The Dustbin Lid Man - Introducing the rather testing Nullarbor links
29 Oct 2009 - 07:15:04
I’d like to see someone drive the Nullarbor links in a golf buggy. In fact, I’d like to do it myself and see how long it took.
Would it be legal to do it with a cool box full of Fosters? Of course I’m talking about the world’s longest golf course which has finally opened its enormous doors in Australia.
At 848 miles and 171 yards it makes your average course look like crazy golf in Margate. Or is it the other way round. It is crazy after all. Is it going to start a new trend?
Maybe you could have a hole in 18 European countries? One in the snowy outlands of Norway with wolves as the hazard, a Parisian par three with an old boules court for the green, complete with Gauloises touting locals indifferently looking on as you putt out.
The Estonian hole would probably have some ladies of ill repute lining the fairway and the Polish finishing hole would be unfinished because all the builders are in London.
You can travel from Lands End to John o’Groats in only 26 more miles than the Australian golfing monster, which means you could take in over 7500 courses in the British Isles - that is if you took a delightful dogleg left over the Irish Sea.
It would make a dream course if you picked the best holes on offer around the land.
Two friends of mine are currently playing out a two man competition on the 'top' 50 courses in the UK, which is admirable especially if you consider how much they will be paying in green fees and 19th hole whiskeys.
But we could all imagine an incredible 18 from the iconic courses. What of the rest, the ones we play week after week through rain, wind and snow. The ones that are cared for and played on for next to nothing?
What would the finest eighteen holes be if you only picked from courses where you can turn up and play for under £20?
Having not played nearly enough of the thousands of examples in Great Britain and Ireland I can’t give you a definitive answer, however, I’m hoping you may tell me your favourites and see if we can’t compile a list.
Give me some reasoning for your decision, even if it was just a memorable mistake or the scene of your finest hour.
Whether it’s Braid Hills in Edinburgh, Heaton Park Golf Club in Greater Manchester or simply your local pitch and putt that has a peerless view of the industrial estate next door, just let me know what hole tickles your five iron.
You can email me at jac@golf.co.uk, add a comment at the bottom of this blog or send me a smoke signal from your cigar and in a few weeks I’ll publish the list on these very pages.
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Relevant links
- Smiting Drives: Rickie Fowler has arrived
- UK & Ireland golf courses
