Rye (pictures)

[BCrosby]

Bob, that is some wind to unsettle that silky southern swing! I had to endure two brutal visits to Rye before last week's nicer weather. You did not have the best of the English weather since you had a sodden trip round Huntercombe.

Perhaps not the best weather, but a remarkable, memorable trip. I would not give back a minute of it. 

Bob

[James Boon]

James this has been discussed on here several times with no satisfactory answer.  I feel they are there to force a Chip and not a Putt, increasing the variety of shots required on this links course. Not sure if they were there from the start.

When I walked by Royal West Norfolk earlier this year I saw they have just this feature at the rear of the 18th green.

Thanks Tony, I'll try the search engine to see what I can find   

Cheers,

James

[Mark Bourgeois]

James: http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,27940.35/

See also Neil C's excellent article in Golf Architecture magazine.

Mark

[Sean_A]

I love this undefined look.  I bet it makes people suspicious!


Thanks for posting the lovely pix Philip.

Ciao

[Peter Pallotta]

Philip - thanks.

The texture of the golf course is remarkable.

I walked through a naturalized parkland yesterday with my wife (a keen gardener) - struck by how nature masses/clumps together plants in broad swaths that intertwine with eachother and vary (in various ways) in height, colour and density. A subtlety hard to duplicate.

I was just saying to a playing partner the other day, "Damn, but what I'd do for a jereboam's worth of claret right about now". 

Peter
 

[Mark_Rowlinson]

As always, thank you Philip. I've only ever played Rye in the winter, but it is in wonderful condition even then. What is its architectural history? How much Colt survives?

[Eric Strulowitz]

These are great pictures and I had the great fortune of playing Rye this past Friday.

I found it to be very fair and generous in terms of tee shots.  The greens were in great shape and well bunkered.  The bunkers had great sand, they were a pleasure to hit out of.  The holes where you had to hit over the sand dunes, were actually very fair, just get close for your second shot.  In the am, I shot an 84, and in the pm I shot a 79, which is a new personal best for me.  Of course, these were from tees just over 6200 yards and there was virtually no wind, I could not imagine this course with real wind and 6700+ yards.

I found everyone in the clubhouse to be most cordial.  I felt like a member for the day.  The buffet lunch was great and any questions were readily answered by the staff and members. 

Only complaint is minor, and that was poor marking for some of the holes.   Off the greens, had  no idea where to go on a few occasions. Literally got lost a few times, did not know which way to go.  Thank goodness, there was someone always within shouting distance.  Knowing where to go made the second round a whole lot more pleasureable. 

[Philip Gawith]

Mark - I am the not the expert on the history alas - maybe the link to Neil Crafter will explain? I think quite a lot of Colt survives but i am guessing.

Agree with you about the texture Peter - I particularly like the look/feel of the short 14th. It soothes the soul!

You are right about 16 Sean - glorious lack of definition. Certainly a bit disconcerting first time round!

[BCrosby]

"...glorious lack of definition" is an interesting observation.

To paraphrase Dickens, a recipe that might lead the worst of holes or the best of holes. In any event, it takes enormous architectural courage to design a hole with a lack of definition. To then design a glorious hole would be pure genius.

Bob

[Philip Gawith]

You are right Bob - a somewhat counter-intuitive formulation, but i thought i would stick with the words. And it certainly is an excellent hole!

[Kevin Pallier]

Philip

One of my highlights living in GB&I was seeing Rye. There's no need to take an "aerieal" approach on so many holes there.

[Scott Warren]

I played Rye on Saturday in conditions that sound like they were similar to those that met Philip: harsh wind blowing from left to right on the first and remaining on that bearing all day.

I had a ball despite playing poorly.

What amazed me most was how much the course has burnt off since he took his pics about six weeks ago. I won't post all of mine (unless anyone particularly wants to see them) because Philip's tour is pretty exhastive as it is, but these four will give you an idea of how firm and fast the course is currently playing.

It certainly is a hell of a golf course and were it not for the disappointing stretch of 10-12, I'd have rated it in my top three or four.

The par three 5th


The short par four 9th from the tee


Looking back at the dune you cross on the 13th - as it should be, the blindness is well combined with a spacious landing zone.


The 14th green, giving a view beyond to the dogleg right 8th.

[Bill_McBride]

Would having a caddy be of great assistance the first time around Rye, or is the Strokesaver enough?  Looking forward to playing there Sunday for the first time.

[Kevin Pallier]

It certainly is a hell of a golf course and were it not for the disappointing stretch of 10-12, I'd have rated it in my top three or four.

What's so dissappointing besides the lake (dam) ?

[Mark Chaplin]

I cannot say for sure but Rye has been subject to much movement of land over the years - in fact they are GAINING land due to the shifting sands. The sleepers may date back to earlier times and been used in areas subjected to erosion to sure up the land.

Had to drop out of a courtesy there on Saturday with Scott Warren, I'm looking forward to hearing what he made of Rye.

[Dan Moore]

Would having a caddy be of great assistance the first time around Rye, or is the Strokesaver enough?  Looking forward to playing there Sunday for the first time.

Bill,  As you can see in the photos there is plenty of blindness off the tee so having someone (another player or caddie) who knows the correct line would be a ot of help but not essential.  I played in the verdant green of early April.  Man that looks good all browned out. 

[Bill_McBride]

Would having a caddy be of great assistance the first time around Rye, or is the Strokesaver enough?  Looking forward to playing there Sunday for the first time.

Bill,  As you can see in the photos there is plenty of blindness off the tee so having someone (another player or caddie) who knows the correct line would be a ot of help but not essential.  I played in the verdant green of early April.  Man that looks good all browned out. 

Thanks, Dan, can't wait to see it for myself!

[Scott Warren]

Bill, I have never played with a caddie other than my dad in junior events, but if there is a course where I'd have benefitted from one more than any other, Rye is it.

KP:10-12 just didn't have the interesting land of the other holes (perhaps 1 sits with them). Even on other holes that were on the flatter land, like 3 and 8, there was some real interest off the tee ( 8 ) or around the green (4). There was nothing in those holes that I thought really adds to the overall package. By all means they are fine holes, nothing majorly wrong with them, but when you look at the overall course experience, I don't think they really add anything. Just my 2p worth!

Chappers: It was awesome. As it happens, no one other than me and John turned up, so we were able to play singles. And you're right, he is one of the really great guys. I had a ball, and now know where the blue folder lives at Deal, so I can snaffle some more courtesies!!

Mark is right about them gaining land. There is a great picture in the clubhouse showing the water almost lapping up against the 6th green only 40 or so years ago, now there is hundreds of metres from that green to the water.