HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
Some of the best:
Hillside
Blackmoor
Camberley Heath
The Berkshire
Best of the rest
Caversham Heath
Maidenhead
Hillside
Blackmoor
Camberley Heath
The Berkshire
Best of the rest
Caversham Heath
Maidenhead
Toughest - Carnoustie. The last few holes are so hard. 17 is a "joke", and totally unfair. I was 3 over at the turn but dropped 10 strokes in the last 5 holes.
Toughest - Carnoustie. The last few holes are so hard. 17 is a "joke", and totally unfair. I was 3 over at the turn but dropped 10 strokes in the last 5 holes.
Best greens - Gifford Golf Club. A super 9 hole course in East Lothian.
Most enjoyable - St Andrews Old Course. Played last week for the first time. Magical. Close second would be Grantown-on-Spey.
Overall condition - Old Course. Amazing condition especially given the number of people playing it. Hardly a divot to be found except those recently filled.
Most disappointing - too polite to say plus I have enjoyed all my golf this year.
For me 17 is a frustrating hole, certainly from the red tees, and a bit of a waste of what should be a great hole. At an absolute push, if I nailed it, I could maybe carry the burn but I'd be daft to try that in a comp so need to lay up short of the burn, which leaves something like 230+ to the green and virtually no chance of getting there. IMO it'd be better with either the tee moved up 20 yards to make it worth taking on the burn or further back and make it a par 5. As it stands very few amateur females, only the very longest hitters, have any chance of hitting that green in 2. Into the wind? Nobody is getting anywhere near.
Tough course - I shot 86 playing off 4 and was in my buffer - CSS was 81!!!!
I like the 17th, last two times Ive played it , Birdied it, that has been helped by it being down wind both times, so even off the back tee;s ive been able to drive the burn (though the 2nd time i only just made it) so only had a wedge both times.
on the down side though the 18th has been into and has been driver, 2 hybrid, 5 iron last time.
Not played too many this year, but:
Toughest - Oceanico Faldo
Best Greens - Brabazon
Overall condition - Kedleston Park
Most enjoyable - Camberley Heath
Overall best - Vilamoura Old Course
I can imagine Faldo is very tough for men, for me off the red tees, I didn't think it too bad, in fact I thought some of the tees were too far forward, There were a couple of tough holes on the back nine though. I wouldn't like to carry a bag around it either.
Vilamoura Old course is a stunner, only let down of the red tees at least by the 18th.
Poor year for me this year as far as "new" courses are concerned.
I think The Cuddington was the only new one I visited, and enjoyed it very much.
Oh forgot. Also played in the Seniors Open at Pyecombe, which was new to me. The course was a bit "meh" but the weather didn't help. Worst conditions I played in all year.
Toughest - Reddish Vale. I was lucky to come off with 105 !!!
Best Greens - Carnoustie
Best Overall Condition -Carnoustie
Most Enjoyable - Carnousite - I was on my own no one following, wifey as caddie and chief photographer.
Overall Best - Carnoustie - nothing will ever match this
I note that St Annes gets lots of votes, and I've played this this year, but hey Carnoustie eh? Played in rain but no wind gross 91 should have been less. Reddish perfect day middle of summer, this is one tough place to play !