First the good stuff. Here is what a links is meant to look like in late June after a decent run of sunny days mixed with ran here and there - including a torrential downpour on Friday.
Approach to 2nd after a recovery from the rough. Notice how the rough is harsh, but it is on the verge of turning to sparse, whispy rough.
#11: when I compare the difference of where I just played in Ireland to Pennard, its like night and day. I don't think most supers can help but to turn on the water if they have the choice. With no option, Pennard turns a cookie brown, hence controlling the run of the ball becomes paramount.
On the 14th, which usually plays downwind, trying to hold the raised green can be troublesome and lead many to attempt running one up the hill for the approach.
Ditto for #17!
With slopes and firm ground, many think holes like the 18th are unfair because its nearly impossible to hold the fairway, unless one lays up to the 150 mark before the fairway slopes dramatically. What do you folks think about this sort of design?
Here are a few shots of the 16th about one month ago. Which look/playing conditions do folks prefer?
Now I come to the 2nd. The club, for some reason unknown to me decided that the perfectly acceptable 2nd was unacceptable as the green never putted like the rest of the course. However, the club decided to alter the hole into a punchbowl style in addition to relaying the green. Its been about three years and the green is far worse than it ever was and for most of that time the hole has been out of play. From the tee it doesn't look much different except for the obvious mounding on the right and the now more visible left front bunker.
How the hole looks now from the tee and forward of the tee.
A bunker on the front right was removed as well as one on the side right.
Here is what the hole looked like from the right side previously.
And now.
What do folks think about the changes?
Ciao