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Melvyn Morrow

Askernish Golf Club Player Reports - Starting to surface
« on: September 25, 2008, 05:05:21 PM »
Some of the first reports on Askernish are coming in and I thought some might be interested. For details see web site
 http://www.uk-golfguide.com/scotland/27018_reports.html 

One report reads as follows:-

Askernish Golf Club Player Reports
James Winter (Scotland) 16/09/08

I first heard about the Askernish redevelopment project about April 2006 when the story was carried on the Scottish news about a 'lost' Old Tom Morris course having been refound. Since then i have kept an eye on the project and was delighted to finally play the course recently (12/09/08).
I have to say that it was well worth the wait. Together with my two playing companions we rolled up at the pristine new clubhouse to a glorious sunny day, with a gentle breeze. The lady in the clubhouse was very friendly and cards in hand we made our way to the first tee.

All three of us hit the middle of the first fairway, a 490yd par 5, and we were off. The first few holes, 1 to 6 ,run along fairly level terrain and are bordered by thick rough and/or marshy wetland areas. Holes 7 to 16 then meander through and around massive duneland before the final two holes turn further inland to flatter terrain again.

Without going through the whole round particular highlights are the 438 yd 7th hole where you drive from an elevated tee situated on the shore of the Atlantic to a fairway that snakes between dunes on both sides. The fairway ,at about 270yds, narrows to approx 20yds wide(no exaggeration) before continuing to a long narrow, slightly raised green. This is without question the most demanding driving hole i have ever played ( even better than 14th at Alness!(try it) and a par 4 here should be treasured.

It is followed by the 8th, a classic short par 4, where the green is driveable though probably not a percentage play. I hit 4 iron ,p/w and had a 6ftr for birdie which i missed! I played driver with a 2nd ball for fun and hit a beauty into the breeze through the narrow gap and onto the green. Alas i missed the eagle putt! The danger with taking the driver is that if you miss the fairway right you are in serious rough/beach and if you miss it left you are in serious rough and have a terrible angle to pitch from. A very clever hole.
 
The 11th is a 191yd par 3 from a tee at the top of one dune across a glen to a green situated close to the Atlantic! This was playing into the wind,as it will most days, and required an absolutely flushed 3 iron to make the carry.

The 12th is a 582yd monster par 5 with a split fairway which meanders through,over and around dunes on all sides. The fairway on the right is on three islands so its a hole you really have to plot your way along. Fantastic!

The 14th is a 141yd par 3 where you play from an elevated tee across a valley to a green situated on top of a dune with drops on all sides. It is reminiscent of the Postage Stamp at Royal Troon in both looks and in terms of the demand placed on the tee shot. An absolutely classic par 3.

The 16th is a 351yd par 4. The difficulty with this hole is that the green is situated on a dune approx 30m above the level of the fairway. The green is two tiered, but two tiered like you've never seen before! The front part of the green is very small before the green drops approx 2m to a larger rear area. Unfortunately for us the pin was at the front which calls for a high approach shot which lands on probably the first 6 ft of green or your ball is destined for the back of the green. Saying that my colleague, big Craig , knocked his 2nd shot here to 6ft which caused astonished looks from the greenkeeper in the clubhouse debrief!

There are many other excellent holes on the course and in my opinion no poor holes, but the above were my highlights. I played Cruden Bay recently and though it is a renowned course i would have to say that Askernish is superior.

Askernish is, without question, a supreme test of driving and you have to be on the fairways as the rough is truly brutal. The course also makes demands on strategy and course management, and when the greens are fully matured and quick they will be extremely testing of the short game/putting.

In short this is a classic links which is a must-play for all golfers and thanks should go out to all the parties involved in its redevelopment. Old Tom would be proud.


Tom_Doak

  • Karma: +2/-1
Re: Askernish Golf Club Player Reports - Starting to surface
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2008, 06:36:26 PM »
Melvyn:

I hope that report is not entirely accurate, since Mr. Winter reports that the second shot to #16 is 30m (that's 93 feet) uphill -- to a green with a seven-foot tier in it!

JMorgan

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Askernish Golf Club Player Reports - Starting to surface
« Reply #2 on: September 25, 2008, 06:40:44 PM »
Does anyone know how much money it took to bring the rub of the course back into existence?  Was it much more than a rub?

Melvyn Morrow

Re: Askernish Golf Club Player Reports - Starting to surface
« Reply #3 on: September 25, 2008, 07:34:10 PM »
Tom

I can’t really comment on the reports but I expect like most Mr Winter missed the odd word in his report.

Typical of Old Tom’s work - his Greens will improve with age. I am very interested in what the average golfer thinks as in the end he is the one who will actually decide by paying the Green Fees.

But it looks promising.

As for the overall cost I believe that was around £50,000. Perhaps Martin Ebert of Mackenzie & Ebert the architects on this project has set a standard of accepting a fee which reflects Old Tom’s original payment of a massive £9.

Tom any hope that your future fees may reflect this adjustment due to the current world financial problems?  ;)

I feel very please for all involved, their hard work and generous nature has allowed this course to be resurrected and it would appear that the general golfing world is starting to appreciate the magic and challenge of the place.

I would love to see Tiger play a round at Askernish, I believe there is an open invitation as and when he feels he needs a challenge. 8)

Mike Sweeney

Re: Askernish Golf Club Player Reports - Starting to surface
« Reply #4 on: September 25, 2008, 09:46:31 PM »
Melvyn,

Can you say how long of a trip it would be to Askernish from Dornoch?

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Askernish Golf Club Player Reports - Starting to surface
« Reply #5 on: September 25, 2008, 10:15:49 PM »
Mike S. -

That would all depend on whether you are traveling from South Uist by ferry, plane or a chartered helicopter! :)

It looks like the ferries between the mainland and South Uist travel from both Mallaig and Tobermory, both of which are on the southeast coast of Scotland. Mallaig is the closer of the two to Dornoch, but it is probably a 2 1/2 to 3-hour drive from there to Dornoch.

I don't think there is air service between South Uist and Inverness Airport (a 1 hour drive from Dornoch), but I am not positive about that.

DT   

Jason Hines

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Askernish Golf Club Player Reports - Starting to surface
« Reply #6 on: September 25, 2008, 10:29:47 PM »
Does anyone know if you can take the train from Mallaig to Tain?  Looks like you would have to head south and then back up north for quite a ways to get to Dornoch via rail.  Looks like you can get from BEB to Inverness via Stornoway on Highland Airways, might be the best bet.

J.
« Last Edit: September 25, 2008, 10:45:01 PM by Jason Hines »

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Askernish Golf Club Player Reports - Starting to surface
« Reply #7 on: September 25, 2008, 10:44:49 PM »
Jason H. -

I am pretty sure you would have to travel all the way back to Glasgow to catch a train to Inverness/Tain.  However, there might be bus service between Fort William & Inverness.

DT

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Askernish Golf Club Player Reports - Starting to surface
« Reply #8 on: September 25, 2008, 10:52:53 PM »
This website has some info on travel to South Uist:

http://www.isle-of-south-uist.co.uk/travel-south-uist.htm

It looks like I was mistaken in my prior post about Mallaig and Tobermory being the ports of call for ferry service from the mainland to South Uist.  The current ports are either Oban or Uig on the Isle of Skye.  My guess is it would be a 3-hour drive from either to Dornoch.

Looks like the ferry to Oban takes 5 hours and the ferry to Uig on Skye takes 1 3/4 hours. However, the ferry to Skye leaves from Lochmaddy on North Uist, so you would have to travel from South Uist for Lochmaddy by car or bus. 
« Last Edit: September 25, 2008, 11:02:21 PM by David_Tepper »

Ally Mcintosh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Askernish Golf Club Player Reports - Starting to surface
« Reply #9 on: September 26, 2008, 05:31:10 AM »
3 hour drive is probably right from Oban to Dornoch...

Daily flights to Benbecula (South Uist) from Inverness though and also from Glasgow so it is actually quite accessible...

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Askernish Golf Club Player Reports - Starting to surface
« Reply #10 on: September 26, 2008, 07:15:35 AM »
Ally -

You are right. One can fly from Benbecula on South Uist to Inverness.  The flights go thru Stornoway on the Isle of Harris. It looks like the whole trip takes 80-90 minutes.

www.highlandairways.co.uk

DT
 

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