Through 12 holes the match stands at
Huntercombe: 5 skins (2, 3, 4, 8 & 10)
Kington: 3 skins (1, 9 & 12)
New Zealand: 2 skins (6 & 7)
No blood 5 & 11
#13. Kington's blind drive to a fairway leaking left is outstanding primarily because of the green. NZ's shortish tw0-shotter is also good. There is a pair of centreline bunkers and an elongated hollow defending the hole. H's 13th legs left to a wonderful green which doesn't look like much from the fairway. If NZ's bunkering was altered to fit the modern game it would be a half with Kington. As it is now, it takes a stiff wind to keep the bunkers in play.
1 SKIN TO KINGTON#14. K's par is lovely and much more dangerous than it appears from the tee. The ferns have a way of mucking up the aggressive play. NZ's sole par 5 moves right around a beautiful bunker that has been allowed to offer no reward for challenging it. H's longish two-shotter works left away from unsightly OOB...tough drive. The green is quite flat though. None of the holes seem to stand above teh other...NO BLOOD.
Kington
New Zealand
#15. K's long par 3 is helped by the fact it drops quite a distance, but the target is quite small and a bit raised. NZ's shortish par 4 sees it fairway bisected by sand; the green is very good with a big wing at the rear and a fronting bunker. H's par 3 plays over hollows to a sunken green..it plays much easier than it look. Once again, I can't call a clear winner; NO BLOOD.
New Zealand
Kington
#16. K's short par 4 is a solid in the main because of a raised green protected by hollows. H's par 5 is very good, playing over two hollows to a narrow green. NZ's short hole is a penal beauty. A long carry is required, plus there is some sand floating about to contend with. Normally, I would go with the clever par 5, but in this case the sheer audacity and beauty of NZ's hole win out.
1 SKIN TO NEW ZEALAND#17. NZ's severe legger left features on of the best greens on any of the three courses, but one of the worst drives. One must place the drive on the corner than play in from there; it leaves something to be desired. K's 17th is good, but nothing special. H's 17th is a complete departure from the remainder of the course. A short par 4 with a mess of hollows left and fronting bunkers for a raised, narrow green. None of the holes is completely satisfactory; Kington catches a break. NO BLOOD.
New Zealand
Huntercombe
#18. As was the case with the previous match, K's drivable par 4 is the clear winner here. Though NZ's 18th is a great answer to TOC's Valley of Sin!
Kington: 5 skins (1, 9, 12, 13 & 18)
Huntercombe: 5 skins (2, 3, 4 , 8 & 10)
New Zealand: 3 skins (6, 7 & 16)
No blood: 5, 11, 14, 15 & 17
I am surprised that Huntercombe did so well. It is a testament to what can be achieved on flat land. I think the result also vindicates that earthworks compared to proper Simpson shaping can be very attractive and meaningful. All doesn't need to look natural to get the job done.
Match II: Cleeve Cloud V Royal Ashdown Forest V Kington
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,63674.0.html
Match I: Minch Old V Painswick V Cleeve Cloud
http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,63660.0.html
Next up, Huntercombe and Kington move forward to face one of my darlings, Cavendish.
Ciao