Donald Steel Golf Courses
from the Experts in Golf Holidays
⏱ 6 min read
from the Experts in Golf Holidays
⏱ 6 min read
Donald Steel holds the unique position of being the only architect to have advised every course to appear on The Open rota.
He has travelled the world more than any other golf architect through 25 different countries, designing, modifiying and advising on more than 500 golf courses.
Donald Steel Facts
| Name | Donald Maclennan Arklay Steel |
| Born | 23 Aug, 1937 |
| Nickname | The Open Doctor |
| Nationality | English |
Warwickshire
Rated 8.6 by 792 golfers (Read reviews of Forest of Arden)
1 Night, 1 Round
Vilamoura
Rated 8.6 by 201 golfers (Read reviews of Pestana Vila Sol Golf & Resort)
3 Nights, 2 Rounds
Killarney
Rated 9 by 27 golfers (Read reviews of Killarney Golf & Fishing Club)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
Donald Steel became the first golf architect to work on the courses at St Andrews since Harry Colt designed the Eden course back in 1913.
During the 1980's Steel made extensive modifications to the Jubilee and Eden courses. Work was done to relcoate the par 3 Balgove course and a new design was built on the former wet potato fields, creating the Strathtyrum course.
St Andrews Jubilee Course Statistics
Par: 72 | Yardage: 6,742
St Andrews Eden Course Statistics
Par: 70 | Yardage: 6,250
St Andrews Strathtyrum Course Statistics
Par: 69 | Yardage: 5,620
St Andrews Balgove Course Statistics
Par: 60 | Yardage: 3,040
St Andrews & Fife
Rated 9.4 by 6 golfers (Read reviews of The Jubilee Course, St Andrews)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
Donald Steel is one of the most prolific and successful golf course architects in recent times. Having grown up just outside of London, Steel learnt to play the game at the revered Denham Golf Club in Buckinghamshire.
Recognised as one of the best golf courses in the area, Steel's game began to flourish but it was clear that he had a strong talent for another ball game, cricket.
Steel's talents on the cricket pitch saw him reach great heights in the schoolboy game before heading off to Cambridge where his degree in Agriculture.
This led him to work for The Daily Telegraph via a university friend before beginning work with golf course architects Ken Cotton, Frank Pennink and Charles Lawrie.
Donald Steel's golf course designs are seen across the globe with his designs being enjoyed from the pine trees of Aroeira in Lisbon and Barseback in Sweden to the windswept links golf courses of Dooks Golf Club and Enniscrone Golf Club in Ireland.
Donald Steel may be known for having travelled more than any other golf architect around the world but having grown up in England, just outside London, it is no wonder we find such a superb collection of courses attached to his name here.
From a re-design at Bovey Castle in Devon to the Palmerston Course at Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire, Donald has crafted some stunning tracks around the country. In the countryside of Kent, you'll find Tudor Park and on the edges of the peak district, is Shrigley Hall - all perfect for a Staycation.
Hertfordshire
Rated 8.4 by 20 golfers (Read reviews of Brocket Hall)
1 Night, 1 Round
Derbyshire
Rated 8.4 by 438 golfers (Read reviews of Delta Hotels by Marriott Breadsall Priory Country Club)
1 Night, 1 Round
Devon
Rated 9 by 22 golfers (Read reviews of Bovey Castle)
1 Night, 1 Round
Kent
Rated 8.4 by 134 golfers (Read reviews of Delta Hotels by Marriott Tudor Park Country Club)
1 Night, 1 Round
Cheshire
Rated 8 by 453 golfers (Read reviews of Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
Cheshire
Rated 8.2 by 177 golfers (Read reviews of Shrigley Hall Hotel)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
This is where Donald Steel really got into his groove. First off, Royal Dornoch, a fantastic golf experience all round and Steel was the man behind their Struie Course which although not the main event, is an absolute must-play in the Scottish Highlands.
Next, we move down to Ayrshire where Steel created the Kintyre course at Turnberry which has since become the King Robert Bruce course after an update by Martin Ebert. Turnberry is one of YGT Rory's favourite golf resorts in the world.
Those heading to the Emerald Isle be sure to visit Enniscrone Golf Club ranked in the Top 20 Golf Courses in Ireland & a Top 100 Golf Course in the British Isles!
East Lothians
Rated 8.4 by 76 golfers (Read reviews of Craigielaw Golf Club & Lodge)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
Highlands & Inverness
Rated 9.2 by 10 golfers (Read reviews of Royal Dornoch Golf Club)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
Glasgow & Ayrshire
Rated 9.6 by 205 golfers (Read reviews of Trump Turnberry Golf Resort 5*)
1 Night, Unlimited Rounds
Sligo
Rated 9 by 2 golfers (Read reviews of Enniscrone Golf Club)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
Dublin
Rated 10 by 2 golfers (Read reviews of Luttrellstown Castle Golf Club)
1 Night, 2 Rounds
Steel acquired many stunning plots of land on which to make his mark and this is particularly seen in his designs in Europe, with some destinations relatively unknown as golfing paradises including Paphos, Cyprus where you'll find the beautiful Minthis Golf Club.
If you're subscribed to Your Golf Travel's YouTube channel, you'll also have seen the gorgeous Amarilla Golf & Country Club in Tenerife, where the views and condition of golf course are second to none.
Paphos
Rated 7.6 by 45 golfers (Read reviews of Minthis Golf Resort)
5 Nights, 3 Rounds
Bordeaux & South West
Rated 8.6 by 4 golfers (Read reviews of Chateau Des Vigiers)
3 Nights, Unlimited Rounds
Lake Garda
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Malmo
Our Golf Experts are available to provide full details of all deals at Barseback Resort - call now for an instant quote!
Tenerife
Rated 7.6 by 86 golfers (Read reviews of Amarilla Golf & Country Club)
3 Nights, 2 Rounds
Lisbon
Rated 8.6 by 6 golfers (Read reviews of Dolce CampoReal Lisboa)
3 Nights, 2 Rounds
England Golf Courses
The Abbey Golf & Country Club
Barnham Broom
Broome Park Golf & Country Club
Crane Valley Golf Club
Dudsbury Golf Club
Heswall Golf Club
Leeds Golf Centre, Wike Course
Shendish Manor Golf Club
Wallasey Golf Club
Woodhall Spa, Bracken Course
Portugal Golf Courses
Aroeira II
Bom Sucesso Golf Resort
Santo Estevao Golf Club
Spain Golf Courses
Tecina Golf
Sri Lanka Golf Courses
Victoria Golf & Country Resort
ENGLAND
Ashburnham Golf Club
Bath Golf Club
The Belfry
Blackmoor Golf Club
Broadstone Golf Club
Burnham & Berrow Golf Club
Caldy Golf Club
Canterbury Golf Club
Coxmoor Golf Club
Dyke Golf Club
Formby Golf Club
Fulford Golf Club
Hanbury Manor Golf Club
Hawkstone Park
Hillside Golf Club
Ilkley Golf Club
Little Aston Golf Club
Littlestone Golf Club
Moortown Golf Club
North Foreland Golf Club
Notts Golf Club
Parkstone Golf Club
Prince's Golf Club
Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club
Royal Cromer Golf Club
Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Royal Lytham & St. Annes
Royal North Devon Golf Club
Royal Norwich Golf Club
Royal St. George's Golf Club
Royal West Norfolk Golf Club
Saunton Golf Club
Southport & Ainsdale Golf Club
Stoneham Golf Club
Sunningdale Golf Club
Thorpeness Golf Club
Wallasey Golf Club
Walton Heath Golf Club
FRANCE
Golf de Cannes Mandelieu
Golf de Chantilly
HOLLAND
Hilversumsche Golf Club
Kennemer Golf Club
Noordwijkse Golf Club
SOUTH AFRICA
Hermanus Golf Club
SWEDEN
Halmstad Golf Club
IRELAND
County Louth Golf Club
Dooks Golf Club
Lahinch
Laytown & Bettystown Golf Club
Portmarnock Golf Club
Royal Belfast Golf Club
Royal County Down
Royal Dublin Golf Club
Royal Portrush Golf Club
Tralee Golf Club
PORTUGAL
Lisbon Sports Club
SCOTLAND
Blairgowrie Golf Club
Boat of Garten Golf Club
Brora Golf Club
Bruntsfield Links
Carnoustie Golf Links
Crail Golfing Society
Cruden Bay Golf Club
Dunbar Golf Club
Gleddoch Golf Club
Golspie Golf Club
Gullane Golf Club
Kilspindie Golf Club
Longniddry Golf Club
Monifieth Golf Links
Muirfield
Nairn Golf Club
North Berwick Golf Club
Panmure Golf Club
Prestwick Golf Club
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club
Royal Troon
Western Gailes Golf Club
WALES
Ashburnham
Cardiff Golf Club
Conwy Golf Club
Cradoc Golf Club
Pennard Golf Club
Prestatyn Golf Club
Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club
Royal St. David's Golf Club
Southerndown Golf Club
St. Pierre Golf Club
Tenby Golf Club