Just some random thoughts I had playing Wild Horse yesterday.
1. In my golf travels, I have never enjoyed a set of par 3s more than at WH. They each travel in a different direction, allowing for many different shots depending on wind and are of varying lengths (125-210 yesterday). The mark of a good golf course should at least include a wide variety of shot options from the tee box on the short holes.
2. Proctor and Axland did a wonderful job of recognizing the prevailing southerly wind when routing the course. The golfer is presented with birdie opportunities at holes such as 7, 12, 14 and 17 that head downwind. Likewise the golfer will struggle to make par on the normally difficult 8th, 16th and 18th. While playing yesterday, two well struck 3 woods got me to about 60 yards short of the 445-yard 16th and the same two clubs put me in the front bunker on the 505-yard 17th. While the 6 on the 16th was discouraging, the architects gave me and immediate chance to rebound with a 4 on the 17th.
3. When standing on the 3rd tee, the obvious play appears to be playing between the native grass on the right and the centerline bunker complex. On further thought (and because I pulled my tee shot directly over the bunkers), the best view for the remainder of the hole is by placing your drive directly over the bunkers. Genius.
4. The same holds true for the second. The closer you are to the same bunker complex, the better your angle to play a run up second shot.
5. The sixth may be one of the greatest holes anywhere without a bunker.
6. From within 100 yards of the flag, I used every club from 7-iron down to putter.
7. The people Gothenburg have no idea how good they have it.
8. Paving the 1 1/2 miles of gravel that lead to the entrance of the place would be like removing the magnolias at Augusta.