Holes
All holes are individual and each has its own merit. The first hole is
393 yards from the medal tee and is a slight dog left to right. This is
the only hole to have a small clump of trees at the corner of the dog
leg. These should only disturb higher handicap players, the more proficient
golfer will sail over them and shave the dog leg. Bunkers protect the
green front left, and to the right. Any drive which misses the fairway
may introduce the wayward golfer to one of the regular features on the
course - heather, acres of it.
The second hole measure 450 yards and here the heather gives way to another
regular feature - gorse. This is a slight dog leg from right to left,
with a fairway bunker protecting the corner. Two bunkers short right of
the green catch many balls, and another short left makes for a narrow
entrance. Other bunkers guard the left side of the green. This is a very
good two shotter, as it is mostly played into the prevailing wind.
The third hole is played over a burn which will only catch the head up
shot. It measures 408 yards and has out of bounds to the right. Again
there is a slight right to left dog leg, with heather greeting the too
neat drive. Two fairway bunkers to the right can catch the pushed shot,
and bunkers 50 and 30 yards short of the green call for the second shot
to carry the whole distance. This is the only gathering green on the course,
the others all tend to have kicks off the sides.
The fourth is the first of par 3s. Measuring 169 yards to a plateau two
tiered green this hole is fully visible, and should a hole in one be achieved
the lucky golfer has the benefit of seeing his ball drop. There are of
course bunkers to the front, left and right of the green to catch the
less accurate tee shot.
The 4th green
The fifth hole turns you round to the east, where you would normally find
the wind in your favour. This is a 496 yard par 5. A fairway bunker can
catch a tee shot up the left, and heather abounds on the right. Some yards
from the tee a burn runs left and right from the fairway, but is ducted
under the fairway itself. The hole then dog legs to the left and the fairway
is of the hogs back variety, with kicks to right and left. The low handicap
golfer will be looking to carry all the way to the plateau green, with
a very good long iron.
The
405 yard sixth hole turns west and the burn is encountered again, only
as an open water hazard this time. This lies some 270 yards from the tee
and the long hitter must be wary. Into the wind the short hitter wonders
if he can carry it with his second shot. The green has a bunker to the
left and a deep grassy hollow to the right. It also slopes from front
to back making it difficult to hold in a following wind.
The
seventh hole is a first class one shotter of 215 yards, played normally
with a cross wind. A series of 4 bunkers string towards the green to the
left, and a wicked pot bunker sits tucked into the front right of the
green. This hole is played north to south and gives a first view of the
Solway Firth.
The eighth hole turns east again and at 317 yards is the shortest of the
par 4s. A bank runs along the right hand side which will kick your ball
into grassy rough. Heather and gorse abound on the left side of the fairway.
The green is well guarded by bunkers short, left and right.
The
ninth hole is another good two shotter measuring 435 yards, particularly
if there is an east wind. There is a bunker to the left, 100 yards short
of the green, and a cluster of 3 bunkers to the right 60 yards short of
the green. Heather abounds right and left and again there is a slight
dog leg from right to left. The green is semi-plateau and there is no
leeway for any shot which is too long.
The tenth hole is a pleasant but well guarded 168 yard par 3. The green
is surrounded by 7 bunkers and a full carry is required. This hole varies
tremendously with the strength and direction of the wind.
The
10th
The tee shot from the 390 yard eleventh hole is played over some fearsome
whins, which must be carried to a fairway set at a slight angle. Again
there is heather right and left, and a burn runs across the fairway 30
yards short of the green. This should affect the higher handicap players
only, having a longer second shot to play. This green has a bunker short
right and has the greatest degree of slope, amongst the generally level
greens at the other holes.
The twelfth hole is generally regarded as the best hole on the course.
This is a 421 yard par four with a left to right dog leg. Fairway bunkers
right and left require an accurate tee shot. Having split the fairway
the hole then opens out to view a green, protected by bunkers on the right,
a pond to the left, a large mound guarding front left entry, and the beach
ten yards behind the green. The forward view on playing the hole is the
simmering Solway Firth, and a large sandy bay opens out to the right as
you progress towards the green. A truly memorable hole.
The 12th
At the thirteenth, finding yourself on an elevated tee beside the shore,
you face a 467 yard par four. Two fairway bunkers await a tee shot hit
left, and the fairway has semi rough encroaching from the right hand side.
There is a ditch left and right of the hole, 80 yards short of the green,
and two other fairway bunkers to negotiate. Another bunker short right
of the green is compensated by generally favourable bounces from the left
hand side. The length makes this a formidable hole.
Turning
to face west again the fourteenth, at 458 yards, requires another long
iron or fairway wood second shot. There is one fairway bunker 100 yards
short of the green to the right, and bunkers right and left of the green.
Heather proliferates the whole way up the left, with large areas of gorse
to the right. A small copse grows to the back left of the green.
The 14th
The
fifteenth is another good par 3 of 217 yards. The fairway bunkers should
be carried, but bunkers right and left of the green call for an accurate
tee shot. Too long from the tee could land you with more gorse trouble.
The
sixteenth is the last of the difficult par 4s at 433 yards. A slight dog
leg from right to left tempts the brave shot, but any imperfections with
this will call for a reload. Once again there is gorse to the left and
heather to the right. There are only two bunkers on the right hand side
of this fairway and no bunkers near the green. The natural terrain however
makes for tricky shots from only five yards off the green on three sides.
The
last of the par 3s, the seventeenth is a lovely 175 yard hole, with no
bunkers at all. The green, however, is difficult to hold, and like the
sixteenth the natural terrain causes its own difficulty. It is worth recording
that when Mathias Gronberg won the British Youths he failed to record
a par here, in any of his four rounds.
The 17th
The 495 yards par 5 eighteenth, turns back eastwards and can be reached
in two by the long hitters. Once again the drive must be accurate to keep
out of heather left and right. This extends the whole length of the hole,
so the second shot cannot be wayward either. Fairway bunkers right and left,
some 60 yards short of the green also come into play.The above description
has been compiled by a 17 handicap golfer, who has experienced all the hazards
provided by the course, and the appreciation must be seen in that light.
To the countless more proficient golfers this is a very fair test of golf
with no real blind shots. To the middle range of handicap golfers the variety
of holes should mean that you play every club in your bag in the course
of a round. To the 24 plus handicapper, make sure you have enough balls
in your bag and remember to call through any party you may be holding up.
Oh, and whatever your handicap, please repair your pitch mark on the greens.
Enjoy.