| We all have tick-lists...Restaurants we have | | | | north of Paris, is a parkland course with |
| to eat at, hotels we have to stay in, things | | | | thick rough and tricky greens. The bunkers |
| we have to do. For golfers, it's the | | | | are perfectly-placed and every hole presents |
| tick-list of "Courses I have to play before I | | | | a challenge - whether it's the length, an oak |
| die (and preferably whilst I can still get | | | | tree overhanging the fairway corner, a |
| round a golf course under 100)". | | | | triple-tiered green or a massive bunker in |
| | | | the middle of the fairway. One of the best |
| I've been lucky enough to play golf on five | | | | golf courses in the world, and definitely |
| of the six continents (Australasia here I | | | | deserving of a place in my golf top 10! |
| come!) and have always travelled with my | | | | |
| clubs since the age of nine. Over the years I | | | | Canouan Island |
| have seen amazing variety in golf course | | | | |
| design - I calculate that I've played circa | | | | Having just come back from here and lost |
| 1,500 golf clubs and I don't want to know how | | | | about five balls per round, I want to go back |
| many balls I've lost! It was inevitable that | | | | again better prepared. Part of the Grenadine |
| I've played golf courses that would be better | | | | Islands, this is a corner of paradise and the |
| used as cow fields and others that I could | | | | Jim Fazio golf course fits in perfectly. The |
| play for the rest of my life. Some of the | | | | front nine is demanding off the tee as the |
| golf courses' architecture is flattering on | | | | landing zones are quite narrow and the wind |
| the handicap and others make you think hard, | | | | off the beach (just yards away) can really |
| struggle some more and eventually abandon all | | | | punish the ball. The back nine is treacherous |
| thoughts of posting a decent medal card. | | | | and wonderful at the same time...every shot |
| Nevertheless, if the course can beat you up | | | | has to be spot on. The greens and fairways |
| and still entice you back for more, it must | | | | are immaculate but the rough is fluffy and |
| be good. Here's my top 10 golf courses that | | | | the thick stuff is a no-go zone! The best |
| provide a difficult challenge. | | | | golf course architecture in the Caribbean by |
| | | | a long way. |
| Kingbarns | | | | |
| | | | Pebble Beach |
| Wow, this golf course's design is good. Off | | | | |
| the coast to the west of Saint Andrews, it's | | | | I haven't played that much in the States but |
| quite a new course but you certainly couldn't | | | | I have played some of their best. For me, |
| tell and the test is relentless. Stunning | | | | Pebble Beach is the tops. There's the usual |
| links golf with large greens, thick wispy | | | | US-style slick service that sets you up |
| rough and views to take your breath away. You | | | | nicely and the condition of the course is |
| need a good caddy, a strong drink and | | | | typical of the California climate. Rated No.1 |
| concentration. Deservedly rated by many Pro's | | | | public USA golf course, it isn't the most |
| as their favourite course in that part of the | | | | difficult challenge you'll ever face but you |
| world. | | | | know the green-keeper is being kind on you. |
| | | | However, get a little bit of wind and let the |
| Ballybunion | | | | history of the course affect you and there's |
| | | | a very nasty bite behind the beautiful |
| Every time I've played here, it's blown a | | | | façade of the golf course's design... |
| hoolie but it's the west coast of Ireland so | | | | |
| what can I expect? The golf courses' | | | | The European |
| architecture (both new and old) provides | | | | |
| wonderful tests of golf with every shot in | | | | They say that tour pro's have walked off this |
| the bad needed. Massive dunes, treacherous | | | | course - but they only play for money and the |
| greens and wind coming from every direction. | | | | rest of us can play for fun! A simple |
| You know you've played golf after 36 holes | | | | clubhouse belies the genius of the design. |
| here. The clubhouse is great but avoid buying | | | | Quite long and with plenty of |
| waterproofs - it would be cheaper getting | | | | cunningly-placed bunkers, you have to be Gary |
| wet! | | | | Player and John Daly if you are going to beat |
| | | | this golf course's design and score well |
| Hunstanton | | | | here. Again, the views are as distracting as |
| | | | a beautiful girl in a church and you need |
| I actually prefer Royal West Norfolk just | | | | plenty of balls or a caddy with a long stick. |
| down the road but Hunstanton is a sterner | | | | South of Dublin and better than the big-name |
| test of nerves. Particularly as I always seem | | | | courses of the area. |
| to be playing it in scratch foursomes and I'm | | | | |
| playing the evens. The main difficulty here | | | | Le Touessrok |
| is the greens - many of which are below or | | | | |
| above you and all of which are very well | | | | For a so-called holiday golf course, this one |
| guarded. The prevailing wind plays havoc with | | | | is tough! Mauritius is now one of (if not |
| your drives but a good shot is rewarded and a | | | | the) best exotic golf destinations in the |
| bad shot is penalised so you can't complain. | | | | world with no less than six first-class |
| Wonderful and traditional golf with a | | | | courses. Le Touessrok, though, takes the |
| clubhouse to match, ensures this golf | | | | biscuit with tight fairways and tiny greens. |
| course's design easily makes the list. | | | | I've played this course several times, each |
| | | | with a different game plan...every time I've |
| Les Bordes | | | | failed, but I've come back for more as the |
| | | | course does offer a birdie or two and a |
| Robert von Hagge is one of my favourite | | | | wonderful lunch. This golf course's |
| designers and he's created five courses in | | | | architecture is unique as it is the only |
| France that are rated in the European Top 50: | | | | course in the world to take over an entire |
| Seignosse, Royal Mougins, Golf National and | | | | island, and to get there you take the private |
| Kempferhof are the other four. Les Bordes is | | | | launch from the hotel. In fact, maybe that's |
| his best and, as such, easily makes my top 10 | | | | why I never play well there as I'm too |
| golf courses. With water on 14 of the holes | | | | relaxed by the time I arrive! |
| and huge white bunkers and some very narrow | | | | |
| fairways, you have to concentrate for the | | | | Barbaroux |
| full four hours. I can't think of one easy | | | | |
| hole. However, what von Hagge does do well is | | | | Designed by Pete Dye and located in the heart |
| to offer an easier (albeit longer) route to | | | | of Provence, this is a beast of a golf course |
| the green but if you want to play to a decent | | | | with a charming three-star hotel and two |
| handicap or just like taking risks then go | | | | restaurants. Even by today's standards it's |
| for broke and rest easy (albeit with a few | | | | long off the back but I remember it being one |
| balls less) at night. You can sleep and eat | | | | of the very first courses that I had to hit a |
| at this hideaway in the Loire Valley. | | | | driver and a three-wood just to hit a par |
| | | | four in regulation...today's balls make it |
| Chantilly Vineuil | | | | shorter but it's still one of the rare |
| | | | courses where you can play every shot, and |
| A beautiful Tom Simpson gem. This designer is | | | | every club, in your bag. Plus, some of the |
| probably my favourite and was incredibly | | | | greens are 80 yards long so clubbing is so |
| prolific considering he was at his peak well | | | | important (unless you like four-putting). |
| before the age of aeroplane travel. And not | | | | Terrific target golf with scenery to take |
| only did he work hard, he worked brilliantly | | | | your breath away ensures this memorable golf |
| and his creations have past the test of time | | | | course's design was always going to sneak |
| to remain amongst the best golf courses in | | | | into my top 10! |
| the world with effortless ease. Chantilly, | | | | |