Sean
Just got Photobucket working again so it I can get Word sorted I'll start a New thread
James
- What are your 3 favourite holes at RCP?I really like 3. My best drive can put me at the base of(or even half way up) that ridge where the bunkers are and that makes the second shot intimidating, but if I lay up I can't go for it in two.
6 ,as a midcapper I'm always in doubt as to what shot to play from the base of the green (That's after I've fluffed my second of course) It has to be one of the steepest approaches to a green I've seen
16 offers similar problem's, even after a good drive the choices are hard.
I could also make cases for 2, 4, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14 or 17
- And if you were Gordon Irvine, what holes would you change at RCP and why?I thnk it's fair to look at all courses and ask how could they be improved.
At first I wasn't impressed with the Par 3's and in truth none of them are all world standouts. But they make a really good set. Although it's a weakness in Foursomes to have all 3 of them as Even's, lets allow the course this foible - not all courses should be perfectly balanced. Let's just say, having played them a few times I have a lot more respect for them.
9 , 10 and 11 are all L-R doglegs of similar length. Ten is subtly great, and for the Odd Special event it could be lengthened with a special one off tee accross the 12 th fairway?
So that makes the other two candidates for the knife. It's worse because the wind is similar on these two and they play at 414 and 408 yards.
The club could experiment with 9. There are two widely set apart sets of tees for the par 3, 8th and using the left hand ones you could reshape this hole into a near on 90 degree doglegger . Not very linksy and anyway I think they've gone the other way with a new tee on the sea wall. So leave it alone.
So I would like to see the following change on 11. When the club put a tee on the sea wall I think they missed a trick. I would try it further to the right making the hole play straighter. The bunker that currently defines the hole is a beuaty, cut into an undualtion but its only 255 yards to clear it. There's another at 335 yards so we need a new one between these two, creating a nice diagonal hazard. With the hole playing straighter and the wind coming L_R that leaves a narrowing gap to aim down. At the same time I'd cut some fairway to the left because I believe its at a lower lever and though it could be a safe area to aim for, your approach angle is significantly disavantaged. However I realise that this is based on a cursory study and there may be very good reasons why this wouldn't work.
http://www.royalcinqueports.com/index.lasso?pg=387670a47e306229&v=1&mpd=23d5bf9bf85eb5c8&catid=6c7d1cdf48c43fa4&mp=c75489e2d6c1957f Scott was right there is a basic similarity in the drive for 13, 15 an 16 which all play R-L. I believe his suggestion was to remove the right hand bunker of the two on 15 and allow a risky shot to gain a huge reward. I would consider removing both bunkers as a 451 yard hole that predominantly plays into the wind is tough enough without having to take the safe line way off to the left.
http://www.royalcinqueports.com/index.lasso?pg=bfa0b50af2f76cb8&v=1&mpd=7f48bbc1fcc9c75c&catid=4f4e44772924d656&mp=d5e02f63a24c88c3 Good to see that you listed Burnham & Berrow in your 25 by the way 
Great combination of big Dunes and flat holes. Will have to reserve final judgement until I play the back nine in a good wind when the summer rough is there. Scary thought.
