The professional shop belongs to the Royal Guernsey and is worth a visit if only to shake hands with the professional, Norman Wood, a Ryder Cup veteran who famously beat Lee Trevino in the singles in 1975 and now plays on the Seniors Tour.

Out on the course, with the wind inevitably whipping in from the Channel, the last traces of the mainland are blown away and the therapeutic benefits of a golfing holiday start to kick in. The sea views and broad fairways encourage you to breathe deeply and swing sweetly. But although links golf is undeniably magical, there are undoubted dangers lurking among the bumps and hollows at Royal Guernsey. Some, for example, conceal human remains. Neolithic man, burdened with cumbersome clubs and granite balls – and without the benefit of electric trolleys – evidently didn’t always make it back to the clubhouse. Clusters of large stones indicate ancient burial grounds from which you can take relief without penalty.

Although the greens on links courses are frequently well-guarded, here their defences are formidable. Several Martello Towers and a scattering of pill boxes offer a level of protection rarely encountered on the mainland. Clearly, Guernsey has borne witness to several fiercely contested confrontations, not all which have been fought with woods, irons, putters and good humour.

There are one or two other hazards you should be aware of when playing Royal Guernsey. A couple of tee shots are hit across public roads. The secret of golf is timing and the trick here is to wait for a suitable gap in the traffic. In truth, the roads are not very busy so you shouldn’t be delayed too long. The other slight problem is people. As the course is laid out on common land, walkers are entitled to wander about. In some parts of the world this might be a recipe for trouble, but in Guernsey it doesn’t appear to worry anyone.

If Gatwick to Guernsey is a par-three then Guernsey to Alderney is a chip and a putt. With just enough room for four fourballs (assuming the pilot plays), the three-engined Trislander looks like aviation’s answer to the Deux Cheveux. With no in-flight entertainment or stewardesses, the flight recaptures the romance that has largely disappeared from modern air travel. Give the pilot goggles and a sheepskin coat and this 15-minute hop could be re-branded ‘The Biggles Experience’.

Alderney exudes charm, is uniquely different and provides an attractive alternative for anyone who finds Guernsey too hectic. Although it measures only three miles by one-and-a-half miles, because it’s home to fewer than 2500 inhabitants, there’s plenty of room for a nine-hole golf course.

To be honest, there are plenty of finer courses about but few that can provide a warmer welcome or more unforgettable round. Conditions were fairly benign the day I played, with just a modest force five howling over the clifftops. A stricken yacht was towed into harbour as I three-putted the 6th to confirm my suspicion that a good round here would more likely get a mention in the shipping forecast than on the sports’ pages. The Normandy coast is only eight miles away and can be seen clearly from about half of the holes. Among other things to look out for are black rabbits and blonde (yes, blonde), pink-nosed hedgehogs. With a litre of duty-free whisky only costing a fiver, pubs staying open from 10am until 12.30am and the aforementioned spiky creatures only normally seen at night, it’s easy to be sceptical. Puffins, guillemots and kittiwakes, however, provide a more plausible distraction. Whether or not you’re lucky enough to spot a pink-nosed hedgehog, you’re unlikely to forget Alderney, the flight over or the golf course. All provide a refreshing holiday experience that will live in the memory long after the final putt has been sunk. Visit - www.alderney.net