The 5 toughest links courses in GB&I are......

[Thomas Dai]

Using SSS as an indicator of difficulty for a course (at least the USGA rating scheme uses many of the factors Ally listed) for scratch golfers I think these ones would be near the top, certainly of courses I've played:
Trump Scotland  77.4 for a par of 72 +5.4
Royal Lytham 76 on a par of 70  +6
Royal County Down 75 on a par of 71  +4
Carnoustie  75 on a par of 72  +3
Certainly all impossibly difficult for me from the tips.

A nice way of analysing things Bryan.


I'm sure when I first played it several decades ago the back-tee SSS for Carnoustie was 77!


Mark,


Thanks for the W Lancs info.


Agree with the few who've said that Muirfield is hard, hard yes, but hard not in an in-your-face way, more in a kind of gentle, soft, almost deceitful way.


Atb

[Thomas Dai]

Perhaps a few more non-GB&I folk could post indicating which GB&I links they've found hard. Those on golf holidays or trips or general visits, Buda participants etc, which have you found the most challenging?
Atb

[Niall C]

Golf World when the published their Top 1,000 Courses in the GB&I book back at the turn of the century had a section Top 5 or Top 10 Most Difficult. Can't recall what they were exactly as it included non-links but I do recall that Silloth got a mention. I can only think that was off the very back tees.

From the day to day tees, I doubt there will be many harder than Carnoustie for the average golfer. It's a course that doesn't let up and the fairway bunkers are at least a full shot penalty if you get in them.

Niall

[David_Tepper]

"Golf World when the published their Top 1,000 Courses in the GB&I book back at the turn of the century had a section Top 5 or Top 10 Most Difficult."

Niall C. -

Consulting my 1999 copy of Golf World's 1000 Best Courses In Britain and Ireland shows the following list of the 20 Most Difficult:

1. Carnoustie
2. Royal Portrush - Dunluce
3. Woodhall Spa
4. Turnberry - Ailsa
5. Royal County Down
6. The Alwoodley
7. Royal St. David's
8. Royal Lytham & St. Anne's
9. Muirfield
10. St. Mellion - Nicklaus
11. Royal Birkdale
12. Silloth-on-Solway
13. Royal Troon
14. Royal St. George's
15. Western Gailes
16. Burham and Berrow
17. Royal Dornoch
18. Waterville
19. Moortown
20. St. Andrew - Jubilee

DT

[Tony Dear]

Guilty of skimming the responses, but nowhere did I see mention of Royal St. George's which must surely be part of the conversation. I might have played it on a particularly tough day, but I found it harder than Carnoustie. And I think I must have visited the European on a day when every hole was playing downwind because I didn't find it as challenging as some folk here. Great course no doubt, but not unduly difficult.
My top five would be:
1. Royal St. George's
2. Carnoustie
3. Royal Portrush
4. Royal Liverpool
5. Royal Birkdale
(also think Trump's course at Aberdeen is worth considering, but the rough may now be a little less ridiculous than when I played it
in 2012.) 

[David Davis]

My choices based on back tees:


1. Carnoustie
2. Royal Portrush
3. RCD
4. Royal Lythem
5. Turnberry


All in the same gail assuming a stroke play event. Thus true torture.

[Jon Wiggett]

"Golf World when the published their Top 1,000 Courses in the GB&I book back at the turn of the century had a section Top 5 or Top 10 Most Difficult."

Niall C. -

Consulting my 1999 copy of Golf World's 1000 Best Courses In Britain and Ireland shows the following list of the 20 Most Difficult:

1. Carnoustie
2. Royal Portrush - Dunluce
3. Woodhall Spa
4. Turnberry - Ailsa
5. Royal County Down
6. The Alwoodley
7. Royal St. David's
8. Royal Lytham & St. Anne's
9. Muirfield
10. St. Mellion - Nicklaus
11. Royal Birkdale
12. Silloth-on-Solway
13. Royal Troon
14. Royal St. George's
15. Western Gailes
16. Burham and Berrow
17. Royal Dornoch
18. Waterville
19. Moortown
20. St. Andrew - Jubilee

DT

Interesting list but none of the ones I have crossed out would be in my top 100 hardest. Got to agree about St. Mellion - Nicklaus which is/was incredibly difficult in any sort of wind.

Jon