Ok, I've had enough of this. If one more person asks me "I can't decide between Scotland and Ireland for next years golf trip" I'll scream! The correct answer, if you are looking for truly great golf from the late 19th and early 20th century is...wait for it....London.
Just for fun without looking at an architecture book I"ll name you 15 wonderful courses in the London area. Okay, go!....Sunningdale Old and New, Walton Heath Old and New, Swinley Forest, Berkshire Red and Blue, Worplesdon, Woking, West Hill, Hankley Common, Camberley Heath, Liphook, Blackmoor, North Hants, St George's Hill Red and Blue, Wentworth East. How many was that? 17.... and no mention of the travesty that has befallen the once great Burma Road (or West course) at Wentworth. (Ernie are you coming back for a fourth time to "fix" it?)
Nearly all of the courses named above were designed by the greats, James Braid, Harry Colt, Herbert Fowler, Tom Simpson, Willy Park Jr. And if they weren't, such as West Hill, they were designed by architects from that era with wonderful names like Cuthbert Butchart (when did you last meet a Cuthburt?)
So, not only do you get accessible golf, with reasonable green fees, but you can visit the greatest, coolest city in the world, London. Golf during the day, great restaurants and shows at night - all within 30 miles of the center of "town" as us Brits call London. Ok, the exchange rate is a killer, but you were going anyway right. So, don't change planes at Heathrow, get off the plane, stay in town and get to grips with the best collection of golf courses within a 20 miles radius anywhere in the world.
