An English Golf Trip

[Chanceman]

 

19 hours ago, El Gringo said:

I think myself and Miles view courses very differently 😎. 

 

Favourites 

 

1. St Enodoc

2. Perranporth 

3. Westward Ho! 

4. West Cornwall

5. Saunton East 

6. Bude 

7. Burnham 

8. Trevose 

9. Saunton West 

10. Weston super Mare

 

Best 

 

1. St Enodoc 

2. Burnham 

3. Saunton East 

4. Perranporth 

5. Westward Ho! 

6. Saunton West 

7. Trevose

8. West Cornwall 

9. Bude 

10. Weston 

 

Never played Newquay. 

 I have barely heard of West Cornwall - thank you for alerting me. Wonderful views but I imagine it could get a little blowy from time to time. 

[El Gringo]

1 hour ago, Chanceman said:

 

 I have barely heard of West Cornwall - thank you for alerting me. Wonderful views but I imagine it could get a little blowy from time to time. 

Getting a little blowy is true for all links. I never checked ave wind speed of various areas of the British coastlines. That might be interesting. West Cornwall is okay in the wind because its a bit wider than the typical links and it's not a long course. There is some lovely up and down terrain without being overly hilly. That is something Perranporth can be accused of. P'porth is a wild ride with holes that need to be respected. There are holes where trying to blast driver won't pay. For sure, P'porth is a course where a second play can make more sense. Same is true of St Enodoc, but to a lesser degree. Both courses feature some wild terrain which leads to unpredictable golf and highly entertaining holes. They are good matchplay courses 😎. 

[Chanceman]

4 hours ago, El Gringo said:

Getting a little blowy is true for all links. I never checked ave wind speed of various areas of the British coastlines. That might be interesting. West Cornwall is okay in the wind because its a bit wider than the typical links and it's not a long course. There is some lovely up and down terrain without being overly hilly. That is something Perranporth can be accused of. P'porth is a wild ride with holes that need to be respected. There are holes where trying to blast driver won't pay. For sure, P'porth is a course where a second play can make more sense. Same is true of St Enodoc, but to a lesser degree. Both courses feature some wild terrain which leads to unpredictable golf and highly entertaining holes. They are good matchplay courses 😎. 

Burnham and Berrow was awesome in the wind, this was 10 year ago. Being a leftie every drive on the outward 9 went dead straight against the wind and every one on the inward went waaay left. I learnt that a draw was a shot I needed to have. That's why golf is such a brilliant game.

[MoaningM]

On 10/1/2020 at 10:55 AM, Chanceman said:

At some time in the next couple of years, personal circumstances permitting, I hope to spend a month in England and Wales playing golf. I have already played most of my favorite North of England courses (ie north of the line from Brancaster to Birmingham)  so this will be a southern half trip. It starts in London, goes south to Kent and the channel, runs west all the way to Cornwall then up into Wales and back through the Cotswolds.

Arriving in London, this will be my itinerary going clockwise from Heathrow and staying at B&Bs along the way.

 

Week 1 - Reigate 9h, The Addington, Royal Cinque Ports, Rye, Royal Ashdown Forest, Pulborough,

Week 2 - Stoneham, Ferndown, Isle of Purbeck, Perranporth, St Enodoc, Saunton East,

Week 3 - Westward Ho!, Southerndown, Pennard, Aberdovey, Royal St David's, Kington,

Week 4 - Painswick, Minchinhampton, The Berkshire Red and Blue , Worplesdon, St Georges Hill.

 

That will be six courses a week allowing a lay day here and there to recover or just enjoy the countryside. The idea would be to stay a couple of nights in each location (underlined). You will note that I have put in a few lesser known courses which appeal to me and lower the cost a tad. I have left out Royal St Georges & Royal Porthcawl (just because) and I have already played courses like Sunningdale, Swinley Forest and Walton Heath.

 

The itinerary is by no means definitive, so I would be interested in any suggestions for a better schedule? I know its a heavy schedule but I like it that way.

if your heading to Aberdovey from Pennard stop and play Tenby on route (oldest course in Wales) seriously id drop Kington, its nice but not that special, better off heading up to royal st davids as your playing aberdovey.

 

Edited October 21, 2020 by MoaningM

[Chanceman]

Mmmm I looked at Tenby but it takes me too far from the desired route and is a little too much like some of the others. Really Kington is one I want to play as it is a bit off-beat as well as being on that high plateau with great views. I might even duck across to Church Stretton which I hear is xlnt.

[El Gringo]

6 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Mmmm I looked at Tenby but it takes me too far from the desired route and is a little too much like some of the others. Really Kington is one I want to play as it is a bit off-beat as well as being on that high plateau with great views. I might even duck across to Church Stretton which I hear is xlnt.

Tenby is lovely, but yes, out of the way. 

 

I would like to see the St David's city course. A 9 holer which looks cool. 

 

Church Stretton isn't great golf by any stretch. But if you are looking for something different and very hilly, it's a good call if the weather is decent. Not too far away is Welshpool. Now that just might be a great course. Quite a demanding course with hills and wind, but so many cool holes... outstanding set of short holes. Its 6000 yards kicked my a** back in September. 

[Chanceman]

Sometimes you just have to play the courses that take your fancy. The odd ones I like are Royal Ashdown, Stoneham, Ferndown, West Cornwall (thanks EG), Aberdovey, Church Stretton and Worplesdon (?). All the others are pretty mainstream. I just want to get to do the trip before Covid does us all in.

[El Gringo]

1 hour ago, Chanceman said:

Sometimes you just have to play the courses that take your fancy. The odd ones I like are Royal Ashdown, Stoneham, Ferndown, West Cornwall (thanks EG), Aberdovey, Church Stretton and Worplesdon (?). All the others are pretty mainstream. I just want to get to do the trip before Covid does us all in.

I know what you mean. Everytime I head to North Berwick I try to play Alnmouth Village. It's not the best course in the area, but I prefer it. 

[vintage]

On 10/2/2020 at 8:17 AM, El Gringo said:

1. Play Sandwich. 

 

2. Consider dropping Addington if the planned renovation isn't completed. 

 

3. Purbeck is rumoured to be struggling with course conditions. 

 

4. You might enjoy Bude and North Cornwall. 

 

5. If all works well, you are welcome to play Burnham as my guest. 

 

6. I would find a way to add Cleeve Hill when in the Cotswolds. 

 

7. Consider playing Woking. 

Cleeve Hill is to close next spring which seems a loss. I live near Cheltenham and am a member at Minchinhampton but for some reason have not managed to play Cleeve Hill. I guess I'm part of  the problem! I've walked a bit of it and it is beautiful up there. 

 

Painswick has similar spectacular views and is very quirky. Again I have had a family walk on it but not played. Only advice is to make sure you only play during the week at Painswick so you avoid walkers. Half set only is required, I'd say.

 

[vintage]

14 minutes ago, vintage said:

Cleeve Hill is to close next spring which seems a loss. I live near Cheltenham and am a member at Minchinhampton but for some reason have not managed to play Cleeve Hill. I guess I'm part of  the problem! I've walked a bit of it and it is beautiful up there. 

 

Painswick has similar spectacular views and is very quirky. Again I have had a family walk on it but not played. Only advice is to make sure you only play during the week at Painswick so you avoid walkers. Half set only is required, I'd say.

 

 apologies , just going through the thread and see that others have mentioned Cleeve Hills' potential closure - great to hear that it might be saved. Here's a great video 

 

[Divot License]

I was sent this article earlier today by a friend.

 

I played Cleeve Hill last month (pictures within another topic) and really hope this great course can get saved. 

 

I was very happy to see a legend like Sir Nick getting involved 

https://www.golfshake.com/news/view/15575/Sir_Nick_Faldo_Supports_Campaign_to_Save_Cleeve_Hill.html

[Divot License]

5 hours ago, vintage said:

Cleeve Hill is to close next spring which seems a loss. I live near Cheltenham and am a member at Minchinhampton but for some reason have not managed to play Cleeve Hill. I guess I'm part of  the problem! I've walked a bit of it and it is beautiful up there. 

 

Painswick has similar spectacular views and is very quirky. Again I have had a family walk on it but not played. Only advice is to make sure you only play during the week at Painswick so you avoid walkers. Half set only is required, I'd say.

 

@vintage I stayed in Slough for a week last month with my wife and we played among others, Cleeve Hill, Painswick (got my first ace there) and Minchinhampton Old.