Can any of you UK-ers shed some light on this bunkerless couse?
Forest- The course came abouts in 1889 and was designed by Robert Wilson, he was a professional, though the course is played over the same ground much has changed and only what are 10,11 and 17 remain. The changes from 1915 were significant and that is pretty much the course today. It is laid out over a common which can be used by anyone, at times today the golf intermingles with cattle, sheep and kite flyers as well as picniccers and walkers. The course is quite like Painswick in many respects, it is perhaps just 5 miles away and the soil and subsoils are similar. Unlike Painswick, Minchinhampton is fairly flat and the configuration is fairly normal with 3 short holes, maybe only 1 par 5. There are some really interesting green complexes set about in old pits or with pits to guard then, the course is virtually treeless, the course is disected by a number of roads that cross the common and at one point there is a place where they used to hang people. I think its a good course (and I am not alone) although bunkerless there is a preffered route into the greens and thought is needed, but to the masses its very much forgotten about mainly because of the condition. Its a must play for Sean, if he has not already. Cleeve Cloud is the other course in the area which is liken to Minch & Painswick.
Being commonland there are mowing restrictions and the use of pesticides is at best very restricted, they are probably allowed to feed the greens a bit but all irrigation comes from the sky.