John_Findlay
Tour Winner
I was lucky enough to get a game with "Ryder Cup" buddy StuartD at his home course, Pumpherston, yesterday. So this is half match report, half course review for those who've not had the pleasure.
It's amazing what you kind of land you can build a golf course on. Here's how it looked back in the days when it was a shale oil plant. This is a huge photo they have in the clubhouse of what the practice area and 1st and 18th fairways used to look like.
And the clubhouse now.
Now Pumpherston's a par 70 at 5759 yards from the yellow tees, just over 6000 from the medals. Not long but plenty of chances to get the big dog out off the tee...but only at the right moment. Lots of doglegs and water hazards. Great greens and lots to think about.
For me there are 3 stand-out holes and they all feature water. The rest are very nice too but these are my favourites. Here's the 2nd hole from the tee. Dogleg par 4 of 408 yards. S.I. 1.
It's 214 yards to reach that bunker on the left. Knock a 3 iron down the middle and you're left with this to the green. About 190 yards over the water hazard. Sounds easy, eh? I wish. I was happy with my bogey.
Some very nice holes follow. Not long, but troublesome if you're off line with your tee shot or approach. The match was tight and toed and froed until my next wee gem of a hole, the par 3 13th. Here it is. Only 132 yards but the burn and bunkers make you think.
You can just about see the pin over those 2 bunkers. 2 down at the time I thought I had Stuart on the ropes after I hit the green and he landed in the bunker left. But he gets a sandy par and I 3 putt. 3 down with 5 to play. Yeeks. Luckily I get the next hole but Stuart birdies the next par 3 to go dormie 3.
The 16th hole is a beauty. A reachable 253 yard par 4 over a greenside bunker with a carefully and sneakily hidden water hazard left, right and back. There's a wee tongue of fairway only about 7 paces wide to run the ball onto the green if you lay up. Here's a wee bit video of Stuart getting out of the sand at the front.
What a hole. A par each and the game is won, 3 & 2. I can't complain. Stuart played well, particularly on the back 9 where he was only 2 over and as usual was grand company throughout. We both had our moments. 3 birdies for Stuart against 2 of my own.
Cheers Stuart. A great day on a great course. Anybody in the area who's not played Pumpherston before...highly recommended for a fun round.
It's amazing what you kind of land you can build a golf course on. Here's how it looked back in the days when it was a shale oil plant. This is a huge photo they have in the clubhouse of what the practice area and 1st and 18th fairways used to look like.
And the clubhouse now.
Now Pumpherston's a par 70 at 5759 yards from the yellow tees, just over 6000 from the medals. Not long but plenty of chances to get the big dog out off the tee...but only at the right moment. Lots of doglegs and water hazards. Great greens and lots to think about.
For me there are 3 stand-out holes and they all feature water. The rest are very nice too but these are my favourites. Here's the 2nd hole from the tee. Dogleg par 4 of 408 yards. S.I. 1.
It's 214 yards to reach that bunker on the left. Knock a 3 iron down the middle and you're left with this to the green. About 190 yards over the water hazard. Sounds easy, eh? I wish. I was happy with my bogey.
Some very nice holes follow. Not long, but troublesome if you're off line with your tee shot or approach. The match was tight and toed and froed until my next wee gem of a hole, the par 3 13th. Here it is. Only 132 yards but the burn and bunkers make you think.
You can just about see the pin over those 2 bunkers. 2 down at the time I thought I had Stuart on the ropes after I hit the green and he landed in the bunker left. But he gets a sandy par and I 3 putt. 3 down with 5 to play. Yeeks. Luckily I get the next hole but Stuart birdies the next par 3 to go dormie 3.
The 16th hole is a beauty. A reachable 253 yard par 4 over a greenside bunker with a carefully and sneakily hidden water hazard left, right and back. There's a wee tongue of fairway only about 7 paces wide to run the ball onto the green if you lay up. Here's a wee bit video of Stuart getting out of the sand at the front.
What a hole. A par each and the game is won, 3 & 2. I can't complain. Stuart played well, particularly on the back 9 where he was only 2 over and as usual was grand company throughout. We both had our moments. 3 birdies for Stuart against 2 of my own.
Cheers Stuart. A great day on a great course. Anybody in the area who's not played Pumpherston before...highly recommended for a fun round.
