Course
Opened – 1977
Course Designer – Dave Thomas & Peter Alliss
Special Features -
General Playability - course is dry and greens are quite firm. Therefore hitting fairways will be paramount in order to stop the ball on the green..
Undulating/ flat - Flat
Tree lined/exposed - Tree lined
Many / few water hazards - Water hazards in play on holes 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 & 18
Changes to the course -
-Hole 6 has been re-designed. The landing area has been widened and leveled and a new fairway bunker has been built to the right. A new green has been built further back and to the left bringing the water hazard more into play. This hole measures 445 yards (+ 61 yards from last year)
-The 8th tee has been lengthened by 7 yards.
-The following bunkers have been added or changed: 1 new bunker behind 1st green, 1 new bunker to the left of landing area on hole 5. 2 old fairway bunkers to the right of landing area on hole 8 have been made into one big bunker. 2 new bunkers behind 14th green & bunker short left of 14th green has been reduced in size. 2 old fairway bunkers to the right of landing area on hole 15 have been made into one big bunker.
-Also new trees have been planted as follows: to the left of hole 1, to the right of hole 3, to the right of lay-up area on hole 15 , behind the 15th green and behind the 17th green.
Greens
Type of grass - 80% poa & 20% bent
Height of cut - 3mm
Speed/stimp reading – Tuesday 11’4”
Any specific comments – The greens are quite firm and putting smoothly
Fairways
Type of grass – 50% rye & 50% poa
Height of cut – 12 mm
General width and contouring – Flat
Any specific comments -
Tees
Type of grass – 80% rye & 20% poa/fescue
Height of cut - 9 mm
Any specific comments -
Collars
Type of grass - 80% rye & 20% poa/fescue
Height of cut – 9 mm
Any specific comments -
Rough
Type of grass – rye & poa
Semi-rough - Height of cut – 25mm
Intermediate Height of cut – 57mm
Rough - Height of cut – 75mm
Any specific comments – The rough was last topped on Thursday 13th Sept. Due to a very dry August and early September, the rough is not too penal.
Weather
In advance – Floods in July. Very dry since beginning of August
Forecast for tournament – Unsettled Thursday and Friday. Dry for the weekend.
Other Features
-Hosted 4 Ryder Cups (1985, 1989, 1993, 2002)
-Nearest the pin competition on hole 12 on final day. Winner gets a Jaguar X type car.
-Likely to play hole 10 (par 4) form forward tee to encourage players to go for the green on Saturday & Sunday.
