Scottish links

[Sean_A]

What are the top 5 or so links in Scotland?

One of us is lucky enough to belong to perhaps the best in Scotland (if not the Isles).

Ciao

Sean

[ForkaB]

Alphabetically

Carnoustie
Dornoch
Muirfield
Troon
Turnberry

1-4 (meritwise) was easy.  #5 was tough........

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

I have not played Dornoch, so mine are a little different
In no particular order......
Troon
Western Gailes
Turnberry
St Andrews
Muirfield

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Sean,
Glad to see that you evaluate Kingsbarns as you do..in thought of expectations at least...In my opinion you hit the nail on the head.
I have not had the privelage of Mach.....too hard to spell, while watching FA Cup highlihts....
By the way..which is your home course?

[ForkaB]

Sean

Troon is my #5 (today, at least...).  It held its head up last year at the Open, so it deserves a shot in the Fab Five.  On its heels I'd have Western Gailes, Kingsbarns and Prestwick.  I see Machrihanish as a bagatelle and TOC as a museum.

R

Oh yeah, and North Berwick is fun but too many simple holes and not enough really challenging ones......

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Back in the late 70's I knew the assistant at Droitwich, but the name escapes me.
He was going out with my girlfriends best friend who went to the same school..St Martins, in Solihull..but I digress.
With regards to troon, simple answer holes 6 through 15, I think it is a great stretch of holes to make you use just about every shot in the bag.
The rest of the course is okay but that stretch..ooo it gives me shivers of joy..remember, I am easily pleased right now having seen United's dismal performance today!!!!

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Easy cop out here as I have only played about 5 in Ireland.
I have played:
Portmarnock
Ballybunnion
Lahinch
Tralee
Waterville
And that is just about how I would rank them..pretty boring stuff there, nothing too radical.....

[Mark_F]

Sean,

I think you can divvy up the list of Top 5 into categories.

For instance:

Top 5 most fun-to-play-and-can't-wait-to-get-back-to-the-first tee-and-start-over-again:

1)Macrihanish
2)Nth Berwick
3)Dornoch
4)Prestwick
5)Brora

Top 5 stringent golf tests:

1)Carnoustie
2)Troon
3)Muirfield
4)Turnberry
5)Southerness

Top 5 sort of Big Meal deal combo:

1)Dornoch
2)Royal Aberdeen
3)Western Gailes
4)New Course, St Andrews
5)Kingsbarns

[Mark_F]

Sean,

'Big Meal Deal Combo' means a combination of enjoyment and challenge.  

As for 35 quid and under... you mean it's ossible to play a reasonable course in the British Isles for that these days?

I don't count Macrihanish, because it costs about 50 quid in petrol to get there and back.  Same for Brora.  

I guess, though, you have to include Silloth on Solway and Seascale in there.  About 35 quid, or a little less, but take a little getting to, especially Seascale, but worth it.  

Other than that, the only ones I can think of are Tenby and Southerndown (not exactly a links, but still great) in Wales.  

I'm guessing that some of the East Anglian gems may be around that mark?  Any idea?  

[Andy Levett]

Seaton Carew's about £35. I like it as much but in different ways to Brora. They are 3= in my list of bargain links. 1= are Machrihanish and Silloth. I reserve the right to change this list once I've played Pennard, Perranporth or Seascale.
For now, 5 is Dunstanburgh Castle which has some fine holes along with a few more prosaic ones. Definitely worth a play but perhaps not £50 for petrol.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

If you go to Silloth do try also to visit Seascale.  Seascale is a lot of fun.  Anybody played Furness near Barrow? - a true links.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

For value in Wales there is nowhere to beat Bull Bay.  Just look at the website for value! http://www.bullbaygc.co.uk/
I know i've posted this before, but it is a cracking course (overlooking the sea but not actually a links) with a Fowler pedigree.

[Tommy Williamsen]

my five Scottish links are:
Muirfield --Just brilliant
The Ole Course--It is different eveery day
Royal Dornoch--the green sites are as good as it gets
Carnoustie--seebelow
Turnberry--this one grew on me slowly.  it is just plain good.

I have always thought Troon is overrated.  It is hard but lacks charm.  Now I realize the same can be said for Carnoustie.  Yet, my mosochistic tendencies love to go and get brst up at Carnoustie.  Besides, it has four of the best finishing holes any where in golf.