Often times the second course at major clubs is treated as the poor second cousin. In my experience, this is emphatically not true. Yes, the courses may be shorter with less attention paid to shaping detail and maintenance, but many remain fun places to play, often for far less than it costs to play "big" course. Clubs have realized the cash cow these small courses can be and have started investing!
I know nothing about the origins of Annesley Links. Perhaps more informed persons can chime in. What I can gather is D Steel made significant changes to the course then in 2015 M Ebert had his say. I believe the goal of each project was to add length and interest to the design. Tipped out at 4594 yards the course isn't long now! Much like Castletrock's second course, The Bann, the holes are often quite narrow. Similar to The Bann, the saving grace is that only one hole stretches over 349 yards leaving plenty of opportunity to layup off the tee and still reach greens in regulation. From what I can gather, Ebert's work entailed the following
Three new holes behind the Championship 3rd green...9-11.
The old 2, 3, 4 have been removed/redesigned. I think at least part of this area is now where the practice ground is located.
16 was removed from the design.
Radically different tee for 17.
So I think we we now have the following configuration:
1 (as existed)
2 (not sure...seems to be a new hole...maybe removed 2-4 and created a new hole?)
3 (old 5)
4 (old 6)
5 (old 7)
6 (old
7 (old 9)
8 (old 10)
9-11 new holes
12 (old11)
13 (old 12)
14 (old 13)
15 (old 14)
16 (new tee to old 15 green)
17 (new tee, lengthened to par 4)
18 (as existed)
I am not really a numbers guy when it comes to golf unless it’s the greenfee being discussed. However, a few things jump out at me when looking at the card. First....94 slope? Okay, whatever, but I think the slope should be far higher. Second, why isn't there just one tee? What is the point of three sets for a short course like this? The Annesley is the perfect opportunity to fully embrace simple golf. The club needs to look at what is going on at Formby Ladies.
The course starts and finishes on the less interesting land. However, on the 1st one had better find a good approach angle...coming in from the right is a recipe for failure.
The second isn't really up to much, but I like the green.
We enter Annesley proper on the short 3rd. Yes, a nasty fronting bunker, but there is a rear backstop.
Like Walton Heath, The Annesley and Championship Course intermingle a few times. The 4th teases golfers to drive near the green. It may be best to stay on the flat for the approach to the plateau green.
The pressure rarely eases for those wishing to play aggressively. The blind 5th has hidden horrors beyond the marker pole. The hole eases left of the pole.
More to follow.
Ciao