Apparently, Westward Ho! was noted for its bunkering back in the day. I liken these vast dug down waste areas to walk in closet versions of those that are being dismantled at Aberdovey....very attractive, meaningful and with random punishment.
Tommy...yes, 13 is par 5...not that it matters.
Tucky...Thank you, but I highly doubt my eye is better than yours.
WESTWARD HO! CONTA par 5, the 17th is sort of a heading home version of the 1st with lots of space and a major hazard shy of the green. Yes, one of these obstacles is a road and it does overshadow a menacing ditch. The road is fairly busy on days with folks heading to the pebble ridge and Sandymere...which was once the inland sea on the above map.
The road leads to several villages squeezed between Bideford Bay and the River Torridge, among them is Westward Ho!, named for the famous C Kingsley novel published in 1855. The beach is very fine, but if one is seeking a charismatic town, then some 12 miles further down the coast is Clovelly...a must see.
The home hole isn't attractive, but the marshy ditch shy of the green plays its part.
While the round is over, the day isn't quite complete without a perusal of the homey clubhouse; very basic, fascinating and charming it is!
It took me a while, but I found JH Taylor's locker.
Royal North Devon's moods change that much and often that it has a little something for everyone. You want to play fiddly chips over humpty bumpty terrain...check. You want to open the shoulders...check. You want to be tested with precision...check. You want unusual hazards...check. While the reputation of the course may have waned in recent decades, there can be little doubt Westward Ho! is essential golf. As such, it is a required experience for any who admire the history of the game, the museum piece of architecture, but also and likely most importantly, the simplicity of the golf. Despite the royal title, there are no airs about the membership, the course nor its maintenance. I once stated that all people who fly into England with golf clubs should be made to pay a £5 golf tax to support Westward Ho!...one of my better ideas. 2024
Ciao