It seems odd, but I don't believe I have seen a load of pix from Carne. This is perhaps Hackett's purest design and the club seems to be doing its all to keep the original 18 in tact with the construction of the new 9. Having seen the new 9, I am inclined to agree. A combination of Engh's new 9 and Hackett's back 9 may be a touch too much. As it is, Hackett's design is slightly ott though it may be through no fault of his own. Cash was tight and little land was moved in the creation of this course.
I will start off by saying that Carne was right near the top of my favourite places to play. I am sure it still isn't far off this mark, but I came away a bit less enchanted on this trip. I dearly wish some land would have been shoved about to create a bit more forgiving of a course in places.
Carne starts off not too dissimilar to Brora with a short, right bending hole. By now folks should notice that these courses seem a bit brown for this time of year. I know Carne was running very quickly.
#2 is a shortish par 3 over a bunker/dip. Downwind its very difficult to hold the green. #3 turns back on the 2nd and has one of the best greens on the course.
A closer look at the green.
The 4th is a mediocre par 5 followed by a devilish par 4. The hole location for #5 is in a brutal spot where nothing but a well judged kick up will get close to the hole.
The next hole bends gently to the left just before the green. Hacket cleverly used the dunes a load rather than build bunkers. The following hole, #7, is an uphill par 3 with a shelf green. Its not a particularly good hole and I wonder why Hacket decided upon this rather than perhaps using the top of the dune for a larger green. #8 is a legger round the left and down the hill to a semi punchbowl green. Below is a look at the approach to #8 if one hits a big drive.
My favourite hole on the front was the last. A rising drivable par 4 protected by a large hollow covering the right side of the fairway.
As with most of the holes at Carne and #10 isn't any different, the player has the option of playing safely to an area he can see, or going deep and blind. Now it starts to get a bit crazy. Its best to stick the driver in the bag and go with hitting to spots you can see. The 11th goes down, legs right then heads back up a hill. One of the things Hacket definitely requires of the player is to choose between flying the ball or bumping it up. Of course deciding which is best is often determined by the wind and firmness of the ground.
Its a shame that 11 and 12 fall back to back. These two holes are ok in and of themselves, but don't work well back to back. The 12th goes down and turns left back up the hill to a large shelf green. Below is the view from the tee.
#13 is a wonderful par 5 and a bit of respite from the funk. The hole can be reached in two, but going for it is packed with danger. One can see how tight oob is down the right. After laying up this is what remains.
I like wee par 3s and 14 is a terrific example of one. As is par for the course, you can fly one or kick it up.
Now you have to get ready for the Carne finish. All one can do is hope the score is already made. The 15th is a brute straight up the hill. Not much has been mentioned about the terrain, but Carne has some of the harshest terrain I have ever seen. There are only a few holes on the course without something dramatic going on with the land. #16 played as a flat 5 iron downhill into a gale par 3. Very odd having to try to keep the ball down from such an elevated position.
The 17th could well be the best hole on the course. There is a hidden hollow on the left which pinches the fairway far more than one would guess. Driver is certainly a dangerous option here. Below is a look at the approach with the trouble left on the other side of the fairway not shown and the trouble right of the green hidden.
18 is a brutish par 5. A long drive sets up for going at the green in two, but its blind over what has to be a 40 foot drop in the fairway.
As I say, I think my opinion of Carne has dropped a wee bit. Parts of the property are just too wild for golf and could be improved by the hand of man. Another aspect the dunes cause is longish walks between greens and tees. Its difficult to avoid, but it does wear on ya after climbing and reclimbing hills. Still, Carne is a wild ride and for the most part gets it right. The course certainly deserves a 1*, but the ropey conditioning holds back the enjoyment factor. 2008
Enniscrone
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