top100in10

Few modern links courses wear hospitality and design so well as Dumbarnie, and our day there made one question ring in our ears on the drive home: could this be the best golf experience in Scotland? From the moment we rolled up, the welcome set the tone. Staff met us at the clubhouse, tagged our bags with names and tee times, and had trolleys ready. Music in the bar softened the hush that can make visitors feel on show. Massive windows framed the first tee and the Firth of Forth, a fire glowed by the sofas where we spoke with Blair, the head professional, and a wee dram stood waiting by the starters’ podium. The vibe was warm but not cloying, confident without being grand. That ease matters, because it puts you in a headspace where good golf can happen. And at Dumbarnie, the set-up invites it.

Out on the course, Clive Clark’s philosophy shows in every contour. Fairways and surrounds tend to gather the ball rather than repel it, so slightly off-line shots find grass, not gorse. Par threes look dramatic without being cruel; bunkers frame rather than encircle. Several greens act like punch bowls, feeding approaches back towards the hole, which means more putts for par and birdie and fewer hack-outs. The opening stretch calms nerves: an elevated first tee with a generous fairway, then a strategic par five with a burn that introduces choices. The third, eleventh, and seventeenth offer true risk-reward as drivable par fours when wind allows. Critics might say three is too many; we found they add spice, though they can create short waits as groups decide whether to go. That’s the trade-off with modern fun: engagement rises, pace needs a touch of patience.

The middle of the round climbs to the course’s most photogenic ground. The eighth and ninth sit at height with huge sea views and a halfway house that rivals clubhouses elsewhere. A curried carrot soup, gluten-free and perfect on a breezy day, became a running joke and a mid-round ritual. Design variety keeps interest: split fairways on the fifth, thirteenth, and fifteenth force a choice between safety with a longer second or a braver carry to a better angle. It’s clever, not gimmicky, and pairs with tee options that make the course scale to ability. We played just under 6,000 yards on advice from the starter; it felt short enough to score, long enough to think. On a calm day it yields numbers; when the wind comes up, the teeth show, as tour events here have proved.

Context matters in Fife, especially with St Andrews down the road. Blair’s background across the Old Course and the Belfry sharpened the contrast: Dumbarnie is purpose-built for flow and comfort. The range sits steps from the first tee, the practice green rolls into the start, and the eighteenth returns with the clubhouse perfectly framed behind the green. The modern logistics make the day frictionless, but the ground still feels authentic thanks to meticulous shaping. Over 600 man-made dunes, built from on-site material, transformed flat farmland into linksy movement without importing spoil. That effort gives privacy to holes and a sense of space where you mostly see only the hole you play. It feels like your round, on your stage, with the sea as backdrop.

Price is real. At £336, you expect more than great turf. You expect a day that lingers. Dumbarnie delivered: welcoming staff, little touches like personalised tags and a plush valuables pouch, a signature whiskey, spotless conditioning, and a routing that creates momentum. We left with scorecards that made us proud and with energy to go again. That may be the best test of value: would you pay to replay tomorrow? We would. And while “fun” can sound unserious, here it means golf where the design sets you up for memories. You still earn every number, but you aren’t punished for ambition. On a coastline blessed with legends, Dumbarnie earns its place by making modern links golf feel generous, strategic, and joyfully human.

Some courses win you over with conditioning; others sweep you into a story you can feel in your bones. Hollinwell did both, even on a day when the fairways wore a hard summer. From the moment our minibus turned off the main road and drifted down that long drive toward a clubhouse perched like a watchful sentinel, the silence drew us in. It wasn’t empty; it was calm. Members and staff met us with warmth, a blazer-clad gentleman shook hands and shared lore, and the pro offered to help us frame shots for photos rather than police our cameras. That tone mattered. It made a top-100 venue feel like a welcoming home rather than a museum. And when a club’s first impression is generosity, it primes you to notice the best version of the place: the forested corridors, the amphitheatre greens, the light catching on water where you least expect it. Even before the first tee shot, the setting had nudged us into the right headspace.

That headspace made the “bowl” narrative click. The course pinches and releases sightlines as if the land itself is curating your round. You pass from lofty tees into enclosed valleys, then climb out to broader vistas, never quite losing the sense that you’re being guided. The routing respects elevation—par-fives that tempt, par-threes that terrify gently, and par-fours that demand shape without punishing honesty. It’s not punitive golf; it’s focused golf. Hit it straight and you’re rewarded. Miss, and you often find it, recover, and still feel part of the story. Risk–reward defines the character: drivable par-fours if you fancy it, or sensible layups that leave engaging approaches to greens wrapped in heathered shoulders and framed by trees. It’s the kind of architecture that favours repeat play; every decision feels new the second time, because angle, wind, and nerve re-write the script.

Fairways told a different story: a summer of drought had left them patched and wiry. The club called preferred lies, a pragmatic choice on a sand and sandstone base that sheds moisture quickly. Some will say a £200 green fee deserves smoother turf. That’s fair. But what we saw was a course doing honest work to protect its surfaces through a harsh season—striping, prep, and communication that helped us play decent golf while still letting the land breathe. If you judge a course only by sheen, you’ll miss its soul; yet conditioning matters, and we won’t pretend it doesn’t. The question becomes whether the routing, strategy, welcome, and visual theatre outweigh the scuffs. For us, they did. We’ve played immaculate places that felt forgettable. Hollinwell felt unforgettable even when the grass wasn’t at its best, which says something about design and setting that no sprinkler can buy.

The highlights stack up. The second hole flips the switch after a plain opener: a generous landing that folds into a gentle dogleg, with Robin Hood’s Seat shouldering the horizon. The third, a long par-five, draws a bead back toward the clubhouse and forces a line through heather if you get greedy. The eleventh sneaks through a snaking valley where placement beats power, evoking Hindhead’s drama without the cruelty. And then the 13–18 run—the kind of stretch that cements a club’s legend—feels like the course opening a private theatre for you. The par-three 13th drops from a high tee into a natural bowl that gathers breath and silence; we watched a baby-fade tee shot chase the flag and stop a heartbeat short of an ace, and the place almost cheered in whispers. Sixteen teases with a drive that can bite off a corner and vault bunkers to a raised green; prudence has its day, but ambition gets the spotlight. Seventeen widens, then narrows into an amphitheatre green as if to pause and draw breath before the final act. And eighteen—downhill, framed by water left and bunkers right, the clubhouse filling your eyes—asks for one last committed swing. It’s a longest-drive arena that doubles as a memory machine; you see the ball for ages, you see the shot you wanted, and you see the round you’ve just had, all at once.

Culture underpins the experience. The pro’s openness to content, the staff’s kindness, the quiet confidence of a club that doesn’t need to be busy to feel alive—these threads knit together. It helps newcomers relax about dress codes and decorum, and it invites societies to belong for a day rather than pass through. Our group dynamic amplified everything: banter on the bus, a shared awe at glass-sheathed views over the 18th green, and a running debate about whether a mild first hole should matter when the rest sings. We logged scores, ran side bets, celebrated a near-ace, and still found space to stand still and listen to wind moving through trees. That duality—play and pause—defines great golf days. It’s why we’d return when the fairways heal, happily paying again to test a routing that keeps offering choices.

Cruden Bay Golf Club stands as one of Scotland’s most polarizing golfing experiences, as we discovered during our latest adventure for the Top 110 Golf Podcast. Ranked 22nd in the world, this Old Tom Morris design instantly divided our opinions in ways no other course has managed to do thus far on our journey through the top 100 courses.

The experience begins with a warm welcome that epitomizes Scottish hospitality. Upon check-in, guests receive a bottle of “birdie juice” (Loch Lomond single malt whisky), setting the tone for a club that values tradition and community. Unlike the commercial atmosphere we encountered at Trump International the previous day, Cruden Bay exudes an authentic, homely feeling. The clubhouse staff, including the delightful Christine Middleton (a local golfing celebrity who once defeated Annika Sorenstam), make visitors feel like part of the family rather than tourists passing through.

Perhaps the most remarkable pre-round experience comes at the starter’s hut – formerly the original pro shop. Inside this unassuming building lies a treasure trove of golfing artifacts and memorabilia that would captivate any golf history enthusiast. Our starter, Joe, graciously shared stories about hickory golf and even allowed us to handle antique golf balls specially manufactured for play with traditional equipment. This connection to golf’s roots creates an ambiance that modern courses simply cannot replicate.

The course itself presents a study in contrasts. From the elevated clubhouse, panoramic windows reveal a dramatic landscape where golf holes weave through impressive dunes with the striking Slains Castle (purportedly Bram Stoker’s inspiration for Dracula) standing sentinel in the distance. The pristine white beach of Cruden Bay provides a stunning backdrop that would rival any Mediterranean coastline.

The layout begins with relatively straightforward opening holes before revealing its true character at the drivable par-4 third, where a blind tee shot leads to an exhilarating approach. What follows is a rollercoaster of emotions – breathtaking par-3s (including a completely blind one that demands faith and commitment), dramatic elevation changes, and intimate connections with the surrounding landscape. The course feels deliberately unmanicured in places, embracing a rugged aesthetic that connects golfers with the land rather than imposing upon it.

However, this is precisely where opinions diverge. Some golfers find these quirky features charming and representative of golf’s traditions; others see them as flaws in a highly-ranked course. Certain holes appear ordinary compared to the spectacular ones, creating an inconsistent experience that either captivates or frustrates depending on your perspective. The traditional elements extend to course management details – pin positions indicated by wooden boards with pegs rather than sophisticated graphics – reinforcing its old-world charm.

The misty, moody Scottish weather during our round added another dimension to the experience, either enhancing the romantic notion of links golf or dampening spirits depending on one’s outlook. At approximately £200 per round, the value proposition becomes another consideration in evaluating Cruden Bay’s merits.

Our contrasting viewpoints mirror what many visitors experience – one of us embraced the course’s unconventional nature and historic significance, while the other felt it failed to justify its lofty ranking among the world’s best. This divergence highlights a fundamental question about golf course rankings: should we value historical significance, uniqueness and character over consistent excellence and refined design?

Ultimately, Cruden Bay represents golf’s beautiful subjectivity. Like Marmite, you’ll likely either love it or struggle to appreciate it – but you certainly won’t forget the experience. Whether it deserves its place among the world’s elite courses remains a personal judgment, but its ability to provoke passionate debate confirms its significance in the golfing landscape.

Nestled in the beautiful Surrey countryside, Hindhead Golf Club represents one of the most criminally underrated courses in Britain. Currently sitting at 91st in the UK & Ireland rankings, this remarkable heathland masterpiece deserves significantly higher recognition based on our recent experience playing there.

The Top 100 in 10 Golf Podcast team recently visited Hindhead as part of their journey to play all top 100 courses, and were immediately struck by both the warm welcome from the club and the spectacular nature of the course itself. From the moment they arrived, staff recognized them and made them feel at home – a refreshing contrast to some of the more “corporate” experiences at higher-ranked establishments.

What makes Hindhead truly special is its unique topography. The front nine winds through dramatic valleys, creating an almost fairy-tale landscape that podcast host Chris described as “something you would paint in a children’s book.” These valley holes feature natural slopes that can help slightly wayward shots back toward fairways, though truly wild shots will still find the punishing heather rough. The back nine transitions to more strategic, thought-provoking golf on higher ground, requiring careful placement rather than just raw distance.

Club President Jack Buchanan, a member since 1976 and friend of the late Peter Alliss, provided fascinating insights into the club’s history and character. Established because wealthy residents on the hill wanted a more convenient place to play than trekking down to the original Hindhead and Hindley Common Golf Club in the valley, the course was designed to take advantage of the natural fissures in the landscape, creating 18 truly individual holes.

Perhaps most impressively, the podcast team and their playing partners (two Hindhead members also working through the top 100 challenge) agreed that there wasn’t a single weak hole on the course. The par threes were universally magnificent, with the sixth getting “signature” billing primarily because people enjoy downhill shots, though each offered unique challenges and stunning vistas. The greens were described as immaculate – fast, true, but with subtle breaks that could send poorly-judged putts rolling off the putting surface.

The course perfectly balances visual splendor with strategic challenge. Unlike some beautiful courses that lack teeth, or difficult courses that feel like a slog, Hindhead strikes the ideal balance. It remains playable for higher handicappers while still requiring thoughtful golf from better players. Wildlife abounds, with the group spotting at least half a dozen deer during their round, adding to the magical atmosphere.

What becomes clear from their experience is how subjective course rankings can be. Their playing partners, who have completed 61 of the top 100 courses, noted that some of their favorite experiences have been at courses ranked in the 90s, while some highly-ranked “sausage factory” operations can feel corporate and rushed. The podcast hosts finished their Hindhead experience convinced it should rank among the top 20 courses in the country.

For anyone planning their own top 100 journey, or simply looking for an exceptional golfing experience, Hindhead Golf Club deserves immediate consideration. With reasonable green fees compared to some higher-ranked establishments, it represents tremendous value and an unforgettable day of golf in one of Britain’s most beautiful settings.

Gullane Number 1: The Ultimate Links Experience in Scotland’s “Village of Golf”

When we arrived at Gullane Golf Club, we knew we were in for something special. Driving down a B-road with golf courses stretching out on either side, we were immediately immersed in what they rightfully call “The Village of Golf.” The entire setting feels as though it was created specifically for the game, with the golf club serving as the centerpiece for this remarkable golfing community.

Our introduction to Gullane began with a warm welcome from Dylan, the Sales Manager, who showed us around the impressive facilities. The club features two distinct clubhouses – the original Members’ Clubhouse that serves Gullane No. 1, and the newer Links Clubhouse, built approximately ten years ago as part of a five-year upgrade program, serving Gullane No. 2 and No. 3. This investment demonstrates how Gullane isn’t resting on its laurels despite its prestigious history; they’re continuously improving to better serve both members and visitors.

What sets Gullane apart is their approach to hospitality. Dylan explained that visitors are treated as “members for the day,” and this wasn’t just a marketing slogan – we experienced it firsthand. From the starters to the bar staff, everyone we encountered was friendly, welcoming, and proud of their club. This exceptional service has earned them the prestigious Gold Flag award from the 59 Club for five consecutive years, making Gullane one of only 70 venues worldwide to receive this recognition.

The course itself is a masterpiece of natural design. As Dylan explained, Gullane No. 1 is laid upon natural land that predates golf, with the course seeming to emerge organically from the landscape rather than being artificially constructed. This becomes immediately apparent as you play the opening holes and reach the summit at the third tee, where you’re rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of the entire course, the North Sea, and Edinburgh in the distance.

The layout of Gullane No. 1 is simple yet brilliant. Essentially, the course wraps around a single hill, with holes strategically positioned to maximize the natural contours and views. The opening holes guide you up the hill, while the middle section weaves along the coastline, offering spectacular vistas at every turn. The 17th brings you back to the hilltop, where you’re treated to a magnificent view of the village below as you play the closing holes – as Dylan poetically put it, “the village welcomes you back home.”

What makes Gullane so enjoyable is its playability. Unlike some championship courses that can feel punishing, Gullane strikes the perfect balance between challenge and fairness. The course encourages you to hit good shots without severely penalizing the occasional miss. The fairways were immaculate, providing crisp contact, while the greens were true and consistent. This approachability doesn’t mean it’s easy – strategic thinking is still required, especially when the Scottish wind picks up (though we were fortunate to play on a calm day).

Beyond the championship course, Gullane offers two additional courses – No. 2 (the “Champions Course,” designed by Willie Park Jr. when he was the reigning Open champion) and No. 3 (affectionately known as the “gem of the club”). There’s even a children’s course in the village where young golfers can play for free and receive a certificate – a wonderful initiative to introduce the next generation to the game.

Our experience at Gullane left us completely enamored with the place. The combination of the historic course, modern facilities, exceptional service, and the overall ambiance of the “Village of Golf” creates a truly magical experience that every golf enthusiast should have on their bucket list. It’s not just about playing a Top 100 course; it’s about connecting with the very essence of the game in one of its most natural and beautiful settings.

Nestled in the heart of Surrey lies one of England’s most captivating heathland golf courses: Hankley Common Golf Club. Recently ranked 58th in the UK and Ireland’s top 100 golf courses, this magnificent venue delivers an experience that arguably deserves an even higher position.

Approaching Hankley Common, you might be forgiven for feeling a touch of trepidation. The course’s website emphasizes pace of play repeatedly, and warnings about heather and narrow fairways could make any golfer nervous. However, these concerns quickly dissipate upon arrival. Rather than the expected tight, punishing layout, what greets you is a spacious, breathtaking golfing landscape that feels both challenging and eminently playable.

The visual spectacle at Hankley Common is simply extraordinary. Visiting in August provides the added bonus of seeing the heather in full bloom, creating stunning purple channels along immaculately maintained fairways. The contrast between the pristine white sand bunkers, lush green fairways, and the purple heather creates an almost surreal beauty that many have compared to playing golf in Portugal or Spain rather than the UK. The Scottish Pines that frame many holes add further character, standing tall and proud throughout the course.

What separates Hankley Common from many other prestigious venues is the remarkable attention to detail in its maintenance. The tee boxes are so perfectly manicured that one could almost putt across them. The greens, despite being recently aerated during our visit, remained true and receptive. Even with this maintenance work, the overall quality of the putting surfaces suggests they would be exceptionally fast and smooth in prime condition.

While the course is undoubtedly beautiful, it’s the thoughtful design that truly elevates Hankley Common. The layout features considerably more elevation changes than photos might suggest, adding both challenge and interest throughout the round. The routing feels natural and perfectly paced – par 3s appear exactly when you’re ready for them, and each hole flows seamlessly into the next. There’s a remarkable variety of holes that demand different strategies and shot shapes, without ever resorting to gimmicks or manufactured difficulty.

The par 3 7th deserves special mention as potentially one of the finest short holes in British golf. Playing around 170-185 yards (depending on tees), it demands both accuracy and distance control, with stunning visuals that make it a true highlight of the round. Even experienced golfers find themselves captivated by this hole’s perfect blend of challenge and beauty.

Beyond the course itself, Hankley Common offers excellent facilities. The clubhouse exudes class without pretension – it’s welcoming rather than intimidating. The locker rooms are spacious and well-appointed, complete with shoe cleaning brushes and complimentary toiletries. The bar and restaurant areas feature innovative display tables showcasing club trophies under glass, and the terrace offers spectacular views across the course, particularly of the 4th green.

For film enthusiasts, there’s an additional point of interest – Hankley Common borders the Skyfall estate from the James Bond film. From certain points on the course, particularly near the 12th or 13th tee, you can glimpse this famous location through the trees.

In conclusion, Hankley Common represents heathland golf at its finest. It offers a perfect balance of challenge, playability, beauty, and tranquility. When comparing it to other highly-ranked courses, many visitors place it among their top three golfing experiences – high praise indeed. For anyone seeking to experience the magic of Surrey’s heathland courses, Hankley Common should be near the top of their list. This is golf as it should be: natural, challenging, beautiful, and utterly captivating.

Nestled in the beautiful Surrey countryside, Hindhead Golf Club represents one of the most criminally underrated courses in Britain. Currently sitting at 91st in the UK & Ireland rankings, this remarkable heathland masterpiece deserves significantly higher recognition based on our recent experience playing there.

The Top 100 in 10 Golf Podcast team recently visited Hindhead as part of their journey to play all top 100 courses, and were immediately struck by both the warm welcome from the club and the spectacular nature of the course itself. From the moment they arrived, staff recognized them and made them feel at home – a refreshing contrast to some of the more “corporate” experiences at higher-ranked establishments.

What makes Hindhead truly special is its unique topography. The front nine winds through dramatic valleys, creating an almost fairy-tale landscape that podcast host Chris described as “something you would paint in a children’s book.” These valley holes feature natural slopes that can help slightly wayward shots back toward fairways, though truly wild shots will still find the punishing heather rough. The back nine transitions to more strategic, thought-provoking golf on higher ground, requiring careful placement rather than just raw distance.

Club President Jack Buchanan, a member since 1976 and friend of the late Peter Alliss, provided fascinating insights into the club’s history and character. Established because wealthy residents on the hill wanted a more convenient place to play than trekking down to the original Hindhead and Hindley Common Golf Club in the valley, the course was designed to take advantage of the natural fissures in the landscape, creating 18 truly individual holes.

Perhaps most impressively, the podcast team and their playing partners (two Hindhead members also working through the top 100 challenge) agreed that there wasn’t a single weak hole on the course. The par threes were universally magnificent, with the sixth getting “signature” billing primarily because people enjoy downhill shots, though each offered unique challenges and stunning vistas. The greens were described as immaculate – fast, true, but with subtle breaks that could send poorly-judged putts rolling off the putting surface.

The course perfectly balances visual splendor with strategic challenge. Unlike some beautiful courses that lack teeth, or difficult courses that feel like a slog, Hindhead strikes the ideal balance. It remains playable for higher handicappers while still requiring thoughtful golf from better players. Wildlife abounds, with the group spotting at least half a dozen deer during their round, adding to the magical atmosphere.

What becomes clear from their experience is how subjective course rankings can be. Their playing partners, who have completed 61 of the top 100 courses, noted that some of their favorite experiences have been at courses ranked in the 90s, while some highly-ranked “sausage factory” operations can feel corporate and rushed. The podcast hosts finished their Hindhead experience convinced it should rank among the top 20 courses in the country.

For anyone planning their own top 100 journey, or simply looking for an exceptional golfing experience, Hindhead Golf Club deserves immediate consideration. With reasonable green fees compared to some higher-ranked establishments, it represents tremendous value and an unforgettable day of golf in one of Britain’s most beautiful settings.

Playing an Open competition at West Lancs Golf Club brought a mix of excitement, challenge, and ultimately, humility. As part of our quest to play the UK’s top 100 golf courses, West Lancs represented our 10th course and our first experience in an Open competition format. Located on England’s Golf Coast, West Lancs is highly regarded in golfing circles, serving as a final qualifying venue for The Open Championship.

Arriving at the club, we were immediately struck by the warm, genuine welcome. Despite its prestigious status, there’s a refreshing lack of pretension at West Lancs. The clubhouse offered a relaxed atmosphere, and the pro shop staff couldn’t have been more helpful. Brian, the starter, deserves special mention for providing invaluable insights about the course before we teed off. This kind of hospitality sets the tone for visitors and makes a significant difference to the overall experience.

The course itself was in immaculate condition. Having hosted Open Qualifying just weeks before our visit, the greens were absolutely pristine – running true and fast, comparable to some of the best we’ve experienced on our journey. The preparation and maintenance were evident throughout, from tee boxes to fairways. Weather-wise, we were blessed with glorious sunshine, perhaps too much so, as we found ourselves overdressed and sweltering in the unexpected heat!

West Lancs presents a genuine test of golf that demands strategic thinking and precise execution. The course is characterized by numerous dog-leg holes that require you to position your ball accurately to have the best angle of approach. What stood out most were the green complexes – raised and often plateau-style, with severe runoffs that punish errant approaches. This design feature was consistent throughout much of the course, particularly on the back nine, creating a distinctive challenge that requires careful planning.

The bunkering at West Lancs merits special attention. While not particularly deep or visually intimidating, the bunkers are strategically placed and often small, increasing the likelihood of awkward stances. Their positioning forces you to think carefully about your tee shots and approaches. Several of us found ourselves in bunkers that required multiple shots to escape – a humbling experience for even the more competent sand players among us.

The back nine at West Lancs is where the course truly comes into its own. From the beautiful par-3 12th onwards, there’s a stretch of holes (12-16) that offer the most memorable and challenging golf on the property. This section features more elevation changes, blind shots, and strategic decisions that elevate the experience. The signature 13th hole, played from an elevated tee with views across the Irish Sea, is particularly striking.

In terms of the competition itself, our performance was decidedly underwhelming! The format required the two best scores from our four-ball to count on each hole, and we managed a meager 70 points, placing us near the bottom of the leaderboard. The winning team amassed an astonishing 98 points – a score that raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about handicap integrity in amateur competitions.

What made this visit particularly interesting was how our poor play affected our perception of the course. When playing poorly on a visually spectacular course, it’s easier to separate your performance from your appreciation of the design. However, on a strategic, technical course like West Lancs, playing badly can mean you miss the point entirely. You simply don’t experience the course as intended when you’re constantly out of position.

West Lancs represents an honest, challenging test of golf without gimmicks or excessive visual drama. It’s a course that rewards good golf and punishes poor play – exactly what a top-ranked course should do. While it may not deliver the jaw-dropping vistas of some coastal courses, it offers something equally valuable: a pure, traditional links experience that examines every aspect of your game.

The recent adventure at Ganton Golf Club stands as a testament to why this course holds its place at number 25 on the top 100 golf courses list. From the moment you approach the property, with its long, narrow country road bordered by white picket fences, you’re transported into the quintessential old-school English golf experience that defines what makes Ganton special.

The clubhouse at Ganton immediately sets the tone with its traditional atmosphere that perfectly captures the essence of historic British golf. Walking through the wood-paneled rooms, complete with Ryder Cup memorabilia and pictures of golfing legends who have graced these hallways, gives you a genuine sense of the club’s rich heritage. The Varden Room, named after the legendary Harry Vardon, houses priceless golfing artifacts including Vardon’s own golf ball press and clubs – items that the steward described as “absolutely priceless in the golf world.” This connection to golf history is seamlessly woven throughout the entire Ganton experience.

What truly distinguishes Ganton as a course is its strategic brilliance. With approximately 120 bunkers across the layout, what stands out is not merely their quantity but their thoughtful placement. These hazards are positioned with remarkable precision – every single bunker serves a purpose, influencing play and demanding careful consideration from golfers of all skill levels. Unlike some courses where bunkers seem placed for aesthetic reasons alone, at Ganton, they form an integral part of the strategic challenge that makes each hole a unique test of golf.

The course conditions during our visit were nothing short of immaculate, particularly remarkable given the hot, dry weather conditions that had prevailed. The greens were running at speeds of around 13-14 on the stimpmeter, fast but true, without a single ball bobbling throughout the entire round. This level of course maintenance speaks to the dedication of the greenkeeping staff and establishes Ganton as having “by far and away the best greens we’ve played” according to our experience.

The layout at Ganton has been thoughtfully designed to reward strategic thinking rather than brute strength. Many players will find themselves hitting irons off numerous tees, as positioning takes precedence over distance. The short par-4s are particularly memorable, offering risk-reward scenarios that require precision and careful course management. The closing stretch of holes 16, 17 and 18 stands out as especially impressive, with the 17th – a brutally challenging uphill par-3 stretching to around 240 yards – serving as perhaps the toughest par-3 encountered thus far in our journey through the top 100 courses.

What makes Ganton particularly special is how it maintains its character as what might be described as an “inland links” – combining the strategic elements of links golf with its inland setting. The course manages to be challenging without being overly penal, striking the perfect balance that leaves players looking forward to their next shot rather than dreading it. It’s a purist’s golf course – one that tests every aspect of your game without feeling unfair or contrived.

For those seeking to experience Ganton, participating in one of their open events, such as the Mizuno Pairs competition we joined, provides an excellent opportunity to access this historically significant venue. The formal match play format complements the strategic nature of the course perfectly, adding another layer to the overall experience. The surprising accessibility and friendly welcome we received defied expectations of stuffiness that sometimes accompany historic clubs of this caliber.

In comparing Ganton to other top-ranked courses, its authentic character and strategic design elements place it firmly among the elite venues in British golf. What it may lack in sea views or dramatic landscapes, it more than compensates for with its immaculate conditioning, thoughtful design, and rich heritage. For the serious golf enthusiast seeking to experience one of the game’s great strategic tests, Ganton deserves a prominent place on the must-play list.