Have you ever driven along a coastal road and imagined yourself golfing an imaginary course that would fit just perfectly in the landscape? That the land was there to only be golfed upon? I lived the dream at Askernish.
There is information available to how Askernish came to be as it is. I learned a lot of the history from Ralph Thompson and Allen Macdonald, whom I'd like to thank for being so generous with their time. The first six holes meander around the dunes. The next eleven holes are in the incredibly rolling sand dunes that make the course so special. Eighteen begins on a high point and comes down nearly to the level of the adjacent farm land.
I played Askernish in some of the windiest conditions I've ever experienced. It was better to play the course in this condition than if it was calm. Par on the 6100 yard course was defended better than at all the 7500 yard courses I've ever played.
I always thought of Machrihanish as the soul of golf. Now I believe Askernish takes the title. It is more remote. There is a spirit at Askernish that is hard to describe in words. I don't think anyone there makes money. The course survives because of volunteers and donations. There is pride of this treasure that permeates the atmosphere of the clubhouse and course.
As time passes, they will have to address the severity of the greens. Now, they are not particularly fast but incredibly undulating. At speeds of 8 or 9, many hole locations would be nearly impossible. I don't believe this will be insurmountable, but a labor of love for those involved.
Hole #1 short 5 par
Dog leg right. Tall rough to the right, some bail out room left. The south wind helps the hole play shorter than the yardage. The second shot is slightly elevated. It's a very inviting opening hole that's not going to ruin your round off the bat.
First green
Hole #2 short par 3
This pretty, short hole is surrounded by dunes on three sides.
Hole #2 green
Hole #3 short par 4
The hole plays like a semi-circle from right to left. You can either go around the tall grass or try to drive over the trouble. I think over time a bunker will be placed in front of the green to make going for it a little more questionable.
Notice the fairway just right of center. The green lies straight ahead, in line with the tee box.
Approach to the green from about 70 yards.
The green
Hole #4 short par 4
A good long drive can make the green but if you come up short, there is a good chance the ball will not be found. The left side should be favored. Then, you face an uphill second shot with no more than a wedge (it played downwind). Still, the second is not easy to hold the green in firm, fast conditions.
This is what the second looks like from the fairway.
The green
Hole #5 Short par 4 (that played extermely long in the wind) 350 yds, driver 3 iron short.
This hole is a slight dogleg left. The approach is slightly uphill and the green slopes from the left to right. But don't go too far left because it then drops off to the tall grass.
Approach
Hole #6 Long par 5
This hole was previously a landing strip for small aircraft. It's a fairly straight away hole with an uphill approach. The green falls away to the back. As with many holes on the course, the approach is not difficult to hold against the prevailing wind. However, if it shifts from the north, any shot that ends on the green is a good one.
The approach shot
From above the green
Hole #7 Long par 4
This is where the course gets very interesting. Elevated tee shot from a dune into a valley surrounded by dunes. The approach is best played by a running shot to a green with a mild false front.
From the fairway
From the front of the green
From above the green
Hole #8 Short par 4
Generally a lay up off the tee into the wind. You must carry a depression in the fairway that's only about 150 yards off the tee, but if you don't, you could lose your ball in heavy rough. The short approach is to a fantastic green that's banked by a large dune to the right and a deep bunker on the left. Tremendous slope from back to front on the green.
From the fairway
Hole #9 Short par 4
This hole is a dogleg left. The tee shot should be laid up in the fairway. The approach can either be bumped up the slope to the green or flown in if the wind is not severe. Short is better than long here, as the rough is very tall if you hit over the green. This I tell from first hand experience. Depending on where the tee shot ends up, the player can easily face the first blind approach of the round.
From the fairway
Hole #10 Medium length uphill par 4
Pretty straightforward tee shot between dunes on the right and a severe drop off on the left. The approach is uphill to a green that falls from left to right.
From the fairway
Hole #11 very long par 3 (into the wind!)
What a spectacular hole! The tee and green sit around the same elevation. However, you must carry about 150 yards of glen about 50 ft below the level of tee and green. Tee shot was directly into the wind (pured a 2 iron about 160 yards, 30 short). Also, the sea is directly in the background, behind the green.
At the green
Hole #12 long par 5
The tee shot is elevated. One drives down into a little valley. Only from there does the real fun begin. Few par 5s have much excitement for the second shot, but this, like #10 at Machrihanish does so greatly. The second is to be played up over a dune. If you take the more aggressive line straight at the green, the fairway is very narrow. However, there is the option of playing to the right where it is more open. The line to the green is better from the left. Regardless of where you lay up, the green is elevated and guarded by a large, natural bunker. The green slopes from front to back and right to left.
From the fairway
Hole #13 short par 4
You actually skirt the dunes on this hole. It's a sharp dogleg left. The approach is uphill and the green slopes dramatically from back to front.
From the fairway
From above the green
Hole #14 short par 3
Now you're back in the dunes. The tee and green both sit on sand bluffs. You must carry the green, about 125 yds to the front. If you're not on the green, you probably have a tough shot because there is fall off on three sides. The view is spectacular.
From the tee
From short of the green
From behind the green
Hole #15 short par 4
Do not go right!! Severe drop off into tall grass. The hole is primarily characterized by the natural bowl of a green. You ideally want to run the ball down into the bowl and hope it stays there. You can fly the ball on, but downwind it's hard to hold the green. This green will need a little work if the speeds are increased.
From the fairway
Hole #16 short par 4
The tee shot is elevated down to a valley. This hole is also made by the aproach. The green sits about 25 ft above fairway level. It is not really possible to run the ball on because there is some tall grass to stop it. It is also nearly impossible to hold the upper portion of the green, where the flag is usually located. I would say that it was the most difficult short iron shot I have ever played.
From the fairway
From behind the green
Hole #17 medium length par 3
You are forced to carry about 140 yards of rubbish to a green that slopes from back to front. It's probably better to miss short right to have the best short shot to the hole. Short and left is no good, as there is tall grass and the player will be faced with a difficult, uphill shot.
From behind the green
Hole #18 short par 5
This is a sharp dogleg to the left. The drive leaves the dunes and goes to the level of the neighboring farmland. For the second shot, there is more room to the left than appears from the fairway. The approach to the green makes one favor the left side, as the land tilts to the right.
From the fairway
From behind the green
