Aerial Photos from a great course- Rosses Point, Sligo

[Neil Regan]

As with Scott's AOTD, don't reveal the answer right away, please.

Do you know the hole ?
Have you played it ?

It's Rosses Point, Sligo, Ireland.
I think Harry Colt is credited here, but I don't know the details.

This is one of my favorite holes in the world, from a course I love more than all but a few.


Pictures © from County Sligo Golf Club website.[/color]

Looking back, golfers on the green, the following group has just left the tee.



The previous hole, also showing the hole in the above picture from a reverse angle (i.e., from the tee.) The small green near the top in the first picture is the green near the center in the second picture. The bigger green in the first picture is high in the dunes in the second picture, under the path and clubhouse.



And a map of the hole.




Plus, an aerial of another part of the course.

[Jack_Marr]

It's on of the best holes in its country. Yeats might be able to describe it better than me. I hope I haven't given too much away.

[Neil Regan]

"Cast a cold eye on par, on bogey. Golfer, pass ye by."
Yeats, after losing his final match 2&1 on this hole

[Neil Regan]

The strategy used to be, hit it as far as you could down the right to the corner from where you could see the green.
That's about 280 from the tips.
Nowadays, the strategy is the same, but it doesn't require as much controlled power.
You can play down the left for a blind shorter approach, but that angle also results in even good shots ending on the right edge of a very big green, which may not be a good result.

A long tee shot sometimes runs through the fairway into a ditch. You might get a flyer lie from a perched stance with a 7-iron. You might also find a missing Mars Rover.

[Bill Gayne]

I've played this wonderful course only one time and the 17th hole gave me fits. I can think of no other course that has a start quite like this one. The first hole is a par four straight up hill. The second hole is another uphill par four with a skyline green. When you reach the green it is the highest point on the golf course and the views are spectacular. The third hole is a par five and plays straight down hill. I love the third hole.

They have recently announced an extensive upgrade program for the clubhouse. When I visted it was during their open ccompetitions week and the three members that I played with were delightful.

[Mike_Sweeney]

They have recently announced an extensive upgrade program for the clubhouse.

I recognize the pressures to keep up with the market, but I really would not want to see much more than a paint job. It is a perfect the way it is IMHO, only wish I got to see the members bar in the clubhouse.

[A_Clay_Man]

How about this one?

[Bill Gayne]

Mike,

Hopefully I won't reveal to much to identify the course but I recently read about the clubhouse changes on www.unison.ie. If you go to the site and archive I think it should be there.

Bill

[Mike Hendren]

Adam,

A bit unlucky, that one's number.  I have the very image framed in my office and am surprised by the extent to which the front of the green just beyond the bunkers is masked by the shadows - making the green appearing pushed up.
 
Mike

[Scott_Burroughs]

Here's another view of the hole, apparently with the tide in,
from the GCA course profile:

[Neil Regan]

It's Rosses Point, Sligo, Ireland.
I think Harry Colt is credited here, but I don't know the details.