[Ally Mcintosh]

A conversation elsewhere prompted this: What courses are in the discussion?


Call it quirk if you want but really I’m just talking about links courses that go above and beyond the “norm” of dunes, undulations and a few blind shots.


My vote for top dog is Perranporth. Please limit your response to no more than three, ideally identifying your winner.

[Sean_A]

Perranporth is tough to top.

How about Corballis?  Carne?

Ciao


 

[Ally Mcintosh]

I think with Perranporth, I counted up 22 blind shots over the 18 holes. For me, what generates that - aside from the routing - is the macro-landscape. It is unusual because it is on a raised beach and the overall site is shaped in a convex, upturned saucer thus creating blind shot after blind shot... Add that to the compact nature and some pretty significant movement and you end up with some insane golf.


I’m sure it can be out-crazied in certain areas though: It doesn’t cross or share fairways, it doesn’t use man-made objects.

[Tom_Doak]

Perranporth is the craziest I've seen, although I'd guess Jeff Warne and Clyde Johnson have some lesser-known contenders.


The next 5 (alphabetically):
Carne
Cashen @ Ballybunion
Cullen
Pennard
Prestwick


HM:  Waverly in NZ

[Thomas Dai]

In no particular order other than the first mentioned -
Perranporth (winner)
Pennard
Cruit Island
Carne (18+9)
Cashen at Ballyb'
Otway.
atb

[Jim Franklin]

I love blind shots, but 22 may be sensory overload. Have not played it, but it is now on my list.

[Steve Salmen]

The Machrie vintage 2006 and Askernish

[jeffwarne]

Perranporth is the craziest I've seen, although I'd guess Jeff Warne and Clyde Johnson have some lesser-known contenders.


The next 5 (alphabetically):
Carne
Cashen @ Ballybunion
Cullen
Pennard
Prestwick


HM:  Waverly in NZ

Well that's high praise indeed coming from the guy who wrote the guide I used for years(along with Finnegan). And Clyde has unearthed many, many gems.


I'm not having any original thoughts at the moment...
Honorable mention
The  1997 version of Narin and Portnoo maybe
Gweedore-but mainly for the home made feel and shared undefined width on 4-5 holes
Cruit
Covesea
Pennard
Aberfoyle(not links but fiery when I was there)
Freshwater Bay-Isle of Wight(highly recommended)


My Top 3
Cullen(although the craziest thing was the 224 yard sprint I did on #7 from the back tee to the pin, with a pull cart in tow-on a bet-can't remember the time but it was a full on- downhill sprint on a precarious narrow path) Maybe 45 seconds was the over/under? Have to check the video...
Otway-shared fairways-every hole


Perranporth probably the winner.

[Sean_A]

I love blind shots, but 22 may be sensory overload. Have not played it, but it is now on my list.

That is sensory underload 


Ciao

[Garland Bayley]

Pennard
I played twice. Both times the course was busy. Play was exceedingly slow, because often you had to stand on the tee and wait until the group in front of you reached the green to know it would be safe to hit, because undulations hid some or all of the golfers in front of you. Perranporth does not suffer this problem that I recall.

[Sean_A]

I don't think Pennard is terribly funky at all.  No more so than N Berwick or TOC and nowhere near as funky as Perranporth.

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

Maybe the craziest, quirkiest links courses are the ones on the flattest sites?
Atb

[Brett Meyer]

I don't think Pennard is terribly funky at all. 

I agree with this--I thought that the quirkiness of Pennard was overstated. With the exception of the super-awkward 17th hole (which I really didn't like), I thought that it was solid. Visually dramatic, but the shots were less weird than I expected. It was also in much better condition than I expected it to be.


The quirkiness of Perranporth is not overstated and while I haven't played too many links courses, it's easily my pick. 12 and 13 must be about the wildest back-to-back holes anywhere.


I'd also note that Rye is quirkier than it gets credit for. The fourth hole is the closest golf equivalent I've seen to walking a tight rope. The blind, dogleg sixth is also very awkward, especially because a higher handicap could easily take out someone on either the fifth or ninth tees. The severity of the hazards around the par 3 greens--and the tininess of the green on the 200+ yard fourteenth--also seemed pretty quirky to me.


Maybe Rye doesn't get enough credit for quirkiness just because of how difficult most of the quirk is.

[Bill Gayne]

Dunaverty in Southend, Scotland has some pretty wild stuff. It's a 4,800 yard par 66. If you have issues with heights the 11th tee will test you but then a cow will stick his head through the fence to say hi.

[Clyde Johnson]

Perranporth is the craziest I've seen, although I'd guess Jeff Warne and Clyde Johnson have some lesser-known contenders.


The next 5 (alphabetically):
Carne
Cashen @ Ballybunion
Cullen
Pennard
Prestwick


HM:  Waverly in NZ

It's hard to beat Perranporth, it has the undulation and the elevation change!


Otway (prior to the loss of holes) probably had the craziest, most compact routing.


Iona is crazy for it's rawness, and some wacky rock outcroppings that influence play. (Cullen is in the same category I guess, but way more refined.)


Barra is a hybrid of links and boggier ground, but that tackles some fairly crazy ground.


Those three would really get me going!!




[I'm not sure it's crazy, and it only has two links holes, but St Medan's - Scotland's most southerly course - is a recent 'find', full of cool half-par holes (including one of the best I have seen anywhere)!]




It's funny, most of the truly crazy golf (at least in GB&I) is to be found inland.

[Tom_Doak]

I'd also note that Rye is quirkier than it gets credit for. The fourth hole is the closest golf equivalent I've seen to walking a tight rope. The blind, dogleg sixth is also very awkward, especially because a higher handicap could easily take out someone on either the fifth or ninth tees. The severity of the hazards around the par 3 greens--and the tininess of the green on the 200+ yard fourteenth--also seemed pretty quirky to me.

I thought of Rye but I would never want to take the chance of offending them!

[Tommy Williamsen]

I think is some ways most links courses are a bit crazy compared to parkland golf. That might be why most of us seem to prefer them. Prestwick, Pennard, Rye, even RCD have their own little peccadilloes. Bull Bay just off the coast of Wales, while probably not strictly links, is one of Fowler’s wildest courses. It might be one of his least known.


https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,68731.msg1649120.html#msg1649120

[David_Tepper]

Speaking of Rye, there is a brand new video tour of Rye on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51jG0R-YnLo
 

[Brian_Ewen]

Balnagask in Aberdeen has its "crazy" moments, and always gets overlooked.

[Thomas Dai]

Balnagask in Aberdeen has its "crazy" moments, and always gets overlooked.

+1
In parts Enniscrone, Portstewart and Tralee likely fit the bill too. A few others maybe as well, but in parts though, not really as a whole.
Atb

[Ally Mcintosh]

Balnagask in Aberdeen has its "crazy" moments, and always gets overlooked.

True. A few really good holes too. Been far too long but I played this a lot as a junior.

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