the castle course,st andrews

[leewestrudd1]

has anybody played it? my mate has booked us on,on the 3rd april, just wondered if anyone has any feedback on it

 

[John_Findlay]

Yeah. I did a review of it on here after playing it. It's in the review section. Here's the link to follow;-

http://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk//showfl...true#Post120293

Well worth playing.

Oh, I've got a wee bit video on YouTube too. Here;-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfk0SY_Cki4

Cheers

 

[CannyFifer]

not personally but i've often driven past it and it's supposed to be a cracker, it's 10 miles from me and reckoned to be a tough course. Here's a link to the official site .
http://www.standrews.org.uk/The-Courses/The-Castle-Course.aspx

 

[leewestrudd1]

thats a great review john,looking forward to it,the fairways look tight so i dont think i'll be using brand new pro v1's ,lol

 

[John_Findlay]

dont think i'll be using brand new pro v1's ,lol

Certainly recommend you don't take out a brand new one on the par 3 17th. I reckon one in every 4 balls hit there ends up in the drink. Was the case in our fourball. That's one of my favourite holes ever.

 

[thecraw]

I aint played it but from people I know who have they won't be back untill they sort out the Mickey Mouse greens, I was told some are like crazy golf without the windmills!

 

[John_Findlay]

The greens are definitely "unique" but apparently they're obliged not to change them for some years to come, so don't hold your breathe. We had some mental putts. Everyone of us putted off the green at some stage but I have to say they were great fun.

On one hole I came across my first ever impossible putt. A long triple breaking 25 yarder over a hogsback running along the line of the putt. It would take a Kray super computer to work out how to keep it within 15 feet. I four putted. I ain't that clever.

 

[Dodger]

Likewise Craw,I read an article recently in a golf architecture magazine where the author of the article was damning of the greens at both the Castle and Machrahanish Dunes...he went on to say both should be ripped up and relaid as they are both farcical.

 

[Dodger]

According to a localI spoke with last year 5 years and they ARE getting ripped up John....don't know how accurate that is though.

 

[thecraw]

Dodger,

The A&B county handicap is at the Dunes in June, I'll report back.

Again from people who have played it, the biggest criticism of the Dunes seems to be that your standing on the tee not having a clue where you are hitting or even going!

 

[John_Findlay]

It would be a far better course if they were to be honest. I think they could become wearing after the initial few rounds of thinking they're different. They are sublime in their quality, some of the purest I've putted on, but they only need to be subtly contoured to make it a great course in my view.

 

[stevek1969]

How much is it a round for the Dunes ,Crawford.Kingsbarns was like that at the start if i mind right then after the Dunhill they changed some of them.

 

[John_Findlay]

My pal, Ali, who's hosting us at Nairn in April has played the Dunes and apparently (according to his caddy that day) now holds the course record of 74. He said all 18 holes were "quirky" which is about 17 too many for most. Caddy essential.

 

[Dodger]

The article I read was saying his group of 12,all architectcs or tour operators played it and were there for 36 but only 2 went back out in the afternoon due to it being a joke.Perfect shots ending up off the greens 50 foot from the pin or awful shots ending 2 foot from the pin and blind shots at every turn.

 

[Dodger]

Course record of 74 eh John....alot of awful shots then?

 

[John_Findlay]

He's blind......drunk half the time. Apparently it helps there.

Seriously, he did say he was having a good one. Twice club champ at Nairn in his yoof so he knows how to get it from A to B (via C & D at the Dunes)