The bunkers arent great but are not evidence that the course is a complete cockup.
No, I agree, the course isn't a complete cock-up. The 2nd hole is. Very good courses have very good construction. These aren't. Are they necessary? The hole would be better without them, so they are a mistake that drags down what would otherwise be a fine hole.
Neither of these design elements are evidence of a poor golf hole.
This from MM's recent review:
Right side bunkering stops balls played on this line from travelling into the tea tree.
Maybe that is.
A water hole does seem a bit out of place in the location but it is a very good hole to play. The green contours with a strong back to front slope make for interesting decisions, and short game shots to a variety of pin positions.
A bit out of place?
I once played 4 from the blacks into a gale where Jerry and I hit driver onto the then 18th tee as we couldn't carry the
water into the wind.
An elevated tee with a forced water carry to a green of not that much depth, bunkered left and right with trouble over the back. Sure it's difficult. There may be interesting decisions if there is no wind, but any other time it is simply hit the green - or, apparently, the 18th tee - and walk off.
The hole is emblematic of everything that is wrong with National Old. Much like a cook without any idea trying to make a curry with lots of different spices instead of a simple dominant flavour with undertones of something else, Nat Old throws everything but the kitchen sink into the equation - although I wouldn't at all be surprised to learn there is a kitchen sink in that pond - thinking that more must be better.
Agreed, it is poor but no worse than St Andrews Beach which is a good course.
Come off it David. No one is more critical of the vegetation at St Andrews Beach than me, but at least the mess is confined to off the fairways. There is nothing this appalling there. And given the political clout of The National membership, it is simply unacceptable that they are not importing Octogenarians from the USA on 457 visas to work for $7.50 an hour to remove them.
Are you saying that looking like the Capital is a bad thing?
Now that I don't work there anymore, I can safely say yes.
The vegetation on this hole is not evidence of a poor golf course.
No, but in reality I am comparing it to NSW, which is where the comparisons have been made. It is the bunkering that is evidence of a poor hole.
From MM again:
Given the difficulty in approach play from the left, I'd not be fussed if the left side fairwway bunkering closest to the tee were to be filled. The angle's not desirable from there - no need to make someone hit out of a bunker there in my opinion. Trent Jones Jnr does however employ "aiming" and "saving" bunkers on his courses, and several examples are evident on National Old.
Do many very good courses employ aiming and saving bunkers? Not to mention tea tree avoiding bunkers? Wouldn't a simple containment bowl be better?
Not sure how this is a a complete disgrace. The tee shot is a good challenge and the second shot is full of all sorts of risk reward options. A well constructed and visually stunning green complex. Plus some great views of the beach from the tee.
Well, at least you can see the beach.
No worse than st andrews beach.
Please provide me with an image of a St Andrews Beach bunker like that.
Nothing in the photo suggests that this hole is a dog.
It is artificial and built up. Not content with having one side of the green bunkered, it has both. Again, a hole that has to have bunkers for pins on one side of the green, and bunkers for pins on the other. It can't just use contour and/or slope.
National Old is full of plenty of challenging shots and risk reard architecture.
I agree that National Old has many fine elements. Fairways that look narrower from the tee than they are. The need to approach from specific spots. A spectacular site. Some thrilling moments. Much like everything from the 1980s, however, it is completely overblown, with too many outright stupid holes to be taken seriously.
Very good courses have simple, elegant architecture. National Old is the Bluto Blutarsky of golf courses.