Best modern courses in UK/Ireland

[Philip Gawith]

Jack - where is Headfort New?

Thinking of Ireland - I liked the new course at Rosapenna (the equal of The European?) and also the revamped course at Portsalon (I had not played it previously). They must feature among the better new courses.

[Jack_Marr]

Hi Philip

It's in Kells, Co. Meath, about one hour from Dublin. It was built beside the old Headfort Course, which is also lovely. It may be too American for some. There's a lot of water on the New course.

I've just noticed that they have a website now - http://www.headfortgolfclub.ie/photographs1.php

I'll have to play Portsalon - I have not been there since it was redone. Some goes for Rossapenna.

[Lloyd_Cole]

Eddie Hackett only died a few years ago and I'd certainly go out of my way to play anything he had a hand in. I'm sure all of his work isn't great, but he's as close as we'll get to a golf saint. And I'm not a religious person.

[Jack_Marr]

Eddie Hackett only died a few years ago and I'd certainly go out of my way to play anything he had a hand in. I'm sure all of his work isn't great, but he's as close as we'll get to a golf saint. And I'm not a religious person.

Lloyd - This is true. He would design a course for anyone who asked, it seems. He also built courses with zero budget on land that was not very interesting, producing some courses that are far from great, but pretty much exactly what was wanted. He also produced some brilliant courses on zero budget.

[Forrest Richardson]

I am a fan of The European Club. Many feel the 18th is a weird hole...so what?! It's a work in progress.

[Jack_Marr]

I love playing at the European Club. I don't know how it ranks architecturally, but it's fun to play, for me.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

OK, we've tossed this around for a while.

How do we evaluate what is good today, what is good tomorrow and what remains good from the past?

It is a question I am often asked as a musician.  

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

It seems much like America the modern list pales in comparison to the classic list.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Tiger - why is that?