One subject that’s guaranteed to spark a good old debate among club golfers, other than the answer to slow play and the handicap system, is golf courses – and more specifically, the Top 100. It’s a topic that can last an entire round and just as long in the clubhouse bar afterwards. Our own Top 100 list (it used to be 120) has seen a lot of changes over the last two decades, and it’s always a fascinating project to put together. We could talk about golf courses in the office all day.
Sometimes, in fact, we do, but recently, we ventured out to Tandridge Golf Club in Oxted, Surrey – a Harry Colt gem, which currently sits at number 97 on our list – to talk with three experts: Golf Monthly Top 100 panellists Jamie Hudson and Matt Weavers, plus the head pro at the club, Chris Evans.
In this entertaining Q&A, which could have lasted many more hours, we discuss a range of topics, including what makes a
Top 100 course so special. Our experts also name a few courses that you should add to your ‘must play’ list and share some of their favourite experiences. It’s sure to make you start planning another trip…
GM We have a lot of very good courses in the UK and Ireland. What is it that separates the very best from the rest?
Jamie I think about the three Vs: versatility, variety and views. How do the holes play for a scratch golfer, a professional and an 18-handicapper? How do they play off both the white and the yellow tees? I consider the mix of par 3s, 4s and 5s – so the shape of the holes, how they are routed and the wind direction. Finally, the views. You spend a lot of time on the golf course looking around while not hitting the ball. What does it look like? How does it set up scenically?
This story is from the August 2024 edition of Golf Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2024 edition of Golf Monthly.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
My golfing year
Rob Smith looks back on his packed 2024 diary and reflects on the many and varied adventures of a dedicated golf course writer
Clubs with two 18-hole courses
Each of these venues is home to two fine and occasionally very different layouts
Blackmoor
The A3/M3 corridor heading south-west out of London is graced with many cracking heather-lined courses that rank among the best in the country.
How should I adjust for compacted sand?
At this time of year, we face a lot of bunker shots from compacted sand and need to make the necessary adjustments to change how the club enters the sand.
Johannes Veerman
The winner of December's Nedbank Golf Challenge shares his thoughts on some of the best ways to lower your scores
PUTTING MATS
While you may think all putting mats are created equal, there are many factors a golfer should consider before taking the plunge, from price and size, to speed and the number of different features a product offers.
OZARKS NATIONAL
This outrageously attractive course, which opened in 2019, is one of five brilliant and very different designs at the expansive Big Cedar Lodge resort in Missouri.
FOR THE LONG RUN"
Ludvig Aberg has made quite a start to his professional career, with his eyes now set on climbing higher still in 2025 following a slight pause for surgery last September
PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2025
There is perhaps greater strength in depth in both men’s and women’s elite golf today than at any point in time.
A GRAND ESTATE
Goodwood in West Sussex may be steeped in ancestral history, but about 20 years ago it elected to take its golf offering down a very different route...
