La Moye Golf Club, St Brelade, Jersey

www.lamoyegolfclub.co.uk 

White tees (men) par 72, slope 127, 6665 yards 

Red tees (ladies) par 74, slope 132, 5871 yards 

Lying in the south west corner of the island of Jersey is La Moye Golf Club, the second of our three links courses in the Channel Islands. La Moye was founded in 1902 by George Boomer, a local headmaster who was denied access to the then elite Royal Jersey where tradesmen were banned. Boomer proceeded to lay out a golf course on the west coast using tin cans, biscuit boxes and a second-hand hand mower. His passion for the sport is evidenced by the inspiration he gave to his pupils, two of whom were Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, both future Open champions. His own sons were also professional golfers, one winning the French Open and a Ryder Cup team member and the other winning the Belgian, Swiss and Dutch Opens. The course was redesigned in 1934 by James Braid but sadly destroyed along with the club records during the German occupation in the Second World War. Input from well known designers including Henry Cotton and Donald Steel influenced its subsequent reconstruction and development over the years. We were told that a further major redesign by McKenzie and Ebert is in the offing. 

The fabulous view from the 7th tee

We received a very friendly welcome from the professional, members and Mark, the golf operations manager who presented us with 'The Boomer Legacy', a book detailing the first hundred years of La Moye. Set on a hill overlooking the sea, the stylish clubhouse has spectacular views. The course was very well kept but unfortunately it was a very windy day with squally showers and there had been recent greens maintenance. We were given useful advice to keep left for almost all of the holes. The 1st is a par three into the teeth of the prevailing wind with the biggest hazard being marauding gulls stealing any food on display! The 3rd hole is a par 3 with a sloping plateau green. Other holes in the first nine were good but not outstanding. They were set on top of large rocky and sandy outcrops and were more like clifftop than true links golf but which gave panoramic views of the bay and other islands. There were also a lot of trees for a links course. However the greens were links greens with slopes and swales. We liked the par 5 11th which curved uphill and

The 11th from the tee

where the advice to keep left off the tee was very useful. The 12th is an excellent well bunkered par 3 which demands accuracy off the tee. A blind drive at 13th is followed by a downhill approach to a green set amongst trees. The 14th is a difficult long par 3 into the prevailing wind and over a valley of gorse, dunes and waste ground to a steep slope up to the green. There is a long carry at the 15th drive where it is also wise to keep left as there is a cliff on right and the fairway runs from left to right. The 18th returns to the clubhouse which overlooks the green lying in a dell.  

The par 3 12th

                                                       

 Worth playing? Yes but we were not convinced of its true links status.

Royal Jersey Golf Club, Grouville, Jersey

www.royaljersey.com

White tees (men) par 70, 6190 yards, slope 121        
Red tees (ladies) par 71, 5428 yards, slope 121

This is the start of the Channel Islands swing!  We arrived at Royal Jersey Golf Club to one of the friendliest welcomes we have had from Tony the course ranger and the rest of the staff and members and at the end of the round the club presented us with a book, signed by the captain and manager, about the history of the course and club: 'Historical Links' by Mary Phillips.  The club was first established in 1878 on land which remains common ground to this day.  Harry Vardon was born in nearby Grouville and recalls the course being built when he was eight years old: 'The natural state of the land was so perfect that.......possibly no real good golf course was ever so easily made'. A year later the club received its royal warrant from Queen Victoria.  It appears that ladies were admitted a few years later as the first lady captain was appointed in 1894.  As with many links courses the second world war was a major challenge with much damage being done to the golf course by the German forces who occupied the island from 1940 to 1945 which took almost two years to repair. 

The first drive is ideally between the fort on the left
and the two gun emplacements on the right

Lying on the south east coast of Jersey, Royal Jersey is in a beautiful location overlooked by the mediaeval Mont Orgueil castle and with views over the sea to France only 14 miles away.  We played on a bright but windy day, accompanied on the first few holes by long time members Richard and Paul.  The course is tight with the prevailing wind across most holes.  The greens were good but the fairways were in a disappointing condition although it was early in the year.  The first drive is unusual with the line for the drive being between Fort Henry and and two WWII German concrete gun emplacements. The fairway runs from left to right so any shot drifting right is liable to land on the beach which is a no play zone.  The first is a par 5 followed by two par 3s and a par 5, all of which run along the beach.   

The par 3 fourth is overlooked by Mont Orgueil castle

The fifth turns back towards the clubhouse and has a hidden bunker which catches an approach shot to the right.  The eighth is a lovely par 3 although there were a few too many trees for a links course.  We were told that recent improvements had included removal of a large number of trees.

The statue of Harry Vardon

The second nine lies to the inland side of the first nine.  We particularly liked the 10th which is a par 4 from a tee overlooking the beach and heading inland to a challenging approach into the the prevailing wind to an elevated green. The twelfth hole has a typical rolling fairway and a blind shot to a green over a hill. Unusually the 15th and 16th are consecutive par 3s which are near the entrance road and a statue of Harry Vardon.  A  carry over gorse for the drive on the 17th takes the player back up to Fort Henry and a green cut into the hill.  The finishing hole is uphill to a green with panoramic views over the sea.

The eighteenth green

The approach to the 11th green

Worth playing?  Yes if you are going to the Channel Islands

Littlehampton Golf Club, Kent, England

www.littlehamptongolf.co.uk

White tees par 70, slope 123, 6207 yards                                    
Red tees par 73, slope 126, 5615 yards

We played Littlehampton on a sunny but breezy day in late February having driven down from Royal Cinque Ports past the white cliffs of Dover.  Littlehampton lies on the south coast of England overlooking the English Channel.  Incorporated in 1889 it was originally a nine hole course in the sand dunes but in 1893 more land was purchased to add a further nine holes. As with many courses in this area it was ravaged during World War 2 but after the removal of over 400 concrete blocks and a military road the course was restored.

The first hole

This is an unassuming but very friendly club.  We met some very helpful members at the start who insisted that we join them in the clubhouse after the round for a Littlehampton 'special' - brandy and lovage. 

The second hole is a typical links hole

Improvements to the course are underway to build more sand dunes on both sides of the first hole to tie in with the original sand dunes running along the coast.  The prettiest section is along the dunes with occasional glimpses of the magnificent sandy beach.  Standout holes include the second, sixth and seventh, which are typical links holes and easy on the eye.  The sixth is a long par 3 with bunkers awaiting the unwary and a sloping green. The seventh is a gentle dog leg to the right with views of the sea from the tee.  The second nine is less interesting with a few rather wet holes but a nice finishing hole by the clubhouse

The long par 3 6th

Glimpses of the sea on the first nine

Worth playing?  Yes for the relaxing course and friendly welcome.

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, Deal, England

www.royalcinqueports.com

White tees 73.9, slope 129, 7010 yards
Red tees 73.3, slope 124, 5660 yards

Initially Cinque Ports golf club, this course lies on the same stretch of coast as Royal St George's and Princes' golf clubs.   The cinque ports are a mediaeval confederation of five English Channel ports to provide ships and men for the king's service.  The title probably dates from the time of Edward the Confessor in the 11th century for defence of the coast and cross channel passage.  In return the inhabitants were give a number of privileges including exemption from tax.  Cinque Ports golf club was opened in 1892 as a nine hole course, much of which would still be recognisable today.  It was designed by the first professional, Henry Hunter,  who was also responsible for its conversion to an eighteen hole course in 1895.  The course received royal patronage just before the coronation of George V but the title of royal was not formally granted until 1949.  Royal Cinque Ports has hosted the Open Championship on two occasions, in 1908 and 1920.

Looking across the first hole to the clubhouse

 This is a lovely proper links course with a friendly         welcome.  We played with our son William and   encountered challenging conditions with  windy weather   and  some heavy wintry showers.  Despite the winter   weather the course was in excellent condition with fast   running crumpled fairways and greens in superb   condition. Its difficulty is increased by the prevailing   wind which blows across the line of play of the course   rather like the Old Course in St Andrews.

Crumpled fairways on the third hole

The first hole is a gentle par 4 heading south with a burn guarding the green.  The course then turns to the north and the next eight holes run along the coast overlooking the English Channel with occasional glimpses of the sea.  We particularly liked the third hole, a par 5 with the second shot through a narrow gap and a green in a hollow.  This was followed by a par 3 with a sloping green and views of Ramsgate in the distance .   Other memorable holes include the 6th with a very undulating fairway and a plateau green and the tenth which was a dogleg from right to left with a large bunker to discourage the player from cutting the corner and steep runoffs round the green.  The 14th hole also had deep swales around the green at the front left and back with a pot bunker guarding the right side making this long par 3 particularly tricky.  The finishing hole is reminiscent of the first, being a gentle par 4 with a burn across the fairway.

The dogleg 10th protected by
 a well positioned bunker

Ramsgate can be seen in the
distance beyond the par 3 4th 

                            

Worth playing?  Definitely.  A proper true links course.