Highlands Links Golf Course (Stanley Thompson) - A Photo Tour! - Hole 18 Posted

[Ian Andrew]

Historical - Looking Back



Construction



From the left side

[Ian Andrew]

Not to stir the pot, but the 3rd hole looks really neat without the 's-bunker', in those historic photos.

Jeff,

I must admit I'm finding I'm liking the hole more without the bunker the more I look at those old images.

I've always found the conflict of what was original, what was potentially added by the architect after and what has evolved to be a confounding decision some times.

[Greg McMullin]

Number 4 prior to bunker work taken Sept. 2008

[Gary Slatter]

thanks Mark, and Ian.  Glate!

[Mark Saltzman]

Hole 5: Par 3, 164 Yards -- The 5th hole is named 'Canny Slap' as it requires a precise approach to find this shallow putting surface.  The Highlands Links website notes that locals often take the 'canny' approach of the backboard and sideboards to avoid the large false-front.  Of particular note is the 'Dragon and Fireball' pair of bunkers short-right of the green, recently restored by Ian Andrew.  I understand that he may have tinkered with it a bit on his latest visit to Highlands, so they may look slightly different than pictured.

[Matt Kardash]

Such a cool hole

[Ian Andrew]

Old Image thought to be 1946


I finished the last of the work on the fireball two weeks ago

[Ian Andrew]

Mark,

Just to let you know, I won't be posting for a couple of weeks.

[Jay Cox]

It's an esoteric distinction, but 2-7 has to be in the running for the best set of six consecutive holes that includes two par 3s, two par 4s, and two par 5s.  All really neat holes, and completely different - but they still flow together beautifully.

4, 5, and 6 also has to at least make the long list for best consecutive holes including a 3, a 4, and a 5.

And despite the fondness of my memories, 4 and 5 both look better than what I recall in these pictures.  Kudos to Mark for the photography and Ian for the outstanding work.

[Matt Kardash]

Ian, since you did some bunker work am I to assume you added the back right bunker? If so, why? It's not in the 1946 photo.

[Adam Clayman]

Ian, since you did some bunker work am I to assume you added the back right bunker? If so, why? It's not in the 1946 photo.

Matt, I can't speak authoritatively but I suspect Mr. Thompson put in those rear bunkers.

After hearing Mr. Cooper speak at Jasper park, I came up with a theory about St's use of rear bunkers. My sense was that he emulated Dr. Mackenzie's use of them, and added them over the years to specific holes of his. Old photos at Banff, and hearing Mr. Cooper, along with Ran's observation of them, were all variables in the theory. 

Don't those rear scabs look like (in principle) certain Mackenzie holes?

[Matt Kardash]

Ian, since you did some bunker work am I to assume you added the back right bunker? If so, why? It's not in the 1946 photo.

Matt, I can't speak authoritatively but I suspect Mr. Thompson put in those rear bunkers.

After hearing Mr. Cooper speak at Jasper park, I came up with a theory about St's use of rear bunkers. My sense was that he emulated Dr. Mackenzie's use of them, and added them over the years to specific holes of his. Old photos at Banff, and hearing Mr. Cooper, along with Ran's observation of them, were all variables in the theory. 

Don't those rear scabs look like (in principle) certain Mackenzie holes?

Yeah, but in the 1946 photo the rear right bunker doesn't exist. Maybe it was there between the opening and 1946, I don't know. But if not I just am curious why Ian went thru all the trouble adding a bunker that wasn't originally there. i only ask because I know he always tries his best to restore thompson's original work.

[Ian Andrew]

Yeah, but in the 1946 photo the rear right bunker doesn't exist. Maybe it was there between the opening and 1946, I don't know. But if not I just am curious why Ian went thru all the trouble adding a bunker that wasn't originally there. i only ask because I know he always tries his best to restore thompson's original work.

Matt,

Restoration is Never Black and White - it's shades of Grey


No Bunkers


Right Bunker - same era of image


No Right Bunker - no bunkers on left of 15th in image from this set - clearly grown in



I also have a picture without the left bunker ... another with three front right ... and something completly different from the 50's

[Matt Kardash]

Shades of grey indeed Ian! Thanks!

[David Harshbarger]

Absolutely wonderful thread.  Thank you.

[Jeff_Mingay]

I'm an admirer of Stanley Thompson's work, and Highlands' 5th is a neat par 3, but I'm not sure I "get" the dragon and fireball.

[Greg McMullin]

A picture of number 5 dated 2007 before the tree cutting down the left side and behind the green and the bunker restoration by Ian. Second picture is July 2012

[Robert Thompson]

That's a truly dramatic difference. Now if they'd only properly fix the sixth fairway and do the drainage, Highlands might return to its former glory. I found the tree removal and bunker changes only highlighted what still needs to be done.

[Greg McMullin]

When comparing the historical photos to the recent photos it's interesting to note the virtual absence of birch trees in the historical photos. I was told most of the hardwood had been cut for firewood and building materials prior to the 1930's.

[Mark Saltzman]

Hole 6: Par 5, 537 Yards -- The first of back-to-back par-5s.  Aside from a hazard down the right side of the fairway, the tee shot from the white tees is not a difficult one; however, if the golfer plays the blue tees, he is confronted with a daunting task.  Graham Cooke added a tee that requires the golfer to play across the Clyburn (first picture), while the other back tee still has the Clyburn in play as a flanking hazard, but also requires a carry of some 230 yards to reach the fairway.






If one is laying-up, the second shot is one of the least interesting shots on the course, though bunkers do narrow the landing zone as the golfer gets nearer the green.




The Highlands Links website says that the hole was named Mucklemouth Meg, because, per Stanley Thompson, she "Was a loud mouthed woman in Scottish lore.  As the green on the sixth hole had a yawning opening with cavernous traps on either
side, we thought this name described the hole."








After completing play at the 6th the golfer takes the first of the transitions, this one away from the water and into the parkland setting of the next several holes...

[Don Hyslop]

Mark, really looking forward to your posting of the 7th hole, one of my favourites, and one that truly lives up to its moniker of Killecrankie.

[Ian Andrew]

Sorry, I travelled a lot and forgot about this thread for a while.

Here are the images for the 6th Hole


6th Hole - not sure of date


6th Hole postcard from Joe Robinson


Photo from the side - thought to be just after the war

[Ian Andrew]

Original Routing Plan - was laid over aerial photo


I have that aerial somewhere with "no" golf course yet.
Of Special note: the 12th hole bridge which was not built because of budget.

The following three are the Irrigation Plan (no date on the plan)

First and last holes


Middle Holes


Note the length and tee location on the 5th hole!

Clyburn Holes


Note the location of the 10th green!
It makes you think this plan was done between the first and second year of construction

Geoff did mentioned Stanley did not want 10th across the river despite he and Robbie wanting the green there when I interviewed him about Cape Breton Highlands

[Guy Nicholson]

That's very interesting about 5 (brutal!) and 10, Ian. Graham showed me the remnants of that old foot bridge behind 10 green in August. Would have been hard to get enough sun on the green in that position, no?

[Mark Saltzman]

That would have been a monumental effort to get from 4 green to 5 (back) tee, wouldn't it? Down and then up a large hill.  Not that Stanley was completely against such a thing -- I'm thinking of original 15 green - 16 tee at St. George's.

Re #10: Are the tees in the drawing the location of the current tees (the ones away from the halfway house) and the green is moved back across the river?  The drawing gives me a better understanding of why the 11th tees were placed where they were.

Thanks for posting, Ian, very interesting.