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Paul_Turner

Thurlestone GC-Minor Colt
« on: September 12, 2002, 08:12:14 PM »
I'd never heard of this course.  It was extended to 18 by Colt and the original 9 were redesigned by him.  After Colt, F Hawtree made some changes to the original 9 too.

Cliff top courses often suffer because of the lack of small scale undulation and this appears to be the case here.  So Colt put in loads of bunkers with a large variety of shapes and sizes to break the terrain up.  It's an unusual look.

The course looks pretty spectacular!







Unfortunately (although Rich might prefer it!) the bunkers are no more.  Just simple pots left:





« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Rich Goodale (Guest)

Re: Thurlestone GC-Minor Colt
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2002, 12:20:55 AM »
Paul

So where is Thurlestone GC?  Any chance it is on the road between Painswick and Aberdour?

Rich

PS--Colt bunkers are fine, its just those frilly neo-McKenzian ones that get my goat!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Tom MacWood (Guest)

Re: Thurlestone GC-Minor Colt
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2002, 03:21:14 AM »
Paul
Great find. I never heard of this course either. Like Rich I like Colt's bunkering scheme and bunkers. But I also like Macdonald's.....Simpson's......Thomas's.......Thompson's......Flynn's.....Hutchi
son's.....Maxwell's......Alison's and the rest of the neo-MacKenzians. I have a feeling if you told Richie those bunkers were the work of 'McKenzie' we might have a problem.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Ran Morrissett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Thurlestone GC-Minor Colt
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2002, 04:53:48 AM »
Paul, in the third picture down, can you tell how far the course extends along the coast - is that four/five holes well past the village? If so, wonder where the bunkers went (or does the grass bunker wall mask the sand from this angle or did the sub-soil become too rocky to build bunkers)?  Like your last Colt find, the flatter the topo, the more Colt turned toward bunkering to liven the proceedings!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

WilliamWang

Re: Thurlestone GC-Minor Colt
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2002, 05:47:58 AM »
just did some google snooping on thurlestone.  here's what i found...

it's in devon

Thurlestone
Kingsbridge
England
TQ7 3NZ

measures to 6340 and par 71 today

and one website made mention that peter allis had compared it favorably to pebble beach.  don't know about that, but the shape of the topography is slightly similar.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Paul Turner

Re: Thurlestone GC-Minor Colt
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2002, 07:00:06 AM »
Rich

Yes as William states, it's on the South coast of Devon (beautiful area).  Not really on your route, about a fast 90 mins drive down the M5 from Avonmouth, where I assume you're picking up your car.  Which puts it within range of better courses like St Enodoc.  But if you want to play something different or to do me a favour, then Thurlestone might be fun to check out-ask the secretary to get cracking with rebuilding those bunkers!  Mackenzie's Teignmouth is closeby- my old man has played this course many times and likes it; but it probably isn't super special.

PS I lived in Bristol for 5 years- very fond of that fine city and the surrounding countryside.

Ran

The course has 4 holes out beyond the cluster of bunkers, before it turns inland, to the right, and then back.  The final clifftop hole is the 10th, which overlooks that island in the third pic.  Perhaps the inland holes suffer in comparison?  But I have a pic of the 17th green which looks pretty good (I'll post later).  The course is in green type in the old AA guide which is usually a good sign (indicates on of the best in area).

I think Portrush is the clearest example of Colt's bunkering method.  Very few bunkers on the wild terrain and then a load on the flat 18th!  And obviously Muirfield and Lytham (his in part) are other examples of his-with loads of bunkers on flattish terrain.





« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »

Paul Turner

Re: Thurlestone GC-Minor Colt
« Reply #6 on: September 13, 2002, 07:10:44 AM »
PS Rich, if you want to play a course on the drive back north.  Then I'd recommend Silloth-on-Solway, it's quite easy to get to from the M6 on the border.  I think you'd love it!  (Eventhough Mackenzie did some work on it  ;))
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by 1056376800 »