I started my golf at a funny little Colt course in Shropshire, Lilleshall Hall. It had a few fine holes on the back nine through dense forest, but when I got a little better I found it too short. Then came golf at Oxford and Southfield in particular, again Colt. It was a level higher than Lilleshall Hall and quite good if rather shabby in those days. But I'd go back to either if I deigned to play another round of golf.
The great courses came in the middle of my life TOC, Lytham, Birkdale, Hoylake, Rye, Sunningdale, Walton Heath (where I won an open medal competition) but I suppose I would have to take Royal Dornoch because that is where I had my lowest gross score, 77.
I have a great love of the courses of East Anglia though I haven't been for many a year, Hunstanton, Royal West Norfolk, Sheringham, Aldeburgh (a particular favourite), Woodbridge, but I opt for Royal Worlington because I had one of the happiest experiences there playing with my wife with only one other match out on the course. What bliss!
Finally I'm going to go overseas, including Ireland where I used to play Royal County Down frequently. In America I got to play Olympic Lake, Pasatiempo and Meadow Club on a visit to San Fransisco and a host of well known clubs in the New York area from Winged Foot East and West to Yale and I think it was a very private day at Gulph Mills that took the palm, I think.
So, which to take out of all these? None of them. I have effectively given up golf but I maintain a life membership of Conwy, and even if I only go down to play 3,4 or 5 holes twice a year I'll enjoy it, and standing on the 7th tee with the sea close at hand on the left and a glorious bounding fairway straight ahead it is the sort of place that when you get to the tee you say, 'This is why I came here, just to stand here.'