This year I have enjoyed the chance of playing courses in the south of England that I never knew existed, alas, November saw the end of my time spent as a panelist for the HSBC Regional Course Rankings system, presented by Golf Monthly.
To set the regional rankings apart, evaluations are carried out by grass roots golfers working from an official handbook designed by industry experts, and only golfers who meet the strict criteria can qualify to become panellists. Clubs are given a Gold, Silver or Bronze award depending on the scores they obtain from the panellist’s. This provides golfers with an ultimate guide to the must-play courses and because of the criteria included in the handbook also ensures a great day out as well a good day’s golf.
The system has become very popular among golf clubs, with many advertising the fact that they appear in the listings. It is also very popular among golfers as you get to visit a number of clubs that you would not normally consider playing. I enjoyed great days out at venues like the Springs Hotel and Golf Club in Oxfordshire, Donnington Valley Hotel and Golf Club in Berkshire and Magnolia Park in Buckinghamshire.
I will certainly be applying to be a panelist for next year.
Monday 5 November 2007
Thursday 13 September 2007
A long weekend on the Wirral
The days and weeks running up to the August bank holiday, I eagerly anticipate what signifies the commencement of my annual golf tour. As I make the drive up the M6 towards the North-West of England I know that I am returning to what is for me, the mecca of links golf, England's "Golf Coast". The Wirral, the Liverpudlian part, means one thing to me, the Hoylake Mixed Foursomes Tournament, hosted by Royal Liverpool GC. Not only is the most competitive and illustrous mixed tournament on the amateur cicuit, the quality of the course and hospitality set it apart from anything elase that I've ever attended. Players have courtesy of the championship links on the friday for practice, after which there is a compulsory "meet and greet" by the captain and his tournament committee in the clubhouse. The interior of the new house is a vision, fantastically re-designed and refurbished for The 2006 Open. You are constantly reminded of all the tournaments that the club has hosted, with paintings of golfing legends and antic memorabilia lining every room and corridor. There is a massive board in the main foyer, with naming all the major tournaments and winners at the Royal Liverpool. It joins an elite group of courses which can boast having hosted The Amateur Championship, The English Amateur Championship, The Walker Cup, The Curtis Cup and The Open Championship. After climbing up the tall staircase to the dining room we were immediately bombarded by champagne and cocktails. The front of the room is fantastically well-architected, great glass panelling allowing players to view the entirely course from the comfort of their seat. The first fairway runs horizontally immediately in front, dog-legging around the practice ground up towards a baron green; members give out a polite clap and a chuckle as stray opening drives cross the white staked line into the practice area.
Bright and early on the saturday, feeling slightly bloated, the sun was shimmering a beautiful golden yellow showing the links in all its glory. The course at Royal Liverpool is a fantastic test of matchplay nerves, and you are immediately confronted by a card-wrecker. Cheekily, the first pin was back right, just feet from the out of bounds. Half of the course is actually very flat, in every direction you look you can see the holiday house which surrond the course, people leaning out of the front windows to catch a glimpse of the action. For me the best part of the course, is the start of the second nine. 10 and 12 are two of the hardest golf holes I have ever played. With dunes on the left, you can hear the waves crashing over the beachfront, not to mention the Atlantic winds! Both holes sharpley dogleg as you drive downhill to fairways heavily bunkered on both sides. The land banks harshly left to right, feeding errant shots into the deep pot bunkers. If you do manage to find the driving area, you have to hit back up the hill to large sloping greens tucked away in the dunes that fall away steeply on the right hand side. Any balls landing short are kicked down into a valley of thick rough and an almost certain bogey. There is light relief in the par 5 14th and 16th, again dog-legging round the out of bounds, however 15 and 17 are two of the longest par 4 in Open Championship golf. Fun all round hey...?!?! As I wonder off the 16th green towards the grand clubhouse, I suddenly realise that I'm in the company of greatness; 17 months earlier I stood in exactly the same spot as Tiger three-putted himself into the history books. Unfortunately my three-jab didnt shroad me in the same glory, we lost 3&2!
Since we were in the area, my partner and I took the excuse to visit some of the other local championship links. West Lancashire GC, in Crosby and home course in Alan Hansen, hosted final qualifying when Tiger Woods won at Hoylake, and is certainly no push over. Even though not directly on the seafront, it is a raw links with rugged conditions that demands good shot-making and excellent placement off the tee. There are a few quirky holes, some with trees and artificial water, however its the train track which runs along the back nine which gives in real character. The 18th is a real gem and sums up what "West Lancs" is all about. Its 440 of the mens tee with wind behind, and the championship markers go even further back. It has an elevated tee which overlooks a hundred odd yards of hummocks and hollows covered in knee-high rough before falling away to expose a narrow strip of cut grass with massive banks on the left and a water hazard running all down the right. If you do find the fairway, your second shot hits up towards the clubhouse terrace, where green has a false front and trouble all around it; the view is immense. I hit a seven iron to pin high and lipped out for birdie, I'll take par any day of the week.
So, up north again along the A565 I decided to go play Formby Golf Club, which was a real delight! I didn't know much about it but I was absolutely taken aback by the clubhouse, the course and everything about it. As it was along that same patch of land as Southport and all those great courses I just presumed I was going to be confronted by another links. However, Formby is the greatest collection of different holes I have ever had the honour of playing. Like its club logo, there are pretty christmas like fir trees dotted all over the course. The bunkers are thoughtfully positioned off the tee and into the greens. Its quite a surreal feeling walking down some fairways, as you can play a links course, heathland course and parkland course on the same hole. Some holes are windy with up-turned fairways, however on some holes you are required to thread drives down narrow tree-lined fairways; thick heather runs alongside gorse bushes, pot-bunkers are overhung by tall pines trees. My only quarm is that there are a few too many blind shots, and a couple of the par 3s are too short, probably the only thing stopping it being more highly regarded in the rankings list. However, for me anyway, the course really is something special; some of the views are quite spectacular, and every hole reminded me of other fantastic courses I have been lucky to play in my time, ie. the rolling heather-lined green fairways of Walton Heath, driving into the dunes off elevated windy tees at Royal Aberdeen, walking through the thickly tree-lined and heavily bunkered fairways at Archerfield Links, and the fantastically designed and shaped holes of Ganton.
To sum up, I can't wait for my next golf break to Formby!
Bright and early on the saturday, feeling slightly bloated, the sun was shimmering a beautiful golden yellow showing the links in all its glory. The course at Royal Liverpool is a fantastic test of matchplay nerves, and you are immediately confronted by a card-wrecker. Cheekily, the first pin was back right, just feet from the out of bounds. Half of the course is actually very flat, in every direction you look you can see the holiday house which surrond the course, people leaning out of the front windows to catch a glimpse of the action. For me the best part of the course, is the start of the second nine. 10 and 12 are two of the hardest golf holes I have ever played. With dunes on the left, you can hear the waves crashing over the beachfront, not to mention the Atlantic winds! Both holes sharpley dogleg as you drive downhill to fairways heavily bunkered on both sides. The land banks harshly left to right, feeding errant shots into the deep pot bunkers. If you do manage to find the driving area, you have to hit back up the hill to large sloping greens tucked away in the dunes that fall away steeply on the right hand side. Any balls landing short are kicked down into a valley of thick rough and an almost certain bogey. There is light relief in the par 5 14th and 16th, again dog-legging round the out of bounds, however 15 and 17 are two of the longest par 4 in Open Championship golf. Fun all round hey...?!?! As I wonder off the 16th green towards the grand clubhouse, I suddenly realise that I'm in the company of greatness; 17 months earlier I stood in exactly the same spot as Tiger three-putted himself into the history books. Unfortunately my three-jab didnt shroad me in the same glory, we lost 3&2!
Since we were in the area, my partner and I took the excuse to visit some of the other local championship links. West Lancashire GC, in Crosby and home course in Alan Hansen, hosted final qualifying when Tiger Woods won at Hoylake, and is certainly no push over. Even though not directly on the seafront, it is a raw links with rugged conditions that demands good shot-making and excellent placement off the tee. There are a few quirky holes, some with trees and artificial water, however its the train track which runs along the back nine which gives in real character. The 18th is a real gem and sums up what "West Lancs" is all about. Its 440 of the mens tee with wind behind, and the championship markers go even further back. It has an elevated tee which overlooks a hundred odd yards of hummocks and hollows covered in knee-high rough before falling away to expose a narrow strip of cut grass with massive banks on the left and a water hazard running all down the right. If you do find the fairway, your second shot hits up towards the clubhouse terrace, where green has a false front and trouble all around it; the view is immense. I hit a seven iron to pin high and lipped out for birdie, I'll take par any day of the week.
So, up north again along the A565 I decided to go play Formby Golf Club, which was a real delight! I didn't know much about it but I was absolutely taken aback by the clubhouse, the course and everything about it. As it was along that same patch of land as Southport and all those great courses I just presumed I was going to be confronted by another links. However, Formby is the greatest collection of different holes I have ever had the honour of playing. Like its club logo, there are pretty christmas like fir trees dotted all over the course. The bunkers are thoughtfully positioned off the tee and into the greens. Its quite a surreal feeling walking down some fairways, as you can play a links course, heathland course and parkland course on the same hole. Some holes are windy with up-turned fairways, however on some holes you are required to thread drives down narrow tree-lined fairways; thick heather runs alongside gorse bushes, pot-bunkers are overhung by tall pines trees. My only quarm is that there are a few too many blind shots, and a couple of the par 3s are too short, probably the only thing stopping it being more highly regarded in the rankings list. However, for me anyway, the course really is something special; some of the views are quite spectacular, and every hole reminded me of other fantastic courses I have been lucky to play in my time, ie. the rolling heather-lined green fairways of Walton Heath, driving into the dunes off elevated windy tees at Royal Aberdeen, walking through the thickly tree-lined and heavily bunkered fairways at Archerfield Links, and the fantastically designed and shaped holes of Ganton.
To sum up, I can't wait for my next golf break to Formby!
Friday 24 August 2007
Alisa Course, Turnberry - Number 1 in the UK & Ireland
For the first time ever Golf World Magazine recognises the Ailsa Course at the Westin Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire as the number one in the UK & Ireland. The Ailsa Course, with its close proximity to the sea and spectacular views of the Ailsa Craig, offers some of the most challenging and exciting links golf in the world. "It's comfortably my favourite course in Britain" says Gary Player. "Everything about it just emits class. Everyone talks about how beautiful the surroundings are, and the fabulous hotel, but the golf course itself is the star."
The award rounds off an amazing year for The Westin Turnberry Resort. Since the R&A announced the 2009 Open Championship will be staged on the Alisa Course, they have celebrated their 100th birthday and now the Ailsa is given recognition as the number one ranked golf course in the UK & Ireland.
My own thoughts are very clear on this golf course. Having travelled the world playing golf I can honestly say that there is no better place than standing on the 1st tee at the Alisa Course - it is as simple as that! I consider the Alisa Course the finest golf course I have ever played. This year the Alisa is preparing to host the Amateur Championship and the introduction of new tees and bunkers have improved the course.
Thursday 23 August 2007
East Sussex National
Welcome to the Golf Hunter's 1st ever blog posting. I went to East Sussex National last weekend on a Sunday Special for only £99 that included one night dinner, b&b and two rounds of golf.
I had an awesome time in what is a great hotel. It is very spacious set over three levels and staff offer an exceptional level of service. It is an ideal resort golf break. Here are my thoughts on both courses:-
The East Course is a tough test of golf and probably hence why it was chosen to host 1993 and 1994 European Open. Well bunkered greens and fast fairways will test your skills to the maximum. The front nine will lull you into a false sense of security however the back nine is arguably one of the best stretch of finishing holes in Southern England.
The West Course is known as ‘The Members Course’ in the pro shop, it is the more scenic of the two courses. It is a lot tighter off the tee and has smaller geens so accuracy is very important. It surprisingly longer than the East Course but seems to play a little easier. Probably for that reason I enjoyed it more than the East Course. I managed to shoot somewhere near my handicap - came in with 35 stableford points to take the money! Both courses are in excellant condition.
Having been to quite a few golf resorts in England I rank this as high as any I have played. The hotel is a great addition to what has always been an awesome facility. I expect East Sussex National to become a very popular destination for golfers as soon as the word gets out!
I had an awesome time in what is a great hotel. It is very spacious set over three levels and staff offer an exceptional level of service. It is an ideal resort golf break. Here are my thoughts on both courses:-
The East Course is a tough test of golf and probably hence why it was chosen to host 1993 and 1994 European Open. Well bunkered greens and fast fairways will test your skills to the maximum. The front nine will lull you into a false sense of security however the back nine is arguably one of the best stretch of finishing holes in Southern England.
The West Course is known as ‘The Members Course’ in the pro shop, it is the more scenic of the two courses. It is a lot tighter off the tee and has smaller geens so accuracy is very important. It surprisingly longer than the East Course but seems to play a little easier. Probably for that reason I enjoyed it more than the East Course. I managed to shoot somewhere near my handicap - came in with 35 stableford points to take the money! Both courses are in excellant condition.
Having been to quite a few golf resorts in England I rank this as high as any I have played. The hotel is a great addition to what has always been an awesome facility. I expect East Sussex National to become a very popular destination for golfers as soon as the word gets out!
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