THE OLD COURSE

The 'Old Course' was designed in 1925 under the architectural direction of Alistair Mackenzie, whose many famous courses include Augusta, the home of 'The Masters' in the USA. With a total length of 6662 yards, this course retains the layout designed in 1925. There are three par 3's, twelve par 4's and three par 5's giving a par of 72.

Around the course your real problems are likely to come from over 70 bunkers, set to catch the unwary, although some holes have few or none at all and rely on natural undulations. The Old Course has always been considered to present an enjoyable challenge to the scratch and long handicap players alike.

Both this layout and the Brabazon Course have a number of very fine holes, some are featured later in these details. They also include the short 3rd which remains the same hole and length as it was over 129 years ago, and is still known as " The Doctor" after the founder of the club, Dr. McCuaig.

It is a wonderful short hole played to a plateau green, although the sleepers in the bunkers surrounding the green have all been removed.

Old Card Details

Old Layout

The above shows the Old Course Card details, and hole by hole layout.

THE BRABAZON COURSE

The Brabazon course presents an extended challenge of just short of 7000 yards off the Championship Tees comprising three par 3's, eleven par 4's and four par 5's, it totals 73 - 35 out and 38 in.

The course shares fourteen of the holes used on the the Old course including the famous 17th. It also includes four new holes constructed out of the sand dunes on the seaward side of the course all of which present challenges, the 10th 'Gare' hole (or breakwater) hole 390 yards, requires two strong shots to reach the green, be pleased with a 5.

This is followed by the ' Chapel Open' a big 'dog leg' 11th hole 471 yards possibly offering the greatest difficulties. A good drive to carry the corner of the whin bushes on the right 'if you have the nerve' off the championship tee. Plenty of twists, turns, dunes, bunkers and whin bushes to be negotiated and avoided.

The 12th ' Beach' hole 390 yards is aptley named, a wayward drive to the right could end up quite close to the Beach. When you reach the fairway, it still requires a mid iron to a well protected green.

About turn you next play the 13th 'Whins' 537 yards two good woods you might be close to the cross bunkers in the fairway. Follow these with a medium iron to reach the pear shaped green.

At the14th you return to the holes of the 'Old' course. Take a breather on the next two holes, to prepare yourself for the big finish. It makes it tricky but a rewarding course for all levels of golfers. This course has been chosen as a test for Championships at County and Inter-County events.

Good Luck, because everybody needs some.

Brabazon Card

Brabazon Layout

The above shows details of the Brabazon Course Card and hole by hole layout.

17th Green

The above shows details of the pear shaped and tiered 17th green and surrounds.

App17th Green

The above picture shows the approach to the famous 17th green, which is pear shaped , tiered and slopes from back to front.

The celebrated 17th was best described in the following poem by a former member and local historian the late Derek Hornby.

"The seventeenth's dangers are countless, beginning with whin, gorse and dune, the rough and gathering bunkers, and the green's undulating tune, to veer even slightly is fatal, the cost is distressingly high, many the card that's been torn up, just here with home oh so nigh"

The 18th tee looking North.

An accurate drive is required on the 'Home' hole. One feature of this hole is the lack of bunkers but there is a lot of trouble all round. The Whin bushes run down the right from the tee almost to the green. The ideal drive needs to be middle and left of centre, long enough (200 yards) to carry the mound that protrudes into the fairway from the dunes and rough all along the left, a second mound protrudes from the Whin bushes at 240 yards. The second shot requires a mid iron to a large green which is deceptively guarded by a mound across the front, out of bounds on the footpath to the 1st, over the practice putting area on the road in front of the clubhouse and the car park to the right.

Good Luck!

Related Links:
AN APPRECIATION
HOW TO FIND US