EAST DEVON TOUR CONT
Eight through eleven is the pudding of East Devon. The course opens up at this point and actually feels a lot like Broadstone, another Colt course some 75 miles to the east near Bournemouth. A long, punishing par 3 by the hand of Braid, the eighth could well have played as a bogey 4 back in the day.
There are four severely downhill and very wide holes which I suspect are all fan favourites. For my money the 9th is the best of the lot.
Interesting shaping to tie in a berm with the bunker. This sort of work doesn't strike me as Colt's.
The back nine opens with a short hole over a shallow valley. Its fairly obvious the bunkering needs a bit of sprucing up.
One of East Devon's best holes, the 11th plays diagonally over a rugged valley. I reckon the hole is reachable for big hitters. Most golfers will not be able to carry the cross bunkers.
Playing over the same serpentine valley as 10 & 11, the 12th is a difficult uphill par 5. Playing into a winter wind didn't help matters. Although, the most interesting aspect of the hole is the terrific green whose rear right section has been somewhat altered. Unfortunately, a few trees hang
very close to the front left of the green, I suspect to knock down shots headed for the 13th tee. In fact, the entire left and rear of the green is surrounded by rather unnecessary trees.
While all perfectly competent, the par threes as a whole aren't as good as the terrain suggests they could be. #13.
Working steadily uphill, the legger right 14th seems like a ton of land was used for its purpose. I wonder if the low ground on the right was better used back in the day. With large trees blocking the right corner, there is little reason to flirt with this natural feature unless one is a high hitting flat belly, in which case the low ground doesn't come anywhere near into play.
Once on high ground with fewer trees inhibiting views, the many boozer loops on offer become more apparent.
1&2
3-11 with a walk back to the house
3-8 then hop to 15
10-18 with a walk to 10th
10 -14 then hop back on 9
12-18 with a walk to the 12th
Also turning right and playing uphill, the 15th is a sub 300 yard par 4 and plays to a tightly guarded green.
More to follow.
Ciao