I want some guys in the know to throw up 4 Colt courses. I don't believe it can be done. Can anybody match Colt's consistency?
Braid
Pennard
Brora
St Enodoc (not sure how much there is his)
My heart says Perranporth for the 4th, but I spose Gleneagles Kings deserves a shout. If St Enodoc is out then Perranporth is in over Gleneagles Queens.
Ciao
Sean,
I don't know if you've played any of the following courses, but I would like to hear why you would pick your four courses over a few others I'll throw out there:
Boat of Garten
Golspie
Hunstanton
Deal
Royal Aberdeen
Murcar
J
I have played them all and all are good though I think Murcar & especially Hunsanton are not up to their reputations and I don't think they stand up to the likes of Brora, Pennard & St Enodoc in terms of quality golf, let alone other considerations. The only course you listed that does turn my head is Deal. The main thing holding me back on this one is that brutal finish. I can't say as I have ever enjoyed the finishing holes as a group. In any sort of wind they are pure and simple a bitch - meaning the holes become one dimensional as in a lot of woods will be pulled from the bag. Also, I am not sure how much of Deal is down to Braid, I am guessing not too much. I am a fan of Golspie & The Boat, but they are not even close to quality of Pennard, Brora & St Enodoc. Many people only see these three courses in terms of funky golf that can't be taken too seriously. I think this is a gross underestimation of their quality. For all but the very best of us, all three demand all the shots in the book and still provide a barrel of laughs.
We are just having a "natural courses" discussion with Jim Engh. My bottom line reason for picking three of the four I did is down to the terrain and how the golf over this terrain is more natural then almost anywhere. Pennard, Brora & St Enodoc are situated on some of the best golfing land in the world. This land offers a wider variety holes then almost anywhere else. Second, I like funky courses that charm rather than test me. There are plenty of opportunities to drop shots regardless of the difficulty of the course. Third, nearly all of the courses I picked are far more affordable/low key experiences then half of your examples. In fact, that is why my heart goes with Perranporth over Gleneagles! While the price may not have anything to do with the architecture, it definitely influences how often I can enjoy the architecture. As I always say, if I was only interested in the architecture, I wouldn't need to pay a green fee too often. The experience of golf is far more than the architecture.
I know its all subjective nonsense, but thats anyone can offer in these matters.
I would still like a few chaps to take a stab at Colt. It might be a very intriguing excercise.
Ciao