In a glittering amateur career, Scotland’s Richie Ramsay was the first British winner of the US Amateur Championship for almost 100 years when he won at Hazeltine in 2006. He turned pro in 2007 and has won the South African Open, the Omega European Masters and the Trophee Hassan II since then.

Richie has played many of the world’s best courses and, somewhat unusually for the modern day professional, is a keen student of golf course architecture. He is often to be found on social media commenting on architectural features or questioning the route the professional game is taking. It’s really refreshing to see a professional engaging with his followers in such an open way.

I’m grateful to Richie for sharing his favourite courses. He has given some commentary on why he’s picked the top 5 and also listed the courses he would most like to see next. It will be fascinating seeing how Richie continues to develop his passion for architecture in the years to come. He certainly has an eye for what makes a good course!

MUIRFIELD
Always a joy to play. Lunch helps. I have been fortunate to play it over the last 20 years, from bounce games in January when it’s soft to The Open 2013, firm and fast. The slow evolution of the course is something to be admired. They have stood strong, realised they have a gem of a course and resisted big alterations. The strategy, gentle slopes, variety of shots and routing keeps you coming back for more.
UK Golf Guy Review, Graylyn Loomis

ST ANDREWS - THE OLD COURSE
It possesses something special - an atmosphere unlike anywhere else and a challenge where one round is simply not enough. Playability is off the charts and probably the biggest difference anywhere between easy and hard pins. This of course is attributed to the width and angles. A must play for any golfer!!!
UK Golf Guy Review

LOCH LOMOND
The beauty of this place sometimes masks the brilliance of the design. The back 9 especially really gives you an opportunity to score, but misplaced shots can be heavily punished. Recent changes to sand cap the course have made a huge difference. The experience, from entering the gate to leaving, is truly world class.
UK Golf Guy Review, Breaking Eighty

AUGUSTA NATIONAL
Everything here is just done so well. Welcome, service, range but the course is obviously the star. To provide that amount of entertainment year after year it has so many crucial holes which test you mentally almost forcing mistakes. 12 and 13 are two of the best holes anywhere. The tee shot of 12 may be the hardest club to pick the whole year, swirling wind, angle, depth of green and the punishment that awaits. Greens complexes are incredible undulating with a speed to hurt even the best putters. The fairways slope which also adds another dynamic when trying to coming into the greens. The condition? Well it’s always perfect.
Masters.com, Planet Golf, GolfClubAtlas.com, Augusta Chronicle

OCEAN FOREST
The venue for the 2001 Walker Cup. It lies just outside Sea Island, Georgia and provides a mixture of Augusta National and Kiawiah Island. The tall pines line the fairways while the marshland creeps, providing a great test. Yes, you may lose a few balls but what a cool, understated and fun course to play.
Golf Course Gurus, YouTube

KINGSTON HEATH
UK Golf Guy Review, Planet Golf, Golf Course Architecture

ROYAL BIRKDALE
UK Golf Guy Review, Golf Empire

SUNNINGDALE
UK Golf Guy Review, View from the 19th, Planet Golf

MEDALIST
Top 100 Golf Courses

MERION
UK Golf Guy Review, NY Times, Philly.com

As for the hit list of courses Richie really wants to see next? It’s pretty good:

Ardfin, Congaree, Cypress Point, Fishers Island, Maidstone, Ohopee Matchplay Club, Pine Valley, Royal Melbourne, Sand Hills, Swinley Forest and Tara Iti!

A big thanks to Richie for sharing his list.