Next up Royal Ashdown Forest (Old Course). I’d read quite a bit on GCA about it, Mark Rowlinson’s recommendations and Ran’s review in particular, and Tom Doak describes it as “one of the most natural courses in the world”. I was also keen to get down there having spent a whole morning recently thinking about how many of my favourite holes were bunkerless. The Old Course has no bunkers at all.
It’s a wonderfully quiet place, and the course covers such a large expanse that in some places you are utterly isolated. There are also some parts where several holes come together, but the overall impression is of a peaceful, private game among the trees.
My playing partner and I played matchplay and had a great, close game that only ended on the 18th green, when the ridge running across the putting surface fooled me into taking four to get down when I should have taken two. There are plenty of places you can ruin a score on the course, with blind drives and treacherous, tempting second shots, but even when you make the relatively flat greens, you can still have your work cut out.
I particularly loved the par-5 holes, each one with its own charms and temptations. The 5th hole could sit alongside any other I’ve played I think. Playing matchplay intensified the risks of certain holes and shots and made the whole experience more enjoyable. 24 hours later I broke my wrist and I haven’t played since
, so Royal Ashdown Forest remains clearer in my mind than it really ought to, but I don’t mind that!
The opening teeshot.
1st green, everything falls right.
Blind teeshot at the 2nd .
Approach to the 2nd green, over a ditch and sleeper wall.
Approach to the short, dogleg left 3rd. The white-lined area directs traffic through an area of heather regeneration, which could add further interest to the course. Some of the heather has been thoroughly trampled and has suffered as a result.
Second shot to the uphill 4th hole.
Tee-shot at the wonderful 5th.
The second shot at the 5th will be anything from 180 to 250 yards (to the green) but even if you decide to lay up extreme precision or a slice of luck is required. The diagonal road visible here is accompanied by a ditch!
Looking back up the hole from the green I have failed to capture how daunting the hazard in front makes an approach of any length. With firm conditions and out-of-bounds behind the green, to have an eagle putt is a serious achievement. My opponent had one, and we halved in 5. What a hole.
Teeshot at the 125 yard 6th.
Tough teeshot at the 7th. Aim over the tree just right of the marker as everything left of that kicks further left…
…a good teeshot leaves this tough to judge second. Stroke index 1.
The 8th, another great long hole. The green is barely visible behind huge mounds, distance tough to judge.
Looking back up the 8th.
More to follow…