This year's effort's were well down from last year, but I did play a handful of great courses and a handful of new courses.
MOST SURPISING COURSE: Nothing new really grabbed me this year as very surprising because I had high expectations. Still,
Cumberwell Park Orange brought a big smile to my face. There is some good land movement mixed with flatter terrain and well placed features. The culture of the club is very different from the other courses I like down in this general region, but the course is very much worth a go. RUNNER -UP: This year was my first visit to
Walton Heath New in about 20 years and I was impressed at how similar it is to the Old, yet distinctly its own animal. The fairways are generally forgiving and the man made earthworks are a visual treat.
MOST DISAPPOINTING COURSE: This award must go to
Royal Zoute. Very indifferent course presentation and a few too many bland holes. This course is certainly a one and done for me. RUNNER-UP:
Tenby. After playing the course a few times previously and really liking it, the condition this year was a complete turn-off. I won't be going back for sometime.
BEST NEW PLAY COURSE: Hands down this one goes to
Renaissance. Despite the crazy rough, the character of the design shines through. I think RC is one of the very best courses in Scotland. RUNNER-UP:
Rosapenna OTM Links. The course utterly fails as a coherent 18 hole design, but the very well crafted front nine on the tighter property and small handful of cracking holes on the more open back nine are enough to make the course well worth playing.
MOST SURPRISING SECOND (third or fourth!) LOOK COURSE: As is usual, several revisits impressed me, but I think none more so than
North Berwick. The supposed weak holes are not in the least weak and the back nine is the ride of a lifetime. This is my first 3* course. RUNNER-UP:
Perranporth takes this prize. With the wind coming more from the prevailing swest the course makes much more sense than from other directions.
FAVOURITE LINKS not called St Enodoc North Berwick:
St Enodoc 
FAVOURITE INLAND COURSE not called Kington: Cleeve Cloud. This is not a ramshackle affair banged together. Its good solid golf with likely the best back nine of courses nobody talks about.
BEST AFFORDABLE COURSE: By affordable I mean under £20. I don't play that many courses for less than £20...what a pity. Almost by default
Cleeve Cloud takes the prize, luckily it is worthy.
BEST MODERATELY PRICED COURSE: By moderate I mean under £50 (~$75) and no member invitation, deals or other special circumstances involved. When searching my notes I was surprised and disappointed to find so few candidates. I guess I shall have to rectify this next year. I call it a tie between
Kington and
Perranporth.
BEST COURSE: Has to be
North Berwick. RUNNER-UP:
St Enodoc. A distant third is Renaissance Club.
I have a feeling that in 2015 I am going to continue the trend of seeing old favourites more rather than seeking out new courses. But if I am going to play some new courses the ones I will attempt to target are Dundnald Links, Western Gailes, Llanymynech (failure of '14), Welshpool (failure of '14), Leckford (failure of '14), Formby Ladies, Indianwood Old and Barton Hills.
I would like to see the awards of others so crank em' out.
Ciao