18 St Andrews (New) Fife, Scotland Tom Morris, 1895 “The New Course at St Andrews ticks every box for challenge, variety, beauty, charm, accessibility and history. It is ranked as my number one as it combines more of these qualities than any other course I have seen, without losing anything in the process. And its par four tenth is the finest hole I have yet played,” says William Swan of Swan Golf Designs. Utrecht De Pan Netherlands Harry Colt, 1929 Colt’s expert routing at De Pan makes the most of the surprisingly undulating heathland, with holes weaving among the sand hills and pine forest. Architects’ Choice Top 100 Golf Courses ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #56 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #56 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #55 Following Colt’s footsteps Harry Colt has left his mark on more of the courses in our Top 100 than any other architect. Frank Pont has worked at both De Pan and Swinley Forest, and considers their appeal One of Harry Colt’s biggest strengths was his ability to discover great routings for the sites he got to work on. The routing of De Pan might well be one of the best he ever created. On a site of less than 125 acres he was able to create a golf course that feels as if it were 300 acres. What helped Colt in his efforts was the fact that De Pan lies in a landscape of 50 feet high sand hills, remnants of the glaciers that occupied these lands during the last ice ages. It is these landforms that give the player a sense of seclusion. Built in 1928, De Pan is considered by many the prettiest inland course in Holland. The sandy soil allows for firm playing conditions, and the heather and pines surrounding the course give it the traditional heathland look so prevalent in Surrey. A place still largely undiscovered! Swinley Forest has perhaps the best endorsement of any course, in that it is where Harry Colt preferred to play his own recreational golf. Those that have been fortunate enough to play Swinley Forest will probably have a good sense ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #55 Photo: Mark Alexander
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