News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.

Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Loop of Links
« on: July 19, 2011, 10:19:10 AM »
You can list up to 18 links which are your favourite.  I leave the definition of links (although I expect links to at least be on the sea/estuary) and what favourite means up to you.  Today, my list would like this:

Brora
Burnham & Berrow
Co Sligo
Cruden Bay
Donegal
Enniscrone
Lahinch
North Berwick
Pennard
Prestwick
Princes
Royal Portrush Valley Links
Royal St David's
Rye
St Enodoc
Silloth on Solway
Tenby
The Island

I am hoping to find some absolute musts wherever they may be.

Ciao


« Last Edit: July 19, 2011, 10:21:29 AM by Sean Arble »
Logged
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

Kevin Pallier

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2011, 10:28:25 AM »
Sean

A trip to Bandon and Tasmania perhaps ?
Logged

Steve Kline

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2011, 10:37:53 AM »
Not sure how close it has to be to the sea for you and seeing you list of favorites here are some that I love for consideration on your list Sean (I have only played five on your list):

Ballyliffin
Carne
Crail
Formby
Narin & Portnoo
Royal Aberdeen
Western Gailes
Logged

Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2011, 10:41:37 AM »
Sean,

Fascinating list, made all the more interesting by some of the courses not on the list (Deal, TOC, Dornoch and Muirfield, for instance) which I believe you have played.  I want to give it some thought and will post my round later.

Pleased to see Silloth makes the cut!
Logged
In June I will be riding the first three stages of this year's Tour de France route for charity.  630km (394 miles) in three days, with 7800m (25,600 feet) of climbing for the William Wates Memorial Trust (https://rideleloop.org/the-charity/) which supports underprivileged young people.

Mark Chaplin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2011, 11:20:52 AM »
Mark dear old Sean is trying to be controversial, Princes doesn't make his top 25 played but does make his top 18 links courses yet other top 25 played that are links don't make his top 18 links. He wriggles quicker than a Murdoch at committee  ;D
Logged
Cave Nil Vino

Jud_T

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #5 on: July 19, 2011, 11:21:54 AM »
Sean,

Interesting exercise.  I can't even come up with 18 and they're pretty much the usual suspects.  I'd second your nomination of Lahinch and particularly Prestwick and toss in Baltray over the Island as discussed previously.  The only must play that you may not have seen is Pacific Dunes, also not exactly a hidden gem.   Clearly I need to play more links golf, particularly beyond the big names...
Logged
Golf is a game. We play it. Somewhere along the way we took the fun out of it and charged a premium to be punished.- - Ron Sirak

Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #6 on: July 19, 2011, 11:36:47 AM »
Quote from: Mark Chaplin on July 19, 2011, 11:20:52 AM
Mark dear old Sean is trying to be controversial, Princes doesn't make his top 25 played but does make his top 18 links courses yet other top 25 played that are links don't make his top 18 links. He wriggles quicker than a Murdoch at committee  ;D
Mark,

That hadn't escaped me.  Several of the inclusions (Princes, Silloth) and the exclusions (Deal, Muirfield) brought a smile to my face.  Clearly intended to promote debate!
Logged
In June I will be riding the first three stages of this year's Tour de France route for charity.  630km (394 miles) in three days, with 7800m (25,600 feet) of climbing for the William Wates Memorial Trust (https://rideleloop.org/the-charity/) which supports underprivileged young people.

Mark_Rowlinson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2011, 11:42:55 AM »
Here's another 18, not including any of Sean's:

In no particular order

St Andrews Old
Muirfield
Royal St George's
Royal Cinque Ports
Royal Dornoch
Royal Liverpool
Formby
Royal Birkdale
Royal Lytham
Royal West Norfolk
Hunstanton
West Cornwall
Castletown
Southerness
Western Gailes
Royal County Down
Co Louth
Ballybunion Old

Logged

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #8 on: July 19, 2011, 11:58:35 AM »
Marks

Princes is right there top 25 favourites on the Whip It Out thread. I have always really enjoyed the design and the low key atmosphere of the club.  It shouldn't be a surprise it would make a top 18 links.  Silloth is right there too. I like the course a load.  

Mark R

Castletown isn't far off making my top 18.  I can see it breaking in one day.  I need to get another look at Brancaster and Western Gailes.  For some reason my memories of these courses is very dim. 

Steve

Narin & Portnoo is quite high on my list of unseens. 

Kevin

Tasmania in a dream world for sure.  I can't see how that trip will materialize in the real world. I always fail to get it together not far off the initial planning stages.


Ciao
« Last Edit: July 19, 2011, 12:06:30 PM by Sean Arble »
Logged
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

Mark_Rowlinson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2011, 12:39:46 PM »
I've no personal experience of Machrie or Machrihanish or they would, no doubt, have made the list.
Logged

Anthony Gray

Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2011, 12:46:23 PM »


  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay
  Cruden Bay



Logged

Steve Kline

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2011, 12:48:55 PM »
When I pulled up to N&P I couldn't believe I drove so far out of weigh to play the course. The first three or four holes weren't much but things really get interesting starting at #5. 5-11 is a fantastic stretch of golf. #6 is reminds me a lot of #7 on Old Mac, which is claimed to be an original. #6 is sharp dogleg left with a green that sits percherd up a major dune. The second shot plays noticeably uphill to a fairly blind green. #7 at Old Mac is more of a copy of this hole than perhaps any of the other templates. Since no else has pointed this out that shows you what a hidden gem N&P is.
Logged

Mark Chaplin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2011, 12:54:10 PM »
Anthony - that's one course care to comment on any others. I maybe a Dealie but I appreciate many other very fine golf courses, do you?
Logged
Cave Nil Vino

Eric Smith

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #13 on: July 19, 2011, 01:14:44 PM »
Sean,

I wonder if you've seen this painting of your little slice of heaven by Josh Smith, which I saw posted on the web earlier today...



http://thegolfpurist.blogspot.com/2011/07/wonderful-links-golf-course-pennard.html

Logged

Niall C

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #14 on: July 19, 2011, 01:43:32 PM »
In no particular order

Silloth
County Sligo
Royal Troon
Gullane 3
The Darley
Western Gailes
Machrihanish
Old Moray
Eden
Carnoustie
Nairn
North Berwick
Royal Dornoch
Murcar
Gullane 2
New Course
Buckpool
Glasgow Gailes

Niall
Logged

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #15 on: July 19, 2011, 02:28:34 PM »
Quote from: Eric Smith on July 19, 2011, 01:14:44 PM
Sean,

I wonder if you've seen this painting of your little slice of heaven by Josh Smith, which I saw posted on the web earlier today...



http://thegolfpurist.blogspot.com/2011/07/wonderful-links-golf-course-pennard.html



Eric

Seen it?  Its been in the making for what seems an eternity.  I am hoping Whitty brings it over for Buda so I can pick it up.

Niall

Old Moray is quite high on my radar as well. 

Ciao
Logged
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

Shane Wright

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #16 on: July 19, 2011, 02:37:25 PM »
Sean, easily one of my favorite topics and I hope to complete the entire True Links list someday.  I only have about 21 completed thus far but will be adding at least 5 more in 4 weeks (Scotland). I expect this list to change slightly.

Your input over the years has definitely helped me form a list I really want to go see....Pennard being one of them at the top of the list.

1. Royal County Down
2. Ballybunion
3. Pacific Dunes
4. Muirfield
5. TOC
6. Royal Portrush
7. Waterville
8. Lahinch
9. North Berwick West
10. Carnoustie
11. Kingsbarns
12. Tralee
13. European Club
14. Bandon Dunes
15. Portstewart
16. Portmarnock
17. Gullane
18. Nairn
« Last Edit: July 19, 2011, 02:38:57 PM by Shane Wright »
Logged

Bill_McBride

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #17 on: July 19, 2011, 02:46:15 PM »
The ones I've played, and love them all.....

Brutal to edit down from 26 to 18.   :'(

Bandon Dunes
Pacific Dunes
Old Macdonald

Royal Dornoch
Nairn
Elie
Crail Balcomie
Crail Craighead
Lundin Links
St Andrews Old
St Andrews New
North Berwick West Links
Muirfield

Princes
Royal St Georges
Royal Cinque Ports
Littlestone
Rye
Royal Liverpool
Wallasey
Burnham & Berrow

Royal Porthcawl
Pennard

Royal Portrush Valley
Castlerock
Royal County Down  (just walked in the Walker Cup)
Ardglass
« Last Edit: July 19, 2011, 02:48:08 PM by Bill_McBride »
Logged

Anthony Gray

Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #18 on: July 19, 2011, 02:51:47 PM »

  I would consider fast and firm links. So with that.

  1 Cruden Bay
  2 TOC
  3 North Berwick
  4 Prestwick
  5 Pacific Dunes
  6 Castle Stuart
  7 Turnberry
  8 Royal County Down
  9 Crail
 10 Ardglass
 11 Bandon Dunes
 12 Old Macdonald
 13 Royal Dornach
 14 Troon
 15 The New Course

  Anthony

 
Logged

Anthony Gray

Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #19 on: July 19, 2011, 03:11:25 PM »


  I forgot Kingsbarns.

  Anthony

Logged

Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #20 on: July 19, 2011, 04:38:48 PM »
Bill,

I don't think Crail Craighead is a links.  I really like it but I wouldn't call it a links.  So no need to feel guilty about scratching it from the list.

Mark
Logged
In June I will be riding the first three stages of this year's Tour de France route for charity.  630km (394 miles) in three days, with 7800m (25,600 feet) of climbing for the William Wates Memorial Trust (https://rideleloop.org/the-charity/) which supports underprivileged young people.

Gary Slatter

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #21 on: July 19, 2011, 05:44:14 PM »
Today`s list for me (often changes, but can`t wait to play them again!)
1. RCD
2. Royal Dornoch
3. Royal Aberdeen
4. Muirfield
5. TOC
6. Ballybunion
7. European Club
8. Royal Portrush
9. Maidstone
10. Highland Links
11. Nairn
12. Royal Liverpool Hoylake
13. Royal Lytham
14. Prestwick
15. Royal Porthcawl
16. Cruden Bay
17. Kingsbarns
18. Crail Balcomie
19. Lundin GC
20. Royal Birkdale
Logged
Gary Slatter
gary.slatter@raffles.com

Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #22 on: July 19, 2011, 06:07:56 PM »
OK, here's mine (today's, anyway) and in no particular order,

1   Elie
2   Muirfield
3   North Berwick
4   TOC
5   Royal Dornoch
6   Royal Liverpool
7   Royal Porthcawl
8   Burnham and Berrow
9   Royal West Norfolk
10  Royal Cinque Ports
11  Silloth on Solway
12  Littlestone
13  Rye
14  Cruden Bay
15  Brora
16  Saunton East
17  Pennard
18  Lundin Links
Logged
In June I will be riding the first three stages of this year's Tour de France route for charity.  630km (394 miles) in three days, with 7800m (25,600 feet) of climbing for the William Wates Memorial Trust (https://rideleloop.org/the-charity/) which supports underprivileged young people.

Bill_McBride

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #23 on: July 19, 2011, 06:45:10 PM »
Quote from: Mark Pearce on July 19, 2011, 04:38:48 PM
Bill,

I don't think Crail Craighead is a links.  I really like it but I wouldn't call it a links.  So no need to feel guilty about scratching it from the list.

Mark

I think the lower holes are in sand-based turf, but agree, the upper half dozen or so are pasture land.  Those holes down by the Balcomie terrace are sweet. 

I see you didn't include the Balcomie in your list.   An oversight?
Logged

Mark Chaplin

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Loop of Links
« Reply #24 on: July 19, 2011, 06:51:32 PM »
I've not been to Bandon so this is a geniune question, are they links courses or of links character?

My poor attempt;

Burnham & Berrow
Formby
West Lancs
Rye
Saunton East
Royal Birkdale
Royal Lytham
Royal Cinque Ports
Royal St Georges
Royal West Norfolk
Royal Porthcawl
Royal Dornoch
TOC
Machrihanish
Muirfield
North Berwick
Prestwick
Paraparaumu Beach
Logged
Cave Nil Vino
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
Tags:
Tags:

An Error Has Occurred!

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()
Back