Bill
Like you, I have not played Fairmont, for no apparent reason than I just look at St Andrews as a four course town. TOC, The New Course, Jubilee Course and Eden.
The newer courses do not attract me, they are perhaps in part more contrived and less natural to my liking so I prefer to travel a little extra distance to Elie, Crail, Leven, Lundin, and Leslie. They for me are far more personal and warming, which starts the day of with a smile. As you know, St Andrews and Fife can offer a different experience each time you play any of the courses, the controlling factor being the wind and weather. Nevertheless, the core business point to my game is fun and enjoyment, I need no trophies to say I play golf.
I suppose it’s a trend that started when I was young, as places became busy, we would venture further afield to enjoy the days golf. For the life of me, I do not remember ever having a slow game, waiting, let alone waving through another group when playing away from home (St Andrews). That has always remained my type of golf. In addition, when with my father I never remember having to get up early to play any course near or far, in those day to hit the fairways before 9AM was just unthinkable, how things have changed.
From what I have seen in the past and learnt from today’s clip in Home of Golf TV re Fairmont, I feel that course looks interesting. Love the wind, weather and the deep and other interesting bunkers (hazards) but I am not attracted to the complex, yet I see more in Fairmont that I have ever seen at The Castle Course. Would I like it, perhaps but it would have to be well out of season to get me to play, its just feels cold (in the no-weather sense).
Askernish attracts me, as does Cullen, Bridge of Allan, Brora, Killin & Luffness smaller out of the way courses, not great in the eyes of some however more than great and very enjoyable in my way of thinking.
Fairmont, well the new mods have some appeal and I do enjoy a course that can make the golfer think. To challenge the basic skills is the name of the game, constructive hazards that can be surmounted, even with a tactical retreat in the case of some deep 8 feet bunkers.
My young brother’s back has improved and he has started playing again to the point of hoping to be in St Andrews next year - Fairmont may well be his base for the week in St Andrews thus on his list of places to play, prior to moving on North. So may have nsome ews for you next year .
Melvyn