Just to let you know: Irish people don't like being classed as British Islanders...we are IRISH Islanders...thanks.

West Sussex is one of the most highly rated inland courses in the Uk and is always talked of as being a 'GEM' but for some reason is missed by many commentators.

West Sussex is considered to be one one of the best inland courses and a hidden GEM but is more often than not missed by many commentators.Perhaps just as well.
Also one of the few remaining 2 ball Clubs which is good news when a round of golf is now taking so long.

Dormus

Randal--

That is awesome to hear! I can personally vouch for Sunningdale as a can't-miss stop for your group on that trip. I've only played the Old Course but am told that many golfers believe the New to be every bit its equal. If that is true, it's hard to fathom many better 36-hole days in the golfing world.

Best,
--Tim

Great list and I hope to play many of them. I have played 60 courses in GBI over the last 15 years, but most have been links courses. This past year, on a trip to Wales and southwest England, my group decided to add St. George's Hill due to it's proximity to Heathrow, and boy, are we glad we did! What a fabulous routing with many wonderful holes. Just as pleasurable was reception we received from the starter, who made absolutely sure we received the full experience of being at St. George's Hill. Tried to get on Swinley by writing a letter (a lost art) but never got a reply. But I am not giving up as my group now plans a trip solely to play other heathland courses based on our experience at SGH.

Of the great Surrey courses. for me Swinley is the best. But my favourite heathland golf course is the charming and very welcoming Piltdown in East Sussex. It can be difficult, with long carries and plenty of punishing heather-covered bunkers to get stuck in if you go off-fairway, but no sand bunkers at all.

Having played most of the Golfweek rated courses, I agree with the comments above about them. I would add Royal Ashdown Forest and The Addington. Both have dramatic elevation changes and spectacular views.

Great piece. I've been fortunate to play many of the courses on your list. I also like West Sussex which is closer to Gatwick. If you plopped Pinehurst #2 in the middle of these heathland courses, it would be middle of the pack, at best.

I lived in the UK for forty years, so I've been lucky enough to play all of your recommended courses (including Wentworth, when it was open for public play). All of them are magnificent and are worth playing.
You have listed Swinley Forest as a recommended course. Unless they have had a recent policy change, this is an extremely difficult course to access - to all intents and purposes it is "private" (like the Wisley, Bearwood Lakes etc). If you want to play Swinley Forest, you may need to get your home pro to email or call the Swinley pro.
It's a relatively short course (by modern standards), but is worth the effort to get on if you can.

I have played many of these, including Sunningdale, Walton Heath, Berkshire, Wentworth when it was not Americanized, and some others, and they are all excellent. Only problem now is they are very expensive, even with the decline of the pound. In 1972, I played both Sunningdale courses and had lunch thrown in, for 5 pounds! It's twice that per hole now.

BEAU DESSERT ON CANNOCK CHASE A REALLY TESTING HEATHLAND COURSE PLENTY OF GORSE BUSHES AND TREES A LOVELY FINISHING HOLE OVER WATER TO THE GREEN BELOW THE CLUB HOUSE WINDOW