I am one of the lucky few to have the chance to play this interesting, spectacular and polarising golf course.
My initial impressions after only one round in a 20-30mph prevailing breeze are that it will be a course that divides opinions. It has a good routing and has been grown in very well. The course looked wonderful with its ragged bunkers, organic shaped tees and big undulating greens and fairways. But it is these same undulating greens and fairways that will deter some players from really embracing this extreme design.
It is the skill of the architect to balance the relationship between skill and luck. Luck is an important component of golf, as is skill. Strong vertical movement in the fairways is fine if there is sufficient flattish area where a more skilful golfer might hit their ball to get a more predictable bounce of lie. In general, these areas exist at The Castle course. On many greens however, there is less area where a golfer might hope to land there ball and receive some agreeable type of bounce.
The fairways, are in most cases, of a generous and necessary width considering the strength of the wind on this site. It may be expected however that many of the rough grass outcrops that are scattered throughout the fairways- some of which are hidden, will be mown out over time and this will improve the experience for most golfers.
For me the Old Course and Muirfield have the best relationship between luck and skill. The more skillful golfer can dull the impact of luck on their round by negotiating their way around, over and between hazards. At the Castle course, luck has a considerable impact on the golfers round. Too much impact? That is for each golfer to decide. The Pros may think so, the low handicapper may not, the high handicaper may not notice the difference.
The Castle course is a triumph in many ways. Now the course is about to open, all the pundits views will give way to the only opinion that matters- the paying public.
scott