Best courses under 6500 yards OUTSIDE the U.S.

[Jim Nugent]

The thread that Tim started -- on the best "short" U.S. courses -- got me wondering about the rest of the world.  What are the best sub-6500 yard courses overseas?  Also, how do they compare with their U.S. cousins?  

I don't have any candidates to contribute, but some of you must have some thoughts.  BTW, Tim gave me his approval to go ahead with this obvious ripoff of his thread.

[Mike_Clayton]

No prizes for naming Swinley Forest and Sunningdale.

I can't think of a good course under 6500 in Australia.
Port Fairy might be that short and Portsea used to be but not any more.

[Shane Gurnett]

Mike, Barwon Heads might just sneak in under 6500 yards. Apart from a few forgettable holes on the back nine, I think its a good course.

[Mark_F]

West Sussex and Macrihanish.

Because both are FUN, as well as testing.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Here's a list of some of my favourites - they're not all great, but all have at least plenty of character and lots of good holes, at least enough to interest a GCA groupie: Aldeburgh (6323), Swinley Forest (6045), Sandiway (6435), Sandy Lodge (6328), West Cornwall (5884), St Enodoc (6243), The Berkshire (Red 6379, Blue 6260), The Addington (6242), Burnham Beeches (6449), Denham (6462), Gog Magog Old Course (6398), Royal Jersey (6100), Royal Guernsey (6215), Delamere Forest (6328), Perranporth (on Paul Turner's recommendation which is good enough for me) (6286), Seascale (6416), Cavendish (5833), Prestbury (6359), Yelverton (6351), Broadstone (6315), Ferndown (6452), Isle of Purbeck (6295), Parkstone (6250), Sherborne (5882), Brancepeth Castle (6400), Broadway (6228), Minchinhampton Old (6019), PAINSWICK (4780), Blackmoor (6213), Liphook (6167), Stoneham (6310), Canterbury (6249), Knole Park (on recommendation) (6266), North Foreland (6430), Royal Blackheath (6219), Walmer & Kingsdown (6444), Bolton Old Links (6469), Clitheroe (6326), Fleetwood (6308), Pleasington (6445), Charnwood Forest (9 holes 5960), Lincoln (6438), Seacroft (6479), Manchester (6450), Heswall (6492), Mill Hill (6309), Gt Yarmouth (6330), Royal West Norfolk (6427), Sheringham (6495), Bamburgh Castle (5621), Huntercombe (6173), Tadmarton Heath (5917), Luffenham Heath (6315), Bath (6442), Beau Desert (6310), Whittington Heath (6490), Felixstowe Ferry (6308), Ipswich (6435), Royal Worlington (9 holes 6210), Woodbridge (6299), Camberley Heath (6326), Coombe Hill (6293), Farnham (6313), Hankley Common (6438), New Zealand (6075), Royal Mid Surrey Outer (6385), Royal Wimbledon (6348), St George's Hill (6496), Tandridge (6250), West Hill (6368), West Surrey (6300), Woking (6340), Worplesdon (6440), Crowborough Beacon (6273), Piltdown (6070), Royal Ashdown Forest (6477), Rye (6308), West Sussex (6223), High Post (6305), Ogbourne Downs (6363), Blackwell (6230), Harrogate (6241), Hallamshire (6333), Lindrick (6486), Huddersfield (6432), Sand Moor (6429).  Then there are Scotland, Wales and Ireland - someone else's turn.

Sunningdale Old is listed as 6581 so it's just too long nowadays.

[ForkaB]

One fact this thread misses (as does its companion one on the US) is that you do not HAVE to play from the tips wherever you go (and in many cases will not be allowed to).  Every golf course in the world can be played at less than 6500 yards.  The greatest ones will still be fantastic golfing experiences, even if played somewhat forward.  If fact, some might become better golfing experiences at more modest distances (even for the really big hitters), because they were designed to account for differences in skill.  That, in fact, may be the  main reason why they are considered to be "great."

[Matthew MacKay]

Many of Canada's best courses are in the 6500 ballpark.

Highlands Links
Capilano
Toronto Golf
Scarboro
Cataraqui
Rosedale
Brantford
Banff?
Jasper?

There are very few "classic" courses in Canada that stretch to 7000 yards...Hamilton, St.George's, Westmount, Shaughnessy, The National, Royal Montreal...although these would make a nice Canadian Open rota.

[Doug Wright]

Brora (6100), Golspie (5900) and Boat of Garten (5800) are very fine "shorter" courses in the Highlands of Scotland. It's all relative--a 300 yard par 4 into the teeth of a 30 MPH wind on these or any other course is a long hole.

[Gerry B]

mid ocean club is in the 6500 yd range
 
gleneagles kings is worthy of honorable mention
 
peace portal south of vancouver is an interesting layout
 
calgary golf club (bendelow / park) is a nice track located in the middle of town
 
some of the toronto courses already mentioned are worthy candidates - ie scarboro / toronto gc, etc

   

[Evan_Green]

I would second Cruden Bay which is 6291, par 70 from the "White" tees.

[Tom_Doak]

From Mark Rowlinson's list [because he didn't take the time to highlight the best of the bunch]:

Rye - 6,308 yards