[Anthony Gray]

The 15th green, from Ran's review.

The tee is obviously on the right of the photo, around the hill , over the marker pole, and the bell !

  See how you can play it short and let it feed.Options again.

   Anthony

[Brian_Ewen]

  Brain.....If you grew up there than why don't you like CB more.The course has wonderful intangibles.The view from the clubhouse is one of the best golf has to offer.The only caddys are members.Mine could have been your teacher even.He may be 5 foot tall,science teacher Jack Meoff.Plays everday and loves the place.The water,castle and village on hole 4 can't be found many places.There are reasons it is a top 100 course.

Mr. Gray
I said I grew up in the region, I am actually 30 miles south of Cruden Bay .

What might surprise you, is that I love Cruden Bay also, and it easily makes my Top 10, if not Top 5 .

But you have to see its faults as well !

The funny thing is, I defend Cruden Bay all the time, among friends and fellow golfers .

Believe me Cruden Bay is not liked among the locals, especially low handicappers, who think its far too quirky for regional competitions.

The people that rave about Cruden Bay are tourists passing through .

As I said, would you really like to play some of those holes everyday ?

The locals dont, if I rememebr correctly Frank Pont stopped them from making some major changes to the holes you so love.

So Anthony, I dont dislike Cruden Bay, but no way is it better than Royal Aberdeen !

[Brian_Ewen]

See how you can play it short and let it feed.Options again.

What using the path ?

[Anthony Gray]

See how you can play it short and let it feed.Options again.

What using the path ?

  Of course...just roll it down the path.Love it.

   Anthony

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

I recall reading about (and seeing) a new par 3 towards the sea, that will replace one of the other holes; is this the hole that will be replaced?

[Brian_Ewen]

I recall reading about (and seeing) a new par 3 towards the sea, that will replace one of the other holes; is this the hole that will be replaced?

That was the plan, I believe.

The new par 3 is built, but I am unsure how much it has been used this year .

[Phil_the_Author]

Adam,

I find your explanation and correction:

"I hate to come over the grammar bore, but I can't let this one go on any longer. Anthony, Sven is right - something can't be more or less unique. It either is or it isn't, the word doesn't admit of qualification. Very unique, most unique, more unique - all of these are INCORRECT ENGLISH! Call it more unusual if you like."

Wonderful and quite unique... 

[Anthony Gray]

   If my math is correct,so far we have 5 Love Its and 0 Hate Its.


   Anthony

[Sean_A]

I like funk, but this is bad funk.  Maybe if there was nothing else unusual happening on the course then perhaps its okay.  As part of Cruden Bay this hole does nothing for me - and that isn't a Tony Curtis in Some Like It Hot does nothing for me either.

Ciao

[Anthony Gray]

I like funk, but this is bad funk.  Maybe if there was nothing else unusual happening on the course then perhaps its okay.  As part of Cruden Bay this hole does nothing for me - and that isn't a Tony Curtis in Some Like It Hot does nothing for me either.

Ciao

   Ok....I'm going to count this as our first hate.

  Anthony

[Gary Slatter]

It might be what separates CB from Royal Aberdeen
How well did you score on it Anthony?  or is scoring not involved in the playing of 15?

[Mark Pearce]

I'll echo what Tony said.  I have also played it 3 times.  Into a very strong wind (strong enough for Joe Fairey, who hits it further than I can dream, to describe the (wonderful) 13th as the hardest par 7 he had ever played).  It's a terrible hole.  No interest in the green, an almost impossible tee shot in those conditions, almost inevitably a lost ball if you miss left or right.  Yes, it's minimalist.  It's a poster boy for the importance of selecting the right place to lay out a hole and the fact that sometimes you need to move earth.  The irony, of course, is that a vast amount of earth WAS moved, to produce the ultra quirky bath tub green that Brian refers to above.  CB is a lovely course, with some brilliant holes.  Anthony's inability to see the weaknesses as well as the strengths is an eloquent commentary on the value of his opinion.

Anthony,

Which part of this post suggested to you that I loved the hole?  The "It's a terrible hole" sentence?

[Melvyn Morrow]

I love it and hate it is probably the right expression to use when talking about golf or GCA.

In my case I love it when all is well and I feel I am navigating the course with some degree of success, yet I fluff a shot and there is hate starting to stir. Thank God it is slow to awaken allowing me the change to let it slumber as I chip a shot close to the pin.

Love it or hate it is the dilemma all golfers face, but how can I hate courses which have had the magic talent of Old Tom (even if it is much watered down by following generations of designers). The extra buzz I get is that many if not quite all the sites were selected by Old Tom when asked to survey various section of land. So I can see what Old Tom saw in 1894 when he was invited by the Earl of Erroll to discuss a new resort 18 hole course. The site was well chosen, the first design was implemented in 1896/7 but by 1898 had to be changed to accommodate the 9 hole course called St Olaf.

I still love it although not that sympathetic with some of the changes, which seem questionable, but on the whole a  great Scottish Links course which offer a good game with beautiful scenery, not to mention St Olaf course which has its moments too. Just what is there to hate, well I suppose if I am being honest I have to say following Anthony Gray, worst still meeting him on the golf course - preferring to meet him in the bar armed with a double double brandy.

Me thinks that I might start an independence movement to get the Americans to give us back our courses during the summer months. I do not know why some clubs put bells up, as you can always tell if Americans are ahead of you (over the crest of a blind hill) because you hear on a regular basis shouts “God Damn, Son of A Bitch”. To the trained ears that means ‘I’m taking a provisional’ so you have to allow another minute before even considering a shot. But then that adds to the fun of those blind shots which I love so much.

Cruden Bay, you have to love it after all it is a resort course where you can relax and enjoy the game of Golf.

Please note that no living individual has been attacked nor their flag disrespected in compiling this article. The name Anthony Gray is fictitious and does not bear any resemblance to anyone (anyone not sectioned) at GCA.com. The gun currently pointed at my head is not in the hands of The Doc and we hope that Ran will be able to take back full control of GCA.com in the coming months

Melvyn

PS Now that we have lost a large percentage of Members I have no one to talk too   

[Gary Slatter]

Melvyn, why would you say Cruden Bay is a resort course?  I thought it was a member's course, and the membership mainly farmers in the greater area.

[Brian_Ewen]

If my math is correct,so far we have 5 Love Its and 0 Hate Its.
Anthony

Hating golf holes is stupid .

Put me down as : the type of hole only a 'Numptie' would enjoy !

[Brian_Ewen]

Melvyn
I am no expert on Old Tom, but I think I know the hand of Archie Simpson when I see it .

[Melvyn Morrow]

Gary

Welcome to the golfing resort of The GNSRC Port Erroll Hotel



And rail sign



Melvyn


PS Brian sorry mate Old Tom worked on the project from 1894 to 1899 - Archie got involved circa 1896ish.

[Brian_Ewen]

PS Brian sorry mate Old Tom worked on the project from 1894 to 1899 - Archie got involved circa 1896ish.

But there wasnt 18 holes until 1899 !

[Melvyn Morrow]

Brian

The course was reported in the Times and Scotsman newspapers as being 18 holes (covering just over 3 miles in length). Articles dated in April 1899.

The previous course without St Olaf was in place in 1896, map and hole lengths reported in a publication in 1897. It too was an 18 hole courses measuring o/a 3 miles 5 yards long. The hole lengths are as follows
1   270 yds
2   245 yds
3   255 yds
4   280 yds
5   330 yds
6   260 yds
7   250 yds
8   175 yds
9   290 yds… 2,350 yards
10   520 yds
11   360 yds
12   315 yds
13   280 yds
14   340 yds
15   300 yds
16   150 yds
17   345 yds
18   320 ygs… 2,935 yards … 3 Miles 5 Yards

The original 9 hole course in play in 1894 was by The Earl of Erroll cousin, by 1895 the new Station building was located on top of this old course and the new course moved down to the dunes or links blown the new site of the hotel. I believe that St Olaf 9 hole course was also in place by 1899 opening date.

Hope this is of interest.

Melvyn

[Anthony Gray]

It might be what separates CB from Royal Aberdeen
How well did you score on it Anthony?  or is scoring not involved in the playing of 15?

   That makes it 6 to 1 in favor of the Love Its.

   Anthony

[Martin Toal]

I like the look of this hole - never played it, but it looks like an example of a quirky links hole that frustrates some players and entertains others.

Maybe the best play is to hit a mid iron short and chip on. Plenty of links courses have blind holes or holes where one set of weather conditions make it impossible to play them in the conventional way. So you find another way and move on, and recoup the shot at a par 5 playing down the wind where you can hit a 7 iron on.

[Mark Pearce]

Martin,

It's very difficult to comment on a hole without playing it.  I can't see the benefit of laying up, not least because there's no easy place to lay up into the wind.

[Dave McCollum]

Put me down as love it, but only because it exists due to the great reverance that CB members have for their course.  This hole would get bulldozed in a heartbeat anywhere else.  Sounds like the CB folks have finally seen the light, as well.  Mainly, I'm commenting only to find out if I have been booted from the DG.

[Anthony Gray]

I like the look of this hole - never played it, but it looks like an example of a quirky links hole that frustrates some players and entertains others.

Maybe the best play is to hit a mid iron short and chip on. Plenty of links courses have blind holes or holes where one set of weather conditions make it impossible to play them in the conventional way. So you find another way and move on, and recoup the shot at a par 5 playing down the wind where you can hit a 7 iron on.

  That makes it 7 to 1.

  Anthony

[Anthony Gray]

Put me down as love it, but only because it exists due to the great reverance that CB members have for their course.  This hole would get bulldozed in a heartbeat anywhere else.  Sounds like the CB folks have finally seen the light, as well.  Mainly, I'm commenting only to find out if I have been booted from the DG.

  OK...8 to 1 now.And Dave and his liver are still on the DG.

  Anthony

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