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Sean_A

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Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« on: November 25, 2009, 07:00:13 AM »
Seeing many of the same courses mentioned in the Ireland/Scotland thread got me to thinking that an England list would probably be much more diverse.  Of course, England has more courses so to some degree it should be more diverse in what it offers and what people go for.  That said, it may be that there are a handful of Scotland/Irish courses which are superior and it may take two or three handfuls of English courses to accomplish the same end result.  Anyway, it is FAR more difficult for me to pick a top 5 in England, but I have seen many more English courses than the others.

Cavendish
Kington
Rye
St Enodoc
Woking

Ciao
« Last Edit: November 25, 2009, 07:09:36 AM by Sean Arble »
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Scott Warren

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #1 on: November 25, 2009, 07:02:42 AM »
Favourites:

Royal St George's
Royal Cinque Ports
The Addington
Woking
West Sussex
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James Boon

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #2 on: November 25, 2009, 08:00:11 AM »
Sean,

Good call on Cavendish!

My list (for today) is...

Notts (Hollinwell)
Burnham & Berrow
Beau Desert
Royal West Norfolk (Brancaster)
Cavendish

Honourable mention: Painswick

Not as well travelled in the London area as you and Scott, but I hope to give the likes of The Addington or Woking a shot at my list some time soon.

Cheers,

James
« Last Edit: November 25, 2009, 12:23:15 PM by James Boon »
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Ben Stephens

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2009, 08:22:10 AM »
No mention of top five in Wales????

My top 5 list Ive played in the Auld Enemy area is:

1. Brancaster
2. Ganton
3. Woodhall Spa
4. Hunstanton
5. Notts

(6th would have been Cavendish!!)
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Ally Mcintosh

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2009, 08:33:06 AM »
Is Cavendish really that good?... Interest piqued even more than it was...

I have a friend who is a member and he is always singing its praises as a relatively untouched MacKenzie... Of course, you always take a members word with a pinch of salt when they are talking about their own course...
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Mark Chaplin

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2009, 08:45:50 AM »
It is interesting to note in the Scotland and Ireland thread the favourites are almost exclusively links or faux links courses. This topic is already displaying a fine mix of links and inland golf. Good old England!!
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Sean_A

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2009, 08:47:11 AM »
Quote from: Ally Mcintosh on November 25, 2009, 08:33:06 AM
Is Cavendish really that good?... Interest piqued even more than it was...

I have a friend who is a member and he is always singing its praises as a relatively untouched MacKenzie... Of course, you always take a members word with a pinch of salt when they are talking about their own course...

Ally

The only drawback to the Cavendish is the turf.  The design is top drawer, though I think it gets few kudos because of its short length.  

James - you are so right about about the "today" comment.  I added two new favs this year.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could do that every year?

Chappers - there are already about 15 different courses mentioned with only four responses!

Ciao  
« Last Edit: November 25, 2009, 08:48:46 AM by Sean Arble »
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John_Lovito

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2009, 09:06:58 AM »
My top 5:

Sunningdale Old
Royal Cinque Ports
Swinley Forest
Woking (One of the best all around very pleasant experiences)
Berkshire
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Dónal Ó Ceallaigh

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2009, 09:08:08 AM »
Quote from: Mark Chaplin on November 25, 2009, 08:45:50 AM
It is interesting to note in the Scotland and Ireland thread the favourites are almost exclusively links or faux links courses. This topic is already displaying a fine mix of links and inland golf. Good old England!!

Parkland courses are Ireland's biggest weakness. There are some good ones, but I'd say it's safe to say are not on a par with Scotland.

Some good ones to note:

Belvoir Park (Colt)
Carlow (Simpson)
Cork (MacKenzie)
Killarney (Killeen, O'Mahony's Point. Guy Campbell et al.)
Mullingar (Braid)

Has anybody played Limerick or Galway? They're both by MacKenzie.

Dónal.

PS. Sorry Sean, I don't want to hijack your thread.
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Bill_McBride

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2009, 09:15:09 AM »
On this eve of our Thanksgiving holiday, I am thankful for having played these English courses that are special places to me:

Alwoodley
Hoylake
Wallasey
Beau Desert
Painswick
Huntercombe
Rye
Littlestone
Royal St Georges
Royal Cinque Ports

I know that's 5x2, but I loved 'em all!   8)
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Brent Hutto

Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #10 on: November 25, 2009, 09:44:04 AM »
The top two that I haven't played but love anyway:

1) Royal St. George's
2) Ganton

The top three that I have played that were the most fun:

3) Royal Cinque Ports
4) Huntercombe
5) TIE: Formby/Alwoodley

Sorry, couldn't resist getting six-for-five in there. The pity of a list like this is that, unbelievably, I have to leave off courses the quality of:

Royal Birkdale
Seaton Carew
Littlestone
Walton Heath New
Walton Heath Old

What a country for golf, eh?
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Dan Boerger

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2009, 09:47:44 AM »
I haven't played that many ... so this is pretty easy ...

Swinley Forest
Woking
Walton Heath Old
Walton Heath New
Betchworth Park


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Brent Hutto

Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #12 on: November 25, 2009, 09:54:07 AM »
Quote from: Dan Boerger on November 25, 2009, 09:47:44 AM
Betchworth Park

How did you find Betchworth, Dan? I played most of it on the last day of my 2006 trip (I was staying at a B&B a mile down the road) in a soaking rain that turned into a downpour with about five holes to go. So I not only walked in early, after the first few holes I couldn't tell much about the course peering out from under an umbrella. I'd consider a round there some sunny day if I were in the area, it seems a nice inexpensive course and quite friendly.
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Dan Boerger

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #13 on: November 25, 2009, 10:06:01 AM »
Brent - When I go to the UK, I usually stay with a lifelong friend of mine who's a member at Betchworth. You're on target --  friendly membership and a quality course that really started to grow on me after playing a few rounds there. Their majestic 4th gets a lot of praise, but some really good holes throughout. It's a Colt course by birth, but it's been tinkered with some over the years (or so I'm told).
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David Amarnek

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #14 on: November 25, 2009, 10:16:31 AM »
I am determined to add to my English resume (have played throughout Scotland and both the Republic and N. Ireland), but my 5 favorites are:
Sunningdale Old
Rye
Swinley Forest
RSG
RCP
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mike_malone

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #15 on: November 25, 2009, 10:49:47 AM »
 I have only played

       Royal Ashdown Forest
       Rye
       Littlestone
       RSG
       Deal
       Burnham and Berrow

 in that order of play. I would never rank them but would certainly play any of them again with the possible exception of RAF.
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Giles Payne

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #16 on: November 25, 2009, 10:53:53 AM »
Leaving aside Huntercombe (as I am a member) my favourites are:

Ganton
Brancaster
Silloth
Sunningdale Old
Royal St Georges

I know its cheating but on another day it might be

Notts
Swinley
Woodhall Spa
Berkshire
Deal
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Andrew Mitchell

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #17 on: November 25, 2009, 11:54:59 AM »
As others have said this isn't easy but at the moment:

Royal St Georges
Ganton
Woodhall Spa
St Enodoc
Royal Birkdale

Alternatively:
Royal Cinque Ports
Rye
Notts (Hollinwell)
Silloth on Solway
Alwoodley

I've still left some quality courses off those lists - Hoylake, Lytham, Beau Desert and Littlestone come to mind
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Ash Towe

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #18 on: November 25, 2009, 01:30:08 PM »
My five would be in no particular order:

Alwoodley
Ganton
Royal Birkdale

and the last 2 provided great memories and a fun day

Moortown
Parkstone
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Tommy Williamsen

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #19 on: November 25, 2009, 01:35:35 PM »
There are fifteen that belong in my top five,  But if I haad to choose in no particular order:
Woodhall Spa/Ganton
St. Enodoc
Sunningdale New
Royal Birkdale
Royal St. George

No other country has as much diversity as England.
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Ben Stephens

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #20 on: November 25, 2009, 03:31:48 PM »
Quote from: Ben Stephens on November 25, 2009, 08:22:10 AM
No mention of top five in Wales????

My top 5 list Ive played in the Auld Enemy area is:

1. Brancaster
2. Ganton
3. Woodhall Spa
4. Hunstanton
5. Notts

(6th would have been Cavendish!!)

Ive thrown a howler here and forgot the Sandwich!

therefore my top 10 instead of 5 cos there are so many good ones!!

1. RSG
2. RWN - Brancaster
3. Ganton
4. Woodhall Spa
5. Hunstanton
6. Notts
7. Royal Lytham
8. Royal Liverpool
9. St. Enodoc
10. Cavendish

Speicial mention for Huntercombe and also Rutland Water (a bit partisan!)
« Last Edit: November 25, 2009, 03:33:41 PM by Ben Stephens »
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Alister Matheson

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #21 on: November 25, 2009, 03:49:22 PM »
Sadly not played many off the top ranked courses but 5 favourites i have played would be  suningdale old, silloth on sollway,trevose,st georges hill, wentworth east.
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Cristian

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #22 on: November 25, 2009, 06:49:27 PM »
Top 5 England (omitting the obvious RSG, Lytham....)

Deal
St George's Hill
Berkshire red
New Zealand
Royal Ashdown
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Kevin Pallier

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #23 on: November 25, 2009, 08:43:07 PM »
Quote from: Sean Arble on November 25, 2009, 07:00:13 AM
Anyway, it is FAR more difficult for me to pick a top 5 in England, but I have seen many more English courses than the others.

Sean

I think that statement works for me as well. I dont have to blink when refering to favourites in Greater Ireland / Scotland and to a lesser extent proabably Wales. The depth / variety of courses in England for mine makes it significantly more difficult as favourites go.

In this instance with 5 I'll say:

Royal St. George's
Sunningdale (Old)
Swinley Forest
Rye
West Sussex


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Mark Pearce

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Re: Top 5 Favourites in ENGLAND
« Reply #24 on: November 26, 2009, 06:16:40 AM »
This is very hard because you have to leave ot so many wonderful courses.  However, this morning, with the sun shining outside the office window and a gentle breeze, the courses I'd most like to be on in England are:

Ganton
Royal St Georges
Saunton
Brancaster
Kington

Which leaves out RCP, Rye, Berkshire, Swinley, RND, Notts, Woodhall Spa, Alwoodley, Beau Desert and Woking.  That's 10 more (with others to add) that I'd be more than happy with on my list of a top 5!
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