I went back and read the Arts & Crafts/WPJ ding dong between Rich, Tommy Mac and Tom Paul. The question arises as to why Huntercombe was considered one of the first modern designs?
The course strikes me as very much a product of the pre-modern era. The hand of man is everywhere.
The Huntercombe hollows are ever present. These pits don't fit the landscape. Some look very ancient and weathered now, but they are still quite obviously man made.
The greens are for the most part quite flat or have severe slopes which spring out of the ground rather than flow from the surrounds. Mind you, a few of these wild greens are fantastic. #s 3 & 4 come to mind. There are a few notabale exceptions such as #1, #11 and #15. These greens look like they could have been built today. Much more of an even flow, easy on the eye.
The bunkering (what little there is) tends to be like the hollows in reverse. Many pop out of the ground, very old fashioned looking.
There is only one green which is noticeably arificially raised-the 17th. The entire green complex suddenly erupts from the ground. I like this hole very much, but it is clearly very artificial. Little attempt was made to make the hole look natural. This is also the only hole which requires an aerial approach.
Huntercombe does have an appealing mix of penal and strategic holes. Perhaps this is why people feel Huntercombe is essentially a modern design.
The third is wonderfully penal, especially if the flag is on the high, right side of the green. The drive must thread a small wood and a pit. One can layup here and take a long iron in, but the approach is a bit brutal, even with a short iron. The hill kicks the approach right toward ob, but if the pin is on the right side, a par is good for any class of player.
The 6th is quite a strategic short par five. The scattered hollows create targets to be hit. The player must decide on line and distance for each shot. There is nothing great about this hole, but it does require thought.
The 8th is brutally penal. Long par four with a pinching fairway at the driving zone. A big pit right in front of the green. A nasty two tiered green with a very abrupt 5 footish slope.
#13 is another strategic hole which isn't long or great, but requires some thinking due to the pits.
#16 is probably the best strategic hole on the course. A short 3 shotter which has the choice of carrying an ob area to the right or staying left. Plenty of room out to the left. Strange option here. For the big hitter, the best play may still be out to the left as it is easier to hit the left layup area if he can't get home for some reason. The approach is over a large pit, but there is space out to the left again. If a player can't reach in two, the place to be is on the left. You get a perfect angle to attack yet another severe two tier green.
All in all, Huntercombe is a lovely place to play and it throws surprises now and then at the player. A good set of one shotters may be the highlight of the course, but the hollows and severe greens are worth a look as well. I am just not sure why it is called a modern design.
Ciao
Sean