The course is classic links but like Carnoustie for instance, is slightly removed from the water and lacks the stunning views that go along with some like Turnberry or Castle Stuart. It has a nice dune system and I love the contours and natural amphitheatres created by them. It starts with a couple of good par 4s but it's from the third that the course begins to show its teeth with a 240 yard par 3 onto a narrow tiered green.
The 4th is one of the best in the course with a simply huge bunker that must be navigated before a lengthy approach to a green that runs off on 3 sides. at 495 yards it's certainly one of the toughest holes around.
The 5th offers some light relief where and is more of a risk reward par 4 that I particularly like and the 6th, below is a solid par 3 again to a tiered green guarded by bunkers and sheltered by the dunes
The characteristic thatched roofs, this time next to the 6th green
The 7th played downwind when I was there and was a certain birdie opportunity as long as you can get the right line with the tee shot that is blind. The 8th, like the 5th has a large area of rough, maybe 60 yards or so short of the green. I think these are a nice feature that make you think about shot placement and can be a decent way of 'tiger proofing' courses.
The last hole on the front 9 is a short par 4 but certainly one of my favourites on the course with a great approach to a narrow green that you don't want to miss right ( as I did) and end up down a significant hill. The tenth is has a similar feel with any misplaced approaches to the green rolling well down a slope on any side, a bit Dornoch like in that regard.
approach to the 9th with view enhanced by not only the power plant but a great 'dead cat flying'
The 11th is another really long par 3 at about 240 yards that I hope normally plays downwind as it did when I was there. I was't really a fan of the hole but maybe that was due to a solid triple. Fortunately that was followed by my only birdie on the next that is a nice short dogleg to the right.
I cant actually remember 13 but 14 will stay in the mind for a long time. The 'suez canal' must be one of the best and toughest par 5s on the open roster, as Dustin Johnson will testify. O.B the entire way down and 4 bunkers guarding the 'safe' left side make going for the green in two a very daunting experience.
I think I would always play it as a 3 shot hole.
Above - chipping to the green on suez canal.
The next is only a 495 yard par four from the backs so not much let up after the suez canal.
16 (below) ruined Thomas Bjorn's open chances on the year the Ben Curtis took the Claret Jug and is interesting with it's multiple bunkers stretching all the way across the front of the green. definitely better to be long here.
The final two holes are solid par 4s and a decent way of finishing a very good golf course. It's currently ranked as the top course in England and obviously worthy of multiple Open championships. We even managed some celebrity spotting with hugh grant parking his ferrari next to us and the 'legend' jimmy Tarbuck playing ( pretty quickly may I add) in the four ball in front. Overall its a great track that I would certainly come back to and fits in my favourite 5-10 probably.
Probably not the most photogenic place that I've been but I did miss the ideal times to be out with the camera.
