Harry Cloke

Inspiration

These are the places that taught me something — about contour, strategy, restraint, quirk, and the fact that great golf comes in many forms.

Royal St George's

Royal St George's

Kent, England

Championship golf can (and should) be quirky. The 4th is my vote for “holes that should be templates”; take on the brave line and enjoy a flat lie and a better angle into the raised green. Bail out left from the tee and realise you were better off taking what you thought was the aggressive line. The greens here are exceptional, but people are often too beaten up by the course to notice. In my opinion it is also the best example of how expanded mowing lines on greens make for heightened entertainment: many seem precariously perched on plateaus but would lose their fear factor if mowing lines were shrunk to only ‘pinnable areas’.

Pasatiempo

Pasatiempo

California, USA

I was always intrigued by Dr MacKenzie’s principle of golf course design stating that “the course should be so interesting that even the plus man is constantly stimulated to improve his game in attempting shots he has hitherto been unable to play.” How can a course really encourage someone to practice more? After playing Pasatiempo, and wanting to drop a ball in every corner of every green and putt or chip from one point to another, the principle made complete sense.

Rosapenna

Rosapenna

Co. Donegal, Ireland

To steal Bernard Darwin’s quote about Aberdovey; The Rosapenna is “the [place] that my soul loves best”. St Patrick’s is a masterpiece, Sandy Hills is exhilarating big dune golf (flawed but fun) and Old Tom Morris is two courses in one; a strategic, rambling front nine followed by a classy back nine stretching out through the valley. My favourite place on the planet.

Woking

Woking

Surrey, England

What a set of greens! It is an epic adventure. The 4th deserves all the credit it receives but there are plenty of other exceptional holes (shout out to the 3rd in particular). I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather play day in, day out than Woking.

Cruit Island

Cruit Island

Co. Donegal, Ireland

An example of prioritising fun over conformity and making the most of a beautiful (but severe) landscape.

St George's Hill

St George's Hill

Surrey, England

The dramatic 8th, testing 9th and semi-punchbowl 10th green sites typify the diversity of the course. Add in one of the great drivable par 4s at the 4th and heaving landforms throughout and this is surely a contender for the best inland course in the UK. I am keenly following the restoration efforts to see how good St George’s Hill really can get.

Cleeve Hill

Cleeve Hill

Gloucestershire, England

Dramatic, unique and affordable. There are so many standout holes but the 13th green, sat within an Iron Age fort overlooking Cheltenham, has to be the best of the lot. “Common-ground” courses like this represent the best in golf; accessible yet truly engaging.

Painswick

Painswick

Gloucestershire, England

SO much fun to play. This is what happens when the rule book is thrown out and the focus is on fun — quirky, memorable, dangerous and confusing in places but ultimately thrilling to play.

Tobacco Road

Tobacco Road

North Carolina, USA

I always liked quirk, but I was used to quirk as a result of nature/necessity. Tobacco Road taught me that manufactured golf doesn’t have to be predictable; golf courses can be works of art, and visual deception can carry the weight of hole strategy. Think what you like about Tobacco Road but there are too many boring, predictable courses in the world and this is not one of them.

Winter Park

Winter Park

Florida, USA

An amazing centre for community golf which brought home the value of interesting shaping work and green contours, plus how fun (and rare) true half-par holes are in modern golf.

Dunstanburgh Castle

Dunstanburgh Castle

Northumberland, England

Another champion of affordable, community-centred golf. A lovely place to walk with a few clubs and a couple of balls, meandering between the sea, coastal dunes and the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle.

The Addington

The Addington

Surrey, England

The restoration work is impressive, and the use of heathery swales and chasms is unique. The green complexes can be brutally difficult but it is one of the most enjoyable places to rack up a score in the world.

Rye

Rye

East Sussex, England

Wonderfully idiosyncratic — the only par 5 being the 1st, the 4th fairway straddling the dune ridge, the treacherous run-offs from the 5th green, the alps 14th, the sleepers. I also love it as a facility where the golf does all the talking.

Royal Cinque Ports

Royal Cinque Ports

Kent, England

The punchbowl 3rd, drivable 6th, halfpipe 11th green, and 16th and 17th green sites all stand out. It is such a joy to play and a reminder that contour is what makes for great golf!

The Old Course, St Andrews

The Old Course, St Andrews

Fife, Scotland

I was under the assumption that St Andrews couldn’t possibly be one of the best courses in the world before I visited; surely its lofty rating was merely a product of the history of the place. I was wrong. I know no other course where the strategy, difficulty and complexion of holes can change so dramatically from day to day and season to season. It is surely the best member’s course in the world; endless variety and intrigue.

Elie

Elie

Fife, Scotland

It is hard to believe that you can have so much fun on a course made up of 16 par 4s and just 2 par 3s. It is simply a joy to play from start to finish. The drama of the first hole is hugely underrated; I love the concept of a course being a mystery in that way. The grand reveal on the 10th is amazing, and the way it meanders around the site is delightful. Elie is one of those member’s clubs I could play over and over again.