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…
Ally,
An interesting topic to be thinking about. I've suprised myself in how few courses are actually what I would precieve as true out and back courses. By that I'm thinking of holes generally running parallel to each other, and the coast line, with the 9th green as the furthest point from the clubhouse. After some thought of those I've played (and already mentioned here) only perhaps Brora, Burnham & Berrow and North Berwick come close to the perceived pattern?
Others such as Dornoch, Troon and Brancaster have some degree of tacking back and forth. I chose to call it tacking as it seems appropriate in regards to how sailing boats respond to the wind...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacking_(sailing) All these other courses will have some narrow stretches of land, and either the 8th, 9th or perhaps 10th greens as the furthest point from the clubhouse, but are they really out and back? Maybe even Carnoustie fits the bill as although its in a loop and there is some tacking around 2 through 5, it is all on a thin strip of land?
Though I was suprised how few there really are, maybe those courses which follow the general out and back pattern but with some tacking back and forth have got the ideal mix. They follow what is percieved to be the classic pattern but the holes tacking back and forth challenge our ability to respond to the wind?
Cheers,
James
ps How about Painswick as an inland out and back (and up and down) layout with a bit of tacking???