Most unusual course you have played?

[Toad]

I was reading J_F's post about how he had played 98 course's to date and was looking forward to his 100th at The Old Course. It got me thinking about how many I had played and where.Most of my golf has been in the UK with the odd one abroad when on holiday.

I was once lucky enough to have three weeks working in the western isles and this consisted of around 2 hours of work each day and the rest was free time so I played lots of golf, I started off at Arran and went Island hopping ending up in Lewis.
On this trip I played at Lamlash ,Islay,Benbecula,Craignure,Barra,Askernish and Stornoway this was the best work related trips ever and one I would love to repeat when I retire.

But without doubt the most unusual for me was in Israel I played 9 holes at the Caesarea Golf & Country Club in 1994. I was there for a week with work fitting a Satellite phone to a lifting barge for Maersk, the strangest thing was no-one realy played golf there and I was one of only 3 people playing that day.

My tally so far is 82 so some way to go before I reach 100, do you know how many you have played and where was the most unusual.

 

[TonyN]

I have only played on 6 different courses so far but have only really been playing about 5 months.

Gonna start a book i think and keep track, seems to be a popular thing to do.

Most unusual, well not much choice really but it would have to be my local 9 holer, Sandfields, only because its less than 2000 yards and for a full 18 is only par 62. But its not really that unusual, as i said not much choice yet.

 

[thecraw]

Shame you missed out on Shiskine while on Arran Toad. That is a wee gem of a course, quirky but absolutely brilliant fun and in a fantastic setting to boot!

http://www.shiskinegolf.com/

Brodick is also a nice track.

http://www.brodickgolf.com/

Traigh, just outside Arisaig is simply awe inspiring, in an amazing setting and a delightful little 9 holes. If you ever get the chance to play it or you are passing dont dismiss it, in winter months there is an honesty box for the fees!!!!!

http://www.traighgolf.co.uk/

On Rothesay there is Bute Golf Club which has fences round the greens to stop wandering sheep and cattle and plenty of natural fertilizer on the fairways. Again a fantastic setting with great views onto Arran and Cumbrae in the distance.

http://www.butegolfclub.com/

I class these as fun but I also happy to go back and play anytime.

 

[Toad]

Craw I know I missed many courses that I would have loved to play but I had organised tee's for the nearest course to where I was working.
Also had to catch some strange little ferries at odd times so never got out as often as I would have liked.
The one in Israel was on the recommendation of our taxi driver for the week and had a good day out with him.

 

[theeaglehunter]

got to be a course on the english welsh border, a little 9 holer, which was ridiculously hilly, with one hole having a difference from tee to green in height of about 200ft (estimate). Sheep were allowed to roam the course, and were prevented from going on the greens by electric fences, and the course was run/maintained by a group of volunteers. And despite this it was a lovely little course, which was in very good condition for the time of year.

 

[AliB]

Like your Israel story!
I'm collecting weird and wonderful courses I'd like to play.
Hoping to do Nethyn this year (N. Wales, Lleyn Peninsula) and I guess the Welsh border mentioned in another post is Church stretton?
More ideas at
http://rather-be-golfing.blogspot.com/2007/11/weird-and-wonderful.html

AliB

 

[RGuk]

got to be a course on the english welsh border, a little 9 holer, which was ridiculously hilly, with one hole having a difference from tee to green in height of about 200ft (estimate). Sheep were allowed to roam the course, and were prevented from going on the greens by electric fences, and the course was run/maintained by a group of volunteers. And despite this it was a lovely little course, which was in very good condition for the time of year.

That'll be Knighton then!!! ? ?

Kington (nearby-ish) is also great, much in the same way as Church Stretton.......wouldn't visit any on a bad weather day.

 

[rgs]

Most unusual starting hole must be Highfield in Co Kildare.
First tee is basically on the roof of the club house.

 

[DCB]

The 2nd or 3rd hole at Nethybridge plays across a public road. It's a short par 3 and it can be daunting trying to play whilst your partner keeps an eye out for anything coming along the wee road. About 75 yds to the left of the green is a T junction where the wee road joins a B road. Again ,if you hook the ball the passing traffic acts like a magnet. There's also a large memorial cross on the course which although approached from afar and looking at the narrow cross section, seems to attrach golf balls!

 

[shanker]

Most unusual starting hole must be Highfield in Co Kildare.
First tee is basically on the roof of the club house.

This could only happen in Ireland!

 

[DCB]

Regarding Shiskine on Arran this has to be one of the most amazing wee courses I've ever played. The 3rd with its blind tee shot can be anything from a wedge to a 4 iron if the wind is blowing hard off the sea. The 7th has the most amazing semaphore signal arrangement I've seen on a golf course. It's a blind tee shot over a huge sand dune. The green is in a bowl and will accept a straight shot quite easily. When you walk round the dune to the green you raise a lever at the side of the green, this in turn raises a signal, just like a railway signal to tell anyone behind the green is occupied. As you leave the green to go to the next tee, you change the lever and signal all clear. Simple realy and very effective.

Well worh a visit if only to say you've played a 12 hole course!

 

[toonarmy]

Just come back from it - the Awali golf club in Bahrain. A brown course on the edge of the Bahraini desert and a totally unique experience for me. I'll put some pics up if people are interested or visit their site for a flavour www.awaligolfclub.com

Played twice. First time out was level par after 5 with one bogey and one birdie! All went a bit wrong in the middle 6 (coinciding with an incident involving what I thought was a toilet and turned out to be an alarmed hut!) and pulled it back to finish with 87 and only 30 putts (cheers J_F!). Second time out played back nine first and came home in 40 with 32 putts and finished with a birdie on the 9th for another 87. On a 15 handicap, more than happy with those scores and the 'browns' were lovely to putt on.

I even ended up playing half a dozen holes with a guy who turned out to be a member of the Bahrain National Golf Team! I thought, 'blimey, he's a bit good' until I found this out. Then I was just happy that I was out-driving his driver with my 3 wood! Nice guy, great country, great people.

 

[brendy]

Most unusual starting hole must be Highfield in Co Kildare.
First tee is basically on the roof of the club house.

Scrabo's first hole back tees are virtually on top of the pro shop, its a tough bugger of a starting hole, S.I. 1.

 

[shanker]

Just come back from it - the Awali golf club in Bahrain. A brown course on the edge of the Bahraini desert and a totally unique experience for me. I'll put some pics up if people are interested or visit their site for a flavour www.awaligolfclub.com

Played twice. First time out was level par after 5 with one bogey and one birdie! All went a bit wrong in the middle 6 (coinciding with an incident involving what I thought was a toilet and turned out to be an alarmed hut!) and pulled it back to finish with 87 and only 30 putts (cheers J_F!). Second time out played back nine first and came home in 40 with 32 putts and finished with a birdie on the 9th for another 87. On a 15 handicap, more than happy with those scores and the 'browns' were lovely to putt on.

I even ended up playing half a dozen holes with a guy who turned out to be a member of the Bahrain National Golf Team! I thought, 'blimey, he's a bit good' until I found this out. Then I was just happy that I was out-driving his driver with my 3 wood! Nice guy, great country, great people.

Have to agree with ToonArmy on this one. I've played desert golf in Kuwait. It's fun. I've also played with members of the Bahraini, Kuwaiti and Saudi ''national teams'' They aren't exactly in Tiger's class. BTW, how did Keegan's team do this weekend?

 

[theeaglehunter]

got to be a course on the english welsh border, a little 9 holer, which was ridiculously hilly, with one hole having a difference from tee to green in height of about 200ft (estimate). Sheep were allowed to roam the course, and were prevented from going on the greens by electric fences, and the course was run/maintained by a group of volunteers. And despite this it was a lovely little course, which was in very good condition for the time of year.

That'll be Knighton then!!! ? ?

Kington (nearby-ish) is also great, much in the same way as Church Stretton.......wouldn't visit any on a bad weather day.

yup. Most certainly was knighton. I did play Kington as well but didn't get to church stretton. Both were great fun to play.

 

[Basher]

Great Yarmouth Crazy Golf down by the sea.

6th hole pretty challenging with the windmill. Also the clown on the 8th as quite scary!!!

Sorry guys, just couldn't help it!!!

 

[USER1999]

Top house, New Zealand.

It's a guest house, and the farmer who owns it has cut about 5 holes out of his farm land. The course is rubbish, but the views are fantastic. After 6 hours on the bike cycling there it was nice to stretch the legs. Borrowed a nine iron, and just bashed it round. didn't need a putter, you couldn't have putted on the greens anyway.

 

[toonarmy]

Have to agree with ToonArmy on this one. I've played desert golf in Kuwait. It's fun. I've also played with members of the Bahraini, Kuwaiti and Saudi ''national teams'' They aren't exactly in Tiger's class. BTW, how did Keegan's team do this weekend?

While they may not be top class, how likely is it for a member of 'big' national teams to wave you up to join up with them? We could learn a bit from their sense of hospitality!

I'm not sure Keegan has a team yet. Still dealing with the rabble of years passed. I think we are just trying to limp through to the end of the season and survive. Funny how Given keeps getting his groin injury when we go a couple behind at the moment

Oh, and just to mention, the 4th hole at Awali is called 'Cardiac' due to the very high climb required to get to the tee. And while I was waiting to tee-off, the US air base right next to this hole had a helicopter hovering at about my head height. I swear he was waiting for me to address the ball and then buzz me!