25 Winged Foot (West) New York, USA AW Tillinghast, 1923 Perhaps the best test of a great architect is their ability to produce a fine course on relatively ordinary terrain, and Tillinghast’s skill is demonstrated at Winged Foot, where he designed both East and West courses. The West’s clever design provides a complete examination of golfing skills, demanding every type of shot and every club in the bag. Seminole Florida, USA Donald Ross, 1929 With the routing taking players into a large sand ridge, the combination of Ross’s trademark crowned greens and strategically placed bunkers, coastal winds and typically very firm and fast playing surfaces define Seminole’s challenge. Cruden Bay Aberdeenshire, Scotland Tom Morris, Archie Simpson, Tom Simpson, Herbert Fowler, 1899 The original Morris and Simpson layout was redesigned to the current layout by Tom Simpson and Herbert Fowler in 1929. It’s a unique and unconventional journey among the links with everything from bathtub greens to blind par threes, but never a dull moment. San Francisco California, USA AW Tillinghast, 1918 Many consider this Tillinghast’s finest work, and it is the highest rated of his courses in our Top 100. Renaissance Golf Design was commissioned to rebuild the club’s greens in 2001, and they have also restored Tillinghast’s original thirteenth to fifteenth holes. Royal St George’s Kent, England Laidlaw Purves, 1887 14 Open Championships have been hosted on the severely undulating links at Sandwich in south east England. With two loops of nine, rather than the traditional out-andback links layout, players will typically have to cope with wind from all directions. Royal Birkdale Merseyside, England George Lowe, Fred G. Hawtree, JH Taylor, 1897 The original George Lowe links was extensively remodelled by Hawtree and Taylor in the 1930s. Routed between the sand dunes, Birkdale is our architects’ second favourite golf course in England. Jonathan Gaunt says: “Royal Birkdale is a great golfers’ course where, if you play well, you get the favourable bounces. A great variety of holes and shapes.” Kingston Heath Victoria, Australia Dan Soutar, Alister MacKenzie, 1925 Established in 1909, Kingston Heath moved from its Elsternwick site to Cheltenham in the mid1920s. Built to stand the test of time, the then par-82 course was designed by 1905 Australian Open champion Dan Soutar and bunkered by Alister Mackenzie. Carnoustie Angus, Scotland Alan Robertson, Tom Morris, James Braid, 1850 David Whelchel says: “Carnoustie gets my top spot as it is a fine layout, wonderful change of direction and the golfer has to hit quality shots to post a good or great score. Having played it many times, each time only gets better and my respect for the course increases with each round and each hole played.” 35-24 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #31 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #27 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #30 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #26 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #29 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #25 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #28 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #24 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #29 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #24 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #25 Photo: Mark Alexander Photo: Mark Alexander Photo: Gary Lisbon
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