Piece
Tour Winner
13. Another downwind par 4, but towards the green, the fairway tapers narrowly. Message here is don't bite off too much... Right of the fairway is OOB, but the stanchion netting prevents that. Left is a drain channel separating the 13th from 14th. Elected to play a 7i, 52w. Two putts for a 4.
14. Simply the hardest hole on the course today. 244y par 3, up hill, into the wind.
Hit 3w and hoped for the best - caught it a bit heavy on the toe to ground, pulling left into the bunker by the green. Big splash out left a very tricky putt! This green is so undulating cf. th rest of the course!! Two putted for a 4. A par on this hole is a great achievement.
15. Hmmm, this look tricky. Long par 4 (460y??), tightish fairway, wind left-to-right. To have any chance to reach in two, it has be a wood. It's a good looking hole, sat between the 7th and 17th, with small rough run offs and a tree line both sides. Pushed a 3w right on to the 7th, leaving a very awkward second. This green is similar to the 7th, but probably a bit thinner and longer. There is also some tiering, IIRC? Boshed a shot-of-the-day 4i to within 15y. Two putt for 4. Great hole that - hard!
16. What a lovely par 3! Long, evilly protected by a big gully in front, catching *anything* short. The green is two tiered, narrow, but long. Wind was heavy, blowing hard right to left and slightly in. Hit a 3i and prayed. Found the top tier in the fringe. Three putted for a 4.
17. Similar to the 9th, a par 4 with not too much danger from the tee. The green is raised, thus you can't bump and run to it - it will be swallowed by the ditch! Pulled a 3w slightly left to land under the tree left. Was lucky with the result as I had a full swing. 8i found the green nicely. Two putts for a 4.
18. Short par 4 for the final, which in hindsight you can drive with a good *** with the driver as the fairway slopes all the way to the green from around 150y. However, it has to be precise. Played a 5i and PW to the big green. Two putts for a 4. Final score +5 for 75.
Back nine summary - probably more interesting than the front nine, in that the easier holes were easier and the hard ones much harder! Again, like the front nine, the club selection at tee is crucial.
Overall summary. Considering the price, this was a good course to play. Some of holes were very easy, but a couple of holes were downright hard (13, 14). This is a course where you think on every tee box. The fairways were bone dry, but not parched, meaning the ball ran and ran. Greens were just humungus (biggest I've played on!), allowing good GIR stats! However, it tested your lag putting, hampered by longish grass. Regarding waiting on tees, yes, there was, so I would suggest playing early or very late to avoid sitting around on every tee.
In all, a good course, a reasonable test, one that offers good value for money. I will be coming back.
14. Simply the hardest hole on the course today. 244y par 3, up hill, into the wind.
Hit 3w and hoped for the best - caught it a bit heavy on the toe to ground, pulling left into the bunker by the green. Big splash out left a very tricky putt! This green is so undulating cf. th rest of the course!! Two putted for a 4. A par on this hole is a great achievement.15. Hmmm, this look tricky. Long par 4 (460y??), tightish fairway, wind left-to-right. To have any chance to reach in two, it has be a wood. It's a good looking hole, sat between the 7th and 17th, with small rough run offs and a tree line both sides. Pushed a 3w right on to the 7th, leaving a very awkward second. This green is similar to the 7th, but probably a bit thinner and longer. There is also some tiering, IIRC? Boshed a shot-of-the-day 4i to within 15y. Two putt for 4. Great hole that - hard!
16. What a lovely par 3! Long, evilly protected by a big gully in front, catching *anything* short. The green is two tiered, narrow, but long. Wind was heavy, blowing hard right to left and slightly in. Hit a 3i and prayed. Found the top tier in the fringe. Three putted for a 4.
17. Similar to the 9th, a par 4 with not too much danger from the tee. The green is raised, thus you can't bump and run to it - it will be swallowed by the ditch! Pulled a 3w slightly left to land under the tree left. Was lucky with the result as I had a full swing. 8i found the green nicely. Two putts for a 4.
18. Short par 4 for the final, which in hindsight you can drive with a good *** with the driver as the fairway slopes all the way to the green from around 150y. However, it has to be precise. Played a 5i and PW to the big green. Two putts for a 4. Final score +5 for 75.
Back nine summary - probably more interesting than the front nine, in that the easier holes were easier and the hard ones much harder! Again, like the front nine, the club selection at tee is crucial.
Overall summary. Considering the price, this was a good course to play. Some of holes were very easy, but a couple of holes were downright hard (13, 14). This is a course where you think on every tee box. The fairways were bone dry, but not parched, meaning the ball ran and ran. Greens were just humungus (biggest I've played on!), allowing good GIR stats! However, it tested your lag putting, hampered by longish grass. Regarding waiting on tees, yes, there was, so I would suggest playing early or very late to avoid sitting around on every tee.
In all, a good course, a reasonable test, one that offers good value for money. I will be coming back.
