2017Been too long, but spent two weeks in Scotland. Highlights today and comments for Crail Balcomie, but more specifics to come. I will probably finally profile the Colleton Courses as the Nicklaus is about to re-open from re-grassing and a few very peculiar changes post Matthew to "Maintain Integrity" - I see a certain personal stamp - by architect on retainer Jim Lipe. I have never somehow offered the Dye Course, but must take a few more photos prior.
So for Scotland - Coming or today:
- Old Course at Crail (Balcomie) Here today
- Walking the Old Course on a Sunday
- Prestwick
- Cruden Bay - even better than expected with high expectations
- North Berwick West Links - also even better than remembered
- Re-do at Alisa - very disappointing, I'm in minority, but will tell you why it's a fail for golf
- (.....)Turnberry Hotel renovation - a fail for SPG
- Nicklaus CRP
- Dye CRP
Balcomie Crail
Sub 6000 yards with six Par three holes, but not a pitch-and-putt affair by any standards, it probably is a hickory payer's dream. The Old Course at Crail is as fun and quirky as ever, a good first stop, Gil's Course happily and very popularly booked solid, more than glad to play the Old because sole previous play was the same day as playing St. A's Old with Renee for her first time that same day. (R&A was in St. A's plus Dunhill prep prevented any golf at St. Andrews, original play for first 3 days) Two Medals were being contested, so it was a little slow giving ample time for a look-see. I'm not taking as many photos any more and Crail suffered the fewest photos because of being the first Course and low light. Seeing what was there on the ground proved how much a disservice playing 36 in a day on two different 18-hole courses really can be. Crail sanely keeps these greens no faster than nine. I'll be back again any time.
The Par 3's - Rather Notable
The Par three holes at Crail offer so much.
Starting with the blind third where having the knowledge of contours is invaluable, as well as a requirement to bring it in from the left (Sanely away from water's edge. Brilliant hole! A modified punchbowl affair, but far more interesting due to the contours. The hole had stuck so well in my memory, that I hit it in the right place and came up 8 feet short on line off the tee. Just lovely contours, perfect for a blind shot over a dune, this is truly a great hole and a major exhibit why blindness should remain a part of the game. Back pin from 2007 seen on 12 tee here:
The seventh at the first turn is a relatively modest and raised green affair, the least memorable of the six. Be sure to hit it far enough. Bunkering left keep you honest, still a fine hole many courses would gladly swap for on of their threes.
Everyone remembers the elevated and often into the wind 13th, short with a driver (I'm 66 now). A steep escarpment and elevation can make it seem impossible and it is for an ill-struck shot, you'll be in the organic matter of the face. Rather a small and contoured green considering, a four is just fine here.
2017
2017Immediately following is "The Cave (Unforgettable and following the hole) a drop-shot hole with a crested or saddled green which is magnificently fronted by a very receptive bunker. At 145 yards, into the bunker, I was pleased with a four. One can hit the green and the ball can still easily find the bunker A hole to study for all architects considering another mundane drop shot hole, you CAN build a great one, come study how the green (Which cannot be run at 13 on the stump) makes the hole and is far better than anything that runs a fast green speed. See below (2007):
The Famous Spion Kop is the sixteenth, an uphill, often into wind hole that requires a truly committed shot. The shape of the green again determines play. Being domed as well as 1.5 clubs uphill, the ball does not really run up you must carry boldly.
Eighteenth Quarry is a fine and demanding finishing hole with Gorse right and a plethora of bunkers left, one other example along with Pasatiempo and Boston Golf Club for how a Par 3 eighteenth can test you. So easy to lose it right here and even if you hit the green.
The Par 5's - Pleasant Enough - and a twist
The second, from the medal tees is actually quite a hole with an angled tee shot and North Sea hard right. Even the visitor's tee provides you the thrilling blindness of second shot. Proximity to two other holes left gives one a fair bailout to the left, but a large dune on the left of the fairway and shared bunkers complicate matters. Coincidentally, the 11th and 12th, the other Par 5's are the shared fairway. A rather clever bit sharing the width of the three long holes. on two, long can be dreadful. Very clever hole
Eleven is up the hill from a somewhat lowest point to one of the highest in that particular part of the course, first thirteen or so holes. Plays long uphill and shares a double green, the back of which is a Biarritz-y manner for the Par 4 eighth, a superb hole. Shared fairway right with 12 over to two, clever. Remember this is the sixth oldest course in the world! Scene of tee with great width from 2007 (there is a real Loo, not a porta-potty now for the sharp-eyed)
Twelve plays back down the hill and a burn comes prominently into play about 100 out from green front. Green set a bit on a table top sort of ploy, very modern holes still use this strategy as if it were fresh. The twist of course is the triple fairway on the three longest holes allowing forgiveness ona hard swing - fun matters here.
The Par 4's - a few highlights
The first is potentially reached with driver but a burn and a cavernous bunker in a grassy dune makes you think again and play hybrid - wedge. Big green, semi-blind very deep on the right. Perfect starter, tasty, making you hungry for more.
Four is the classic "(False moniker) Cape" tee shot. Greed is a lost ball, a lesser hole, but still fun. Birdie ....
Five - Again - classic "(False moniker) Cape" tee shot. Greed is a lost ball, the elevation is deceiving. too far left and you're yelling fore to the Par 3 sixth players where greenside bunkers double as fairway bunkers on this hole. Clever. Hard. This is a bitch to par. From 2007:
Seven - very clever land use, a plateau drops off 60+ feet with 150 to go, but you can drive the green over the wall (all blind). You don't tee off until you see players on the next tee. Said wall integral and pithy. Not so well-defined in the 2007 photo here.
Eight is the architectural masterpiece of the fours. Left-turning elbow hole to the aforementioned double green, a Biarritz from this side. Simply thrilling.
Nine & Ten show the variety of truly excellent holes available under 350 yards and still fun and challenging due to ANGLES.
Fifteen reached by less than driver at 265 rather often. Or not. Hole high right yielded a birdie.
Seventeen tee is the Blog header photo from the previous visit with Gorse in full bloom.
That's it for today.
Routing - **
Overall quality of individual holes, par 3's, 4's and 5's- 3 -** 4 - *, 5 - *
Cohesion of the course - **
Green Complexes - **
Bunkering schema - *
Conditioning - **
Appropriate Vegetation - ***
Ideally - **
The rest of the Club - **
Milieu - **
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