The more great golf courses I have the good fortune to play, the more I realise how unique Pine Valley's set of greens is.
Not necessarily better than all comers -- though better than most -- but unrivalled, perhaps, in the variety they present:
Open fronts and blocked fronts in near equal measure, as well as some that are open only if you have been brave off the tee or can shape your approach correctly.
Downhill, flat and uphill approaches in balance, and paired with a great variety of approach lengths (in determining that, I assume a well executed frive by what I feel is a "typical" single-figure handicap amateur, playing from the members' tees).
Greensites that vary greatly in drama and shot requirement, with the internal slopes and contours not following any particular formula (ie. bold site = subtle contour, subtle site = bold contour etc).
Variety in defences, from the bunkerless 1st to the water and sand-guarded 14th.
A mixture of slope and contour in the putting surfaces.I don't want to pontificate too much on why I think each is great individually or why the set is so fine as a group, but I would certainly invite those who know the course -- be it one Crump Cup visit or a lifetime of knowledge -- to chime in with your thoughts on what makes these greens one of the greatest sets in the game.
1st - open front - flat, mid-length to long approach (depending on tee shot bravery) - subtle slope
2nd - blocked front - uphill, short approach - bold contour/slope
3rd - blocked front, but depth allows running approach to back pins - downhill, long approach - moderate contour
4th - open front - downhill, long approach - moderate slope
5th - open front after significant carry - slightly uphill, long approach - bold slope
6th - open front - flat, short to mid-length approach (depending on tee shot bravery) - bold countour
7th - blocked front - flat, short to mid-length approach - subtle contour
8th - blocked front - downhill or flat, short approach to a tiny, raised target - bold contour
9th - open front - flat or uphill (depending on green in use) approach - moderate slope/contour
10th - blocked front - flat, short approach to raised target - moderate contour
11th - open front - downhill or flat, short to mid-length approach - moderate slope/contour
12th - open front if drive is long enough - flat, short approach - subtle contour
13th - blocked front, but open side for a slinging draw - flat, long approach - moderate slope/contour
14th - blocked front (first green blocked by water) - downhill, long approach - subtle slope
15th - open front - uphill mid-length to long approach - moderate to bold slope/contour
16th - open front - downhill mid-length to short approach (depending on tee shot bravery) - moderate to bold slope/contour
17th - blocked front - uphill, short approach - subtle contour
18th - blocked front (only second green blocked by water) - flat or uphill, long approach - moderate contour/slope