HI David,
I have posted a little about the course before. I have included below some photos of the course from an earlier thread about Colt's 'Torn' Bunkers.
Basically, the new course will be the second course at Close House (
www.closehouse.co.uk). The first course is a nice little (5,900y) course set amongst many old Oak trees. The new course is styled on Harry Colts wonderful work on English country Estates. Close House was an Estate started in the 1770's - so that style seemed appropriate.
The new course is parkland course, and features great views up and down the river and the valley. It will be about 7000yards long and features about 90m (300ft) of elevation change from highest point to lowest point – like Pasatiempo.
The Mansion house is now a boutique hotel with 19 rooms (though they are planning on turning the stables into another 16 rooms) and very popular for weddings.
The site is adjacent to the River Tyne, and only about a 15 mins drive from downtown Newcastle (very handy), and 10 mins from the international airport.
There is a membership at Close House already and this will continue. Visitors will be able to pay a green fee to play the new course.
The course features about 50 bunkers and bent/fescue greens. Average greens size = about 615m2. The course has extravagant and delightful width in some places and demands precise shots in others. There are lots of old features on the site include 2000 year old archeology, ice-lakes, ridge & furrow forms, stone ha-ha walls and ancient forests.
Strategically, the course features a degree of mystery- which will favour the golfer who visits several times, but won't overly distress the first-time player. We have also deliberately made the course looker more difficult than it plays - especially from the back tees. There is nothing like this course in the area. It will certainly be different from its neighbours! I am looking forward to this course being opened for play next year. Hope you will pay us a visit.
scott
6th Hole - a 400y downhill par 4. The best line off the tee is over the wall (to a wide but hidden fairway)
9th Hole - Mike Clayton during a site visit giving the a 'road test'.
13th Hole- a 460y downhill par 4.
scott
"Torn" Bunker Harry Colt thread=
http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,45684.0/[/quote]