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The Hotchkin isn't difficult, as long as you avoid bunkers. Played a match there a couple of months ago. My partner must have been in over 20 bunkers.

If you are a very short hitter, can be tricky to get to the fairway on some holes, even off yellows.

I like the Brackin. Greens are much more interesting on that course
 
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D-S said:
If you go in the front bunker on the par 3 5th just play 3 off the tee. Played with a mate who couldn’t get it out, sideways was into another bunker, backwards was a tough shot into heather. You need a lot of swing speed to get it high enough, he didn’t have enough - he plays off +2.
Click to expand...
Didn’t he consider dropping out under penalty.?

Bit drastic for a +2 but sensible.
 
Swango1980 said:
The Hotchkin isn't difficult, as long as you avoid bunkers. Played a match there a couple of months ago. My partner must have been in over 20 bunkers.

If you are a very short hitter, can be tricky to get to the fairway on some holes, even off yellows.

I like the Brackin. Greens are much more interesting on that course
Click to expand...
When you say short hitter, are you referring to real golfers or forum golfers? 🤣
 
I don't remember much about playing the Hotchkin....it was blowing a gale and lashing with rain so it was a Head down and survive kind of day.....
Would be nice to get back there on a better day weather wise...
 
clubchamp98 said:
Didn’t he consider dropping out under penalty.?

Bit drastic for a +2 but sensible.
Click to expand...
Luckily it was a friendly so no need as it just meant that he lost the hole. Certainly made me change my strategy on that hole in future.
In a medal it would be the an option although back in line would be quite difficult as it would be from semi over heather and the deep bunker - fraught with danger , 3 off the tee immediately may be better.
 
D-S said:
If you go in the front bunker on the par 3 5th just play 3 off the tee. Played with a mate who couldn’t get it out, sideways was into another bunker, backwards was a tough shot into heather. You need a lot of swing speed to get it high enough, he didn’t have enough - he plays off +2.
Click to expand...

Played there twice, been in that bunker twice, made it out twice. It's great to know that my bunker game is better than +2 standard. Just need to elevate all the other parts of my game!
 
When I played in my match this year, I nearly went in 4 different bunkers on the same hole for the first time ever. I believe it was the 2nd hole, Par 4.

Drove down the right, and it went into the steep fairway bunker. Had to hit it out like a greenside bunker, and advance it down the fairway. Hit it well, but to my horror, there was another bunker about 60 yards further down, went in that. That still left me 100 yards to the green. Hit it quite well, but pulled it. Into a bunker that is really long, pretty much the entire length of the green on the left. And from that bunker shot, I hit it long to a front pin, and it stopped about 3 inches short to being in the front right bunker.

To be fair, had I gone into the fourth bunker, the ball was going in my pocket, so I wouldn't have actually played 4 bunker shots.

I don't mind the deep bunkers, I've no problem hitting the ball up high quickly. It is just distance control I am rubbish with.
 
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Played The Hotchkin with @Imurg in a gale, felt that it was an excellent layout, interesting features and that I should have been able to score on every hole.
I then proceeded not to, but it wasnt a disaster, need to play it again in better conditions

The Bracken the next day in much better conditions was pretty decent too
 
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They have an individual 18 hole (Hotchkin) Stableford on 27th March followed immediately by their Spring Open (36 holes, 18 on each course) on the 28/29th.
 
D-S said:
If you go in the front bunker on the par 3 5th just play 3 off the tee. Played with a mate who couldn’t get it out, sideways was into another bunker, backwards was a tough shot into heather. You need a lot of swing speed to get it high enough, he didn’t have enough - he plays off +2.
Click to expand...

Do you mean this one? :)

vlcsnap-2025-09-03-23h35m23s278.png
 
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