Hole 16 389 yards, par 4
Time to climb again. There is enough gorse scattered about to create problems.
Just one bunker protecting this green, though there is a depression on the left hand side that could really mess up a ground approach..
Beautiful transition from fairway to green.
Hole 17 377 yards, par 4
The fairway here slopes right to left, and runs out about 250 yards from the tee.
From behind the green looking back at the tee.
Hole 18 413 yards, par 4
The course ends with a split level fairway. The split is just at a slight angle to the tee. You should let the hole location dictate which level of the fairway to hit at, but my thought was just to keep it between the gorse bushes.
From just behind the split. Would be nice if the sheep could be induced to trim the grass on the slope.
From the upper fairway. Bunkers front left and right.
Lovely view from the patio behind the green. Could have been my favorite finishing hole of the trip if I hadn’t played Kington.
Southerndown is a beautiful course. It’s hilly, but still walkable, with a great deal of ground movement and short grass abounds.. It’s a very good course, and I think could be great with a bit of gorse removal and more imaginative greenside bunkering. From my count, ten holes have the approach narrowed by bunkers both short left and right of the green. That, with gorse up the left side on six or seven of the holes leaves a bit too much of a feeling that you’ve seen the hole before..
The course is compact and well-routed, with some outstanding green sites, and those features should be allowed to shine a bit more. It’s certainly a unique course, and even with my few quibbles well worth a trip. My impressions were formed after only one time around, and I think the course could only get better with repeated play.