9 St George’s Hill Surrey, England Harry Colt, 1913 Perhaps the first example of an integrated golf and housing development, St George’s Hill set a standard that is unmatched since. Colt designed two courses here, the first of which still exists in full, the second reduced to nine holes (the current ‘Green’ nine) in the 1940s. Cabo Del Sol (Ocean) Baja California Sur, Mexico Jack Nicklaus, 1994 Combining the best of desert and coastal golf, Cabo Del Sol’s Ocean course is one of just two Central American courses in the Top 100 list. In 2010/11 the club made significant changes to the fifth, sixth and seventh holes, taking play closer to the sea. Jim Lipe, who worked with Nicklaus to create the new holes, said: “With water crashing all around you on the sixth green and seventh tee, the connection to the ocean is greatly enhanced”. The Berkshire (Blue) Berkshire, England Herbert Fowler, 1928 Both courses at The Berkshire received votes from architects, but it was perhaps surprisingly the Blue that made it into our Top 100. Famously opening with a tough par three over a deep heather-filled hollow, the course winds its way through the pine that has matured since the golf course was first laid out on open heath. 92-87 enough I have no doubt they’d have been the first in line to update their old courses, using their considerable skills and wonderful imagination to ensure that these courses continued to be a test for the best players. From the feedback we’ve had, there’s no question the players now appreciate the changes we’ve made. The course doesn’t need to be tricked-up; it’s just a very balanced and fair test of golf, with a well-judged risk-reward component. If you play well then there are opportunities to make birdies and score well, but if you’re doubting yourself or slightly off your game then the golf course will penalise you. That’s the way championship golf is meant to be. ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #89 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #88 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #87 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #89 Photo: Larry Lambrecht Photo: The Berkshire Golf Club ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #88 ARCHITECTS’ CHOICE #87
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