11 – 20

Welcome to the most prestigious and most definitive ranking of the best golf courses in Great Britain and Ireland.

  

 

11 Royal Lytham & St Annes

A rise to the cusp of the top 10 for Lytham, its second-highest position in the history of our rankings. This move is partly down to some of the panellists being especially keen on this robust, honest links and also due to the changes which have been implemented ahead of July’s Open Championship.

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12 Carnoustie

A fall for this Open venue, one which is down to the panel’s emphasis this year on “having fun” on the course.

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13 Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin)

A fall outside the top 10 yet it remains popular with our panel; its drop is more a reflection on such developments as Lytham’s Open changes and one sparkling new entry.

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14 Loch Lomond

A slight fall due to the advances of others but it remains a golfing paradise and continues to evolve.

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15 Royal St George’s

The 125-year-old links was lengthened by over 100 yards ahead of its successful hosting of The Open last year.

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16 Kingsbarns

Kingsbarns remains the benchmark for new courses and they have improved the drainage system and revetted some bunkers over the winter.

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17 Portmarnock

This historic links has removed trees behind the 4th green, which now has a marram mound surrounding it.

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18 The European Club

This winter saw owner and designer Pat Ruddy close-in the two fairway bunkers on the 8th but left some “interesting” undulations.

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19 Ballybunion (Old)

A favourite of Tom Watson’s, Ballybunion has changed two holes on the front nine. They have redesigned bunkering at the par-3 8th and introduced a new fairway bunker on the 4th.

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20 Walton Heath (Old)

A bunker has been taken out on the premier course at the host of the 1981 Ryder Cup, while some trees have also been removed.

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