Five courses that made me

MY FIVE COURSES

From the Sussex coast to Fife, the five links courses that mean the most to me.

A green at Littlehampton Golf Club at sunrise, with the harbour arm and the sea behind — Photos by Kevin Murray, one of golf's leading landscape photographers. Thank you, Kevin, for sharing them with us.

Littlehampton, West Sussex

LITTLEHAMPTON

A true links since 1883

My eldest brother passed away at just 17, when I was 10. For whatever reason, my mother decided to take me to the local putting green when I was 12, and I got hooked on this crazy game. Littlehampton Golf Club is where my golfing journey started, for my 14th birthday. I have always loved links golf, and I will always have fond memories of Littlehampton, where it all began.

Favourite hole: The 8th, a par 3 that's tough in any conditions. Get on the wrong side of the green and three putts or more are guaranteed. Also the par 4 1st, one of the toughest opening holes in the South East.
Best memory: Winning the 36-hole County Club Cup in 1976, my first competition win, at 15 years old. Then a hole in one on the 16th in September 1984.
Top tip: Beware of the rife meandering through the course: it comes into play on six of the holes. There are some nasty little bunkers too.

littlehamptongolf.co.uk 01903 717170 manager@littlehamptongolf.co.uk 170 Rope Walk, Riverside West, Littlehampton BN17 5DL

The Royal Birkdale clubhouse at dusk, above the 18th green and a greenside bunker — Photos by Kevin Murray, one of golf's leading landscape photographers. Thank you, Kevin, for sharing them with us.

Southport, Merseyside

ROYAL BIRKDALE

Fairways framed by giant dunes

In 1998 I was working for TaylorMade at the Open when I first met my now amazing wife of 25 years, and plucked up the courage to get a friend to get her number. She worked for Asprey & Garrard, the Crown Jewellers, who were exhibiting opposite. Her colleagues got a lot of discounts that week! I also met a lifelong friend that week, who has been amazing throughout this time.

Favourite hole: The 18th. What a great finishing hole, with wonderful drama over the years: Seve's genius chip in 1976, Watson's second shot in 1983 to secure the title, then Justin Rose's chip-in to finish fourth and win the silver medal for the best amateur.
Best memory: Watching Craig Stadler hit his second shot on the 9th, slam his club into his bag and say some naughty words, then walk onto the green, hole his 10-foot birdie putt as calm as anything and stroll to the next tee. Easy game!
Top tip: Probably the toughest Open venue. Give it lots of respect: any score close to your handicap is very respectable.

royalbirkdale.com +44 (0)1704 552020 secretary@royalbirkdale.com Waterloo Road, Southport PR8 2LX

A green among the dunes at Hayling Golf Club at sunset, looking across the Solent to the Isle of Wight — Photos by Kevin Murray, one of golf's leading landscape photographers. Thank you, Kevin, for sharing them with us.

Hayling Island, Hampshire

HAYLING

Sea air and shifting winds

I had the privilege of working in the office for nine months in 2023, between general managers. I had played once before, in the '80s, and couldn't remember just how good Hayling is. More than that, I met so many lovely people who are great friends now.

Favourite hole: There are so many at Hayling, but the 10th through to the 13th has everything for me in a golf course: the risk-and-reward 10th; the superb par 3 11th, a card wrecker if ever there was one; the magnificent par 4 12th, the toughest hole on the course; then the 13th, the signature hole. But the rest are superb too.
Best memory: The friendliness of the members, when I worked there and ever since.
Top tip: A must-play if you're in the area, any time of year. It has to be the best-draining course in the UK. You're guaranteed a warm welcome from everyone, great food and a superb test of golf. But be patient: it's a links course, remember.

haylinggolf.co.uk 023 9246 4446 secretary@haylinggolf.co.uk Links Lane, Hayling Island, Hampshire PO11 0BX

PhotoCOMING SOON

Aberdyfi, Gwynedd, Wales

ABERDOVEY

Links on the Welsh coast

I first played Aberdovey during the hot summer of 1976, on a caravan holiday with Mum and Dad. The next time was 1998, when I was out on the road with TaylorMade: the pro there was my last call on a Friday morning every two months, and I fell in love with the course and the town. I set up a golf tour, the Horny Aber DelBoy Challenge, and have been back some 20-plus times since with good friends and customers. Wonderful memories.

Favourite hole: The signature 12th, a par 3. A third of the green was wiped out a few years ago and had to be rebuilt, but it's been beautifully done. It's a great test of nerve.
Best memory: As well as every HADC trip, my second hole in one, on the par 3 5th in 2023. It was actually a great shot, and I managed to win that hole!
Top tip: It's a long way from anywhere, but once you get there you'll be totally chilled. Whatever the weather forecast says, Aberdovey is protected by the hills around it, so the course is playable all year round. Just don't get complacent: yes, it's flat, and to some it may look uninteresting, but it can eat you up very easily.

aberdoveygolf.co.uk +44 (0)1654 767493 manager@aberdoveygolf.co.uk Station Road, Aberdyfi, Gwynedd LL35 0RT

The Old Course at St Andrews at sunset, with the R&A clubhouse and the Swilcan Burn — Photos by Kevin Murray, one of golf's leading landscape photographers. Thank you, Kevin, for sharing them with us.

The Old Course, St Andrews, Fife

ST ANDREWS

The Home of Golf

The Old Course is the one they all talk about, but in my opinion it's not the best test. The New and the Jubilee are superb, and the Castle is great but a bit quirky. However, the Old starts and finishes in the town, which oozes golf: an incredible atmosphere all year round, with so many nationalities, whether visitors or the university.

Favourite hole: The Old is all about the 1st, 17th and 18th. When you stand on that first tee, you're not human if you don't get goosebumps, and the same when you finish on the last. And the 17th, what a hole: over the hotel to a long but narrowest of greens.
Best memory: When I was at Callaway Golf, I set up a global licence agreement, and over those years I had the privilege of going to St Andrews at least three times a year. Because of that, I was invited to play on the Monday after Tiger won in 2005. It took six hours to play, but driving the 18th, ending up in the Valley of Sin and two-putting for a birdie was the cherry on top of a most memorable round.
Top tip: If you're a serious golfer and have never played golf in Scotland, then shame on you, even more so if you haven't been to St Andrews.

standrews.com +44 (0)1334 466666 reservations@standrews.com St Andrews Links, Pilmour House, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9SF

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