Thanks to Mark Ferguson's good offices, I had the chance to play this course on Christmas Eve. The wind was howling which made the course quite a challenge; Mark had the decency to say he reckoned the standard scratch was around 80, which made my paltry efforts feel more forgiveable.
Mark has analysed the course in some detail in the "My Home Course" section. My impressions:
Overall, a very challenging golf course. Although there is a lot of room off the tee, the green complexes are challenging, and varied, so it is quite conceivable that you have a good ball-striking day and still shoot a big number. Although inland, it is quite exposed and the set up of the course means it plays very much like a links (moreso, ironically, than Barnbougle, which is a genuine links).
Looking back at my notes, I thought 14 of the 18 holes were "stand-out" which must say something!
Briefly:
1 - great opening par 5, excellent vista, green hidden behind distant bunkers which lure you in the wrong direction.
2 - great short 4 with bunkering all the way up the left and natural green site, flag just visible behind left bunker.
3 - fantastic natural green site. Very demanding hole into the wind.
4 - first of a great set of short holes (197 metres off back) . Set on top of a ridge and very exposed. I love this picture which looks like a Salvador Dali painting, the green wrapped over the ridge.
5th hole - picture does not capture the green which is partly blind for second shot.
6 - the second short hole ( 169 metres) - only a well hit long iron will get up to this green. wonderful bunker on the right.
7th hole
7th green
8th
9th
Great looking approach to 9th hole
10th - excellent hole - one of the very best; only two good shots will get you home.
11- another difficult par 3 (147 metres) , especially if you play the right-hand tee and wind is whistling right to left. Left is dead, as I discovered.
13 - a brutal 457m par 4, way, way out of reach into strong wind.
14 - a good short 4. If you drive right, closer to the green, the second becomes more difficult.
16 - a long, redan style short-hole (197m). Nearly impossible to get the ball to curve right to left down the slope when the wind is coming from the left.
17th - one of the two par 5's (the other being the first)
Looking back up the 17th
18 - Nice finishing hole - necklace bunkers across the hole make you decided how much to chew off.