All six courses that make up one of England’s premier golfing destinations, the Atlantic Links in south west England, feature in the latest course ranking compiled by the UK magazine Golf Monthly.
In the magazine’s ‘Top 100 Courses UK and Ireland 2012’ just published, Somerset’s Burnham & Berrow ranks most highly at number 37 and is closely followed by Saunton’s East Course at 39 and St Enodoc’s Church Course in Cornwall up four places to 41st position.
The other three Atlantic Links courses also come well inside the top 100 with Saunton West in at number 57, Cornwall’s Trevose in 70th spot and Royal North Devon – known also as Westward Ho! – placed in 75th position.
Put together over a period of two years by assessors, golf clubs, readers, industry experts and other media, Golf Monthly took into account four criteria: the quality and test of design, condition and presentation, visual appeal and ambience.
“We are delighted to have been ranked as the best course in the south west by the Golf Monthly assessors. They were impressed by the continued high standard of course maintenance and the changes that we have made to the course since the last published rankings in 2010; hence moving 5 places up the league table,” commented Michael Blight, Secretary of Burnham & Berrow, which last year hosted the R&A Boys Championship and The Brabazon Trophy – for the fifth time – and in doing so entered golfing history by becoming the first course to hold both championships in the same year.
“To have all our partner courses (Royal North Devon, Saunton, St Enodoc & Trevose) ranked in the top 100 is testament to the quality of golf on offer here in the south west and to be ranked as the best in such company is a credit to the greens team we have here at Burnham.”
A majestic trail along the dramatic and picturesque north Atlantic coastline, the Atlantic Links courses are some of the oldest and most traditional links in the UK. Indeed Royal North Devon, which dates back to 1864, is recognized as the oldest links in England and has hardly changed over nearly 150 years. Playing it is like taking a step back in time and seeing how golf was played in Victorian England.
Adding to the appeal of the Atlantic Links courses are the numerous off-course activities that exist in the south west. These include excellent trekking and walking opportunities, charming little fishing villages and bustling market towns as well as visitor attractions such as The Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan and the historic town of Bath.
For further information on England’s Atlantic Links, visit www.atlantic-links.co.uk or for Atlantic Links Golf Packages contact London Golf Tours (www.londongolftours.com).