I made my debut at this much discussed course about 6 weeks ago and it lived up the hype. I am always impressed when I can easily remember the routing of a course, which was the case here. Apart from the memorable 12th and 13th, there it a lot of variety to enjoy. I was struck by the interesting camber of some of the fairways - such as 4 and 5 - which seems to be a feature of some of the more interesting inland courses.
For a Londoner, it is also fun to play a course where you can see the skyline of the City and Canary Wharf in the backdrop (of 14 and 16). Although it is only about 15 miles from where I live, in London traffic it is about 90 min, which is a shame!
Looking back down the par 3 first...
The approach to the 4th
Looking back down the 4th
View from behind the 5th...The bunker about 50 yards short of the green on the right (left of this pic) plays tricks with the approach as it appears to be greenside, but clealy is not.
The approach to the 6th with the bunker immortalised by PG Wodehouse...
The lovely enclosed green-site on the short 7th
The hogsback fairway on the 8th which makes the tee-shot nearly impossible, much to the irritation of Pennard's finest!
View from behind on the same hole...
Approach to nine over a ravine. A quick hook left as played by yours-truly is not the play!
The drive on the 10th...
The short 11th, looks quite similar to the 9th??at West Sussex with its Sandbelt style bunkering.
The second shot to the memorable 12th - say no more!
Followed by the no less memorable, and fiendishly difficult 13th (230 yard, uphill, par 3)
Another view of 13 - note the fox making his progress down the mid-right of the photo!
Tee shot on the downhill 14th (361yds off the back) - with central London in the background. A clever hole - just about driveable in the right circumstances, but if you get out of position short right as I did, it is impossible to get the ball close.
Next up is the long, uphill par four 15th - a nice contrast to the previous hole
Looking back down the same hole...
The approach from about 215 yards on the par five 16th after a good drive..
Same hole from about 100 yards....
And looking back up the same hole...a truly wonderful fairway with fantastic movement.