THE GROVE TOP HERTFORDSHIRE MODERN COURSES THE MOST AUTHORITATIVE RANKINGS IN THE GAME 100 MODERN CLASSICS Ranking and rating the best European courses to have opened over the last 30 years The K Club offers an incredible golfing experience on its two Arnold Palmer-designed championship golf courses. Combine your visit with our revolutionary new virtual golfing experience at K Golf World, which will take you to the most iconic golf courses in the world! WELCOME glance down our recent Top Only those built from 1991 on were thriving right now, but developers 100s of England, Scotland, considered and we did not include any know only top-class new courses will AIreland and Wales suggests redesigns, even though some courses succeed. We don’t lack for quantity that golf course architecture have been overhauled in this period so of golf courses in this country, but completely lost its way for 60 years. significantly that they are essentially new. high-calibre new ones will do well. Our lists (and others like them, The trend towards excellence in new So, how did we create this ranking? not just ours) scream out that: most courses has become increasingly We took eligible courses from our of the best courses were created strong; three of the top 15 opened rankings of England, Scotland, Wales before 1930; there were very, very within the past 12 months. and Ireland, plus Continental Europe, few good ones built in the subsequent So whereas in the 60 years of doom and standardised their marks (because six decades; and that for some time – as well as, it must be said, among lots those individual rankings have their there has been an encouraging number of other courses to open in the ’90s – own specific panels). I then fitted them of new ones opening. just constructing a course was deemed all together as lots are on the same mark. The stat in the middle is stark a success. Now it has to be really good I have played 93 of the 100, so am very because other than Turnberry, to make it worthwhile. much to blame/praise for anything you nothing great was built in this period. We discuss specific architectural think is good/bad in this ranking. In contrast, the trend over the past issues with some key designers in a Whatever you think of the order, and three decades has been entirely and fascinating feature on page 141, but no-one will ever agree with it, I do increasingly uplifting. there is no doubt the focus now is hope it is viewed as a celebration of a These new courses are, of course, on fun, interest, playability and renaissance in course design which we up against all the classics in GB&I entertainment in new courses. In are all benefiting from. rankings, as well as the highly contrast, it wasn’t all that long ago That will continue to be the case as competitive England and Scotland that the emphasis was on challenge we all enjoy the fruits of what I believe FOR INFORMATION ON OUR GOLF EXPERIENCES: lists. So we thought it was time to verging on masochism. is a second Golden Age of Architecture. +353 1 601 7200 | [email protected] | www.kclub.ie | @thekclubgolf recognise them in their own ranking The good news is that this trend of The K Club, Straffan, County Kildare of courses to open in the past 30 years. excellence will continue. Golf is happily Chris Bertram, Top 100 Editor picture the most spectacular experience in golf Old Head, Ireland Old Head Golf Links, Kinsale, Co. Cork, P17 CX88, Ireland. Telephone (+353) (0)21 477 8444 | Email [email protected] TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK ISSUE 417 127 www.oldhead.com TOP Kyle Phillips’ masterpiece from 2000 is 100-calibre courses. Here, he had a our first Modern Courses No.1, and a stretch of coastline to work with, which very worthy one at that. This Fife course is hardly a bind, but it was also fairly is one of those rarities in golf; a course bland farmland. The wonders of modern that no-one seems to dislike. Of course, construction meant that could be turned TRUMP ABERDEEN not every golfer has it among their and shaped into a sandy seaside course. absolute favourites, but whenever we do It is not as pure a links as some ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND a ranking – and across the various panels elsewhere in Fife perhaps, but the ball Design 34 Setting 14 Memorability 14 Playability 7 it qualifies for – Kingbarns is universally bounds along its firm fairways in exactly Consistency 8 Presentation 8 TOTAL 85 1 popular. So while some have it among the way you’d want it to. 2 KINGSBARNS their top three in GB&I, few have it Kingsbarns’ strengths are a wonderful ST ANDREWS, outside their top 10. aesthetic appeal that is married to a We have long felt Phillips was one of wonderful balance of playability and SCOTLAND the best architects at getting the most challenge encapsulated in varied holes Design 34 Setting 14 Memorability 13 from a site. At places like The Grove that live long in the memory. It’s a recipe Playability 8 Consistency 8 Presentation 8 and Penha Longa he turned relatively for a course you want to go back to time TOTAL 85 unpromising canvasses into Top and again. So close to the No.1 spot – just look at how coastal winds meaning you simply must close the marks are between Trump choose tees that allow you to hit clubs you Aberdeen and Kingbarns. feel comfortable with; if you have to hit full- This Martin Hawtree course opened out driver here every time, you are either a to the sound of some controversy in very strong player or you like losing balls. 2016, partly as a result of its owner and It is in its best-ever shape, playing partly because of environmental concerns. properly linksy, which is a credit to the We judge it on the course that is there for us greens staff and commitment of the whole to play... and we very much like it. club to making it the best it can be. Hawtree was given the most breathtaking It arguably lacks a little of the nuance that site to work with and there is no doubt this could have made it even better, and in the is a course you don’t forget in a hurry. It has 10th and 18th it has holes not all will love, holes and moments you will recall instantly but if you go here with an open mind and in 10 years’ time. you aren’t blown away at several points, we It is indubitably exacting, with the will be surprised. A ‘must play’ course in number of elevated tees combined with the any context you care to place it. ARDFIN SKIBO ESTATE CASTLE ISLAY, SCOTLAND DORNOCH, SCOTLAND 3Design 35 Setting 14 Memorability 14 Playability 6 Design 34 Setting 14 Memorability 13 Playability 6 Consistency 8 4 Consistency 8 Presentation 8 TOTAL 85 Presentation 9 TOTAL 84 The story behind Ardfin is as intriguing as the Skibo opened in 1995 and thus qualifies for this ranking, course. Built by an Australian hedge fund wizard but we are really rating the second iteration of this Highland who bought this estate on the tiny island of Jura, links that emerged some two decades later. it took a superhuman effort to create a course at Tom Mackenzie, when working for Donald Steel, created this rocky, hilly, seaside location. The result is the initial course and it was perfectly good, but the overhaul breathtakingly good. Opened finally in 2020, we at the start of the last decade by one half of the Mackenzie & have had a number of panellists play here and all Ebert firm, in association with Director of Golf David raved about it. This eyebrow-raising position – on Thomson, has made it into a GB&I top 20 course rather than the back of its 11th in our Scotland list – shows ‘just’ a course that gets into the 100. how highly we rate it. We don’t think it has hit its Another truly epic setting is allied to a course presented peak, either. Few courses anywhere in the world without flaw. It is certainly a serious test but the removal beat it for setting and Bob Harrison has done a of gorse has made it infinitely more playable. Happily, wonderful job of creating a playable layout in the limited tee times are available and while they are not most staggering setting imaginable. cheap, this truly is a bucket-list course. ISSUE 417 TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK TODAYSGOLFER.CO.UK ISSUE 417 adRocket Straight into this lofty position for Rosapenna’s brand-new Irish links, which opened literally weeks ago. We got a pre-play look at St Patrick’s and fell in love with 8 it. An instant Tom Doak masterpiece, and as its ROSAPENNA understandably raw presentation naturally improves and it settles (ST PATRICK’S) in to its gorgeous seaside landscape, it will be rated even DOWNINGS, IRELAND more highly. In two years, only a Design 34 Setting 13 Memorability 13 Playability handful in Ireland will be better; 8 Consistency 8 Presentation 7 TOTAL 83 it’s that good. 5 CASTLE STUART 6 LOCH LOMOND 7 ADARE INVERNESS, SCOTLAND HELENSBURGH, SCOTLAND LIMERICK, IRELAND Design 34 Setting 14 Memorability 12 Design 33 Setting 14 Memorability 13 Design 33 Setting 12 Memorability 12 Playability 8 Consistency 7 Presentation 8 Playability 8 Consistency 8 Presentation 7 Playability 9 Consistency 7 Presentation 10 TOTAL 83 TOTAL 83 TOTAL 83 Gil Hanse made his mark in Europe and The setting is the thing here, of course it is.