Beau Desert

[MikeH]

Morning all
I know TonyN, VIG and a few others went to Beau Desert in Staffordshire recently and posted glowing reviews and having played it for the first time yesterday I can see why.
In short it's terrific heathland course with lots of variety in the design of the holes (Herbert Fowler really has done some crackers), superb conditioning, great views and a nice clubhouse with good facilities.
At £50 a round or £60 for the day (some good society package son offer too) I think this represents good value for a course of this quality.
I think this will be a serious contender for our next Top 100 Courses list in 2010

 

[TonyN]

Question time.

What did you shoot?
What was your favourite hole?
Did you Drive the short par 4 (and stay on?)
Where you surprised how short the first was after your drive compared to before?
And did you find the middle of the 18th with everyone watching?

 

[MikeH]

Tony

I played a fourball match against two guys off 2 and 4. My partner was off 4 and we won 1 up

I reckon I would have shot about 5 or 6 over (had 3 birdies 3,5 and 15) but also a couple of doubles in there - lost ball at 6 and chipping issues at 8!)

favourite hole - 2, 15 or 17

Made front edge on the short par 4 ninth then 3 putted

Knocked it on 18 in 2 but on front edge and pin at the back (green must be 70 yards deep so not too upset by that)

 

[TonyN]

Yes that last green is a monster. I could have taken anything from a 4 to a 7 on the last approach, it was irrelevent though as I found the spikey stuff infront

 

[Smiffy]

One of the nicest courses I've played, and I'm trying to arrange next years "North versus South" match there rather than Whittington Heath. As nice as Whittington was, I thought Beau knocked it into a cocked hat condition wise, and much preferred the layout.
Some people have said that Beau is the more difficult of the two, I didn't find this at all. I thought the fairways were much more defined there, and although Whittingtons greens were good, Beau's were on a par with the best I've played elsewhere this season.
I thought the only "weak" hole was the first, but then that's being really picky.

 

[vig]

It is certainly the most pictureque course that I have played to date.
At one point, I was so "lost" in the beauty of the place that I didn't realise it was my turn.

I also agree with Smiffy's comparison with Whittington.

 

[TonyN]

It is certainly the most pictureque course that I have played to date.
At one point, I was so "lost" in the beauty of the place that I didn't realise it was my turn.

I also agree with Smiffy's comparison with Whittington.

Hahaha so funny,

''Vig...Vig.... DAVE, its on you mate!''

''O sorry I was listening to the birds''

 

[vig]

It is certainly the most pictureque course that I have played to date.
At one point, I was so "lost" in the beauty of the place that I didn't realise it was my turn.

I also agree with Smiffy's comparison with Whittington.

Hahaha so funny,

''Vig...Vig.... DAVE, its on you mate!''

''O sorry I was listening to the birds''

Yep, that's the one

 

[KeefG]

He is GM's own nature boy isnt he?

 

[Smiffy]

It's certainly in my top five courses I've ever played and whether the forum match is held there or not next year I would definitely be up for a return there.
Apparantly there is a dormy house on the course...a few of us could always tip up there for the night.......but no beer

 

[TonyN]

Shame you missed the drunk squirrel!

 

[TonyN]

.but no beer

Who would know.....

 

[MikeH]

Smiffy
I actually really liked the first hole and didn't think it was weak
I thought it was a good hole in that forced you to concentrate with the tee shot to get it over the bund filled pit and also work out how far you wanted to leave yourself back for the second shot in.
It was then quite easy to miss the green, especially right where you short side yourself horribly and 2 putting the narrow but undulating green was then no gimme however close you were.
As a lover of the short thinking par 4 I thought this was a good one. I also think with such a hard second hole then you need an opener that doesn't kill you

 

[Smiffy]

Smiffy
I actually really liked the first hole and didn't think it was weak
I thought it was a good hole in that forced you to concentrate with the tee shot to get it over the bund filled pit and also work out how far you wanted to leave yourself back for the second shot in.
It was then quite easy to miss the green, especially right where you short side yourself horribly and 2 putting the narrow but undulating green was then no gimme however close you were.
As a lover of the short thinking par 4 I thought this was a good one. I also think with such a hard second hole then you need an opener that doesn't kill you

I agree that that bloody second hole was a killer!! With the tee positiond where it was, and a fairly stiffish left to right breeze coming across your bows, you were being forced out to the right with everything bounding down that way anyway! Plus its long...
I scraped a lucky par there as I missed the green left with my second, hit a "so so" chip on but managed to can a long putt.
The first hole might play a bit differently from the back tee but as we played it from the yellows I personally found it quite straightforward with a reasonable knock up the left hand side which left a wedge/9 iron in. I agree the green is a bugger, I three jerked it and walked off with bogie as I tanked the first putt miles past...the greens were a bit more rapid than I was used to!
I did say I was being "picky" though Mike. I couldn't fault the course really.

 

[MikeH]

good par at the 2nnd Smiffy! I hit mine in the fairway bunker on the right from where I could only hit wedge out and although I then hit a good 8 iron for my third I couldn't hole the putt. bet that hole has ruined many a medal round early doors!