Llandudno, Queen of the Welsh Resorts, is the largest resort in Wales and has a certain charm with its pier, the Great Orme, two beaches and many attractive buildings. Laid out on Llandudno’s quieter West Shore (Penmorfa Beach), North Wales was designed in 1894 by Tancred Cummins with assistance from Harold Hilton. It must also be noted that Mr Cummins served the club as its Secretary for 38 years! John Ball visited the course often and donated a putter which is played for annually as a club competition. There is another Hoylake connection, the club borrowed Hoylake’s motto of “Far and Sure” for its badge! The course has been altered over the years due to surrounding housing and erosion, but most of the current holes of high character are original stock.
It would be remiss of me not to spare a few words for the remarkable Harold Hilton. Born in West Kirby and a long-time member of Hoylake, Hilton was an extraordinary golfer in his day with a stellar record. He won two Opens, four Amateurs (and lost three finals), one US Amateur, four Irish Amateur Open Championships, one Golf Illustrated Gold Vase, countless club competitions, including the St Georges Challenge Cup twice, was the only British golfer to win the US Amateur and Amateur in the same year (1911 at the age of 42), and only one of three amateurs to win the Open (the other two being John Ball and Bobby Jones). It is said the only player to get the better of Hilton was the beloved Scotsman Freddie Tait. Despite a record of 99-29 (77.3%) in the Amateur, Hilton never beat Tait in match.
The manner in which Hilton won the 1911 US Amateur is remarkable. After squandering a 6-up lead, the match against the formidable Fred Herreshoff went to extra holes. On the 37th (1st hole) at Apawamis Club in Rye, New York, Hilton sliced his long second either into a rock outcropping or the slope below and careened onto the green 20 feet from the hole. Herreshoff buckled under the good fortune of Hilton and that was that.
Hilton also played in a challenge match against the hard-hitting Cecil Leitch in 1910. Hilton claimed he could give any woman 9 shots over 18 holes and win the match. Ladies Field Day magazine organized a 72-hole match over two days at Sunningdale and Walton Heath. Large crowds gathered to see if Hilton was true to his word. Leitch prevailed 2 and 1 with her 36 shots after Hilton had a two-up lead after the first day at Walton Heath. I wonder if Hilton led the match after 18 holes?
North Wales GC is in a strange part of town. One suddenly comes upon the street front house as if looking for a dry cleaners. The first tee shot does little to alleviate the thoughts of where and why have I landed here. There is housing down the left guarded by a large fence to protect against cutting the corner. Once beyond the fence line the terrain is interesting and oftens results in a blind second.
Interesting green.
Another dogleg left comes in the 2nd. There is the threat of gorse up the left, but there really is no need to be aggressive with loads of space right.
After the second the course heads for the railway tracks and plays over low lying, heavier turf. Unfortunately, the architecture doesn't help matters much. We do find more linksy turf starting with the 6th, but it isn't until the blind 8th where things properly improve. The fairway rolls over humpty ground to a well protected green.
A view of the hole from the forward tee.
For many the tricky second will be blind as well. Not only are there visually jarring trees manacing the approach, but there is a large dip short left filled with nasty rough.
Heading back along the beach, the 9th isn't overly difficult at 348 yards, but for some reason it causes issues as the hole seems to play a good 15 yards longer than listed.
More to follow.
Ciao