Burnham & Berrow (Championship) in England has been ranked number 33 in Golf Monthly’s top 100 UK & Ireland golf courses 2015/16.
33. Burnham & Berrow (Championship): Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2015/16
St Christopher’s Way, Burnham on Sea, Somerset TA8 2PE
T: 01278 785760
W: burnhamandberrowgolfclub.co.uk
GF: £85 per round, £105 per day
Architect: Harry Colt, Dr Alister MacKenzie
Visitor information: Monday to Friday from 9.45am, weekend afternoons only
Catering options: Full catering service available all day
2012 Ranking: Up 4
Work undertaken since 2012 ranking: Extension to the 16th green
When Burnham Golf Club opened in 1891, play was over a nine-hole course on a small piece of land known locally as The Warren.
The championship course took around 30 years to develop and mature into the layout played today.
Harry Colt was principally responsible for the design, although he invited Dr Alister MacKenzie to give his thoughts on the 9th and 10th holes.
This is a traditional out-and-back links course with the holes winding elegantly between the dunes.
The fairways here are rumpled and the green surrounds feature some challenging slopes. There’s a wonderful selection of holes on the course, but the par 3s deserve special mention – in particular, the 14th, which is almost 200 yards long and features a tantalising raised green surrounded by run-offs.
Positioning from the tee is important around Burnham & Berrow. The course isn’t massively long by modern standards, but approaching from the wrong side of the fairways can be difficult.
The greens are famously quick in the summer, with some testing undulations. The course demands precision and creativity.
The club has regularly hosted significant amateur competitions over the years. In 2011, both the Brabazon Trophy and the Boys’ Amateur Championship were contested at Burnham & Berrow.
+ Wonderfully undulating course with great variety
– The reed holes may not be to the taste of traditional lovers of links
Panellist comments
“This is a challenging course, particularly when the wind is up. The difficulty is enhanced by the fact it’s not possible to overpower it. Even down breeze, the par 5s are well protected with undulating greens.”
“I thought the bunkering was excellent. A great deal of work has obviously gone into managing them correctly.”
Next course: 34. Nairn: Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2015/16
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