Some thoughts on the two courses:
We played both days with the "steady SW wind", certainly a 2 if not 3 club wind on occasion. The courses were running hard and fast and the rough, particularly at Littlestone was up enough to necessitate playing provisionals at every opportunity ! We played off the back-tees, and needless to say, we shot 10 over our handicaps !
Littlestone obviously lacks some of the visually impressive dunes of other courses. The opening holes played downwind, with generous fairways and presented scoring opportunities. The short 6th was nigh-impossible to hold the green downwind and extremely tricky to get back up and down.
The short 9th and 14th played cross wind, requiring top notch long irons to penetrate and hold their line. The 16th to me was the most memorable hole, a par four (used to be a five), which required two full-blooded woods the second of which had to dodge strategically placed pot bunkers in the fairway. A five here could be cherished. The par 3 17th dead into the wind was equally tough and the par 5 18th, required another two solid woods into the wind. No wonder only a few of the pros shot under par here.
RCP essentially played downwind on the way out and straight back into the wind on the way in. The greens here provide a high degree of defense, with wild undulations, starting at the first. The short 4th and par 5 5th are often commented on. How one holds the fifth green with one's approach i dont know ! Similarly it proved impossible to hold the par 3 8th with wedge from 150 yards. Essentially, one's chipping and putting were tested on many holes. As documented elsewhere the finish back into the wind is fearsome, with OOB lurking down the right. The par 3 14th playing a 3 wood or 1 iron, and then requiring two solid putts from the back edge for a par. Fairway woods and long irons were required on most of the other par fours coming home, with a premium on keeping them low and straight. Some very nasty bunkers need to be avoided.
Finally respite was enjoyed with a pint on the Clubhouse verandah
Is there ever talk of RCP aspiring to be on the Open rota again?