Piece
Tour Winner
Played this track on Sat, just after their Captain's day. Weather was sunny spells and windy. Yellow tees.
First impressions driving in: It's part of the DeVere group, merging golf with accommodation, spa, gym, etc. You drive through the course to park near the large complex, so you've a chance to check out some of the holes (or get boshed by a stray ball!). Course looks very open, minimal trees but some tasty rough.
Pro shop: Its tiny - in fact too small IMHO. There's not a great deal there.
Welcome: OK.
Practice Facilities: Decent putting green near the first and for a change, reflective of the greens you play on. Outside range with uncovered bays hitting down to a raised fairway. Didn't partake in a warm-up thus no comment on balls (yellow Nikes) or mats.
Course - front nine: Slight easier 9 IMHO. Gentle opener, followed by a very short par 4 protected by a large bunker, small green and cabbage out the back. Easy par three next, next to the entrance road. A tight par 5 next, needing a straight first hit and good second shot management. Simple uphill par four follows and then another tight par 5, dogleg right - this needs care and should be seen as a three-shotter to the green for all standards. Another easy par 4 follows, sheltered by a green side oak. Simple par 3 next, leads into a risk-reward par 4 to complete the outward set - long carry over water to green for the big hitters, or the longer route left, leaving a very long second. Water is a common feature as well as big rough! Select your club carefully on some of these holes. Halfway hut is a simple affair - lets say no more.
Course - back nine: Probably slightly tougher overall. Starts off with a par four down hill, reachable for big hitters with some wind behind - don't go long though. After, a decent long straight par 4 is framed with long rough either side and water left of green. Next a nice par 3 all over water. Another dogleg par four comes up, needing course management to know where to hit off the tee to leave a manageable second up hill. A great long par 5 comes next, split into three shots for most - its a tough tee shot needing a cheeky draw, with water left and bunkers if you're too far right. The next is yet another semi-blind dogleg right - make the right choice off the tee! A shock (not) in that the next is another slight dogleg into a tight green - don't go left! The final hole is a well framed par 5, slightly up hill - there's a cheeky ditch to carry around 200y off the tee. The final green is receptive and a good birdie chance.
Course condition overall: Fairways were fine. Rough was savage - don't go in there otherwise its lost ball territory. Tee boxes were average at best. Layout flowed OK. Course management is paramount here. Bunkers seemed consistent. Lots of water and lateral ditches.
Greens: Undulating. Pins can be set easy or hard (as it was this day). They were consistent in pace and a bit bobbly in places. Not that quick though.
Good points: Holes were of consistent quality. Nicely presented course. Buggies were comfortable. Some easy holes and some difficult holes - pick your holes to attack.
Bad points: Internal out of bounds on the 4th. Stupidly slow play - take a book with you (e.g we were a three ball with two buggies and it took 5.5 hours). Savage rough was too long and didn't help some people's pace.
Tips: Buy a course planner and study it, or have a DMD with hazard and carry locations. There are hidden bunkers, ditches and carries. Watch your ball intently for the line and hit a provision if in doubt. Try and play off-peak, otherwise you will be there for hours.
Summary: Not a bad course, with good greens and some interesting holes. The pace of play was a major no for me. Would I go back - yes, but not rushing back.
First impressions driving in: It's part of the DeVere group, merging golf with accommodation, spa, gym, etc. You drive through the course to park near the large complex, so you've a chance to check out some of the holes (or get boshed by a stray ball!). Course looks very open, minimal trees but some tasty rough.
Pro shop: Its tiny - in fact too small IMHO. There's not a great deal there.
Welcome: OK.
Practice Facilities: Decent putting green near the first and for a change, reflective of the greens you play on. Outside range with uncovered bays hitting down to a raised fairway. Didn't partake in a warm-up thus no comment on balls (yellow Nikes) or mats.
Course - front nine: Slight easier 9 IMHO. Gentle opener, followed by a very short par 4 protected by a large bunker, small green and cabbage out the back. Easy par three next, next to the entrance road. A tight par 5 next, needing a straight first hit and good second shot management. Simple uphill par four follows and then another tight par 5, dogleg right - this needs care and should be seen as a three-shotter to the green for all standards. Another easy par 4 follows, sheltered by a green side oak. Simple par 3 next, leads into a risk-reward par 4 to complete the outward set - long carry over water to green for the big hitters, or the longer route left, leaving a very long second. Water is a common feature as well as big rough! Select your club carefully on some of these holes. Halfway hut is a simple affair - lets say no more.
Course - back nine: Probably slightly tougher overall. Starts off with a par four down hill, reachable for big hitters with some wind behind - don't go long though. After, a decent long straight par 4 is framed with long rough either side and water left of green. Next a nice par 3 all over water. Another dogleg par four comes up, needing course management to know where to hit off the tee to leave a manageable second up hill. A great long par 5 comes next, split into three shots for most - its a tough tee shot needing a cheeky draw, with water left and bunkers if you're too far right. The next is yet another semi-blind dogleg right - make the right choice off the tee! A shock (not) in that the next is another slight dogleg into a tight green - don't go left! The final hole is a well framed par 5, slightly up hill - there's a cheeky ditch to carry around 200y off the tee. The final green is receptive and a good birdie chance.
Course condition overall: Fairways were fine. Rough was savage - don't go in there otherwise its lost ball territory. Tee boxes were average at best. Layout flowed OK. Course management is paramount here. Bunkers seemed consistent. Lots of water and lateral ditches.
Greens: Undulating. Pins can be set easy or hard (as it was this day). They were consistent in pace and a bit bobbly in places. Not that quick though.
Good points: Holes were of consistent quality. Nicely presented course. Buggies were comfortable. Some easy holes and some difficult holes - pick your holes to attack.
Bad points: Internal out of bounds on the 4th. Stupidly slow play - take a book with you (e.g we were a three ball with two buggies and it took 5.5 hours). Savage rough was too long and didn't help some people's pace.
Tips: Buy a course planner and study it, or have a DMD with hazard and carry locations. There are hidden bunkers, ditches and carries. Watch your ball intently for the line and hit a provision if in doubt. Try and play off-peak, otherwise you will be there for hours.
Summary: Not a bad course, with good greens and some interesting holes. The pace of play was a major no for me. Would I go back - yes, but not rushing back.
