North Shore

[Region3]

I've been invited for a game at North Shore near Skegness tomorrow.

It would mean getting up at stupid o'clock and the forecast is for a bit of rain.

I've never played on a links course before. Is it worth getting up early, travelling 2 hours each way, and maybe getting wet for?

Is it a true links course?

 

[benhobden]

A true links, no. Worth a visit, yes. Half links, half parkland but a cracking track. The back 9 are all true links holes (with at least one blind shot on each from memory) and if the wind blows expect a stern test.

 

[Aztecs27]

Great course, definitely worth the trip. Just don't go "exploring" Skegness, it's a truly horrific place with no redeemable features, with the exception of North Shore.

And you can take a slight detour through Woodhall for an afternoon round if you've got time

 

[Region3]

Thanks for the comments.

I've told my mate I'd like to go, so I just hope it doesn't rain too much. I was going to play today but not bothered because of the constant drizzle for the last 5 hours.

In a sadistic sort of way I'd like it to be windy, for the 9 linksy holes at least I'd like to see what all the fuss is about

 

[Region3]

No chance of exploring Skegness.

We go there a lot on holiday (to Butlins - kids choice not mine) so I think I've seen all I need to.

I hate the drive there too, but thankfully I've got a lift.

 

[Aztecs27]

Dunno what the weather's like up in the Shire, but it's blazing sunshine down here in the SW. Hopefully I'll get out for 18 this afternoon after work!

 

[Region3]

It stayed dry all the way round, but boy was it windy!

The waterproof jacket was on before we'd left the car park because it felt damn cold at 7am standing 100yds away from the North Sea.

I enjoyed the course - probably helped that I played well - but it's a quirky one imo. It's like playing holes from 2 different course all in one round, but the 'links' holes weren't really what I'd expect, although I've never played a links course so my mental image might be way off the mark.

They are mostly lush parkland holes, with about 5 holes billed as 'links' holes, and another 2 or 3 that seem to change from one to the other near the green. The strip of land about 100yds wide next to the beach have barren undulating fairways, then there is a big mound, and the other side of that fairways are lush and deep green.
A couple of the holes play from the green fairways to greens over the mound, giving blind shots to the green.

Although some holes are billed as links holes, all 18 greens play the same, in that they are soft enough to stop a ball within a couple of feet. They were quite slow as well with them not being cut at all short, but that might have been because we were out before the greenstaff had had a chance to cut them.

Another theme to the course are the 2 mounds running from the beach to the road on the other side of the course. There is a footpath inbetween these 2 mounds, which are about 6' apart and there allegedly to protect the walkers from low-flying golf balls.
They mean more blind shots from fairway to green, which I'm not a great fan of, and on a couple of holes mean laying up from the tee for fear of just creeping over one and not the other, which would leave you on the path which is not a free drop under local rules.

Looking at the scorecard of the course before I went I noticed there were 4 driveable par 4's.
As expected, it's not as simple as that because on 2 of them a tee shot missed 30yds right would mean landing either in someone's garden or on a road. One of them also has so much rubbish around the green it would need a miracle shot to gain any sort of reward for being brave.

The other 2 don't have much risk for having a go at the green off the tee, although I did lay up on the one where the entrance to the green was only about 25' wide between 2 bunkers.

If I played there a lot I'd have a go at all of them at some stage, but since it was a one-off round and I was doing ok I decided against it on 3 of them.

Overall I'm glad I went, and would gladly play there again.

As for wanting to experience links holes with the wind blowing, I think I got a good taster.
2 of my best-struck hits of the day were playing alongside the beach directly into the wind.
A 19deg hybrid from 160 which finished pin-high, and a peach of a 3 wood from 170 which finished on the back edge!