Jay Blasi: 10 lessons we should learn from golf in the United Kingdom and Ireland

A recent trip to England with a group of 24 Golfweek’s Best course raters led to demonstrable conclusion, in the form of a statement and a question: “English golf is so much better. Where did we go wrong in the U.S.?”

We played eight of the top courses in Europe in six days. The courses were great, and the experience was eye-opening. So many of the bedrocks of golf in Great Britain and Ireland are different than in the States. 

• Top 50 classic courses in Great Britain and Ireland
• Top 50 modern courses in Great Britain and Ireland

It’s a quicker game on that side of the pond, played on foot. Forget stroke play, and focus on your match. Yardage and par – forget those, not important. It’s a local game, inclusive and communal. Take your dog. 

Our trip included eight courses: Littlestone, Rye, Royal St. George’s, Royal Cinque Ports, Walton Heath, Sunningdale’s Old and New courses, and Swinley Forest. The days were packed with golf shots, golf holes and banter that left an impression. On the heels of the trip, here are 10 lessons we could learn from golf in the United Kingdom.