I had an outstanding year for golf which by my reckoning included playing no less than 13 great courses, many of which are inland.
MOST SURPISING COURSE:
Sacred 9 - I was taken aback at how good this design is - and I mean design in the sense archies would use the term. Superb use of the features which when combined with some very good man-made stuff generates a great course from non-descript land. RUNNER -UP:
Carnoustie Burnside is just a pleasure to play and a reminder of how simple the game can be.
MOST DISAPPOINTING COURSE:
Royal Ashdown Forest, far too much bland architecture getting away with being called great because the course is bunkerless. The standard of this type is Kington and RAF doesn't measure up. RUNNER-UP: While imo still great, but far short of what could have been created,
Trump Aberdeen.
BEST NEW PLAY COURSE:
Walton Heath Old really impressed me; no nonsense golf with loads of cool features. RUNNER-UP:
Dormie Club has incredible diversity!
MOST SURPRISING SECOND (third or fourth!) LOOK COURSE: Several revisits impressed me, but I think none more so than
Alwoodley. I reckon the balance of challenge, interest, beauty and joy to be alive factor is about spot on. RUNNER-UP:
Old Town's renovation work has made a great course awesome. SECOND RUNNER-UP:
Mid Pines completely charmed me. I liked the course, but the waste area work has transformed the design. THIRD RUNNER-UP: I think the
Deal light bulb finally switched on for me. I still find it too difficult in a decent wind, but there is much to applaud.
FAVOURITE LINKS not called
St Enodoc : This is a three-way tie between Cruden Bay, Carnoustie Burnside and Perranporth. I guess if forced to pick one it would be
Perranporth because it is outrageous. I played with a guy who doesn't see much golf outside his club and the dumfounded look on his face still resonates with me.
FAVOURITE INLAND COURSE:
Kington! RUNNER -UP:
Old Town.
BEST AFFORDABLE COURSE: By affordable I mean under £20. Golf really has become stupidly expensive and
Reddish Vale is a reminder that golf can be affordable, accessible and fun. RUNNER-UP:
Cleeve Cloud; golfers will travel a long way to get better, more interesting and prettier golf for ~$30.
BEST MODERATELY PRICED COURSE: By moderate I mean under £50 (~$75) and no member invitation 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. In any case, despite costing less than £30,
Kington is the clear winner.
BEST COURSE: Well, I think
Deal is the undoubted winner this year. RUNNER-UP: In a much tighter choice,
Alwoodley just beats out Old Town and Walton Heath Old. Three of the four candidates are inland courses - I must be getting old. Both Deal and Alwoodley proved to be most impressive this year and I hope to see them again in 2014.
I would like to see the awards of others so crank em' out.
Ciao