Best Eighteen Holes In England

[Andrew Mitchell]

Browsing through the Royal Cinque Ports website in anticipation of a return visit I noticed on the the description of the 16th hole that Henry Cotton had included it as one of his "Eighteen Best Holes in England".

Anyone know if this is a book or part of a book?

Anyone know what Cotton's other 17 holes were?

[Mark Chaplin]

The sixth at the Nevill in Tunbridge Wells was always claimed to be one of Cotton's 18 as well.

[James Boon]

Andrew,

The 6th at Painswick is reported to be listed in Cotton's best 18.

Cheers

James

[Tom MacWood]

Cotton must have created a couple of eclectic courses. This one came from an article written in 1939 entitled 'Henry Cotton's Ideal Course: An 8000-yard marathon.' The course measured 7987 par-76.

1. 12-Princes
2. 10-R. St.Georges
3. 5-St.Andrews
4. 8-R.St.Georges
5. 9-Muirfield
6. 9-Carnoustie
7. 10-Carnoustie
8. 12-St.Andrews
9. 17-Princes

10. 6-Carnoustie
11. 6-Hoylake
12. 14-Carnoustie
13. 11-Hoylake
14. 5-Muirfield
15. 14-St.Andrews
16. 17-Hoylake
17. 17-St.Andrews
18. 18-Carnoustie

[Martin Toal]

Cotton's 18 seem to draw from only 6 courses, all links. No heathland holes at all? He was known as a rather odd old bugger.

[Niall C]

yes and that list includes Scottish courses so clearly he must have had another list for English courses only.

Niall

[Steve Wilson]

James,

I thought the sixth at Painswick was on Henry Longhurst's short list.  I can't remember where I ran across that, nor am I certain it was Longhurst rather than Cotton.

[Jud_T]

Interesting that Carnasty takes TOC 5-4.....

[Ronald Montesano]

He wrote it on a napkin in a cafe in Edinburgh...