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Mark_Rowlinson

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Sickleholme Photo Tour
« on: August 22, 2011, 08:22:14 AM »
Sickleholme is claimed to be the only 18-hole course in the Peak District. We are assured of fine views of the Hope Valley and, as is readily apparent from a first view from the clubhouse terrace, there will be some hill climbing! The club dates from 1898 and the authoritative Cornish and Whitten suggest that it is a rebuild by Tom Williamson, responsible for many of the better courses in the East Midlands. A quick glance at the course map suggests that most holes are parallel, running up and down a hillside, but the routing has been cleverly arranged to avoid any sense of monotony, taking play, ever changing, from one part of the property to another. Another brilliant aspect of the routing is the way in which such variety of individual holes has been crafted out of such a compact site.

Total length is 6064 yards, to a par and standard scratch of 69, but yardages are largely irrelevant in such hilly country. Many greens on uphill holes have false fronts or aprons, with the first-timer leaving too many approaches short. A good number of the downhill holes favour the ground game, calling for a well-weighted running approach. The short holes are seriously defended, bunkering is surprisingly prominent on such a site, and moundwork and shaping is used to assist the eye from afar and to dictate strategy around the greens. As so often on an upland site the surrounding hills dwarf the contours on the greens, leading to many a misread putt, particularly downhill.

1.   274 yards par 4.



The camera lies! That is a much steeper hill than it appears here. The main problem is the large tree on the left of the fairway. Get behind that and you are dead. A fairway bunker on the right awaits the shorter hitter who plays too conservatively from the tee. Big hitters (who invariably hit the ball high) can get close enough to leave a gentle pitch.



This gives a better impression of the steepness of the climb.

2.   420 yards par 4.



This is a serious par 4, playing uphill, although not as steeply as the previous hole. Trees line the fairway on the right and there is a big right to left cant to the fairway, greater where the shorter hitters land.



At what will we aim when the crane comes down? Bunkers guard the approach and a false front deceives on the approach.

3.   451 yards par 4.




A welcome sight – a downhill tee shot to a generous fairway.



The bunkers and moundwork give the required definition to frame the green against the bigger backdrop of the hills.

4.   165 yards par 3.




A charming downhill one-shotter to a green angled slightly from left to right with a narrow entrance between bunkers. The gloriously old-fashioned cross-bunkers remind of a former age when the topped tee shot was considered a heinous crime!



These are not cosmetic bunkers. They are serious.

5.   285 yards par 4.




From the 5th tee the prospect is inviting with a shot across an abyss to a fairway which climbs significantly while all the time moving to the left.



Trees behind the green help distance judgement. Without them this would be a model skyline green.

6.   452 yards par 4.



It’s not such an inviting prospect from down here! The tee shot is made to a fairway which curves inexorably to the right, affected by its left-to-right lean.



The curve continues as the hole unfolds.



Against the background of silver birches it is quite difficult to locate the flag from a distance, with the 10th green and its passing traffic in the background.

7.   156 yards par 3.




A tightly bunkered entrance to a green angled slightly from right to left calls for precision from the tee. Here we on high ground and the wind is likely to be straight into our faces or from about 10 o’clock, just to keep us on our toes.

8.   408 yards par 4.



A perplexing tee shot for the first time visitor. A cross on the distant hut would seem to be the line, but where does the fairway go after that?



It curves round to the left, somewhat uphill towards the green. This much we learned from the course planner guide, but we did not concur with their yardages!






This is hang-gliding territory.

9.   396 yards par 4.



Another appetizing downhill drive. But beware! There is a stream down there, running diagonally across the fairway.




Now it is visible. With trees close on the left, sloping ground on the right, plus the stream, rescuing a poor drive is no easy matter.
« Last Edit: August 22, 2011, 08:26:53 AM by Mark_Rowlinson »

Mark_Rowlinson

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Re: Sickleholme Photo Tour
« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2011, 08:23:00 AM »
10.   286 yards par 4.



A successful uphill drive to a fairway curving slightly to the left should leave not more than a gentle flick onto the green.



From experience I can say that the trees either side of the fairway are better avoided!

11.   424 yards par 4.



Yet another inviting downhill drive. There is a marker post, although there is a sizeable right-to-left break on the fairway beyond it and the best line may be to the right of it.



It is downhill all the way.



A grassy swale right of the putting surface is probably more to be avoided than the bunker on the left.

12.   436 yards par 4.



Turning back on our tracks, this hole plays long, uphill all the way.




Bunkers intrude into the fairway at various stages. Sorry about the darkness.



Bunkers also constrict the entrance to the green.

13.   158 yards par 3.



Bobby Locke hung a picture of this very hole in his home for many years. There are pictures taken in better light on the club website: http://www.sickleholme.co.uk/





You are either on the green putting for a two, or you are not. If you are not you are probably in dire trouble – even if you can find the ball. The yellow and red tees are in the gap in the trees.

14.   396 yards par 4.






This wicked hole features one of the most unkind fairways in golf! It leans to the left to an extraordinary degree. You simply have to flirt with the trees on the right hand side of the fairway if there is to be the slightest hope of your tee shot finishing on the left.



To add to the abundant problems, the green is a mere 25 yards deep, with falls into an unknown fate should you miss on either side.

15. 359 yards par 4.



A simpler tee shot!



The fairway gradually bears to the right.




As usual the green is flanked by bunkers and swales, and at 15 yards depth, the putting surface is unusually shallow.

16.   297 yards par 4.



A comparatively uncomplicated drive.



And a simple enough run in past four entrance bunkers. Again, the putting surface is hardly huge at 23 yards’ depth.

17.  491 yards par 5.



The only par five of the round is encouragingly downhill and only a single bunker threatens on the right.



These cross-bunkers interrupt the fairway about 120 yards short of the green.



At 32 yards’ depth this is one of the longer greens.



A view from the 17th over the adjacent 3rd green along the Hope Valley.

18.   210 yards par 3.



All that is left is a straight one down the hill, between the bunkers…..
« Last Edit: August 22, 2011, 10:20:31 AM by Mark_Rowlinson »

Mike Hendren

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Re: Sickleholme Photo Tour
« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2011, 10:55:30 AM »
An absolutely beautiful hole with the backdrop:


I also like the way the hedgerows on the distant hill align with the 3rd fairway.

Mark, I can't help but wonder if the golfers there wind up with left legs a few inches longer than the right!

As always, your photo tours are marvelous.  Thank you.

Bogey
Two Corinthians walk into a bar ....

Paul_Turner

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Re: Sickleholme Photo Tour
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2011, 08:31:38 PM »
Mark

What a pretty course!

It was redone by Colt in the 1920s.  I don't have much info on what exactly he did.

Some old photos from not too long after his work (I think the bunkers were "dumbed down" fairly recently).

The 4th that Bogey likes


The 9th with the stream


12th


13th.  A nice pic of Locke's fave


And the fine finisher:

can't get to heaven with a three chord song

David Harshbarger

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Re: Sickleholme Photo Tour
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2011, 10:38:56 PM »
Great looking and fun looking course, almost like playing in a heaving sea .  Thanks for posting.
The trouble with modern equipment and distance—and I don't see anyone pointing this out—is that it robs from the player's experience. - Mickey Wright

Mark_Rowlinson

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Re: Sickleholme Photo Tour
« Reply #5 on: August 23, 2011, 05:49:55 AM »
Thanks, Paul, for the excellent old pictures. Hardly a tree to be seen. Thanks also for the input about Colt. He got around didn't he!

Ron Farris

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Re: Sickleholme Photo Tour
« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2011, 07:32:27 AM »
Thanks for sharing!

James Boon

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Re: Sickleholme Photo Tour
« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2011, 03:49:28 PM »
Mark,

Excellent tour! Though I've only played Sickleholme the once, I remember it fondly so your photos are very welcome. And fascinating to find out from Paul that Colt was involved. Perhaps I should take my clubs the next time I head back that way the next time I visit David Mellors excellent factory shop around the corner, go to see Mam Tor, or visit 617 Squadron's training dam!

Its worth noting that on arriving at the club the 1st and 18th make it appear that there is going to be quite a lot of climbing and falling and yet apart from those two holes and a few other levels changes, its not as bad as most other courses in Derbyshire.

Also, great to see the older photos with less trees. Thanks Paul!

Cheers,

James
2023 Highlights: Hollinwell, Brora, Parkstone, Cavendish, Hallamshire, Sandmoor, Moortown, Elie, Crail, St Andrews (Himalayas & Eden), Chantilly, M, Hardelot Les Pins

"It celebrates the unadulterated pleasure of being in a dialogue with nature while knocking a ball round on foot." Richard Pennell

Mike Nuzzo

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Re: Sickleholme Photo Tour
« Reply #8 on: August 24, 2011, 11:26:16 PM »
Very cool slopes
Someone once told me that fairways should not grade over 5%   ::)

Thank you for sharing Mark & Paul
Thinking of Bob, Rihc, Bill, George, Neil, Dr. Childs, & Tiger.