[David_Tepper]

Yet another list to critique (with Rye at #8, St. Endoc at #9 and West Sussex at #10):

http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=419757&ver=html5&p=20#{%22page%22:21,%22issue_id%22:419757,%22numpages%22:1}

[Robin_Hiseman]

...with Ganton nowhere to be seen. It might feel hard done by not to get the No. 8 spot, or indeed better Woodhall Spa.

[Bill Gayne]

Wow Hoylake #2. I thought it was fantastic but it never seems to get much love.

[Jim Hoak]

I have new respect for Hoylake.  Just played it once and was not that impressed, but I saw that like the Old Course, it would probably grow on you.
I've never played Alwoodley.  Should it be considered Top 10?

[Mark Bourgeois]

...with Ganton nowhere to be seen. It might feel hard done by not to get the No. 8 spot, or indeed better Woodhall Spa.

Thank you Robin !

[Sean_A]

It strikes me that Woodhall & Lytham are out of step.  All the others are arguably top 10, but I would remove Birkdale for sure because three courses should be no brainers....Formby, St Georges Hill and Deal. 

My top 10 best would be

Sandwich
Sunny Old
St Enodoc
Rye
Formby
St Georges Hill
WHO
Deal
Woking
Swinley Forest (I could interchange this with Sunny New, Hoylake, Worplesdon, Birkdale, Ganton or Worlington with no issues)

Yes, I go for the charm of the southern heathlands compared to the rugged northern counterparts 

Ciao

[Rich Goodale]

Given the dissing that this article gives to Ganton. Alwoodley, Hollinwell and even Silloth, I suspect that the writer of this mailed-in piece rarely gets north of Watford.  At least he or she got Sandwich right.

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

I see Lytham has moved to Ayrshire.     

[Michael Wolf]

For this American it would be:


Royal Saint George's
Sunningdale Old
Royal Lytham & St A
St George's Hill
Birkdale
Sunningdale New
Rye
Hoylake
Formby
Birkdale


But I haven't played Walton Heath, St Endoc or West Sussex.


I seem to be in the minority on R L& StA as my favorite in the Northwest. I just think 7-11 in the back corner are the best stretch in England. It's always made it stand out to me.


And if I could pick a couple of clubs to be an overseas member of, I can think of worst places than Formby and St Georges Hill. Both, to me at least, have that small club/great member courses feel that their more famous neighbors lack. In the same way Sommerset and SFGC have it over Baltusrol and Olympic.


In total it's my opinion that England is still the most overlooked country in the world for golf. It is astonishing how many great courses are within an hour of London and/or Southport. And how generous and open the memberships have been with allowing my trespasses.


Michael Wolf

[Tom_Doak]

For whatever it's worth, here would be the results from The Confidential Guide:


1.  Royal St. George's [three 9's]


T2. Rye
T2. Royal Worlington & Newmarket  [two 9's]


4.  Swinley Forest  [one 9]


5.  Sunningdale Old [four 8's]


T6. St. George's Hill
T6. Sunningdale New
T6. Walton Heath Old
T6. Woodhall Spa
T6. Royal Lytham & St. Annes  [three 8's]


T11. Ganton
T11. St. Enodoc
T11. West Sussex
T11. Royal Cinque Ports  [two 8's]


T15. Notts
T15. Royal Liverpool
T15. Royal West Norfolk  [one 8]


There isn't much between a lot of them, really.

[Mark Bourgeois]

No Woking on that list? Sad!

[John Kavanaugh]

 


And if I could pick a couple of clubs to be an overseas member of, I can think of worst places than Formby and St Georges Hill. Both, to me at least, have that small club/great member courses feel that their more famous neighbors lack. In the same way Sommerset and SFGC have it over Baltusrol and Olympic.


In total it's my opinion that England is still the most overlooked country in the world for golf. It is astonishing how many great courses are within an hour of London and/or Southport. And how generous and open the memberships have been with allowing my trespasses.


Michael Wolf

Michael,


Given the generosity of the English people allowing you to play their great courses what would be the benefits of becoming an overseas member?

[Michael Wolf]

JK -


I could keep a spare dog in GB instead of having to fly mine back and forth.


MW

[Mark Pearce]

I still can't understand how people can prefer Woodhall Spa to Ganton.  But then I prefer Lytham to Hoylake.  As Rich said, it does rather seem that this was written by someone with little familiarity with Northern England.

[Peter Pallotta]

Given the dissing that this article gives to Ganton. Alwoodley, Hollinwell and even Silloth, I suspect that the writer of this mailed-in piece rarely gets north of Watford.  At least he or she got Sandwich right.

For any British writers or filmmakers out there, I think "North of Watford" a terrific title. It's resonate of something, though I don't know what. But Sean and I can serve as models for the myopic fools who prefer not to go.. North of Watford

[Thomas Dai]

Watford, now within a couple miles of Watford there's a course considered good enough to hold a WCG Championship a few years ago, so it must be at least top-10 in England!
Atb

[Tommy Williamsen]

 


And if I could pick a couple of clubs to be an overseas member of, I can think of worst places than Formby and St Georges Hill. Both, to me at least, have that small club/great member courses feel that their more famous neighbors lack. In the same way Sommerset and SFGC have it over Baltusrol and Olympic.


In total it's my opinion that England is still the most overlooked country in the world for golf. It is astonishing how many great courses are within an hour of London and/or Southport. And how generous and open the memberships have been with allowing my trespasses.


Michael Wolf

Michael,


Given the generosity of the English people allowing you to play their great courses what would be the benefits of becoming an overseas member?

John, I was an overseas member at Westward Ho! and Saunton for about five years. It was pretty cheap. I'd go for a week and just play there and play in some weekly club events. It is nice to have a place to hang your hat for a while.

[John Mayhugh]

It's hard to argue with Sandwich at the top of the list, but Brancaster is my favorite in England.

[Tim Gallant]

I still can't understand how people can prefer Woodhall Spa to Ganton.  But then I prefer Lytham to Hoylake.  As Rich said, it does rather seem that this was written by someone with little familiarity with Northern England.

Mark,


I actually prefer Woodhall Spa to Ganton Not to say I didn't love Ganton, because I do. On one play each I preferred WS but grant that it is hardly enough to make a convincing case on why I prefer one over the other. In general, I thought the greens were better at Ganton, but the gorse really put me off, whereas at WS, the heather was tough, but don't recall losing a golf ball between our group. Additionally, I was charmed by the back 9 at the Spa. I found variety, challenge and recovery that made it one of my personal favourites. I would love to go back once Mr. Doak completes his work there though - and I would like to see Ganton again!!

[Garland Bayley]

For whatever it's worth, here would be the results from The Confidential Guide:


1.  Royal St. George's [three 9's]


T2. Rye
T2. Royal Worlington & Newmarket  [two 9's]


4.  Swinley Forest  [one 9]


5.  Sunningdale Old [four 8's]


T6. St. George's Hill
T6. Sunningdale New
T6. Walton Heath Old
T6. Woodhall Spa
T6. Royal Lytham & St. Annes  [three 8's]


T11. Ganton
T11. St. Enodoc
T11. West Sussex
T11. Royal Cinque Ports  [two 8's]


T15. Notts
T15. Royal Liverpool
T15. Royal West Norfolk  [one 8]


There isn't much between a lot of them, really.

Dang Robin. Ganton just gets no love! Even surpassed by Woodhall Spa. 

[Buddy Aiken]

Having the great pleasure of living in England for a while here is my list:

1.   Rye
2.   Worlington
3.   Sandwich
4.   Brancaster
5.   Sunningdale – Old
6.   Deal
7.   Hunstanton
8.   New Zealand
9.   Hollinwell
10.   Woking

Hon mention:  Lytham, Sunningdale New, St George’s Hill, Saunton East, Walton Heath Old, Formby, Hoylake, Swinley Forest, Royal North Devon, Worplesdon

Embarrassed to have to admit that I missed the following which may alter my views:  Ganton, Birkdale, Woodhall Spa, St Enedoc, West Sussex, Burnham and Berrow, Alwoodley, Aldeburgh

Couldn't agree more with Michael's comment about England perhaps being the most overlooked country in the world for golf.

[jeffwarne]

The problem with a Top 10 in England is there are are at least 20 Top 10's!

[David_Tepper]

Sunningdale New, Swinley Forest, St. George's Hill and Ganton make the Top 10 on this list:

http://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-courses/britain-ireland/england

(and Jeff W. is right about 20 Top 10's )

[Matt Dawson]

Having the great pleasure of living in England for a while here is my list:

1.   Rye
2.   Worlington
3.   Sandwich
4.   Brancaster
5.   Sunningdale – Old
6.   Deal
7.   Hunstanton
8.   New Zealand
9.   Hollinwell
10.   Woking

Hon mention:  Lytham, Sunningdale New, St George’s Hill, Saunton East, Walton Heath Old, Formby, Hoylake, Swinley Forest, Royal North Devon, Worplesdon

Embarrassed to have to admit that I missed the following which may alter my views:  Ganton, Birkdale, Woodhall Spa, St Enedoc, West Sussex, Burnham and Berrow, Alwoodley, Aldeburgh

Couldn't agree more with Michael's comment about England perhaps being the most overlooked country in the world for golf.

Hey Buddy, good to see you here again. That's not a bad top10 list actually. I was up at Hunstanton last month in a 72 hole weekend twinned with Brancaster. Forgotten what a solid course it is, although not very linksy once you are away from the sea. It has a definite rivalry with Brancaster, but is a very different club and the combination makes for an excellent weekend


Ganton is definitely the pick of your omissions. It's setting and quality of holes is superb. I have reflected and prefer it to Alwoodley, and probably ahead of Woodhall Spa although it's 25yrs since I played there. Have you no time for Hoylake or just not seen it?

[Buddy Aiken]

Having the great pleasure of living in England for a while here is my list:

1.   Rye
2.   Worlington
3.   Sandwich
4.   Brancaster
5.   Sunningdale – Old
6.   Deal
7.   Hunstanton
8.   New Zealand
9.   Hollinwell
10.   Woking

Hon mention:  Lytham, Sunningdale New, St George’s Hill, Saunton East, Walton Heath Old, Formby, Hoylake, Swinley Forest, Royal North Devon, Worplesdon

Embarrassed to have to admit that I missed the following which may alter my views:  Ganton, Birkdale, Woodhall Spa, St Enedoc, West Sussex, Burnham and Berrow, Alwoodley, Aldeburgh

Couldn't agree more with Michael's comment about England perhaps being the most overlooked country in the world for golf.

Hey Buddy, good to see you here again. That's not a bad top10 list actually. I was up at Hunstanton last month in a 72 hole weekend twinned with Brancaster. Forgotten what a solid course it is, although not very linksy once you are away from the sea. It has a definite rivalry with Brancaster, but is a very different club and the combination makes for an excellent weekend


Ganton is definitely the pick of your omissions. It's setting and quality of holes is superb. I have reflected and prefer it to Alwoodley, and probably ahead of Woodhall Spa although it's 25yrs since I played there. Have you no time for Hoylake or just not seen it?

Hey Matt - No issue with Hoylake at all.  My view was probably influenced from unfortunately having only had the chance to play it once.  I could make an argument for any of my hon mentions cracking the list.  Jeff summed it up beautifully with his comment about there being 20 Top 10's.  I've got more courses from England in my top ten overall then any other country - I don't say that too loudly since moving back to this side of the pond.

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