The Places - Page 3

Barnbougle Dunes – a wondrous golf playground like no other

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Love at first sight is a fickle concept in golf, but Barnbougle Dunes had me at ‘good morning.’ I had arrived at this fabled golfing destination in the dead of night. Through the darkness I found my way to my bed and fell asleep dreaming of what lay in wait. I was awake…

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Royal Liverpool Golf Club: a true Hoylake love affair

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I fell in love with Royal Liverpool Golf Club the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once. I can still recall the first time I drove through the gates and caught sight of the majestic clubhouse which stands guard over the links land here. On that day, I walked around to…

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Kauri Cliffs is one of the world’s most beautiful outposts

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New Zealand is in the midst of a golf boom: new courses are being built, existing courses restored and airport carousels are abuzz with one golf bag after another – but breathtaking Kauri Cliffs Golf Course was here well before the masses. With the likes of Tara Iti and Tea Arai Links driving…

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Challenge and beauty in abundance at mesmerising Kinloch Club

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My first year of High School was an absolute blur, I barely remember a thing. However, looking back there is one person who has withstood the test of time and lived long in my memory – Mr Killian. A brawny and brash South African mathematics teacher, Mr Killian was loud, bold and confrontational…

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Tara Iti Golf Club: the most beautiful links on earth?

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Since its grand reveal, Tara Iti Golf Club has occupied a place in the hearts and minds of golfers across the world. To most it feels a world away: isolated geographically, almost heavenly in its beauty, and, given its famed privacy and exclusivity, almost impossible to access.  In a country dominated by public golf courses,…

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Centurion Club: LIV destination with one eye on the future

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No committees, no captains and a casual approach to clothing – welcome to Centurion Golf Club: where the normal rules do not apply. The Hertfordshire course, situated 25 miles north of London, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2023 and has been creating headlines right through its first decade. From hosting the inaugural GolfSixes…

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Stunning Sotogrande a jewel in Costa Del Sol’s crown

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Here’s an admission to kick off with: I’ve never been on a golf trip before. Golf has been like an old friend to me; floating in and out of my life, squeezing in time together when we can and picking up where we left off after long periods of separation. It’s constantly in…

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Breathtaking beauty and unrelenting drama at unique Cape Kidnappers

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At their best, golf courses captures the soul of their surroundings, gradually revealing a place over 18 unique chapters: never is that more the case than at Cape Kidnappers Golf Club.  Tucked away on a 500 foot cliff in a corner Hawke’s Bay on New Zealand’s North Island, this is a place that…

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Te Arai Links: Sumptuous South Course a genuine showstopper

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For a for few years, Te Arai Links felt like a myth. Its ultra-exclusive and highly-acclaimed sister property, Tara Iti, had captured the imagination of the golfing world with its beauty, tranquillity and its natural wonder. This extraordinary stretch of coastline on New Zealand’s north island was no longer a secret among golfers…

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The Old Course is the gift that keeps on giving

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My P.E. teacher used to call it the shrivel effect and as I prepared to play St Andrews Old Course for the first time, I finally knew what he meant. You know the feeling, it’s the one where every fibre in your body tightens, a pit forms in your stomach and, in my…

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Peterhead Golf Club’s rich history brings it to life

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As the Craigewan Links at Peterhead Golf Club comes into sight, so too does the path to reach it.    There aren’t many clubs where you find yourself crossing a footbridge to reach the clubhouse but Peterhead is one such place. For many years after this club was first formed, the only access…

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Is epic Royal Bled one of Europe’s best kept secrets?

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Golf trips are sacred: they’re opportunities to experience new destinations, create lifelong memories and to spend time with your people. The likes of Pinehurst, Bandon and the great links courses of Scotland and Ireland might immediately spring to mind when you’re going through your bucket list but sometimes straying off the beaten track…

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Costa Del Sol Golf: Wonderful La Hacienda Alcaidesa Links on the up

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From the 5th tee of the La Hacienda Alcaidesa Links, I can see it all: the sparkling Mediterranean, the iconic rock of Gibraltar, the Atlas Mountains in Morrocco and a golf course I could never tire of.  This stunning destination sits on an idyllic stretch of Spain’s south coast, not far from Marbella,…

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Grandeur and growth at the heart of Woodsome Hall success story

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The grandeur of Woodsome Hall Golf Club speaks for itself.  From the moment you drive through the gates of this handsome 134-acre estate and sweep up towards the 16th century grade-1 listed clubhouse, you get a sense of what this place is all about. The Woodsome Hall experience begins long before you step…

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Murcar Links Golf Club: spectacular links delivers challenge and reward

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From bubble wrap terrain to ocean side views, Murcar Links brings the challenge all gofers want and dangles the rewards all golfers need. Just 10 minutes from Aberdeen, Murcar was originally designed in 1909 by Archie Simpson, professional and keeper of the greens at neighbouring Royal Aberdeen with James Braid adding his Midas…

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East Lothian Golf: Scotland’s golf coast will capture your imagination

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We all book our golf trips for different reasons. Maybe it’s an annual ritual with family and friends? A weekend getaway with a spouse? Or a jammed packed once-in-a-lifetime bucket list adventure. Who you’re going with is just one consideration, of course; the other big one is where you are going. The sheer…

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Manchester Golf Club: natural wonder within sight of the city

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You might think the sight of a deer scampering down the 5th fairway at Manchester Golf Club would be a surprise given we’re within sight of the city centre. And yet amid the natural splendour all around us, we barely pay it a second glance: it’s very much at home – as are…

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Causeway Coast and Glens: the best golf courses

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The Causeway Coast and Glens is a place of incredible beauty and adventure but it’s also one of the best places to play golf.  This part of Northern Ireland is perhaps best known for hosting The Open Championship in 2019 when Royal Portrush won the hearts of so many golfers around the world.…

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Castlerock Golf Club: a special experience with real spirit

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Castlerock Golf Club is yet another unmissable stop on Northern Ireland’s spectacular Causeway Coast. To the west are the rolling hills of Donegal, to the east the towering dunes of Portstewart, separated only by the mouth of the river Bann. It’s a wonderful setting for two beautiful golf courses…

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Portstewart Golf Club: the best front 9 in golf?

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If there’s a better view from a 1st tee, it will have to go some to top The Strand at Portstewart Golf Club.  A scorching summer’s day has meandered into a lazy afternoon and the beach which sits to the right of the opening hole at Portstewart, is still bustling with surfers, day…

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