21 – 30
Welcome to the most prestigious and most definitive ranking of the best golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland.
|
|
21 Saunton EastBut for the necessary infrastructure to host an Open, Saunton would be a prime candidate. Located on the edge of Bideford Bay and the estuary of the River Taw in the UNESCO-protected Braunton Burrows dunes, Saunton is a spectacular, tough links. |
|
|
22 Royal TroonMuch of the attention here is centred on the 8th, the Postage Stamp, but there are plenty of other memorable holes. Indeed, after an uninspiring start the holes around the turn are all terrific as they weave in and out of the dunes. |
|
|
23 Wentworth (West)The West is in a state of transition (hence the drop of three places) and was the most talked-about course in 2010. It generally received a positive response from the European Tour players |
|
|
24 NairnNairn boasts possibly the finest greens in the Top 100 – some accolade. The putting surfaces here have a sheen and almost glow with promise as you approach them from down the fairway. |
|
|
25 County LouthOne of Ireland’s best-ket secrets, Baltray – named after the local fishing village – is a course without a weak hole. It is laid out in two loops of nine and boasts greens in terrific condition. |
|
|
26 Sunningdale (New)A superb driving course which demands longer carries off the tee than the Old. With fewer trees than the Old, there’s even more heather to be wary of. |
|
|
27 LahinchThere is a picture of Phil Mickelson in the pro shop and you can imagine him delighting in the shot-making required to prosper here. |
|
|
28 GantonThe finest course in Yorkshire is an inland links which has hosted the Ryder Cup, the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup. It is located near Scarborough, nine miles from the sea, and though it has a heathland look to it, Ganton plays more like a links. |
|
|
29 Gleneagles (Kings)The King’s is a Braid design which is sadly now too short to test the pros, having frequently been a stunning venue for the Scottish Open. |
|
|
30 West SussexThe sheer beauty of this heathland layout gives it its high ranking. Despite technology advances, the course has not undergone any major changes and might be regarded as a little short. |
