The best base for a GB&I trip but without playing a big name course. Where?

[Thomas Dai]

A comment on the Fraserburgh thread got me thinking of where to base a golf trip in GB&I concentrating on lesser lights gems or semi-gems but crucially without playing any 'big name' courses.

Where would be a good location?

For example, and it's just an example, I could have picked St Andrews or Ulster or East Lothian, or Kent or Devon or or Kerry or S-Wales, could you base yourself around Dornoch and not play RDGC but instead only play the likes of Brora, Golspie, Tain, Portmahomack, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, Bonar Bridge, Helmsdale, Brahan, Invergordon, Alness, even as far north as Wick and Reay?

Could you do it?

Could you have a trip and not play a 'big name' course..........and if you could, where would you base yourself?

atb

[Rich Goodale]

Thomas

Dornoch would be a great base for a non-RDGC golf holiday, but you would have to wear that Opus Dei crown of thorns around your willie thing as perThe Da Vinci Code to stop you from playing the bid course....

Better would be Elgin, right in the middle of some great golf on the Moray coast with a bigger and better town than Dornoch, and no need for the self-flagellation....

Rich

[Tommy Williamsen]

Thomas, I have made about a dozen trips to GB&I and would recommend either the northwest coast of Ireland or Devon and
Cornwall in England.  Northwest Ireland is adventurous.  The scenery is stunning and the people warm and gracious.  The golf is also very good.  There are 8 or 10 courses that are worth the time.

Devon and Cornwall also are beautiful areas. The Southwest Coast Path is an extraordinary way to see the counties.  The golf is one of the best in England.  There are the usual suspects, Saunton, Royal North Devon, and St. Enodoc.  There also are Perranporth, East Devon, and in Somerset Burnham and Berrow.

[Sean_A]

You could do a lot worse than Worcester.  Within say 1:15 of the centre are a load of cool courses that are relatively inexpensive.  Same could be said for Birmingham.

Ciao

[Brent Hutto]

Fly into Manchester, pitch up in a Premier Inn somewhere and just play Delamere Forest, Sandiway, Beau Desert, Cavendish and the like. Easy trip and quality golf

[JMEvensky]

 but you would have to wear that Opus Dei crown of thorns around your willie thing as perThe Da Vinci Code to stop you from playing the bid course....

As a non-Catholic,but a fan of the novel,wouldn't this make proper hip rotation kind of painful?

Is it safe to assume no Opus Dei member has ever been a great player?

[Thomas Dai]

Elgin, that's a really good call Rich and Worcester too Sean. Just the kinda locations I was thinking of. And Tommy, NW Ireland is indeed magical and great golf and value etc too. One of my favourite places. East Devon GC and Perranporth were very much the kinda courses I was thinking of, less so Saunton, Royal North Devon, St. Enodoc, Burnham and Berrow, more big-name in my book. Nice suggestion Brent.

Where would be a good base for a heathland trip - excluding big-names though?

atb

[Garland Bayley]

Thomas, I have made about a dozen trips to GB&I and would recommend either the northwest coast of Ireland or Devon and
Cornwall in England.  Northwest Ireland is adventurous.  The scenery is stunning and the people warm and gracious.  The golf is also very good.  There are 8 or 10 courses that are worth the time.

Devon and Cornwall also are beautiful areas. The Southwest Coast Path is an extraordinary way to see the counties.  The golf is one of the best in England.  There are the usual suspects, Saunton, Royal North Devon, and St. Enodoc.  There also are Perranporth, East Devon, and in Somerset Burnham and Berrow.

There are also West Cornwall, Newquay, and Bude and North Cornwall. Plus, some would recommend Trevose, which I didn't play.

[David_Tepper]

East Lothian for Dunbar, Kilspindie, Luffness, Longniddry, Gullane #2 & #3, Craigielaw, etc.

[Thomas Dai]

Just what I'm looking for Garland.

Nice East Lothian collection David.

I recall Jeff Warne using the phrase 'low key' golf, and there's a surprising amount of it out there.

atb

[Adrian_Stiff]

Markinch, bang in the middle of the magic kingdom.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

East Anglia - no big name courses, but wonderful golf at Brancaster, Hunstanton, Sheringham, Aldeburgh, R Worlington, and fun golf at Ipswich, Woodbridge, Thorpeness, Gog Magog, Great Yarmouth and Caister and, possibly (though not to Mr Doak's taste), Felixstowe Ferry. Emphasis on 2-ball play, excellent drainage (faster and firmer than a lot of English courses) and good winter golf.

[jeffwarne]

Thomas

Dornoch would be a great base for a non-RDGC golf holiday, but you would have to wear that Opus Dei crown of thorns around your willie thing as perThe Da Vinci Code to stop you from playing the bid course....

Better would be Elgin, right in the middle of some great golf on the Moray coast with a bigger and better town than Dornoch, and no need for the self-flagellation....

Rich

and surrounded by less belt notchers and sweater vests......
Have planned that trip several times over the past 10 years-haven't made it yet

[Niall C]

Elgin, that's a really good call Rich and Worcester too Sean. Just the kinda locations I was thinking of. And Tommy, NW Ireland is indeed magical and great golf and value etc too. One of my favourite places. East Devon GC and Perranporth were very much the kinda courses I was thinking of, less so Saunton, Royal North Devon, St. Enodoc, Burnham and Berrow, more big-name in my book. Nice suggestion Brent.

Where would be a good base for a heathland trip - excluding big-names though?

atb

Thomas

When you're going to Elgin let me know so I can tell my former landlady you're coming 

Niall

[Niall C]

Thinking about it a bit more, I think the most important criteria is picking a good place to stay both in terms of the lodgings and the town. I doubt there's not too many places where you can't get some pretty good golf at reasonable prices. I've got to think there's merit in staying in one of the cities that are within striking distance of the coast ie. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Dublin etc.

Niall

[Brent Hutto]

Niall,

That's assuming you enjoy being in cities, of course.

For instance I would rather spend a week of my non-golf time in Deal than in Liverpool or Glasgow. In fact, that's an understatement. I would not willingly spend more than a day or two in either of those cities (can't say about Dublin as I've never been there) whereas little towns like Deal (or Harlech) I have found to be very quiet and relaxing.

I guess a lot depends on how much one values being able to find drinking establishments open at 3am on weeknights, versus places where the sidewalks are rolled up for the night by 9pm on a Monday.

[Dub_ONeill]

Fly to Manchester. Drive to Southport. Play Hillside, Formby, Southport & Ainsdale, West Lancs, and Wallesey.

[Paul Gray]

You could probably do a lot worse than somewhere like Woodbridge as a base. I'm sure there are equally nice little towns a bit further to the north in Suffolk but, speaking from personal experience, it's a lovely little spot and puts you in good range of more than half a dozen excellent courses which get little to no attention.

[jeffwarne]

Niall,

That's assuming you enjoy being in cities, of course.

For instance I would rather spend a week of my non-golf time in Deal than in Liverpool or Glasgow. In fact, that's an understatement. I would not willingly spend more than a day or two in either of those cities (can't say about Dublin as I've never been there) whereas little towns like Deal (or Harlech) I have found to be very quiet and relaxing.

I guess a lot depends on how much one values being able to find drinking establishments open at 3am on weeknights, versus places where the sidewalks are rolled up for the night by 9pm on a Monday.

Bingo Brent,
I'll take Dingle over Dublin all day long, and Aberdovey over Manchester.
i.e. rural over city

Proximity to low key golf, a local pub, scenic and/or historical sights and back roads, and I'm good to go.
Culturally starved I know

Plenty of great towns in Donegal, Cornwall, rural Wales,England, and Scotland that fit the bill, with plenty of great value golf.
It always amazes me how much I enjoy these courses and clubs, so much more than the big guns.
Could spend months playing only such clubs and courses-always meet such interesting people, and no Americans.
So many choices, so little time.

[Thomas Dai]

When you're going to Elgin let me know so I can tell my former landlady you're coming 
Niall

Can't comment on landladies but I played Elgin many years ago. Very nice too. Great part of the world, infact just about the whole length of the Moray Firth and inland is a terrific part of the world. An area I would very much like to return too. Fly into Dalcross or Dyce. If I'm coming that way I'll let you know. A few courses I need to see again or play for the first time. That wee 9-holer at Covesea intreagues me.

atb

PS - I know Forfar too, never played the course though, but I've seen the 'Athletic' play. From the postings herein I wish I had played the course.

[Thomas Dai]

East Anglia - no big name courses, but wonderful golf at Brancaster, Hunstanton, Sheringham, Aldeburgh, R Worlington, and fun golf at Ipswich, Woodbridge, Thorpeness, Gog Magog, Great Yarmouth and Caister and, possibly (though not to Mr Doak's taste), Felixstowe Ferry. Emphasis on 2-ball play, excellent drainage (faster and firmer than a lot of English courses) and good winter golf.

Brancaster, Hunstanton and Royal Worlington may be a bit 'big name' for this exercise.

Thetford is somewhere I've heard good things about though - it's looks a bit of a heathland cracker from the website -  http://www.thetfordgolfclub.co.uk/index.php/course/hole-by-hole  - Anyone know Thetford?

atb

[Thomas Dai]

I'll take Dingle over Dublin all day long, and Aberdovey over Manchester.
i.e. rural over city
Proximity to low key golf, a local pub, scenic and/or historical sights and back roads, and I'm good to go.
Culturally starved I know
Plenty of great towns in Donegal, Cornwall, rural Wales,England, and Scotland that fit the bill, with plenty of great value golf.
It always amazes me how much I enjoy these courses and clubs, so much more than the big guns.
Could spend months playing only such clubs and courses-always meet such interesting people, and no Americans.
So many choices, so little time.

Fits the bill

Where would you combine with Dingle (Ceann Sibeal presumably) but still avoid the usual 'big names'? Dooks, Castlegregory? Where else and where would be the best place to fly into and stay?

atb

[Thomas Dai]

You could do a lot worse than Worcester.  Within say 1:15 of the centre are a load of cool courses that are relatively inexpensive.  Same could be said for Birmingham.
Ciao

And just to the south would give a cracking combination of Cleeve Cloud, Painswick, Minchinhamton Old and Stinchcombe Hill plus to the west are the likes of Kington and Church Stretton. Easy to reach with the M5 motorway and flghts into Birmingham (or Brsitol) too.

atb

A thought - a 4-round pairs or team tournament with one round played at each of Cleeve Cloud, Painswick, Minchinhamton Old and Stinchcombe Hill has a nice sound to it. Wishful thinking maybe.

[jeffwarne]

I'll take Dingle over Dublin all day long, and Aberdovey over Manchester.
i.e. rural over city
Proximity to low key golf, a local pub, scenic and/or historical sights and back roads, and I'm good to go.
Culturally starved I know
Plenty of great towns in Donegal, Cornwall, rural Wales,England, and Scotland that fit the bill, with plenty of great value golf.
It always amazes me how much I enjoy these courses and clubs, so much more than the big guns.
Could spend months playing only such clubs and courses-always meet such interesting people, and no Americans.
So many choices, so little time.

Fits the bill

Where would you combine with Dingle (Ceann Sibeal presumably) but still avoid the usual 'big names'? Dooks, Castlegregory? Where else and where would be the best place to fly into and stay?

atb

Dingle's just such a great town-too bad it's potentially affected by proximity to many big name courses
Stay-anywhere in town-not many golfers stay there.
Play CG, Dingle, Dooks, Killarney-Mahoney's Point (I know the town is an armpit but Mahoney's Point is enchanting), Kenmare, Parknasilla

[Jim Sherma]

I'll take Dingle over Dublin all day long, and Aberdovey over Manchester.
i.e. rural over city
Proximity to low key golf, a local pub, scenic and/or historical sights and back roads, and I'm good to go.
Culturally starved I know
Plenty of great towns in Donegal, Cornwall, rural Wales,England, and Scotland that fit the bill, with plenty of great value golf.
It always amazes me how much I enjoy these courses and clubs, so much more than the big guns.
Could spend months playing only such clubs and courses-always meet such interesting people, and no Americans.
So many choices, so little time.

Fits the bill

Where would you combine with Dingle (Ceann Sibeal presumably) but still avoid the usual 'big names'? Dooks, Castlegregory? Where else and where would be the best place to fly into and stay?

atb

I stayed in Dingle and played two days at Dingle, Dooks, Castlegregory and Ballybunion - I know that Ballybunion is a big name but even without that the trip would have been pretty good. Fly into and out of Shannon.

Dingle is a great town to stay in but unless you put Trallee or Ballybunion into the mix I am not sure if I would want to fly over and use it a a basis for a golf trip. Dooks is one of my favorite places to play and there are many worse places to spend a few days. Dingle is worth a round as long as your expectations are not too high while Castlegregory is worth a quick nine as you drive by. Killarney's original course interests me although I have not played it and I am unsure whether or not it would be called a big name.

Somewhere in the Southeast might be of interest. Base out of Waterford and you would have Rosslare, Arklow and Wicklow to the East and Cork GC and Fotah Island to the west. There is some other stuff around there but these five interest me. Shouldn't involve too much windscreen time.