A friend and I were discussing this construction photo of the great 12th at Addington.
He noticed what looks to be a green to the left of the 12th green.
If this is a green (I think it almost certainly is), on the current course there is no green (other than the 12th) within 200 yards of it and that area is now completely covered with trees.
I find if difficult to believe that the current 9th was 200 yards longer, so my theory is:
There was another par 3, played as the 10th to that mystery green. It would have been a spectular hole playing over the same ravine that is crossed on the current 12th.
If this is correct. I think either the 1st or 11th were added as a replacement par 3, after this hole was abandoned.
So thinking about a possible "original" routing:
If the 1st or 11th are removed, the routing is only minimally impacted:
If the 1st is gone, the second tee is still a convenient starting point. (Plus the first is definitely the weakest hole on the course and does have a "tacked on" feel to it).
Alternatively, if the 11th is removed, the 12th is probably a bit longer.
What you think?