Recent trip. Where are we?

[Marc Haring]

I’ve just returned from a little golf trip where a friend and myself played 6 courses in 4 days. Here are some pictures but just for a little fun, would anyone like to hazard a guess at a) where in the world we were, b) name each course, c) name any of the hole numbers?

Course 1. This is a new design but we were both most impressed. This is a split fairway par 5.



Course 2. Straight into some classic links. The clubhouse might give it away.



Course 3. Everyone knows this one, in fact you’d have to be blind not to.



Course 4. Less known and a truly wild and desolate course. The weather was true to the occasion, i.e. bleak.



Course 5. One of the greats?



Course 6. Although into some more gentle countryside, the course remained tough.


Good luck. More pictures and clues can be made available if required.

[SPDB]

First one is Chart Hills. I'd recognize the Smyers bunker fields anywhere.  I think by now he's already designed and constructed more bunkers than Donald Ross.

Intended only as a slight criticism, I actually really enjoy his work, I just wish he'd make his bunkers count more (by counting less of them).

[George Pazin]

Those rolling fairways remind me of southeast England - Deal or Sandwich or somewhere like that.

[Joe Andriole]

Do I see Rye, Royal St George and Littlestone??

[Brent Hutto]

Thanks ever so much for the photos. I've become obsessed lately with the idea of a golf trip to Kent next spring and had hoped by banishing my Steel book I'd come to my senses soon. Now it's bed time and my dreams will all revolve around Deal.

Here's a mystery. I would swear in court that I've never seen a single picture of Chart Hills. And Lord knows I've never visited a Steve Smyers course. So how in the world did the name "Chart Hills" immediately come to mind when I saw the first photo? Maybe I'd heard about the split fairway Par 5.

Spooky...

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

How did you like Chart Hills?  Though not a very hard course I really enjoyed playing there the past 2 years.  Everyone who did Euro Q School had a similar opinion of the course.  Those who are contemplating a Kent excursion should also consider Walton Heath--it is less than 1 mile off the M25 at Junction 14.  Ideally, land at Heathrow and get car, breakfast at McD's and then hop on the M25 for 45 minutes to Walton Heath.  Afterwards continue drive to Leeds Castle exit--several hotel options--Visit castle (the real deal) and then play Chart Hills--15 minute drive from castle (2 miles on road that is very skinny).  From Chart Hills drive to Ashford and then on to Dover--good hotel options.  

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

The 16th is a great risk/reward par 5.  It is 264 yards to carry the dividing bunkers on the left.  The green slopes back to front towards the left fairway.  Right fairway is a blind approach to green sloping right to left--When firm like last year--long iron from right that hit middle of green ended up in the greenside left chipping area--ultra hard up and down.  The brilliance of the course is that there are several risk/reward holes.  Also, though the fairways are wide, depending upon the pin--proper location is required to have suitable shots at the pins.  Smyers bunkering may be excessive, but I love playing his courses--Chart Hills is a very much worth play.

[Marc Haring]

Nearly there Guys. How about the last one?

Robert, we really enjoyed Chart Hills. No question it is a superb design for the reasons you suggested. You really had to think your way round and there was good use of many design options such as swales, mounds, and good green contours. Bunkering was excessive and in many cases superfluous but visually it was great. Unfortunately the maintenance of them appeared to be slightly lacking clearly because of budgetary constraints and this detracted a little as when they are such a major feature of the course they need to be well presented.

[Brent Hutto]

Nearly there Guys. How about the last one?

OK, I'll take a total wild guess. How about Canterbury GC? Could be the 12th hole.

[Marc Haring]

Nope. Sorry Brent

[Marc Haring]

Dave.

Right course, wrong hole. I see the resemblance though.

[John Goodman]

Is the last the 17th at Royal Ashdown Forest?

[Marc Haring]

John, it is indeed.

So the full list is:

#16 Chart Hills
#17 Royal Cinque Ports (Deal)
#6 Royal St Georges (The Maiden)
#17 Littlestone
#7 Rye.
#17 Royal Ashdown Forest.

It was a terrific trip playing some great courses. The memorable bits were playing all courses in under 3 hours except Chart Hills which was a painful 4.30. The amazing welcome and courtesy received at all courses including a moment at St Georges when my playing partner unknowingly hit his shot into the group ahead whereupon they apologised to him for holding us up and invited us through for the second time. It transpired that the person he nearly hit was a certain Sir Hilary, a famous barrister apparently. Also I did manage to put together a 72 from the medal tees at St Georges which for a usually inept 4 handicap golfer was a great experience.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I'd love to see the rest of the pictures.

[Brent Hutto]

So Marc, where did y'all stay during your trip? Did you camp in one spot and drive around or did you just stay near where you were playing each day's round?

[Marc Haring]

Brent.

Drove to Chart Hills, then 1 hour to a B&B in Sandwich, a delightful town. Played RSG and Deal, then drove to an affordable hotel in New Romney and played Littlestone and Rye the next day. Back to the hotel and RAF the next morning before driving home well and truly cream crackered as they say in this neck of the woods. As a superintendent I was able to get courtesy at all courses of which I am hugely grateful or it would have added an extra £300 to the bill and we wouldn’t have got to play the magnificent Rye as it’s members and guests only. Couldn’t believe their generosity.

Mark.

I took 52 pictures and will I am sure post a few more in the future, especially Royal Ashdown, as it is -as you are no doubt aware- especially photogenic.  

It is my first true golf trip but will not be my last. In fact many more have already reached the planning stage.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Marc,

Thanks.  RAF is particularly photogenic.