affordable gems

[victor]

I'm trying to compile a list [20] of affordable  [rare] ,fun, special places to play in uk and Ireland.I could use some help. I'm trying to leave off the obvious big names and tournament courses and stick strictly to links courses. I guess the days of hidden gems are gone, but it still remains the best pocket of golf in the world. Thanks
I've played the top 6 and had great fun. I'm hoping the remainder make sense.

Machrihanish
Burnham and Berrow
St. Enodoc
Western Gailes
Hayling
Seacroft
Machrie
Cruden Bay
Sillith on Solway
Aberdovey
Pennard
Island
Carne
Seascale
Enniscrone
Bamburgh Castle
Wallasey
Moray
Glasgow Gailes
Southport and Ainsdale

[Doug Wright]

Victor,

Welcome to GCA!

Tim Weiman's and my favourite Irish gem: Dooks

All The Best,

[Jeff Fortson]

victor,

Welcome.

I'd include Lundin Links and Leven Links in Fife.

Jeff F.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

A good start, but I think you'll find Western Gailes in the serious money league.  Glasgow Gailes, too, probably.  Brancepeth Castle (Durham, a Colt Course), Beau Desert (Midlands, Fowler), Liphook (Hants heath-and-heather, Croome), Southerness (Dumfries and Galloway, Ross), West Sussex (South, Campbell etc), Aldeburgh (East Anglia, Fernie and others) and almost anywhere in Wales (see recent posts on Porthcawl, Southerndown etc) would be amongst my list of best-value top-quality courses in the UK.  At the very top level the best value are Woodhall Spa and Ganton - they do not overcharge for their excellence.

[Stan Dodd]

I would add:
Baltray
Panmure
Montrose
Crail
Dunbar

Cheers
Stan

[Brian_Ewen]

Victor
What do you class as affordable ?

[Mike Erdmann]

I don't know that I'd call Cruden Bay affordable.  A weekend round now costs £65 ($107 US).  I'd definitely add Brora to your list though.

[Forrest Richardson]

Church Stretton, So. England
Ravensworth, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Goswick, Northern England

[Bill Weber]

Murcar is IMO definately a hidden gem and not to be missed along with it's neighbor Royal Aberdeen.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

You'll be spending a huge sum on petrol if you try to visit the whole of the British Isles which we are all encouraging you to do!  If you're trying to do it on a limited budget (and I assume you are, as you asked the question in the first place) I can easily suggest good value courses within easy reach of each other.  Just send me an E-mail when you've sorted out the cornerstones of your journey.

[Matthew MacKay]

If you're in Edinburgh don't pass up Braid Hills, for the views of the city alone.  There are also many very good holes and I believe the fee is about 8 quid.  Old Musselburgh is lots of fun and a good history lesson as well.  I think it's maybe 10 quid.

[Jack_Marr]

All of these

www.northandwestcoastlinks.com

Unfortunately, Baltray has gone up to 80 or 90 euro. The Island is expensive too, unfortunately.

[Mitch Hantman]

I, too, would add Brora to your list.  Also, Troon Portland course is a good value, and a very good course as well.  

[plabatt]

 ;)I second the nomination of Lundin Links, Montrose, and Both Crail courses.  And add Ladybank.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Troon Portland is the 2nd course at Royal Troon and is, I'm afraid, £100 a day.  I wonder if the municipal courses at Troon were meant?  They are fine links courses in their own right.  Nicklaus had to qualify on one for the 1962 Open and praised it.  Visit the website and you'll also find bellisle at Ayr which is a fine parkland course.  A little further down the coast are Portpatrick (fun clifftop) and Stranraer (pretty parkland/heathland overlooking sea) and the excellent value Southerness, one of our loveliest links with the finest turf in the south of Scotland.
http://www.royaltroon.co.uk/
http://www.golfsouthayrshire.com/courses_frameset.html

[TEPaul]

If you're in the southern tier of Ireland check out Mallow. But for a truly affordable gem if you can manage to pop over to Northern Florida do not miss Fernandina Beach Municipal!  

[Mitch Hantman]

Mark,

Portland is 100 pounds for all day play, including a very good lunch.  If youplay 36 holes, it works out to less that 50 pounds per round.

[Pete Lavallee]

If you're drawing the affordable line at 50 pounds, for that price you can play Saunton, an excellent links, with lunch thrown in. Royal North Devon (Westward Ho!) is a step back in time and should definetly be on anyone's affordable links list.

[TEPaul]

Don't know whether you're planning on getting to Scotland but I was over there and England about a month ago and the most affordable gem we ran into was---surprise!----Muirfield!! However, after reading their history book and the stories about Patty Hamner I guess price isn't the issue there!  

[Bob_Huntley]

TEPaul,

My goddamn name is Paddy Hanmer, not Patty. Just because I served in the Royal Navy does not make me a sodomite,

Yours in perpetual wrath.

Capt. Paddy Hanmer RNR.

[David_Tepper]

If you are going to the Highlands to play Royal Dornoch, a rota of Brora, Golspie, Fortrose & Rosemarkie and Tain will lower your cost per round substanially, without lessening your golf experience one bit. On the drive up there, Boat of Garten and Grantown-on-Spey are worth a detour as well. I doubt you will pay more than 30 pounds per round at any of these courses, at least on a weekday.  

[ForkaB]

Tom P

If Muirfield is your idea of "affordable" you must have been comped or have just won the lottery!

Bob H

Isn't Capt. Hamner RNR, also RIP?

[Bob_Huntley]

Rich,

Yes, I meant to add the address as Elysian Fields.

Bob

[TEPaul]

"TEPaul,
My goddamn name is Paddy Hanmer, not Patty. Just because I served in the Royal Navy does not make me a sodomite,
Yours in perpetual wrath.
Capt. Paddy Hanmer RNR."

Whoops, Oops, Ouch! The one and only time I tried to work the delete button on this website it didn't work! It sure as Hell better work this time!!!

Bob:

I'll get to the delete button whenever I stop laughing over that "sodomite" bit!

[TEPaul]

Bob:

Just one other thing. Can you tell me what it means when those RNR guys have a little teddy bear propped up on the pillow on their bunks?