Changes at Royal Aberdeen's 15th

[Jonathan Mallard]

I briefly searched the archives, and while I found a little bit stating that they were going to make some changes, I didn't see any discussion on what the changes were going to consist of.

I did see something today that is a change that I didn't like on the 15th.

I though that I remembered, and later verified via google maps that the 15th had a fronting bunker with a grass island at the green. It was a (generally) downwind wedge for a second shot that had to be played in the air. If the pin was tucked on the front, you just played long, or tried to spin it - took 4, and moved on.

When I poked around today, I noted that the fronting bunker is gone. There are two bunkers right, but the left side is now open, which in my opinion changes the character of the second shot entirely. I liked the concept of having to play a short aerial shot downwind.

Any other changes anyone noted?

Any further comments on this one?

[Brian_Ewen]

Taken on Wednesday

[Thomas Dai]

A very different green now to the previous one which had the wide bunker with a grass island in the middle.

Fabulous shot by Rory in the 1st Round when he chipped, Seve like, between the two bunkers. "Touch of class" as Trevino said of Seve in the context of another shot man years ago.

The 16th tee is different as well, significantly lower (and extended?).

atb

[Dave McCollum]

Same for me.  I remembered that hole and the big bunker with the island of turf from my round in 2007, then didn’t see it on the telecast.  Found it on Google Earth, so I was puzzled.  It wasn’t playing downwind the day I played it.  It was directly into a 45mph “breeze” that caused me to hit a 160 yard 3-wood, a shot and result so memorable, it’s still on my personal highlight reel.  BTW, going out downwind, I also remember a 190 yard 9-iron.  My first round of my Scotland pilgrimage.
 
After the round I was chatting with a member who had inquired about my play.  I asked him if he considered these “full conditions” for a round of links golf?  (Other than Bandon Dunes, also my first round on a true links.)  He looked at me strangely and said “Without the breeze, it would be a bit boring out there.”  That word never occurred to me while I was trying to get every last ounce out of my feeble game just to get it around.  Great course, great attitude.

[Brian_Ewen]

Taken during the British Senior Open in 2005

[Niall C]

Thanks Brian, I know what I prefer and it isn't the clean cut edges on the jigsaw puzzle type bunker 

Niall

[Tony_Muldoon]

Thanks Brian, I know what I prefer and it isn't the clean cut edges on the jigsaw puzzle type bunker 

Niall

Niall I know what you mean and I never saw the original bunker, but as this thread testify's it was memorable and probably unique. There is a danger that good taste (like yours and mine ) does lead to a certian conformity. Hard to make a case for this one in particular, but once lost things like this never reappear.

[Niall C]

Tony

It's certainly unique as far as what I've seen on links courses but even so the question is, is it good architecture ? Clearly someone didn't think so and I tend to agree with them, and I'm not even referring to the bunker shape or style. Don't know the hole but that kind of cross bunker so close to a green on a links hole, even a par 3, just seems wrong.

Niall

[Brian_Ewen]

Think this is 1950's.

[Sean_A]

Brian, what happened to the gulley where the old bridge is?

Ciao

[Brian_Ewen]

Brian, what happened to the gulley where the old bridge is?

The Centenary Book says that the bridge was "blown down in the '57 gale".

The foundations from the building of St. Nicholas House in Aberdeen, was then used to build an embankment.

[Niall C]

Brian

Thanks for that. Does the centenary book give any clues as to the evolution of that particular hole ?

Niall

[Frank Pont]

Think this is 1950's.

Great, RA managed to replace character with standard uniformity yet again....... Scotland the land of the clean-cut oval shaped pots

[Thomas Dai]

Ian Edward's 225 Year history of the club contains a photo of this bridge dated 1896. According to the text it cost £15 to build and paint. Quite a sum for the time I would have thought.

At that time, late 1890's, the 16th, 17th and 18th holes all played generally in the same directions as they presently do, however, the 16th was 302 yds and called 'The Mount', the 17th was 302 yds and, interestingly, called 'The Redan' whilst the 18th ('Home hole')
was 328 yds.

Things changed in the late 1920's though, when the course was changed and extended quite radically, ie the 16th and 18th were extended and the 17th became a par-3. I have no more info about RAGC's former 17th 'Redan' hole however, so don't ask!

atb