldest course in the world and they havent got a mention at all, is this true?? Rated 10 by 1 golfer The stunning St George's Hill is home to three nines (Red and Blue main 18 plus Green) for what is one of the very best golf courses in Surrey. Dramatic undulations, thick, heavy rough, upturned saucer-shaped greens, and devilish pot bunkers all add to the challenge but it is perhaps the routing of the holes at Sandwich that provides the toughest conundrum for the golfer. The resident golf geek at Your Golf Travel. Architect: Harry Vardon (1905), Harry Colt This premier-league links is distinctive and memorable and its future is safeguarded with changes on the way. Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Sam about playing this course. Prestwick welcomed the worlds best 24 times between 1860 and 1925, and is still a hotbed for US travellers, as well as those looking to play every course which has hosted the games oldest Major. St. Andrews Links - The Old Course. Take full advantage of the opening par 5, four several testing par 4s and the very long par 3 6th give little away willingly. I live in Madison, Wisconsin, USA. Call us on, Sorry, there was an error, please enter your details again. 8 Youngest Pro Golfers in History Length: 6,251 yards (5,716 m). Although it has been some time since The Open was last played there, Deal has not lost a step and should be a must play for any golfers in the south of England. Year Established: 1552 Thats exactly what makesGOLFs inaugural rank of the Top 100 Courses in the UK and Irelandour most thrilling yet, spotlighting the obvious (i.e., the courses that have played host to the 149 previous Opens ahead of this Julys sesquicentennial), those that routinely pepper our World Top 100 and a few surprises. Shorter than the East, though not much, the West Course is arguably a little more forgiving, more varied, and most importantly for many, more fun. of Holes: 18 10 20 01 Saunton (East) Braunton, England 53 24 1 5 02 Saunton (West) Braunton, England 57 2 4.5 03 Royal North Devon Bideford, England 59 3 4.5 04 East Devon Salterton, England 70 4 4 05 Bovey Castle Newton Abbot, England 5 4 06 Yelverton Yelverton, England 6 4 07 Teignmouth Teignmouth, England 7 4 08 Dartmouth (Championship) Totnes, England 8 4 Indeed, todays 27 holes have changed beyond all recognition over the last three years thanks to major investment and the design mind ofMartin Ebert. Recently, the club has worked hard to emphasise the natural heathland elements, with heather areas being restored and 80 bunkers renovated. Uniquely among The Open venues, it starts with a heavily bunkered par 3, which is followed by two strong par 4s flanking the railway. Although people had been playing golf in Montrose for hundreds of years, the Montrose Golf Club (now called The Royal Montrose Mercantile Golf Club) was not formed until 1810. You would be forgiven for thinking it had always been here and it's hard to believe that this stunning treelined course is less than 50 years old. Looking for a little history on your next golf trip? "Inland golf does not get any better than this, keep it in the fairway is the best advice I can give and when visiting why not play both courses!" This 11-time Open venue and two-time Ryder Cup host really is a thinkers course where plotting your way round is of at least equal merit to length of the tee. Whilst the course isn't considered to be long by modern standards, it still provides a world-class challenge that when combined with lunch in the stunning clubhouse and The New Course make for an utterly unbeatable day of golf. Initially, the North Berwick West Links was six holes and located on a small parcel of land. Pulborough, West Sussex Location: St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland This course a regular feature on The Open Championship rota and provides a stern test for golfers with strategic bunkering and dunes framing each of the holes. www.yourgolftravel.com/ygt-rory. Architect: Robert Chambers, George Morris (1871) Mackenzie Ross created a course within a crater of an extinct volcano that stretches to 6,468 yards from the back tees. Herbert Fowler was asked to submit a design, and the new course was built. Ascot, Berkshire Royal Birkdale We understand that everything still feels a little unpredictable at the moment, so speak to our Golf Travel Experts who can show you how this works for you when booking. Although golfers had been enjoying the Elie and Earlsferry Links for centuries, around 1812, local farmers began to push back and wanted to farm the land. 8. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Tyler writes tournament content, product reviews, and instructional pieces from his perspective as an active player. One of the famous '3 W's' West Hill is a traditional Surrey heathland which has reaped the rewards of recent improvements. Following the success of The Open in Scotland, the tournament ventured south for the first time in 1894. 8 Youngest PGA Players in History Formed in 1893, it is the county's oldest heathland club and was designed by Tom Dunn. Rob (UK & Ireland Team: Handicap 16). Aldeburgh tops the list of the best golf courses in Suffolk ahead of the likes of Ipswich, Thorpeness and Woodbridge. Founded in 1887, Royal St Georges was the first English course to play host to The Open Championship, which it did in 1894. Type: Public Have been lucky enough to have travelled far and wide playing golf and if Im not writing about it at work, you will probably find me hacking it around my local course. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. It's without doubt one of the best heathland golf courses in the UK, showcasing inland golf at its very finest. From domestic Old Tom designs to a couple of the earlier layouts in Europe, we explore some of the oldest golf courses in the world to play on your next break. While there are many stand out holes at Sunningdale, arguably it is the 10th hole on The Old which garners the most plaudits. Formby is another course on our list located in the famous Southport area, as such its natural beauty parallels the likes of Royal Birkdale and other local neighbours. His royal entourage is thought to have contained a number of golfers and they found the perfect ground at Blackheath on which to play their beloved game. The club started out in 1873, when sevenRoyal Liverpoolmembers decided golf should cross the Mersey. The par 5s - the 11th, sweeping from right to left, and the 17th through a dune-lined valley - really stand out. 1754. Tyler is a collegiate golfer for Cornell University working as GOLF.coms summer intern. Every one of the oldest golf courses in the world are located in Scotland and as of the time of this writing (May 2021) they are all still in operation and open for play. The course itself continues to be popular with our golfers, as do others on the island including Meloneras, Salobre, Maspalomas and Anfi Tauro. Rye, East Sussex Learn how your comment data is processed. Montrose is within easy driving distance of the world-famous Carnoustie, as well as the likes of Panmure and Monifieth. With crashing waves in the background links golf doesnt come much better than at Royal North Devon where you will be walking in the footsteps of some of the games pioneers including the likes of J.H. . (Read reviews of Woodhall Spa). Packed with memorable features such as the Himalayas bunker, the course's namesake church and stunning views across the Camel Estuary to Padstow, it's a thrilling ride from start to finish. Oliver (Marketing: Handicap 1). It's not the longest but this golden-age classic has more than survived the test of time. Is also where Peter Alliss grew up playing, as well as the home! Has reaped the rewards of recent improvements Players in history Length: 6,251 yards ( 5,716 m ) from perspective! Cites 1793 as its official start date traditional heathland characteristics in recent years host S & is... Get an extra bonus one thrown in from Wales following the success of the Open Scotland! Long been the size of the famous ' 3 W 's ' West Hill is welcoming! 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