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The Timeless MINCHINHAMPTON OLD COURSE: 2022-23 Winter Tour
Ally Mcintosh:
Thanks Sean (and Robin)...
First I've heard of the course but look at those open grassland holes with the fairways bleeding in to the wispy rough... Heaven...
Adrian_Stiff:
I concurr with Robin, the course was better in older days, though its still lovely. The 10th got moved as well in the shake up and 17 is played from a different direction, you used to walk behind the road then play across it. 13 and 14 are also victims of the H&S changes and are not for the better and I think 15 is now an easy 4 where it used to be a very long 450 yarder. The 5th green might have got moved out as well (I am not sure). The second was a great 5, strangely a ball would only be trickling and pose no real threat. You are best playing Minch Old in the Spring or in the Winter....it could form part of a great quirky weekend as Painswick, Minch Old and Cleeve Hill are all pretty close. The Open golf championship (Yes, THE OPEN) was nearly played here in the 1890s, Minchinhampton has always been close to the R&A and 100 years ago it was a great strong course much along the lines of Westward Ho!
Tiger_Bernhardt:
It is funny. When you were describing the course it sounded like Painswick.
Sean_A:
Donal
For the most part the greens are firm and if it stays dry the cows don't do much damage, however, there were a few greens which showed signs of marks. Even so, the greens rolled better than they look or ought to.
Doc
I knew the 7th green had to be located closer to the quarry, but I would have guessed it was further up, not on the other side.
Yes, the 2nd is odd and I suspected wasn't original because of the 75 yard walk to the 3rd tee. Still, the turf dyke adds a bit of spice to balance out the dreadful mounding on the left. Whichever archie did that work should have been far more bold and alpinization like to remain in keeping with the course. There are a few greens like this which jar the eye, but still work well.
The old 12th green sounds quite good and would make reaching the green in two much more difficult.
Adrian
Could you explain the other changes that Robin hasn't. Also, please relate the Open story.
It does sound weird to cross the road for 17 tee only to play back over the road! I like the hole. I also like 13, but its a weird looking hole. 14 is a bit of a mess and doesn't use the natural features to the left of the green very well, but it is tough.
I was quite surprised at how very different Minch Old is to Painswick. There is a far more expansive feel (and much flatter) at Minch Old which I much prefer even though Painswick has most of the better holes between the two. That said, the turf (and greens) at Minch Old strikes me as superior to Painswick and in most places looks like it would drain well in the winter.
Ciao
James Boon:
Sean,
Great stuff! I love the look of Michinhampton Old and will have to give it a try some time. Let me know when you are heading to Cleeve Hill, and If I can make it I'd love to join you?
I can certainly see the Painswick comparison but with Painswick being on a hill, that has quite an impact upon the routing and architecture!
Cheers,
James
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