Are the best inland courses in the UK as good as the best US parkland courses?

[Dean Stokes]

Ganton, Woodhall spa, Alwoodley, Linderick, Hollingwell. Enough said. None of them are ever going to be in the same condition as their American counterparts due to the enormously differing budgets. However from an architecture and enjoyment standpoint I would think there is every reason to visit England to see these courses over the links tracks. I haven't even mentioned the heathland courses around London.

[Mark Chaplin]

"Rising economic power during the Golden Age fueled ambitious design efforts in the US, whereas UK was in economic decline because of WWI during the Golden Age".

Phil - I think you are referring to the Golden Age of US golf course design. By 1910 the vast majority of classic UK courses had already been designed and built.

IMO Dean Stokes sums up the question correctly, the design of many of our great courses appears to equal some of the greats across the pond but our business models and golfers preference does not require the "not a blade of grass out of place" conditioning.