Hole 7, par 4 - raised tee over a chasm to an uphill fairway with the green over a saddle. Severe fall-away at rear of green.View of the 7th hole from the 7th tee. The green is directly over the centre bunker.
Looking back at the 7th tee from the start of the fairway. Owey Island in the background.
From the 7th fairway looking towards the green.
7th green from the left side at the top of the saddle
View from behind the 7th green
What's over the back of the 7th green. The 9th green and Clubhouse are in the background. The pier for the Owey Island ferry is near the orange coloured digger.
8th hole, par-3 - longish par-3, somewhat bland in comparison to the other holes on the course - what couldn't be! - trickier green contours than the photos suggest. Shame about the telephone posts and cables.8th green photographed from about 40 yds short. The road in the distance leads back to the mainland.
8th green photographed from the rear. 7th green and 8th tee are on the mound to the right in the photo with the 9th hole bending around to the left.
9th hole, par-4 - short par-4 with a severe right-to-left dog-leg. Road to the left is OB, to straight is in the gunch and there's a gunchy hollow 100 yds short of the green. An interesting hole. Do you give it a wack at the green off the tee or play safe in some way? Perhaps a snap-hook mid iron lay-up might be the best play!!??9th hole from the tee which plays over the left side of the 8th green
The suggested aiming point from the tee is the last house on the left on Owey Island. The dog-leg is very tight and the road is OB.
Two photos both taken from the saddle in front of the green. Wonderful location for a Clubhouse. What a view!
The 9th is a very sloped green
View from behind the 9th green. The path in front of the green leads to the Owey Island ferry (not a regular service, residents etc only unscheduled)
Some general photos to finishFrom the rear of the 5th tee looking towards the Clubhouse and the 9th green
From the rear of the 5th tee looking over the 7th green
From the rear of the 3th tee looking over the 9th fairway towards to the 9th green and Clubhouse
From the rear of the 5th tee looking over the 7th green with Owey Island and wee Toratrave the background
Well that's a photo tour of Cruit Island GC. Just a fabulous place to visit and play golf. Ever so friendly? Yes. Great fun? Yes. Very good condition? Yes. Quirky? Yes, but overall a much, much better course and a much better test of golf than I ever imagined it would be. It is certainly no one trick (hole) pony.
I'm very glad I went to Cruit, or "Critch" as the locals say. I recommend others visit too.
If you do go though, I have one suggestion for you - don't take 14 clubs, just a wee bag with 6 or 7 clubs should do fine.
Have fun.
atb
PS - to see Cruit Island from above click on this link -
http://binged.it/1bc2EHj(link extracted with compliments to him from Dónal Ó Ceallaigh's photo tour of Dunfanghy)