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The Wilds of WESTWARD HO!: 2024-25 Winter Tour

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Thomas Dai:
A local give me a piece of essential advice on playing this imo wonderful course - “whatever you do, don’t touch the tips of the extremely spikey sea rushes!!”.


As to the course itself, despite the flatness of the terrain the 1st and 2nd, particularly the 2nd, are not the easiest of starts given that the prevailing wind is against and from the left. The upturned saucer green on the 2nd is not the easiest to hit and hold either, and there are a few more similar type greens to come later on in the round.
As to the 3rd, the road in front of the tee can be a pain, waiting for the traffic at busy times etc. Super greensite though.
And the 4th, when played into the wind, requires a damn good thump from the tee to carry the Cape, which is much higher than it appears in photos.
On the par-3 5th, the prevailing wind comes up and over the dune behind the green and as such a ‘floating flight’ on the tee shot may not result in the hoped for outcome.
Kickplates on the left side of both the 6th and 7th greens are features that can be used to the players advantage and some hidden from view bunkers need to be negotiated in getting to the greens, as do some of the painful spikey rushes on the 7th.
Atb

Ally Mcintosh:
Are they astroturf bunkers? The idea seems somewhat at odds with the course’s standing.

Adam Lawrence:
There are some, and they're very badly built. The top layer of natural turf has eroded, leaving the artificial turf in clear view, and they look crap

Thomas Dai:
There are several sorts of bunker faces at WHo!: sleepered, riveted, grassed, and indeed astro. There are also a few native sandy areas/pits.
As was explained to the GCA'ers present on this trip, the use of astro is to limit/alleviate the damage to the bunker faces caused by the hoofs of the horses and sheep that graze the course (as is also the case at some other grazed courses where it's used, like Southerndown and Pennard).
As mentioned above, the tie-in between the astro and the grass is a problem area but the club are experimenting with different methods to try to improve the tie-ins. Time and experience will tell I imagine.
As to the faces themselves, once they've become a little discoloured they become a bit less obvious to the eye.
Overall whilst I'm not a massive fan I am prepared to give them a chance to prove/disprove themselves where the grazing animal issue is a factor.

atb

Sean_A:
WESTWARD HO! CONT

Turning away from Bideford Bay, the 9th could well be the best hole on the course.  This hole too was radically changed. The new tee is beyond the new 8th green on high ground. Due to lost yardage the hole is now a par 4. Legging severely left over low, marshy ground, the hole teases its way around the rushes to the outstanding green. There are two pots guarding the left and one well short of the green a bit right of centre. Old & New tee shots.








Now truly amidst the rushes, the 10th is not the hole of terrors I remember. There is much more space than my memory allows and the rushes seem lower.  So much for memory!  Anyway, I think the 10th is a high quality hole which is more influenced by the many fairway mounds and severe dogleg left angle than by the rushes.  Needless to say, it is a busy hole! 


More exacting then the 10th to my eye, the 11th features a demanding drive over and between the rushes.  The green too is well protected by sand.


   

Breaking free from the rushes, the 12th doesn't look as if there is much room, but one can practically hit the ball anywhere except for left.  However, if the wind is up, there is a single well placed bunker which guards the right side well short of the green.  Below is the newly rebuilt bunker just beyond the rushes on the right.
   

The 13th should be called plains...was there ever a flatter hole built?  However, as is the case a few times when playing lengthy holes over the flat, the green is a beautiful surprise.  Perhaps more incredible is how the design hides the raised green until one is quite close.  I won't say this is the best hole, but it may win the most clever prize. 
   

A closer look.
   

More to follow.

Ciao

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