[John Mayhugh]

Steve,Add me to the list of those appreciative of your organizing efforts. Brora and Golspie were both welcoming, and it's great that neither was the consensus favorite of courses played. I would give the edge to Brora, thanks to more interesting greens and rough management (bring on the sheep at Golspie). I think it's a shame to miss either if one is visiting Dornoch.

[Michael Whitaker]

To Steve:  Thank you for pulling this event together and giving all of the “Pests” a reason to gather again this year. Golspie and Brora are quite fun and fine examples of what can be done on a small budget with limited labor. Many courses could learn from their example. I agree with Mr. Mayhugh about introducing sheep at Golspie... it would be a great help.

To All: Once again you came together to enjoy the golf and fellowship provided by the Buda. These GCA.com events have proven to be life changing for me as they have introduced me to people and places I would not have know otherwise. Some of you are just acquaintances, some have become close friends... I’m so glad I have the chance to visit with you each year and I’m already looking forward to Buda 2019!!! Thank you all for making these gatherings such fun and a huge success!

[Steve Wilson]

Tomorrow it will be two weeks since we played out first round at Golspie and in the time the only rain to fall was Thursday afternoon as a brief shower struck the ninth green, one and a half bunkers on ten an the 11th tee a glancing blow.  The course has gone from fast and firm to fast and furious. The wind continues from the east but with less velocity than we dealt with two weeks ago tomorrow. 


I'm of two minds whether I'm glad we played when we did or if we had to tackle it now. Some of the greens are so shiny and quick there are places where you play for survival.  The 2nd, 6th, 7th, 15th and 16th are treacherous plus the amount of roll outs on putts is increasing daily. 


The rumpled terrain in front of 5, 7, and 9 is producing many capricious and unkind bounces. I haven't seen Brora since we played there but I'm certain it has also quickened and toughened. All in all, it's probably a good thing we played when we did.

[Jon Wiggett]

Steve,


it was a really good event played over two excellent courses. I think the weather gave us a good idea of what a player can generally expect in the Highlands (except the fog which is pretty rare) but without any rain which was good. The final day for the singles the conditions were idyllic and it will remain one of my favourite memories of playing Golspie which was added to by having a excellent company on the way.


A big thanks for organising it.


Jon

[James Boon]

Steve,


Thanks for all your hard work in organising this years event, and thanks also to everyone else, many of whom continue to take part in this great event year after year, which is quite a commitment! It really is the highlight of my golfing year and already I'm looking forwards to next year!


On my way up to the event I did manage a round at Boat of Garten, making the trip a bit of a Braid pilgrimage. While there I picked up a flyer for the James Braid Highland Trail, which shows the excellent work he did in this part of the World.
http://www.jamesbraidhighland.golf/index.asp
Briefly regarding Boat of Garten, its a wonderful course with the Cairngorm mountains as a snow capped backdrop. Like Golspie and Brora its not long at barely 6,000yards, but its a great golfing experience. Some of my favourite holes were 2, 4, 6, 7, 13, the Doak certified quirkiness of 15 and the one stern test of a long par 4 at 18. If however you have played Golspie and Brora and marvelled at the par 3s, they arent bad at Boat but not to the same standard as their links brothers.


I know Brora well from many rounds there as a kid on holiday. I think some visitors who manage one round will remember the sheep and the electric fences around the greens and think the course has a rough around the edges feel to it. But Brora is so much more than that! The condition of the fairways and greens are wonderful, and thanks to the sheep, the rough isnt brutal but will still keep you honest. From tee to green there is so much wonderful movement and also room to breathe (the foundations are there that they could easily add another 1,000plus yards and have a Championship worthy site with very little effort, not that I want them to, its just by way of a compliment) and the green sites are some of the best I know anywhere. My favourite holes have always been 1, 5, 6, 12 and 17 (though I'm not sure its as good as some of the hype makes out    [size=78%])and nothing on this trip changed my mind, though I'd never been a fan of 16 but after this trip it is starting to grow on me.[/size]


Golspie though was the big revelation for me. I think I'd previously only played it 3 or 4 times so to spend 2 days there playing 54 holes in competitive matches, really opened my eyes! While the green sites arent as consitantly good as at Brora, some of them are equal if not better. I think I prefer the first as the par 5 opener it is now rather than the long par 4 I remember as a kid. While I love the par 5 4th, the proximity of the 18th green to its fairway does lead to plenty of shouts of "Fore!" or not as was the case with some visitors who obviously didnt read the sign suggesting they should wait until we were clear!    The transition to the coastal heath holes works wonderfully with the 6th to a "Dell" like green and 7th up and over the ridge, and I actually like the quirkiness of the walk back to the 7th tee, level with the 6th tee (I wonder if the 7th tee could be moved closer to the 6th and then members could hit both tee shots in matches to save walking, as we did at the 2nd and 3rd at Rye last year?) From 8 through to 13 is a great run of holes with decent heathland turf under your feet. The only downside is the 10th which seems a bit out of character to me? While I love the back to back par 3s at 16 and 17, and the blind approach to the long par 4 18, the quality of the truf in this section (and most of the opening 4 holes) is a bit of a disappointment on the links terrain, which is a shame, but as others have suggested perhaps they should borrow Brora's sheep!    My favourites were 2, 4, 6, 7, 9 (of all the holes on this trip, without doubt the finest and one I would happily pick up and drop onto my home course at Hollinwell) 12, 16 and 17 (I wish there were more par 3s of this length were you need a driver or perhaps cant even get there in regulation)


So thanks again Steve for organising Buda in this part of the World as it was great to be able to visit with such good golfing friends!


Cheers,


James

[Mark Pearce]

Agreed about the 9th at Golspie, James.  That would be one of the better holes on any of the great heathland tracks around London.

[Jerry Kluger]

This was my second Buda and it is so great because of the golf but more importantly the people.  To see so many people who love quirk and odd bounces as much as I do is simply fantastic.  Mike and I were in Scotland for more than 2 weeks and I was able to see so many courses which never get the recognition which they deserve.  I fell in love with Golspie which has so many really good holes and a couple which could be considered great yet it is ignored by most who visit Scotland to play golf. It was also kind of amazing that with really firm and fast conditions that even an old guy like me can hit it quite far.  Thanks to Steve for organizing this and to Pam for putting up with us. Hopefully I will make it to Buda 2019.


Cheers

[David_Tepper]

"The only downside is the 10th which seems a bit out of character to me?"

James -

Thank you for your observations and appreciation of Golspie. You know I have enjoyed playing the course for many years.

The par-3 10th hole does often provoke the "out of character" reaction. I can only assume it is from the 2 small ponds in front of the green. It takes a rather poorly hit shot (that I have hit more than once ) for those ponds to come into play.

The balance of the hole is really quite good, especially the green (with the downward sloping front), the bunkers short/right and the fall off long/left. Hitting and holding that green is never quite as easy as you think it should be.

I am not sure how long those ponds have been there. I suspect they were built to help drain an area that can get rather boggy at times.

DT

[Jon Wiggett]

David,


from memory the area where the two ponds are used to be boggy ground and the ponds have solved this.


As for the hole not fitting. I do wonder if the green surrounds have been remodelled as the banking round the back seems to be too uniform in shape compared to similar area on other holes. I also have my doubts that the first bunker on the right is original and feel the hole would be better without it as it would give the player, especially the higher handicapper the opportunity to run the ball in.


That been said the hole has grown on me and I really like it these days especially as it is a short par 3 which still asks a very awkward question when stood on the tee.

[Lynn_Shackelford]

Some quick thoughts.


I really would have liked to have played Brora one more time and especially with some sun.  I think both of those circumstances would have allowed me to more appreciate the greens and some of the movement.  Honestly besides the 6th and 18th, I don't remember any specific green site.


I would have also liked to have played the last 6 holes at Golspie in a different wind.  The 12, 13 and 14 were monsters into the wind.  Especially for me as I was fighting my swing and fatigue.


As for the 16th at Golspie, it made me think of the 16th at Littlestone.  I think the 16th at Golspie is more appealing in appearance, but wonder if there is more fun at the 16th at Littlestone which demands more different kind of shots, especially the 2nd.


I found the 17th to be one of the more interesting and different holes on the trip.  Many ways to play it and many results came about in trying to drive it.


As for the 10th, the ponds I find silly, but discovered in foursomes with Steve Wilson that a shot just short and left leaves a very easy up and down when the flag is right front.


James I too went and played Boat of Garden and told John Mayhugh that I thought most of those greens had been rebuilt.  The rest of the course had interesting natural land movement, but the greens seems unusually flat for a mountain course.  I don't think Braid would have done that.  They were by the way the best conditioned and rolling greens I played.  And the quirky 15th is a delight in the beautiful mountain setting.

[Jon Wiggett]

Lynn,


most of the greens are original Braid at the Boat though 1, 5, 13 have been redone.

[Garland Bayley]

....

James I too went and played Boat of Garden and told John Mayhugh that I thought most of those greens had been rebuilt.  The rest of the course had interesting natural land movement, but the greens seems unusually flat for a mountain course.  I don't think Braid would have done that.  They were by the way the best conditioned and rolling greens I played.  And the quirky 15th is a delight in the beautiful mountain setting.

Remember the wild terrain at Perranporth. Yet the greens were quite flat. Essentially aren't Braid courses going to end up with greens dependent on the constructor, as Braid usually didn't go back until perhaps playing a match to open the course.

[James Boon]

David,


Regarding the 10th at Golspie, I think the problem for me is that its a little confused? The pond short and the backdrop of the hills and the Mannie long seem to be wanting a green on view that matches the dramatic setting? However the green itself is an interesting challenge with the steep slope on the front that I'm sure will kick many balls over the back but is essentially a subtle green as its not obvious from the tee. And those front bunkers are neither one thing nor the other?    It feels like it either wants a green like 16 that befits the setting, or the green doesn't need the bunkers and the pond so as to keep it simple and emphasise its subtlety?


Cheers,


James

[David McIntosh]

Steve,

A belated thanks from me for organising this year’s Buda. It was a really well run event and great to catch up with some familiar faces whilst meeting a host of new ones. I remember you proposing a Brora/Golspie Buda at Littlestone last year and was very happy to see it come to fruition this year.

I have to say I favour Brora of the two courses but there seems to be an ongoing debate as to which was the participants’ preference over the weekend.

Re the 10th at Golspie, I can see what people mean when describing it as “out of character” however it’s still quite an enjoyable hole. My criticism of it would be that the green seems to be incredibly difficult to hold, even with well struck tee shots with no more than a mid iron. That said, it’s an interesting green (which I happen to like), the slopes on which make for interesting recovery shots when the green invariably isn’t hit in regulation.

Finally, I squeezed in a round at Fortrose & Rosemarkie on the way to Buda - yet another Braid design. It’s a notch below Brora and Golspie in my book but is situated on a unique piece of land and is well worth the slight detour on the way from Inverness towards Dornoch, Brora et al for those who may be passing.

[David_Tepper]

I have a copy of the Golspie 100-year book (1889-1989) in hand. It has maps of the course from 1910, 1921 & 1926. The 1926 map reflects the course after James Braid's visit in 1925.

Some items of interest:

1) The par-3 5th hole was 185 yards in 1910, 175 yards in 1921 and 170 yards in 1926. Today that hole is 150 yards. The green has never been moved. That is how much of the Golspie coastline has been washed away over the past 100+ years.

2) The current par-3 10th hole shows up on the 1921 map, looking very much as it is today. It was the 8th hole at that time, but the map shows the 2 ponds, the 2 bunkers short right and the one bunker left of the green in place. 

3) As John Mayhugh and Mark Pearce observed, the level area slightly above and to the right of the current 10th green used to be the tee for the next hole (the current 11th). That area shows as the tee on both the 1921 & 1926 maps. It looks like the current green is where it was back in the 1920's. I don't know when the tee was moved to its current locations, left of the current 10th green.

4) Of course, there were many changes to the course over the years at the end nearest the town. The current 3rd hole used to be the 1st hole and the original clubhouse was between the tee and the water. That clubhouse was lost to coastal erosion. The current par-3 2nd hole used to be the 18th hole and appears on the 3 maps very much as it is today.

[Mark Pearce]

3) As John Mayhugh and Mark Pearce observed, the level area slightly above and to the right of the current 10th green used to be the tee for the next hole (the current 11th). That area shows as the tee on both the 1921 & 1926 maps. It looks like the current green is where it was back in the 1920's. I don't know when the tee was moved to its current locations, left of the current 10th green.

On the Sunday night, as most pests were enjoying the Doublewood, John, Niall and I played some cross country golf, making the most of the late sunlight.  That's when we found the old 11th tee.  We played the hole from there (there's still a chute through the trees and the original path is very visible).  It's (IMHO)a far better hole from that "tee" and the widening of the current fairway on the right side makes far more sense when you understand that( that is where drives originally came in from.

[Steve Wilson]

Some disjointed thoughts in response to some of the remarks since I reopened this as an after action report. I think the 10th is a cosmetic failure rather than a failure as a hole. There are many ways to get a shot to hold the green, but the ponds are ugly and the two right fronting bunkers take away an important option, the run by the shorter player. I have heard the tale that a very good player here in year's past told others the way to play the hole was to land the ball between the two bunkers and let it filter on down.  If I could do that I think I might just aim at the pin with the appropriate club.


More later.

[Rich Goodale]

Well done, Steve! Sounds like all had a great time in Sutherland.  Wish I had been there, but never mind.


Vis a vis two discussed issues above:


1.  10th at Golspie.  When I first played there (1981) I'm pretty sure that there was exposed bog land, and I can see the ponds as a drainage/safety matter.  IMHO it's a cute little par 3 that just needs tenderness and respect.
2.  Greens at Brora.  Most are simplistic, but I would add to the 6 & 18 mentions, I think that 10, 12 and 17 are also very interesting and hard to master.


Rich

[Niall C]

Mark

I'm pretty sure that either David or Stan told me about that tee and indeed might have been Stan when I played with him at Golspie one time. I certainly agree that it makes it a much more interesting hole, albeit shorter. The "new" tee is a bit like playing simply down a chute. It just doesn't quite have the same degree of interest even if it gives you a longer shot in.

I'd be interested to see however whether the existing green is the green they played to when the old tee was in operation. I don't know if David can enlighten us with the plans in the history book.

Rich

Agree about the par 3. It's one to play for position. Nothing wrong with not being able to go direct at the hole every now and again.

Niall

[David_Tepper]

"I'd be interested to see however whether the existing green is the green they played to when the old tee was in operation. I don't know if David can enlighten us with the plans in the history book."

Niall -

The 1921 & !926 maps show the current 11th green was in the same place back then as it is today.

I did stand on the old tee box (right of the current #10 green) and looked at the lane thru the trees to what is now the right side of the the fairway. It probably was a pretty fun tee shot back then.

My guess is the tee was moved to its current location for reasons of safety and to lengthen the hole.

DT

[Jon Wiggett]

The 11th would be much enhanced if they clear felled the trees down the right except for a few specimen trees. Then they could extend the fairway out to the right and add a little undulation to the left side 200 to 270 off the tee. It would enhance the hole no end in my opinion.


I was concerned to see that they had not flail mown most of the gorse that has been done in recent years this last winter which is something I hope they will get back to soon. On another note it was noticeable how many trees have now become diseased. I recon they will lose 3/4 of their trees in the next few years.


Jon

[Steve Wilson]

The 11th is one of my favorite holes even as it is. Not because I play it well but due to the downhill all the way nature of the hole. All of the trouble is in front and the intelligent conservative play is to go long. In that respect it reminds me of a Tom Paul concept from years ago. The playback hole in which the best way to play a hole would be to go past and then approach from behind. Of course, he was talking about going past with the drive and then approaching for a birdie try rather than saving par.

[Michael Whitaker]

Jon - I, too, noticed how many trees were diseased. There won’t be many left!

[Mark Pearce]

Jon - I, too, noticed how many trees were diseased. There won’t be many left!

Which may significantly improve the look of the course.

[David_Tepper]

"Which may significantly improve the look of the course."

Mark P. -

Really? I can't think of more than 2 or 3 holes or even 2 or 3 shots where trees come into play in any way.

DT 

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