[Bill_McBride]

Unless I missed it, I did think anyone has recommended what I think is the strongest stretch of links golf in the world - the coastline from Liverpool to Lytham/St. Anne's. 

In a stretch of about 75 miles, you have Royal Liverpool (Hoylake), West Lancs, Formby, Southport Ainsdale, Hillside, Royal Birkdale, Hesketh, St. Anne's Old Links and Royal & Lytham St. Anne's. That list covers 3 Open Courses and several courses used as Open qualifiers. Inland there are courses like Preston and Ormskirk. You could rent a place in Southport for a 7-10 days never have to drive more than an hour to play a different worthwhile course each day.   

Plus Wallasey which is a delightful links not far from Hoylake. It's a really fun course with some giant dunes.

[Michael Whitaker]

I'm shocked at the prices for the Lancashire coast courses!!!

From what I have seen over the past five years the best bang-for-your-buck has to be in Cornwall and Devon. Add a few courses between there and Gatwick for spice and variety and you would have one hell of a trip:

St Enodoc (2 days)
Royal North Devon
Saunton (2 courses)
Burnham & Berrow
Huntercombe
Sunningdale (2 courses)
Hankley Common
Walton Heath (2 courses)

Rinse

Repeat

[Mark Chaplin]

David - the big name SE courses are expensive but the second level courses are far better and cheaper than the NW and Scotland. Just look at the list of great SE venues for under £100 for 36 holes. As as Scott points out twilight deals can be good value as well.

The NW courses have strong memberships and a healthy corporate scene. They also have the worlds most overrated course - Hillside.

Mike - the west country is good value and the courses great but once there the courses are  spread out and the roads are choked in season. Unless you fly Continetal into Bristol you've a four hour drive. That's why the courses are cheap!

[Martin Toal]

Unless I missed it, I did think anyone has recommended what I think is the strongest stretch of links golf in the world - the coastline from Liverpool to Lytham/St. Anne's. 

In a stretch of about 75 miles, you have Royal Liverpool (Hoylake), West Lancs, Formby, Southport Ainsdale, Hillside, Royal Birkdale, Hesketh, St. Anne's Old Links and Royal & Lytham St. Anne's. That list covers 3 Open Courses and several courses used as Open qualifiers. Inland there are courses like Preston and Ormskirk. You could rent a place in Southport for a 7-10 days never have to drive more than an hour to play a different worthwhile course each day.   

I did too, about 9 posts above your original post.

[Scott Warren]

I'm pretty sure I mentioned Southport as well!

[Sean_A]

Without going back and reading every post on various courses in the UK (many of which I have obviously read over the many years I have been on here), just wondered what everyones thoughts would be on the following question.  I am putting together a trip this summer for myself and a couple buddies that have never been to the UK. 

If you were planning a 10-14 day trip to the UK, where realistically would you try to play?  We are probably looking at averaging 1.5 rounds per day realistically.  Again I have been to Scotland before but the other two have not.  I am planning on playing some of the ones i played last trip again as these guys might never get there again.

Last time I played, TOC, Carnoustie, Cruden Bay, Dornoch, Panmure, Nairn, Royal Troon, Western Gailes, and North Berwick.

What would your dream fortnight of courses be.  Realistically taking into mind travel times, and accessibility?

Turboe

By reading the post it would seem you are going to Scotland.  Given that, I would think sticking to Scotland makes sense - no point in running around more than you will do in Scotland.  It seems like a no brainer to hit TOC and North Berwick again - both of these ae worth two days each.  I would think Muirfield has to be on the list.  I am not sure I would head up to Dornoch unless you are personally keen.  I would probably head to Ayr and play Prestwick.  Then, I would either ferry or fly to play Machrihanish/Dunes and Machrie - maybe even Askernish.  If ferrying you can hit Shiskine.  This is at least 12 days total with a good variety of courses with windshield time kept to a minimum, but you still get some unusual aspect of island golf.

Ciao 

[Mark Pearce]

If you have 14 days and are aiming for 1.5 rounds a day on average I cannot see the point in rushing around like a blue-arsed fly trying to play two courses in one day.  Pick 13/14 courses and choose those worth playing 36 at.  If you are playing Muirfield then it must be a 36 and you must take jacket and tie and have lunch (indeed that would be sound advice at any club, particularly those you are playing 36 at and extra particularly if you are playing RSG, Swinley, The Berkshire, Prestwick or any other club which values its lunch).  One exception to the 18/36 at one course (other than the 2 course clubs like Sunningdale, Walton Heath etc) would be St Andrews if you go in the ballot for TOC.

As to venues, there's plenty of sound advice in this thread already and a lot depends on your group and their expectations.  I'd certainly spend time west of London and, if the Open hadn't been at RSG would have heartily endorsed the Kent coast.  Then I'd say Fife was a good bet.  You could, if you are driving, think of breaking the drive at Ganton and/or Alwoodley and then play Muirfield/North Berwick before getting to Fife.

[Mark Chaplin]

Muirfield has no visitor times beween May and August. What is the success rate of groups entering the ballot, it seems to me any mega trip to Scotland needs a minimum of a years planning if TOC and HCEG is on the agenda.

Brian - sober pm golf, there's a new one on me.

[Scott Warren]

Hungover in the morning, dunk in the afternoon... just another weekend at RCP, eh Chappers!

[Sean_A]

Muirfield has no visitor times beween May and August. What is the success rate of groups entering the ballot, it seems to me any mega trip to Scotland needs a minimum of a years planning if TOC and HCEG is on the agenda.

Brian - sober pm golf, there's a new one on me.

Chappers

I figure the same thing concerning booking, but I reckon Turboe has as well if he plans to include either TOC of Muirfield - tee hee. 

Brian

I think its a common mistake at Muirield to be rushed about like sheep.  My first visit I wouldn't have it and we went out long after the other tourists and indeed the members for our afternoon game.  The second visit the club was more particular about our afternoon time so we skipped it, had a very, very long lunch and played Musselburgh instead in the evening.  I definitely enjoyed the second visit better. 

[Mark Pearce]

The trick as a visitor at Muirfield is to get the earliest morning times to allow plenty of time for lunch.  Frankly I need another 18 in the afternoon to walk the lunch off and foursomes works perfectly for that.  However, it's undoubtedly true that at any club where tee times are closely observed it's a real pain if you don't have something over 2 hours between rounds.

[Mark Chaplin]

Mark I couldn't agree more, we often joke here that Chappers only wants a good lunch from the day but luncheon is a big part of the culture of traditional clubs and our visiting friends miss much if they pass up on lunch. It's often the only way to mix with the members.

I always like a quick shower and changing into and out of jacket and tie takes 15-20 mins of your lunch break so planty of time is important. Foursomes is the perfect opportunity to walk of the claret and kummel.

[Bill_McBride]

Mark I couldn't agree more, we often joke here that Chappers only wants a good lunch from the day but luncheon is a big part of the culture of traditional clubs and our visiting friends miss much if they pass up on lunch. It's often the only way to mix with the members.

I always like a quick shower and changing into and out of jacket and tie takes 15-20 mins of your lunch break so planty of time is important. Foursomes is the perfect opportunity to walk of the claret and kummel.

If I recall Deal correctly, the jacket and tie are not de rigeur, leaving more time for "Laura, another Pimms please!". 

[JNC Lyon]

This is one thing I learned in England: folks take lunch VERY seriously, especially at Deal.  Of course, there is not much better than a morning round, a long lunch with a few pints, and a foursomes afternoon round.  If you are going to a truly great club, it's sure to improve the experience.

[John Mayhugh]

Foursomes is the perfect opportunity to walk of the claret and kummel.

I would recommend walking away from the kummel!  Otherwise, I like Chaplin's approach a lot.

And I agree that the London/Kent area would be a great place for the trip, though this summer it might not be.

[JNC Lyon]

Foursomes is the perfect opportunity to walk of the claret and kummel.

I would recommend walking away from the kummel!  Otherwise, I like Chaplin's approach a lot.

And I agree that the London/Kent area would be a great place for the trip, though this summer it might not be.

Although this summer might not be the best for the Kent coast, isn't May a more desirable time to play golf in England/Scotland?  The temperature is reasonable, the days are long, and the prices are more reasonable.  What's not to love?

[Mark Pearce]

John,

I agree.  For me the best two months for a golf trip in the UK are May (pleasant weather, gorse blooming on links, summ er rough not yet developed) and September (pleasant weather, tending towards the beginning of autumn, summer rough just beginning to die down a bit).  Both are among the drier months on avarage and also outside of school holidays tend to be less crowded in coastal areas.

[Adam Lawrence]

May is also, in my experience, the best time to be in Scotland generally, not just from a golfing perspective, and especially if you want to go to the West or the Highlands. As John said, the days are long, but also (crucially) the midges haven't yet appeared, and there seems consistently to be a weather pattern that sets in at some point during the month where the wind comes from the east and brings sunshine, rather than the usual wet westerlies. I've had my best climbing days in places like Glencoe and Skye in May.

[Mark Chaplin]

Mark - agreed avoid the links from early July to mid August rough too thick.

Adam - ah yes the midges, we saw (and were bitten by) clouds and I mean clouds of them in Torridon last summer. They are only slightly less nasty than the NZ sand flies, horrid b&stards.

[Jamie Barber]

Mark - agreed avoid the links from early July to mid August rough too thick.

Based on my experience in SE the rough is usually at its worst from late April until July when it's wet and warming up. If we get anything like a decent summer the dry weather burns it off in late July/August.

That said, I remember the wet summers of 2006/7 and the rough here was brutal. In one medal we had 33 entries and 27 NRs One chap was having a knockaround and pulled his teeshot into the rough. He spent 10 minutes unsuccessfully looking for his ball, but found 17 others

[Mark Pearce]

Jamie,

The contestants at the Open that year would be amused at the description of 2006 as a wet summer!

[Jamie Barber]

Yeah I think we must have got the weather Hoylake usually gets, and vice versa! As I recall it was really August that was very wet down here.

TBH it really wasn't much fun but because the rough wasn't cut early, there was nothing the club could do (they are not allowed to cut for most of the year due to ground nesting birds). This year for the first term they've harvested the rough so this year it should be easier (it was quite amusing to see large hay bales lining the fairways).

[James Boon]

Foursomes is the perfect opportunity to walk of the claret and kummel.

I would recommend walking away from the kummel!  Otherwise, I like Chaplin's approach a lot.

John,

Nothing wrong with Kummel! Mark's post last night reminded me that I have a bottle of Kummel at home and was going to post something, but then somehow after a few drinks seemed to forget? 

Turboe,

Getting back to your initial request for help:
- I'd agree that either May or September is the best time to make the trip for the various reasons mentioned.
- You seem to imply you would like to get back to Scotland but I think more people really should make their golf trips to England so how about this for a rough schedule that mixes big names, fine second tier courses, and some real GCA connoisseur favourites off the beaten track?

Day 1: Arrive Manchester
Day 2: Royal Birkdale
Day 3: Formby
Day 4: Head into the Midlands to play Notts
Day 5: Woodhall Spa
Day 6: Head to the Norfolk coast to play Hunstanton
Day 7: Brancaster
Day 8: Head south to London stopping off at Royal Worlington & Newmarket on the way
Day 9: Swinley Forest
Day 10: Depart Heathrow

But thats just the Englishmen in me talking! If you head for Scotland and go back to Royal Dornoch, be sure to make it a base for a short term and also play Brora!

Cheers,

James

[Mark_Rowlinson]

If you do fly in to Manchester come and shake off your jet lag with a round at Wilmslow, only a few minutes from the airport - nothing great architecturally but good conditions in which to warm up.

[Mark Chaplin]

James - nice balanced trip mixing the best of inland and links golf without too much driving.

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