What are the qualities of the best hilly, parkland courses?

[Ed Brzezowski]

Ed
The best parts of Concord reflect this as well.
I do not see Merion as a hilly parkland course by the way.

I would agree with that, playing RG on the 11th. I will look for you on 18.

[Jon Cavalier]

JonI think of a parkland course as one that is routed through trees and up and down hills with possibly a creek running through it.

Thanks, Mike. Your description is virtually verbatim how I've always thought of a parkland course, and how I've usually heard it described: if it has trees and hills, it's parkland.

In the UK, a true parkland course is one laid out in the grounds of a grand house.  The major feature of parkland is small groups of majestic specimen trees. Self-seeding saplings and scrub are kept at bay by resident deer.


Examples would be Stoke Park and Knutsford GC, in the grounds of Tatton Park.



Unfortunately, pretty well any course which cannot be described as a links, heathland, headland, downland, or moorland course is now erroneously described as "parkland."


Many of these would actually be better called "Farmers' Field" courses.

Thank you, Duncan, for the education. Very enlightening, and much appreciated.