Hole 10 400 yards
Par 4
The tenth tees off from next to the clubhouse and car park.
The approach is over one of the old cross bunkers accredited to JH Taylor, looking somewhat artificial but in a quaint old fashioned way.
Hole 11437 yards
Par 4 (Bogey 5)
A long par 4, but it was slightly wind behind the day I played, so with the fairways running firm, the next cross bunkers are well within range. The previous tenth green is just off to the right.
The cross bunkers make the slightly downhill approach blind.
But from closer to the green you can see its a wide approach where you can run the ball in from short left, with a back drop of... gorse.
Hole 12314 yards
Par 4
A short par 4 now, also wind behind when I played, but the uphill nature of the hole, makes the fairway and area short of the green blind, so a long iron seemed the prudent option. On reaching the fairway and getting closer to the green, the deep railway sleeper faced bunkers will make you glad you laid up short. The green is reasonably large but full of interesting little undulations.
Hole 13371 yards
Par 4
A downhill drive over the previous green.
The approach is to a green set in the corner of the property.
Hole 14352 yards
Par 4
This was one of my favourite holes and I'm afraid my photos don't do it justice. Off to the left are a number of large houses, one of which Red House, was the home of Benjamin Britten, the well known classical composer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_BrittenThe tee shot is over a hollow and hugs the boundary and its mature trees, with a bunker in the distance set into a ridge.
The approach is to a raised green, perhaps made less photogenic with the practice area in the background?
From behind you can see how the hole has doglegged around the boundary and the mature trees that will stop someone cutting the corner
Hole 15200 yards
Par 3
A long par 3, with another railway sleepered bunker, this time its off to the right side.
Hole 16462 yards
Par 4 (Bogey 5)
The longest hole on the course, and yes its a par 4, as you will have noticed that there are no par 5s. This hole was the feature of one of the Churchman cigarette cards with commentary by Darwin, discussed in a recent thread.
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,57908.0.htmlHere is the tee shot which sees a slight dogleg to the left.
And the approach over another cross bunker.
Hole 17 144 yards
Par 3
A shortish par 3, but well bunkered and plenty of undulation on the green.
The view from back right, showing the slope towards the tight front hole location.
Hole 18
420 yards
Par 4
A good solid par 4 to finish
The approach is to a green set away from the clubhouse (off to the right of this view)and not really visible due to the... gorse.
Some interesting bunkers short right
And one last view from behind the green
So the back nine is a par 34, 3,100 yards. That gives a total par 68, 6,163 yards which can be stretched to 6,603 yards from the blue tees with a standard scratch of 73!
So Aldeburgh is certainly no holiday course, but a true championship test, full of old fashioned tradition and charm, but was forward thinking enough to put woman members on an equal footing.
Though the club has done much to control the gorse, there is still plenty of it. The land the course sits on is a large area of maritime heathland that runs along a large stretch of this coast, however, there isn't actually much heather on the gorse beyond a few small patches.
For many reasons therefore the course reminds me of Ganton. That too is often talked about as not heathland, but more links like due to the geological history of the area. Aldeburgh too has that links like quality (maritime heath is I believe the natural succession of dunes becoming populated by heather, gorse, grass, trees etc), plenty of gorse and a good stiff challenge that perhaps arent quite as good as Ganton, but certainly worthy of a spirited younger brother status? Dont miss it, if going out of your way to play East Anglia's other courses at Brancaster, Hunstanton and Worlington!
Cheers,
James