Marching to a Different Beat

Rob Smith takes a look at some of the UK&I’s more unusual, and sometimes even eccentric, golf courses

- Rob Smith

Some time ago, a friend sent me his tongue-in-cheek interpretation of golf course descriptions, such as easy-walking (flat as a pancake) and scenic (great for weddings). He also offered quirky (bad hole), which made me smile but also think. Yes, it is used to cover a multitude of sins, but couldn’t it also be used to describe something different, interesting or even unique?

As a self-avowed golf course fan, I would argue that a quirky course is one that at least has character. Happily, the obsession with a par of 72, four short holes, and four par 5s evenly split on either nine and as much length as possible is far from obligatory. For me, there is nothing wrong with 16 par 4s (thank you, Elie), no sand (thank you, Royal Ashdown), or back-to-back par 3s (thank you, West Sussex, and many other lovely courses).

While some see quirky as a slightly disparaging adjective, I think everyone at Golf Monthly would argue that it is quite the opposite – a badge of honour and a recommendation. In a world of so many formulaic designs, who wouldn’t want to play somewhere boasting characteristics that really mark it out from the crowd? Throughout the UK&I, we enjoy the greatest variety of golf in the world. As someone who has played an unhealthy number of courses, I very much celebrate those that are different, that embrace their setting and offer something special.