13 Courses That Didn't Make the GOLF Top 100
But They Might Make Your Trip
Recently, GOLF magazine released its always anticipated Top 100 Courses in the World list. It's a fantastic collection of the game's greatest stages, many of which have hosted our Members for decades.
But here's the thing about rankings: they're great for debate, but they're entirely subjective. And as any seasoned golf traveler will attest, the best course in the world isn't always the one with the highest score on a well-designed, yet made up scale.
In our three decades of guiding private club members across the pond to enjoy golf at its finest, we’ve found that the most memorable rounds often happen away from the spotlight. These 13 courses – one from each of the key regions for golf in Scotland, Ireland, and England – may not have a number next to their name on this year's list, but they are all worthy of a place on your itinerary.
Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club
Region: Channel Coast
The Experience: Known locally as "Deal," this two-time Open host is a favorite among our team. It's a true test of links golf in a sublime setting along the sea. The 3rd hole, with its punchbowl green, is easily one of the best par-5s in the UK. It was on the last edition of the Top 100 list and deserves to be back.
Why Our Members Love It: For the understated greatness. It was here that Walter Hagen played part of his legendary 54-hole day across three courses. It's a pure links test with a clubhouse atmosphere that is second to none.
The Expedition led by Dr. Ed Holland from Triple Crown Country Club at Royal Cinque Ports.
Dunbar Golf Club
Region: East Lothian, Scotland
The Experience: Often overshadowed by nearby Muirfield and North Berwick, Dunbar is a classic links that hugs the rocky coastline so tightly you can practically taste the salt spray. It’s an Open Qualifying venue with a rich history dating back to 1856.
Why Our Members Love It: For the sheer joy of the setting. The stretch of holes along the sea offers some of the most exhilarating shots in East Lothian. It’s a pure, unpretentious test of golf that feels like stepping back in time.
Ardglass Golf Club
Region: Northern Ireland and the North Coast
The Experience: There are few opening tee shots in golf more dramatic than the 1st at Ardglass, where you fire over a rocky inlet with the Irish Sea crashing below. And it all starts in the shadow of the 14th century castle turned clubhouse.
Why Our Members Love It: It's a perfect pair with Royal County Down. While RCD demands every ounce of your concentration, Ardglass invites you to exhale and enjoy the thrill of cliff-top golf. It's a glorious walk that you won't soon forget.
Nick Papadakes, PGA with his Onwentsia Club members at Ardglass.
Dunaverty Golf Club
Region: Kintyre, Scotland
The Experience: Located near the village of Southend, Dunaverty is a hidden delight set on the southern tip of the Kintyre peninsula. It's a shorter course, but the wind, the turf, and the views make it an unforgettable stop.
Why Our Members Love It: It feels like stepping back to another era. Uncomplicated, rugged, and spectacularly beautiful. It perfectly complements the heavier tests of Machrihanish and Machrihanish Dunes nearby.
Brora Golf Club
Region: The Highlands, Scotland
The Experience: Golf as it was centuries ago. The course is shared with grazing sheep and cattle, meaning you’ll encounter electric fences around the greens to keep the livestock at bay. It's an out-and-back James Braid design that has remained virtually untouched.
Why Our Members Love It: For the charm. There's no other course quite like it. It pairs a wonderful test of golf with a bit of whimsy, and reminds you not to take the game too seriously.
Our own Connor Evers, PGA with some of the wooly residents at Brora.
Murcar Links
Region: Aberdeen, Scotland
The Experience: Located right next door to Royal Aberdeen, Murcar is often the unsung hero of the Northeast. It features a rugged, crumpled ;andscape and elevated tees that offer inspiring views of the North Sea.
Why Our Members Love It: It adds depth to an Aberdeen itinerary. While Cruden Bay, Royal Aberdeen, and Trump International grab the headlines, Murcar delivers an authentic links test that holds its own against the giants.
Enniscrone Golf Club
Region: Northwest Ireland
The Experience: If you enjoy towering dunes, Enniscrone is mandatory. Located in the rugged Northwest, "The Dunes" championship links features some of the most dramatic terrain in the country, winding through sand hills that feel prehistoric in scale.
Why Our Members Love It: The isolation and grandeur of the setting make it feel like you have discovered a secret, even though it is widely respected by those in the know.
Tom Gilbert, PGA with his Gulph Mills Golf Club members at Enniscrone.
Lundin Golf Club
Region: St. Andrews, Scotland
The Experience: A course with a unique history. The original links was shared by multiple clubs, and eventually split in two. Five-time Open Champion James Braid was brought in to design nine new holes across the railway line, adding variety to the links.
Why Our Members Love It: The view from the 14th tee is one of the best in Fife. The variety here is rare in Scotland, with only Golspie coming to mind as a natural blend of links and parkland. Our own Chris McConn loved Lundin so much, he joined as an overseas member.
Wesetern Gailes Golf Club
Region: Ayrshire, Scotland
The Experience: This classic links often surprises our Members, and many come away listing it as their favorite round in Ayrshire. Sandwiched between the railway line and the sea, it is a proper test demanding both control and creativity.
Why Our Members Love It: It's the quintessential Scottish links experience where the noise of the train, the crashing waves, and the firm turf underfoot combine to create a round that feels just right.
Jay Wick, PGA with his Old Sandwich Golf Club members at Western Gailes.
The Island Golf Club
Region: Dublin, Ireland
The Experience: Although not technically an island, the course weaves through some of the most rugged dunes on the east coast. The Island feels delightfully isolated despite being just minutes from Dublin Airport.
Why Our Members Love It: It's an adventurous layout that has gained serious recognition in recent years. The dunes here are massive, creating natural amphitheaters for some truly dramatic golf holes.
Dooks Golf Links
Region: Southwest Ireland
The Experience: While the heavyweights of the Southwest get the glory, Dooks quietly offers one of the most scenic rounds in Ireland. Set against the backdrop of the Dingle Peninsula and MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, it is a visual feast.
Why Our Members Love It: It’s fun. Dooks is a delightful stroll in one of Ireland's grandest settings. A rewarding experience, even if the itinerary includes a few clubs that did make the Top 100.
Group Captain Bob Tweardy and Friends from Dataw Island Club at Dooks.
Hillside Golf Club
Region: England's Golf Coast
The Experience: Situated on England’s Golf Coast, directly adjacent to Royal Birkdale, Hillside is a tale of two nines. The front is flat and fair, but the back nine explodes into towering dunes and pine trees that many argue is the finest inward half in Britain.
Why Our Members Love It: Proximity and quality. If you are in the area for the Royals (Birkdale, Liverpool, and Lytham), Hillside offers a championship-quality experience that stands toe-to-toe with its Open rota neighbors.
Walton Heath Golf Club
Region: London Heathland
The Experience: A shift from the seaside to the heather. Walton Heath is a historic club that hosted the 1981 Ryder Cup. It offers two courses (Old and New) that traverse open heathland, demanding strategy to avoid the thick heather that frames every hole.
Why Our Members Love It: To experience the famous London Heathland. It pairs beautifully with Sunningdale, Swinley Forest, and St. George's Hill, offering a firm, fast-running test that feels like a links course located inland.
Your List Is The Only One That Matters
Rankings are a great starting point, but they can’t measure the things that truly make an Expedition special: the camaraderie, the setting, and the way a course makes you feel.
Whether your dream itinerary includes the Top 100 heavyweights, these treasures, or a perfect mix of both, we’re here to help you build an experience that is uniquely yours.
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