Southerndown
I am aware that several of you know this South Wales course which stands on downland overlooking the sea and the town of Porthcawl. It has quite an architectural history, being started by Willie Fernie in 1905, apparently with advice from Harry Vardon and James Braid. Herbert Fowler made revisions as early as 1907 and Willie Park made others in 1913. Harry Colt came along in 1918 for his contribution and, more recently, Donald Steel has 'advised on extensive improvements.' At 6417 yards the course is not particularly long but par is only 70 and there are 8 par 4s at 400 yards or longer and a 220-yard par 3. The par 5s, however, are 465 and 464 yards. I shall be interested to hear the comments of others who have played the course. Personally, I think it is delightful.
1st, 367 yards par 4. It feels like 967 yards, so steep is the hill up which the fairway climbs, and Henry Cotton described the 1st as one of the most difficult opening holes he knew.
1st green. The climb is worth it just for the location.
2nd, 439 yards par 4. A beauty! The drive is made over a marker post to a fairway which falls away on the left at about the 250 yard mark, and all the way along the right. Then it is downhill to the green over these cross-bunkers at 90 yards, two more at 55 yards and there's another bunker down the hill to the right of the green.
2nd. More fine views.
6th, 465 yards par 5. The hole runs uphill along the edge of the course through some fairly bumpy terrain. There are three bunkers eating into the fairway on the diagonal at 225 yards and beyond them is a trench. To avoid both you probably have to clear 280 yards. Those who, like me, cannot hope to get that sort of distance must lay up short and then hope that our second shots do not end up in one of three bunkers crossing the fairway, on the same diagonal, in front of the green. There's another bunker on the left, too. My ball just made the apron - after my 3rd shot!
6th, looking back down the fairway showing the bracken which is such a feature of the course. There's also gorse.
Unfortunately, it was at this point that I found out that the spare film I thought was carrying turned out to be an empty container, so no more photos. Perhaps someone else has a few?