Beau Desert

[Bill_McBride]

Since several of us went down to Hazel Slade and played Beau Desert after the Buda Cup, there has been some discussion of this terrific Herbert Fowler 1913 gem in the hills above Birmingham.

Beau Desert is one of the leading heathland courses in England, and is well worth a trip.  

Here's a link to a very good review of the course that was in Links Magazine in 2002:

http://tinyurl.com/ycpj74

As previously mentioned, the new Dormy House at Beau Desert provides very comfortable accommodations at good value for money - 75 pounds for B&B and a round of golf.

[Tony_Muldoon]

...and the answer to another question in the golf quiz

Thanks Bill.

[Bill_McBride]

Actually, I thought Delamere Forest (also Fowler  ) was every bit the course that Beau Desert is, less the greens.  Beau Desert's greens are amazingly convoluted.  If the "subsidence" theory is correct, and they've become more convoluted over time, then the gap is even greater.  Delamere's greens must have been flattened over the years for them to be so different.

Maybe they'll have the M5 roadworks complete in time for a trek down from Leeds after Buda V!

[Mark_Rowlinson]

I can supply you with any number of routes which avoid all the traffic problems of the M6.  No need for Sat Nav when you have me on tap!

[Bill_McBride]

Actually, I thought Delamere Forest (also Fowler  ) was every bit the course that Beau Desert is, less the greens.  Beau Desert's greens are amazingly convoluted.  If the "subsidence" theory is correct, and they've become more convoluted over time, then the gap is even greater.  Delamere's greens must have been flattened over the years for them to be so different.

Maybe they'll have the M6 roadworks complete in time for a trek down from Leeds after Buda V!

Thats like saying I liked one play just as much as another except for the actors.  If the routing, terrain and greens are the three most important parts of a course than Delamere is in serious difficulties over a third of the course.  The difference in geens places these two courses in completely different classes.  I reckon you can guess which course I think is middle class and which is upper class!

But just the greens I think.  The twin loop routing at Delamere is really good, and the 9th and 18th greens out in front of the beautiful clubhouse gives it a good boost.  The clubhouse is a lot more attractive than the Beau Desert clubhouse.  It really is a shame those Delamere greens were flattened, there are so many good holes there - thinking of #11 par 5 with a great (flattish!) green down in the dell.

[Craig Disher]

Bill,
Gawd. Please replace that awful url with this:

http://tinyurl.com/ycpj74

I hate using the scroll bar.

I hope there's some interest in visiting Beau Desert and Delamere Forest before BudaV. The Dormy House at Beau Desert holds only 4 comfortably - one of them should not be claustrophobic and 2 of them better be good friends - but I'm sure there's accommodation nearby.

[Bill_McBride]

Bill,
Gawd. Please replace that awful url with this:

http://tinyurl.com/ycpj74

I hate using the scroll bar.


I hope there's some interest in visiting Beau Desert and Delamere Forest before BudaV. The Dormy House at Beau Desert holds only 4 comfortably - one of them should not be claustrophobic and 2 of them better be good friends - but I'm sure there's accommodation nearby.

Very cool, Craig, how do you do that tinyurl thing?

The secretary of Beau Desert, John Bradbury, told me there is a nearby B&B owned by one of the members.  Mr Bradbury can refer the overage from the Dormy House to that B&B.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I liked both courses when I played them with Sean Arble (BD)and Mark Rowlinson (DF) last spring.  I wonder if the difference in the greens might also have something to do with conditioning.  The very personable pro at DF waxed lyrical about the brown grass and fast conditons of the course, especially the greens.  If they had anymore slope or undulation they might very well be unplayable.  I like BD because it is a real heathland course.  Here in the steas we don't have anything that remotely resembles it.  I tis essential to hit a good tee ball that moves with the contours of the hole.  DF is a second shot hole.  Itis relatively benign off the tee but the shots to the green must be precise.  I played BD ok but was taken to the woodshed at DF.   I think, however, if I could join one of the clubs,  I'd pick DF.  I loved everything about it.  the opening holes were in the open and on high ground where the wind could whip around.  on second thought, I'd probably join both.

[Mark_F]

I am glad somebody other than myself thinks BD is a wonderful golf course.  

Sean,

I do too.

Fantastic setting, some terriffic holes, mystifying greens, a bit of quirk, and possibly the best value in the UK?

What more could you ask.

[Bill_McBride]

Bill, at the end of the day, I like both courses, but Beau is much the superior course for me and one of the best inland courses in the UK.

Sean, no argument.  Beau Desert is definitely the superior course, the greens carry the day.

If you could easily find your way from Delamere Forest to Beau Desert, it would make a great 36 hole day!

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Sean,  You must, by now, have played most of Fowler's UK courses.  Do you agree with me that it is difficult to identify a Fowler trademark to his architectural style?  Each of the courses that I know seems to be utterly different from the others.  If you haven't already played them I'd commend you to have a crack at Yelverton and Bull Bay.  Yelverton is, at first sight, bland, but it certainly isn't when you play it.  There are some very cunningly sited greens.  Bull Bay is mad!  But the way he laid out the course makes a great deal of strategic use of a unique site.  Don't try and play to your handicap, simply trying to get somewhere near the greens in regulation is as much as you could hope for.  Sadly, there are some very un-Fowler bunkers at Bull Bay and a couple of replacement holes - a pity really, as there is plenty of equally fecund land adjoining other parts of the course.  It's easy to see how easy it was for Folwer to route the course.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Sean,

Yes, Yelverton has expansive views onto Dartmoor.  There is hardly a tree on the course and it can be very windswept.  Gorse abounds!  Thick, punitive stuff!  There is an unusual obstacle in the series of Leats, drainage channels cut in the 18th century to gather water from the moors to feed down to the naval bases at Plymouth and Devonport.  This was also a tin-mining place in the 19th century and Fowler's utilisation of the rubbish left behind was clever, providing him with any number of mounds and depressions around the greens.  I have played it in mid-winter and the condition was excellent.  There are a number of good short two-shotters.

If you are in the area, at the other end of Dartmoor, is Bovey Castle, formerly Manor House Hotel - an Abercromby layout.  I am aware that there have been alterations since the place was taken over by Peter de Savary, including the construction of a new 1st hole.  Its predecessor was bonkers! I imagine the place is now expensive.  It was cheap in the past, not brilliantly maintained, but lots of fun.  I hope the fun hasn't been taken from it.

Also if you happen to be down on the south coast of Devon, there are some magnificent views to be had from Thurlestone, high on the cliffs overlooking the sea.  It's a Colt course with three very good par 3s in the first 6 and a hilarious opening hole of 268 yards on which you drive over a road and ditch with out-of-bounds left and right, deep seaside bunkers and a raised green angled across the line of approach.  What makes it all so fearsome is that it is all too easy to misplonk the tee shot and clatter into the club house or car park.  It's not a great course, but if you happen to be there you should not avoid it.

Saunton and RN Devon obviously are the biggest names in Devon but Bigbury, Churston and Ilfracombe are places I must revisit some day.  Anyone know them?