"Genuine" out and back routings

[Ally Mcintosh]

The old traditional “out and back” along a narrow stretch of land (ala The Old Course) is obviously not an ideal routing….

What other examples are there of genuine out and back routings?... It’s a little subjective but for arguments sake, let’s say you’re allowed one or maybe two kinks… e.g. a par-3 turning back on the general direction of play…

[Rory Connaughton]

Royal Dublin

[Phil McDade]

Machrihanish.

[Mark Woodger]

Deal

[Alister Matheson]

Brora.

[Gene Greco]

           NGLA

[Jeff_Mingay]

There maybe more than a couple "kinks", but Cape Breton Highlands Links could be described as "out and back".

[Sean_A]

Others not mentioned:

Burnham & Berrow
North Berwick
Troon - perhaps one kink too many?
Western Gailes though it turns twice at #s 5 and 14 - a pretty cool solution to break up the wind situation
Dornoch though it doesn't seem so with its split level
Cruden Bay but it does have a course squashed in on the front side
Aberdeen - perhaps one kink too many?

Below are some routings which I think are brilliant and highlight the limitations of out n' back.  

Ballybunion
Muirfield
Wallasey - its never given credit for being a 9 hole loop within a 9 hole loop - very cool and not as obvious as at Muirfield
Pennard
St Enodoc
Sandwich

I always thought Machrie and Luffness New look brilliant on paper - I haven't seen either course.

Ciao



 

[Ally Mcintosh]

I think we're straying from "genuine" in places...

North Berwick is certainly a good one...

Dunbar would be another example (if memory serves me)...

[JNC Lyon]

Sutton Bay is an out back routing, no?

[Sean_A]

I think we're straying from "genuine" in places...

North Berwick is certainly a good one...

Dunbar would be another example (if memory serves me)...

I think Dunbar has one kink too many as #s 2, 3, 13 and arguably 5 don't fit the mould.  If Dunbar is old school out n' back then Troon and Aberdeen certainly are.  

I like Western Gailes because its solution for the wind issue is a double out n' back so I guess it doesn't quite fit the formula.  The other courses are classic out n' backers though I bet most people don't realize Dornoch fits the mould.  Cruden Bay's out n' back isn't much different from Western Gailes so it may not qualify.  Though I sure wish there was some way to incorporate the land from the little course into the big course.

How bout some inland courses?

Sunningdale?


Ciao

[Anthony Gray]

  Pebble Beach is close although 1 and 18 are a little ways a part. Bandon Trails could be.

  Anthony

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Borth and Ynyslas

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Nairn & Portnoo prior to the modifications done in 2004-06 was the most genuine out-and-back layout I'd ever played. Each hole on the outward half brought you farther away from the clubhouse. The turn was at the 10th tee (perfect out-and-back) and each hole on the homeward nine brought you you closer to the clubhouse. In addition, the strip of land was only wide enough for a fairway in each direction.

There are two kinks on the back nine of the present layout, and the turn is now at the 9th tee.

[Mike Tanner]

In the U.S., the Harbor Course at Wild Dunes Resort comes to mind—even if it is a bit of a red-headed stepchild when compared to the Links Course.

[Scott Warren]

Deal

I think Deal broadly is, but not strictly.

For starters 1 heads south before turning north for 2-7, then 8-11 head predominantly East-West before the southerly run home from 12.

This pic is a good one (click on it to enlarge):

[Dan Kelly]

Sutton Bay is an out back routing, no?

Yes. Not straight-line out and straight-line back, but essentially out and back.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Brancaster

Slightly less
Hunstanton
Seacroft

and ( I think)

Rosslare
Laytown and Bettystown

More of an east coast thing?

1 the dunes are larger and more extendsive due to wind blowing sand inland on the west coasts
2 erosion on the east coast.

[Jim_Kennedy]

You shouldn't forget to include that staple of Chicago golf, The Frank McGovern Memoria coursel, on the list of out and back routings. 

[Philippe Binette]

Wick golf club

Verchères course at Verchères (my home course)

the old Lundin Leven combo

[Ben Stephens]

The 'original' Lundin and Leven courses which connects the two towns. Sadly not in play but there is an annual tournament played on the original out and back routing.

Cheers
Ben

[Kevin Pallier]

How bout some inland courses?

Sunningdale?

Sean

There's a few too many kinks in Sunningdale (Old) for mine.

How about Walton Heath (Old) ?

[Sean_A]

Kevin

I would have said Walton Heath has more kinks than Sunny Old.  #1 for starters is in a holding pattern along the road.  #7 follows the direction of #1.  The back nine has more kinks than my back.  11, 15, 16 &17 all play out of tune.  Indeed the routing for the back nine is bloody good.

Ciao   

[Ally Mcintosh]

I think we're straying from "genuine" in places...

North Berwick is certainly a good one...

Dunbar would be another example (if memory serves me)...

I think Dunbar has one kink too many as #s 2, 3, 13 and arguably 5 don't fit the mould.  If Dunbar is old school out n' back then Troon and Aberdeen certainly are.  

I like Western Gailes because its solution for the wind issue is a double out n' back so I guess it doesn't quite fit the formula.  The other courses are classic out n' backers though I bet most people don't realize Dornoch fits the mould.  Cruden Bay's out n' back isn't much different from Western Gailes so it may not qualify.  Though I sure wish there was some way to incorporate the land from the little course into the big course.

How bout some inland courses?

Sunningdale?


Ciao

I'm certainly with you on Balgownie, Sean... talking of which, Martin Hawtree was scheduled to do some fairly significant work there prior to the 2011 walke cup... Add a practice area for one... Think this was going to eradicate some of the old 2nd course (which has some really nice holes and some very poor ones)... Do you know anything of it?

[Sean_A]

I think we're straying from "genuine" in places...

North Berwick is certainly a good one...

Dunbar would be another example (if memory serves me)...

I think Dunbar has one kink too many as #s 2, 3, 13 and arguably 5 don't fit the mould.  If Dunbar is old school out n' back then Troon and Aberdeen certainly are.  

I like Western Gailes because its solution for the wind issue is a double out n' back so I guess it doesn't quite fit the formula.  The other courses are classic out n' backers though I bet most people don't realize Dornoch fits the mould.  Cruden Bay's out n' back isn't much different from Western Gailes so it may not qualify.  Though I sure wish there was some way to incorporate the land from the little course into the big course.

How bout some inland courses?

Sunningdale?


Ciao

I'm certainly with you on Balgownie, Sean... talking of which, Martin Hawtree was scheduled to do some fairly significant work there prior to the 2011 walke cup... Add a practice area for one... Think this was going to eradicate some of the old 2nd course (which has some really nice holes and some very poor ones)... Do you know anything of it?

Ally

I knew RA was looking to do some things to enhance the facilities of the club, but I have no idea what the plan is/was. 

Did Hawtree have anything to do with the changes to the back nine a handful of years ago?  How did the changes turn out?

Ciao