Cheerful CHILDREN'S COURSE AT NB: 2024-25 Winter Tour

[Sean_A]

Over the past 136 years, I wonder how many people have wandered past the Children's Course (originally the Ladies Links) adjacent to the 15 & 16 holes and never played it. I was one of those people for over 30 years. It used to be the case that adults were welcome as a guest of a child. At some point in the recent past that stipulation was dropped for at least some of the time; I am not exactly sure. It is also unclear what the greenfee is or how to pay it. Par 3 courses are not my bag, but a mate and myself decided to have a spin round the course. I was moderately impressed given the situation.

The sunken first green. The club has sensibly decided to stick with two grass heights....nothing fancy, but the rgeens were in better nick than some greens are in the summer!


The 2nd is a surprisingly tough hole featuring a nasty green.


The hole is cut on the high edge of the green. Putts were falling easily 5-6 feet away from the hole.


I like the hole names!


Another sunken green...the 6th.




A cracking hole, the 7th green lies behind a mound. I suspect the rear bunker is to catch out play off the wall.


Changing shoes at the car on Hamilton Rd I noticed another Golf Trail plaque....I think this is the last one I need to find.


If you need an emergency game to walk off a heavy meal...give the Wee Course a go. 2025

Previous stops on the Tour

North Berwick
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,59363.0.html

Winterfield
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,73508.0.html

Alnmouth
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,73480.0.html

Cleeve Hill
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49796.msg1128469.html#msg1128469

Future stops on the tour.

Minch Old
Weston-s-Mare
Westward Ho!

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

Splendid.
What a lovely course to be introduced to the game as a youngster (and maybe play it at other ages too) and have fun with friends and relatives.
I recall walking past and looking across and wishing other clubs with a bit of spare land available would provide a facility like it. Some seem to have started too in recent years. I wish more would.
Atb

[Ally Mcintosh]

Splendid.
What a lovely course to be introduced to the game as a youngster (and maybe play it at other ages too) and have fun with friends and relatives.
I recall walking past and looking across and wishing other clubs with a bit of spare land available would provide a facility like it. Some seem to have started too in recent years. I wish more would.
Atb

My dream has been to build a municipal pitch ‘n’ putt / par-3 course in the dunes on Dollymount, outside the Royal Dublin boundary, adjacent to the foreshore. It is an incredibly busy spot for families to hang out on a sunny, summer day. Memories of my Scottish childhood makes me think that they would love picking up a couple of clubs at a starter’s hut and spending an hour dotting around some great links land….


Will never happen of course.

[Simon Barrington]

Splendid.
What a lovely course to be introduced to the game as a youngster (and maybe play it at other ages too) and have fun with friends and relatives.
I recall walking past and looking across and wishing other clubs with a bit of spare land available would provide a facility like it. Some seem to have started too in recent years. I wish more would.
Atb

It is the way forward, for example RND have their "Taylor" Course, so many more could do it as a training ground for future members/golfers.


But it takes vision and leadership, unfortunately I know of at least one club where the option for such land opened up after many years of trying. But then, with a change in composition of the decision making group, they declined to take it as they felt the planning and delivery would be too much work! Ugh...very short sighted

[Mark Pearce]

There's a children's course (the Baird (NOT Braid) course) by the first fairway at Elie.  It's a bit more substantial than the NBWL version, with a number of short par 4s and a few par 3s.  Access is less restricted than the wee course at NBWL (as I understand it) and it was a great way to introduce our boys to golf.

[Sean_A]

I think the Children’s Course works because the land can’t really serve any other golf purpose except as a 9 hole par 3 course and the club is committed to keeping it in basic, but in good nick. For me at least, being only 9 holes is a bonus as the repetition of short holes doesn’t hold my attention for long. Of course, as a place for kids, it works a treat.

Ciao

[John Chilver-Stainer]

I  played this course years ago in the height of summer and I remember it as straw coloured and very much a "bump and run" golf course and good entertainment.

Looking at your pictures of the greens I think I can see a sprinkler head, and judging from the succulent green colour, the greens are probably getting the full treatment.


Did you notice how much fescue content was in the green sward?

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