GolfClubAtlas.com > Golf Course Architecture Discussion Group
The Timeless MINCHINHAMPTON OLD COURSE: 2022-23 Winter Tour
Adrian_Stiff:
Sean & Robin - I dont remember the Hole 17 date change. Its a great hole now and certainly no worse, it crosses 16 now of course and it did not before, the green sits beautifully from the new angle. This hole may have changed before the safety audit, that road at 17 is pretty busy and it seems an obvious thing to do. 270 yards or so would have been the distance from the old tees across the road, it was certainly driveable, I think it was very slightly downhill, but Robin might remember probably had he played from those tees. This is one of those great courses for finding the old features and theres lot to be had. I think hole 6 was played across the road too, google earth might show up some tees adjacent to the 5th green. I seem to remember the 6th as a drive and short iron hole. The 9th tee has crept back as the club lost distance at other holes and the first used to be a long 4, not a short 5. I vaguely remember some talk of playing 2 holes to the left of 11 to replace the problem 12-14 area. It would appear that 15 from Robins scorecard that has not lost length, merely an angle change. It certainly makes me want to go and play this course again.
Robin- I am not 100% sure your diagrams and numbering are right unless its changed recently at Cleeve Cloud, it used to be different than that. I think 3 and 8 are similar uphill holes and the 7th is a downhiller to the clubhouse. It would make some sense if they ommitted 7 and 8 as they create an unesscary tough walk back up to 8. I think 9 to 14 used to follow a big sweepy loop and there was a green set at the edge of the escarpment semi blind as I remember. Certainly room for extra holes here to make way any front nine losses. The 2nd has been altered over the years too, though I seem to recall its back where it was pre 1976. I only played it twice, I must pop up and see Dave Finch the pro, we were assistants at the same time back in the 1.62 days!
In the late 1880s, golf was branching out and the Open looked for new homes and it was looking for English homes, Westward Ho! and Minchinhampton were the strong contenders in the SW, Minch was a strong club with good players and allied strongly with the R&A as it is today. Hoylake and Sandwich became the added two courses to the early rota and in the end the Open never came West, Lytham did not feature until 1926, Birkdale was going to be 1940. Several times Deal has got the Open, 1909, 1920, 1938, 1949 but its been unlucky. Minch is featured in Darwins book and he speaks fondly of it.
Stinchcombe Hill is another course that you would enjoy if you are in the area. It has similar charms but now cows and is more manicured, its a little under 5800 yards though I have just suggested some changes to the club that would see the course just go past the 6000 yard mark and at par 68 would be a very good test. They recently played the county championship here and +7 or something won for 72 holes, thats a dozen strokes more than normal.
Bill Brightly:
Sean,
What a charming course. Thanks for another fantastic photo tour.
JNC Lyon:
--- Quote from: Sean Arble on July 02, 2011, 03:13:28 PM ---
Minchinhampton's first par 3 is a hum dinger and maybe the best hole on the course. Humps block out the approach from the right so one must hit near the treeline.
--- End quote ---
This is what golf is all about.
Robin_Hiseman:
Adrian is right about the 17th. One can just make out the old tee platforms on Google Earth. Don't remember this angle...it was a long time ago!
Can't see any evidence for a tee near the 5th green but it is quite possible that it was there.
My Cleeve Hill annotated layout is correct as of my last visit there in 2004. The club website doesn't help with any information on the current layout. The 13th hole has the green set amongst the old hill fort embankment. You can see it on the following photo, which gives a good impression of the nature of the course.
And this is the green of the par 3 16th hole, which is played from a tee on the escarpment in the distance.
Sean_A:
--- Quote from: John Mayhugh on July 05, 2011, 12:35:08 PM ---Sean,
Nice tour.
Were the cattle walking on the 8th green? Seems that some greens had fencing and some did not.
I like the look of a number of the holes. Worth filing away for another time I'm in the area.
The photo of the horses on the 18th made me wonder if those are an underused hazard. I guess positioning can be a bit tough to control.
Robin,
Thanks for pointing out the link to the club's website. Some incredible photos. Makes me want to see the course even more.
Giles,
I was near Beverley a week or so ago, but opted to go see Flamborough Head instead for my Ganton warm-up. Wish I had time for both of them, but the prospect of some sea air won me over.
--- End quote ---
Tucky
For some reason the cows made a beeline straight across the 8th green and one even sniffed the flag. There were only a few greens fenced off and they seemed to be the most beaten up ones. I think of Minch Old as a course which deserves a significant day trip...so well worth going out of your way if heading to/from the West Country or London environs.
Robin & Adrian
Thanks for the comments and images. Does it strike you as odd that the 17th crossed the road when there was an obvious place for the tee where it currently is? I would think a cross-over (especially concerning a par 3) is much preferable to crossing a road - twice no less.
Ciao
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