[Matthew Delahunty]

More of my 2 days of golf in England in October.

After the overcast day at Swinley Forest, the follow day at Pulborough was an absolutely glorious autumn day.

Although not quite as intricate in its design strategy, Pulborough is one of the prettiest courses I've played and packed with memorable holes.

I had the course to myself and took lots of photos, both during the round and going back afterwards to get some in the late afternoon light.

Here are a few (I'l do them in instalments)

1st:




2nd:




3rd:





4th:

[Matthew Delahunty]

5th:





Walking to the 6th tee you get a glimpse through the trees:


6th:






7th (the first photo is a tad distorted/titled):

[Tom_Doak]

Matthew:

What a lovely course.

The thing that strikes me about your pictures, though, is that you indeed "had the course to yourself".  In the USA that would bring predictions of doom -- no developer can fathom having an empty golf course on a nice day in October.  It is nice to remember that the game still survives nicely in spite of this "problem".

[Jim Sweeney]

What a lovely course, indeed!

Do you know anyhting about its architectural history- I was struck by all the fine edged, flashed-up bunkering. Was this original? I think it looks fine, of course I have no comment on its effectiveness, just wondering if it has been "westernized."

[Philip Gawith]

Matthew - some great pictures of a really fun course. You should search back for the pictures I posted around July/August just to see how different the course looked when it was really dry.

[Neil_Crafter]

Indeed some very nice shots of a lovely course Matthew.
West Sussex was designed by the Three Majors - Hutchison, Campbell and Hotchkin in 1930 and was described by Darwin as one of the three finest inland courses in England, along with Royal Worlington and Liphook. It was 6200 yards when opened and a par 70, with five one shotters. It is considered by many to be the Three Majors best work together.
cheers Neil

[James Bennett]

Matthew

I am looking forward to the other 11 holes.  Great pics.

I assume everyone has noted that West Sussex has FAIRWAY bunkers, and not ROUGH bunkers, and that the club has managed to have fairway on one side with ROUGH/heather on the other.  No circles of long grass surrounding each bunker.  They must have a disciplined course supt/staff/course committee.  Gosh it looks beautiful and yet so simple.

James B

[Matthew Delahunty]

Matthew:

What a lovely course.

The thing that strikes me about your pictures, though, is that you indeed "had the course to yourself".  In the USA that would bring predictions of doom -- no developer can fathom having an empty golf course on a nice day in October.  It is nice to remember that the game still survives nicely in spite of this "problem".

Tom,

I may have seen about five or six groups for the day, but there was nobody either 4-5 holes in front or behind me, so effectively I could take it all in without bothering anyone.

[Matthew Delahunty]

8th:





9th:




10th:




11th:

[James Bennett]

those fairway traps on #11 look virginal.  Have they recently been rebuilt?  The sand is a pure white as this stage of the life cycle.

James B

[Neil_Crafter]

Some period photos of West Sussex. The one of the 5th hole accompanied Tom MacWood's excellent essay on the Three Majors in issue 9 of Golf Architecture. One is of the 6th, and the others I am not sure of the holes.

James - Seems from the description accompanying the photo of the 5th hole that the bunker sand was very white from day one. And very observant that these are fairway bunkers with fairway right up to the edge rather than bunkers bordered by a collar of rough. I think bunkers look better this way and the way we've done our bunkers at Glenelg for example.

Apart from the increase in heather, the bunkers do not appear to have changed all that much.

Neil

[Matthew Delahunty]

those fairway traps on #11 look virginal.  Have they recently been rebuilt?  The sand is a pure white as this stage of the life cycle.

James B

James,
Yes, I think those fairway traps are newly constructed. They've planted heather around the lips which will grow in over time. They look a bit Augusta-ish at the moment. The yardage book shows a solitary bunker. It looks as if they've cut the second trap into the fairway to counter the longer hitters. Those who have played the course before will be able to tell you more.


Neil,

The second last photo appears to be the 4th green. The left greenside trap has disappeared.

The final photo looks like the 14th green with the 15th green in the background. They has built a pond in front of 15 since.

[James Bennett]

Neil

I know a local hills course that HAD fairway bunkers a couple of years ago.  And WIDE fairways.  Temporary insanity unfortunately.

Matthew

thanks again for the info and pics.  I hope to show them to some people of influence at a local heavily wooded course (albeit not as heavily as it was)

James B

[Matthew Delahunty]

12th:





13th:





14th:






15th:

[Matthew Delahunty]

Neil

I know a local hills course that HAD fairway bunkers a couple of years ago.  And WIDE fairways.  Temporary insanity unfortunately.

Matthew

thanks again for the info and pics.  I hope to show them to some people of influence at a local heavily wooded course (albeit not as heavily as it was)

James B

James,

One of the things which was most noticeable at Swinley Forest and West Sussex was, despite being mature wooded courses, the trees are not in play except for the extremely wayward shot.

The only exception may be on 10 at West Sussex where the second shot may be blocked from the fairway traps:


or the greenside trees on 7 and 8.

[James Bennett]

Matthew

I will try to remember NOT to include that picture of #10 in my exhibits.  Back to the other site for a better copy of the latest pics.

James B

ps  we had a couple more of such trees as those depicted above (double hazards) a few years ago, but some improvements have been made since at the local hills club.

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Excellent photos of an uplifting course - a real beauty. Thank you so much.

[Matthew Delahunty]

16th:








17th:







18th:

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