Handycap
Assistant Pro
I am local to this area and played the course for the first time yesterday, 13/05/2009.
The potential for this course is awesome. The design is excellent; every hole has it's own character, with such diversity as the 17th 124 yard par 3 island hole to the 7th 638 yard par 5 monster hole. Use of trees, water (millions of gallons of the stuff) and enough sand traps to open a beach resort make this course a fantastic challenge and very pleasing to the eye.
However, it doesn't appear to be as the original designer wanted it to be. Perhaps it wasn't properly finished when it was first opened; the 9th hole is called "Fountain" and is given a par of 4 or 5. This was printed on the card as well as the inlaid stone marker maps on the tees. There was no fountain, and after a bit of sluething, it seems that the pond shown in front of the green is a red herring. The pond is actually behind the green, but I'm guessing the original design was for the green to be laid behind the pond thus extending to the hole to par 5 status.
The overall impression of the place is "shabby". It is such a shame as the the clubhouse could potentially be as impressive as the course. The greens haven't been repaired properly and have many small patches where the grass is dead or missing, and have slight undulations that make the ball "bobble".
Areas in front of the clubhouse look over grown and pathways have become infested with weeds and other plant growth. It must all come down to a lack of money as what needs doing to the place isn't a major overhaul, all the infrastructure is there, it just needs a lot of money to smarten the place up and maintain the course and facilities. If enough money could be raised, this club could be one of the best in the North West.
I will certainly play it again having familiarised myself with the layout. If you haven't played it before, you would be best buying a strokesaver guide or go round with someone that knows the course. To play mid week only cost £20.00 for the round, and after 3.00pm that comes down to £10.00 and the same price for a 2 man buggy! That is very good value for money, and I truly hope the course survives and eventually thrives as it's design deserves. I recommend you play this course taking on board the issues that are present.
The potential for this course is awesome. The design is excellent; every hole has it's own character, with such diversity as the 17th 124 yard par 3 island hole to the 7th 638 yard par 5 monster hole. Use of trees, water (millions of gallons of the stuff) and enough sand traps to open a beach resort make this course a fantastic challenge and very pleasing to the eye.
However, it doesn't appear to be as the original designer wanted it to be. Perhaps it wasn't properly finished when it was first opened; the 9th hole is called "Fountain" and is given a par of 4 or 5. This was printed on the card as well as the inlaid stone marker maps on the tees. There was no fountain, and after a bit of sluething, it seems that the pond shown in front of the green is a red herring. The pond is actually behind the green, but I'm guessing the original design was for the green to be laid behind the pond thus extending to the hole to par 5 status.
The overall impression of the place is "shabby". It is such a shame as the the clubhouse could potentially be as impressive as the course. The greens haven't been repaired properly and have many small patches where the grass is dead or missing, and have slight undulations that make the ball "bobble".
Areas in front of the clubhouse look over grown and pathways have become infested with weeds and other plant growth. It must all come down to a lack of money as what needs doing to the place isn't a major overhaul, all the infrastructure is there, it just needs a lot of money to smarten the place up and maintain the course and facilities. If enough money could be raised, this club could be one of the best in the North West.
I will certainly play it again having familiarised myself with the layout. If you haven't played it before, you would be best buying a strokesaver guide or go round with someone that knows the course. To play mid week only cost £20.00 for the round, and after 3.00pm that comes down to £10.00 and the same price for a 2 man buggy! That is very good value for money, and I truly hope the course survives and eventually thrives as it's design deserves. I recommend you play this course taking on board the issues that are present.