Where2Golf Site Definitions

Explanation of terms and definitions used on the Where2Golf.com site.

Look up below the ratings applied to each of the golf courses listed, as well as the terms used to describe the course itself and its surroundings. Click on the links in the table of contents below to read a definition.

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Course Rating
Course Type
Surroundings
Walking The Course
Practice Facilities
Hotels

Course Rating

Attempting to reflect the quality of golfing experience you will potentially have on the golf courses we cover, Where2Golf.com offers a course rating for each course.

Course design, standard of upkeep and surrounding scenery are the three key factors that influence the ratings. Clubhouse amenities and service, practice facilities, lodging options, cost of playing and value for money are not factored into the ratings. The ratings are based on the personal assessment and experiences of the Where2Golf team, who have visited and played each course in the guide. Any courses included but not visited, are shown as Unrated (U).

In each rating category, from 1 (lowest rated) to 5 (highest rated), we have also highlighted a "gold-standard". Courses rated 4-GOLD, for example, represent our personal selection of the top courses in the 4-star category; in our view they offer something beyond the majority of 4-star courses.

	Simply the best. Golf courses don't get better than this. In many golfers' top 10 listing.
	A "must play" course. Excellent standard. Well worth making a detour to play.
	Good course. Many fine features. Will not disappoint.
	Reasonable standard. Worth playing if better courses not available.
	Untried, untested or basic course. Can't recommend. Its your decision to play.
	Unrated course - not yet visited by the Where2Golf team.
	Private course - for members and their invited guests only.
Best in their rating category.

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Course Type
Something about the course itself...

Links - By the sea and usually amongst the sand dunes.
Cliff Top - Much of the course is set above cliffs with the sea below.
Open Parkland - Inland, with not so many trees on the course.
Wooded Parkland - Inland, with many tree-lined holes.
Mixed Parkland - Inland, some parts through the trees other parts more open.
Heathland - Inland, often partly wooded, partly open. Typically on sandy soil with heather and/or gorse.
Desert - Inland, man-made course where very little grows naturally.
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Surroundings
Something about what lies beyond the course...

Residential - Proximity to residential housing or suburban area.
Rural Countryside - Away from the houses; natural environment or farmland.
Seaside - Adjacent to the sea (but not a gaurantee of sea views !).
Lakeside / Riverside - A sizeable lake / river provides an additional feature to the course.
Desert - As it sounds; usually hot and not much grows without considerable help.
Forest / Woodland - Most of the course is situated in forest or heavily wooded area.
Golf / Real Estate - Golf course built as integral part of a residential housing complex.
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Walking The Course
Something about the physical effort needed to get round the course.

Flat - Few if any gradients.
No Effort To Walk - Nothing too onerous; perhaps a few gentle gradients.
A Few Slopes To Climb - Some gradients could feel a bit like hard work.
Several Slopes To Climb - Some steeper or longer climbs on the way round.
Tough Going - Hilly and / or long distances from greens to tee. Buggy adviseable.
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Practice Facilities
Excellent - Full facilities, with extensive covered driving range.
Good - Basic practice facilities plus long-game practice possible.
Limited - Basic practice facilities (putting green, chipping area).
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Hotels
Hotel ratings shown are taken from published hotel guides (and are not the assessment of the Where2Golf.com team). In line with providing details of the best courses, we have attempted to seek out some of the better hotels in the neighbourhood of the courses.

5-Star - Excellent standard and probably expensive.
4-Star - Very good all-round standard.
3-Star - Covers a wide-range, but should be of a good quality.
2-Star - Could be a bit basic in some areas.
1-Star -
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