Friday, 17 July 2015
Sunday, 5 July 2015
Sidmouth - "We hope that you are considering a visit to play our course"
With two rounds under our belts you don't really want to strenuous a test on the last day. This should be about golf not the survival of the fittest. When we saw the Sidmouth card, par 66, seven par threes, a few of us were rubbing our hands about the points we might rack up. How wrong we were!
It was another early tee-time and a fairly quiet start but it was the hottest day of the three. It might look simple on the score card but there's a lot of uphill and downhill and a good few awkward stances.
After the 'gentle introduction' comes the tricky third. A long approach shot and sloping green, it was to be the order of the day. The fourth, the first par three, is deceptive and well-protected. The next two are par threes as well, the fifth at over 200 yards and the sixth with a serious slope on it.
From the eighth things start to go uphill, steeply. And when you've got your breath back from that, the approach to the ninth does similar. Then there's a bit of respite with the 10th going back downhill, although as Matthew's photo shows you need to be straight off the tee.
Then there's the 11th, another steep uphill par three and not a huge gap to thread your shot through. The 12th is similar but downhill. The only par five follows, Paul made this slightly more difficult for himself by thudding his tee shot into Stuart's bag.
The remaining holes appear more straightforward but the greens are tricky. An overhit chip will run away and across the green altogether, a mishit putt could find a slope and easily put you in three or even four putt territory.
This course is a superb challenge, of golf and physical conditioning. There's a balcony from the clubhouse looking the 18th green which is a great place for a post-match pint. It's another one on the 'play again' list but maybe on the first day next time!
Best scores
32 points - Matthew (off 15) 2015
30 points - James (off 34) 2015
29 points - Ben W (off 9) 2015
It was another early tee-time and a fairly quiet start but it was the hottest day of the three. It might look simple on the score card but there's a lot of uphill and downhill and a good few awkward stances.
After the 'gentle introduction' comes the tricky third. A long approach shot and sloping green, it was to be the order of the day. The fourth, the first par three, is deceptive and well-protected. The next two are par threes as well, the fifth at over 200 yards and the sixth with a serious slope on it.
From the eighth things start to go uphill, steeply. And when you've got your breath back from that, the approach to the ninth does similar. Then there's a bit of respite with the 10th going back downhill, although as Matthew's photo shows you need to be straight off the tee.
Then there's the 11th, another steep uphill par three and not a huge gap to thread your shot through. The 12th is similar but downhill. The only par five follows, Paul made this slightly more difficult for himself by thudding his tee shot into Stuart's bag.
The remaining holes appear more straightforward but the greens are tricky. An overhit chip will run away and across the green altogether, a mishit putt could find a slope and easily put you in three or even four putt territory.
This course is a superb challenge, of golf and physical conditioning. There's a balcony from the clubhouse looking the 18th green which is a great place for a post-match pint. It's another one on the 'play again' list but maybe on the first day next time!
Best scores
32 points - Matthew (off 15) 2015
30 points - James (off 34) 2015
29 points - Ben W (off 9) 2015
Bridport & West Dorset - "the oldest golf club in Dorset"
Founded in 1891 in case you were wondering. The Saturday round saw a drive from Exmouth to Bridport & West Dorset Golf Club. The earlier start meant we couldn't tuck into the hospitality but the chap in the club shop was certainly welcoming enough.
The long but gentle par four first gives you no clue of what's coming next. From here you're up on the cliffs. It was blowing a 'hoolie' up there on the day we played (this time the locals were sad for us, facing the course in those conditions.
Hats were blown off, bags were blown over, but the views! It was fantastic. The third tee saw us have a stunning view looking over the beach where Broadchurch was filmed. The signature hole is the sixth, a par three that falls away dramatically (see Matthew's picture below) - Kevin had the heebie-jeebies looking down from the tee to the target. All sorts of clubs were taken depending on how the wind was at that particular moment.
The tenth is another superb hole. Only 147 yards but a pond smack in front and a massive drop (which Matthew found) to the right. (Matthew did get his second to three feet from about 80 yards away and blind - shot of the week for me).
Another feature of the back nine is the dry stone wall which runs across, 12, 13 and 14. Paul found himself a yard from it on the 13th but thought a sand wedge would clear the obstacle. It might have done had he enough talent which he had cause to ponder as the ball whistled past his ear after rebounding from about two feet up the wall!
The sixteenth is a fabulously undulating par five and the par three eighteenth is a nice way to finish. Paul coming as close as anyone to a hole-in-one with one of his bump and run specials that ran close to the hole.
All in all this is a terrific course and no doubt one on the list for a return visit at some point. There's a bit of confusion about which hole should play when at a couple of points but that shouldn't detract from the excellent round.
Best scores
42 points - James (off 36) 2015
32 points - Simon (off 21) 2015
29 points - Kevin (off 8) 2015
29 points - Paul (off 36) 2015
The long but gentle par four first gives you no clue of what's coming next. From here you're up on the cliffs. It was blowing a 'hoolie' up there on the day we played (this time the locals were sad for us, facing the course in those conditions.
Hats were blown off, bags were blown over, but the views! It was fantastic. The third tee saw us have a stunning view looking over the beach where Broadchurch was filmed. The signature hole is the sixth, a par three that falls away dramatically (see Matthew's picture below) - Kevin had the heebie-jeebies looking down from the tee to the target. All sorts of clubs were taken depending on how the wind was at that particular moment.
The tenth is another superb hole. Only 147 yards but a pond smack in front and a massive drop (which Matthew found) to the right. (Matthew did get his second to three feet from about 80 yards away and blind - shot of the week for me).
Another feature of the back nine is the dry stone wall which runs across, 12, 13 and 14. Paul found himself a yard from it on the 13th but thought a sand wedge would clear the obstacle. It might have done had he enough talent which he had cause to ponder as the ball whistled past his ear after rebounding from about two feet up the wall!
The sixteenth is a fabulously undulating par five and the par three eighteenth is a nice way to finish. Paul coming as close as anyone to a hole-in-one with one of his bump and run specials that ran close to the hole.
All in all this is a terrific course and no doubt one on the list for a return visit at some point. There's a bit of confusion about which hole should play when at a couple of points but that shouldn't detract from the excellent round.
Best scores
42 points - James (off 36) 2015
32 points - Simon (off 21) 2015
29 points - Kevin (off 8) 2015
29 points - Paul (off 36) 2015
Saturday, 4 July 2015
Warren Golf Club - "a true links course on the South Devon coast"
The 2015 Tour kicked off at Warren Golf Club in Dawlish Warren. The website states that 'visitors are welcome anytime" and we were certainly made to feel welcome as we gathered in the clubhouse before the off.
Competitors fed and watered, the Tour got underway. The wide open spaces of the first don't really give you a clue about what's to come. Paul walked off the first green with four points and the Tour lead which was as good as it got for him.
The front nine is quite tight in a lot of places. the gorse lining the fairways meaning a wayward shot is probably lost. Paul and James struggled to keep it in play and even their high handicaps weren't enough to score points in large quantities.
The seventh is a cracking hole with the beach in play if you push it right and there's an elevated green on the par three eighth making it play longer than it looks and bringing the front bunkers very much into play.
The course then opens up a little bit, giving the poor drivers some respite. There's still plenty of trouble to find but there are a few safer areas to aim. The par five 12th has a ditch down the left which can trap the unwary (Kevin) quite literally!
It's then straight onto the shortest hole where the wind can play havoc with club selection. Then we're back to tight and tricky again with the sea on your right and the target not always obvious before we're back we're we started. The 18th fairway is the same as the first just in the opposite direction.
This course is a real challenge and a lot of fun with it. The wind was blowing (although the locals said it wasn't that much!) and as it was cloudy I don't think we quite saw it at its best. It doesn't give up points lightly that's for sure.
Best scores
37 points - Stuart (off 36) 2015
36 points - Kevin (off 9) 2015
34 points - Simon (off 21) 2015
32 points - Ben W (off 8) 2015
32 points - Matthew (off 13) 2015
Competitors fed and watered, the Tour got underway. The wide open spaces of the first don't really give you a clue about what's to come. Paul walked off the first green with four points and the Tour lead which was as good as it got for him.
The front nine is quite tight in a lot of places. the gorse lining the fairways meaning a wayward shot is probably lost. Paul and James struggled to keep it in play and even their high handicaps weren't enough to score points in large quantities.
The seventh is a cracking hole with the beach in play if you push it right and there's an elevated green on the par three eighth making it play longer than it looks and bringing the front bunkers very much into play.
The course then opens up a little bit, giving the poor drivers some respite. There's still plenty of trouble to find but there are a few safer areas to aim. The par five 12th has a ditch down the left which can trap the unwary (Kevin) quite literally!
It's then straight onto the shortest hole where the wind can play havoc with club selection. Then we're back to tight and tricky again with the sea on your right and the target not always obvious before we're back we're we started. The 18th fairway is the same as the first just in the opposite direction.
This course is a real challenge and a lot of fun with it. The wind was blowing (although the locals said it wasn't that much!) and as it was cloudy I don't think we quite saw it at its best. It doesn't give up points lightly that's for sure.
Best scores
37 points - Stuart (off 36) 2015
36 points - Kevin (off 9) 2015
34 points - Simon (off 21) 2015
32 points - Ben W (off 8) 2015
32 points - Matthew (off 13) 2015
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