Lure of the Links

The game was first played on sandy, unproductive ground where sheep and cattle grazed among the dunes. The best links courses still look as though they were designed by nature. County Sligo golf course at Rosses Point is one such. The layout, by the great golf architect Harry Colt, is largely determined by a huge ridge which rises from the clubhouse and falls steeply to the undulating ground near sea level. The final holes, 17th and 18th, make for a tight finish in match play. The 17th is a tricky left dog leg which climbs steeply to a sloping green. The views are everywhere magnificent. You can see Ben Bulben, and Knocknarea,  and, on the far side of the bay, Lissadell House.
I looked at the list of courses which Harry Colt either designed, single-handed, or had a hand in designing or re-modelling. I realised I'd played twenty-five of them in Ireland, England and France  - most recently, Rosses Point, Castlerock and Valescure (the latter just before Covid-19 put an end to play for a couple of months).  The other great golf architect of the 20th century was Alister McKenzie. I've played five courses designed by McKenzie. I now play most of my golf at Knock Golf Club, where I am a member. Both Colt and McKenzie had a hand in designing this tough parkland course, laid out around a hill.  (In Irish 'Cnoc' pronounced like knockmeans a hill.)
I love reading about golf. The golf stories of P G Wodehouse are funny and charming. Wodehouse famously claimed his address was 'Bunker on the 6th, the Addington". I've played the Addington several times, thankfully never penetrating the sandless depths of this notorious bunker. There's a bridge over it, for heaven's sake!
Online, I've just discovered bestgolfclubreview.com It has rated links courses - world-wide https://www.bestgolfclubreview.com/top-30-public-links-golf-courses/ A fine list, to which I would add Rosses Point and Lahinch in Ireland and Saunton in England. 
I forsee many happy hours browsing. And, I hope, happy golfing.