Renaissance Cup at Renaissance Club

[Scott Warren]

It's the downside of having moved house five times in four years that once again my invitation to the Renaissance Cup has been lost in the mail...

That being so, I'm excited that so many important types will be checking out a very underrated golf course next week and I hope someone may take some pictures of the new holes and post them for all the course's admirers to see.

I'm still sad that the old #12 has been lost, but from what I hear the new holes more than make up for it.

[Steve Salmen]

I really liked the old 12th hole, probably because of the wide open approach to what I remember is a large green. 

Is the 11th hole the same?  If I recall, for such a long second shot, the green was quite narrow and severe. 

16 is a great hole and 17 is a fun par 3 but can play very difficult if it's down wind.

[Tom_Doak]

I really liked the old 12th hole, probably because of the wide open approach to what I remember is a large green. 

Is the 11th hole the same?  If I recall, for such a long second shot, the green was quite narrow and severe. 

16 is a great hole and 17 is a fun par 3 but can play very difficult if it's down wind.

The 11th is the same, but it's now the 8th hole in the new routing, with the old 1st-3rd eliminated.

The 16th has been lengthened to a par-5, which follows on from a new par-3 hole that was inserted between the old 15th and 16th.

[Mike Sweeney]

I really liked the old 12th hole, probably because of the wide open approach to what I remember is a large green. 

Is the 11th hole the same?  If I recall, for such a long second shot, the green was quite narrow and severe. 

16 is a great hole and 17 is a fun par 3 but can play very difficult if it's down wind.

The 11th is the same, but it's now the 8th hole in the new routing, with the old 1st-3rd eliminated.

The 16th has been lengthened to a par-5, which follows on from a new par-3 hole that was inserted between the old 15th and 16th.

Come on, throw the thread author a bone....

[Scott Warren]

The cool thing about the great run that was 8-11 (now 5-8) is that now it continues into that section along the firth.

Tom - was there any bunkering changes on 16 to accommodate the extra length? I recall a really cool centreline bunker on the drive that I guess wouldn't be so much in play from a further back tee?

[Tom_Doak]

Scott:

That bunker in the center is hard to reach now except for the longest hitters, but it's still a factor if you're trying to have a go at the green downwind with your second shot.

I've been at Askernish three days and now The Renaissance Club the last three ... a study in contrasts!

Result of the event:  Simon Holt and Ben Wescoe won the final match, 3 & 2 over my client Andre Mourgue d'Algue and his wife Philippine.  Michael Wharton-Palmer and his partner reached the semifinal, as did Niall Carlton and his partner, who eliminated me in the third round yesterday evening.  There were a few other GCA folks around, perhaps they will comment on the course over the coming days.  It appeared to be set up for the Open championship ... quite a bit narrower than it used to be.

Also, a few folks had a sneak peek at the new Confidential Guide last evening, there might be some talk about that as well.

[Frank Pont]

Scott,  in my humble opinion the great run now is holes 4-9... some might add hole 10 to it.

[Robin_Hiseman]

I'd add 10 to that Frank. Just a lovely location for a golf hole and a very subtle strategic advantage for hugging the cliff top...makes  it much easier to use the gathering slope to the right of the green.

[Scott Warren]

Frank, Robin - any pics of 9 or 10?

[Ally Mcintosh]

I'd like to see pictures of the new Par-3 fifteenth and the new extended 12th... Haven't seen anything of those holes in the blurb to date...

Hope you all enjoyed yourselves and that Robin and Jeremy made it past the first nine holes of competition?

[Frank Pont]

Frank, Robin - any pics of 9 or 10?

Hole 9




Hole 10

[Frank Pont]

I'd like to see pictures of the new Par-3 fifteenth and the new extended 12th... Haven't seen anything of those holes in the blurb to date...

Hole 15




Hole 12

[Adam Lawrence]

Nice pics Frank. Great skies! We had some wonderful light for sure.

It was interesting to play the course in an east wind (albeit not that much of one). The sixteenth in particular was a brute into the breeze.

[Neil White]

10th Green

[Robin_Hiseman]

I'd like to see pictures of the new Par-3 fifteenth and the new extended 12th... Haven't seen anything of those holes in the blurb to date...

Hope you all enjoyed yourselves and that Robin and Jeremy made it past the first nine holes of competition?

Not quite Ally. Vanquished by the pairing of David Nelson and Niall Carlton, who made it all the way to the semis.

[Neil White]

10th fairway

[Niall C]

Scott

To my mind there's no stretch of holes that particularly stand out over any other stretch, even the new holes near the water. All the holes are strong and individual. The visuals are great but there is also substance to each of the holes. Can't think of one that is anything less than engaging and a joy to play.

After the final finished I sneaked out onto the practice holes that formed the first 3 holes in the original layout and spent a good bit of time chipping from around the green on the first hole in particular. Its less contoured than probably any other hole other than perhaps what is now the 3rd, but it's still my favourite hole there. Just a lovely hole. When you miss as many greens as I do, you appreciate the green surrounds and the different challenges in chipping. Can't think of any other course in Scotland that offers the variety that Renaissance does.

In terms of what I prefer between the original and new layout, I think it's a kind of apple and oranges thing, both great but just a bit different. However given my comments above, if push came to shove I might just plump for the original routing since the 3 "lost" greens would perhaps be less exacting, which again would increase the variety. Of course in an ideal world the Renaissance would be a 21 hole course and I would be able to afford the subs.

Niall

[Tom Kelly]

No love for the 11th?

[Josh Tarble]

Why does Renaissance Club not get talked about more?  It looks fantastic.

[Robin_Hiseman]

The wall behind 11 sees a lot of golf balls getting cozy to it, especially a it was playing downwind both days. Probably very different with a headwind. I heard someone suggest (can't remember who) that they'd like to have seen this green doubled with the 9th and the wall removed. I prefer it separate personally. The wall is a lovely feature for both holes.

Visibility of the fore green could have been better IMO. The bunker couldn't be seen from our tee box.

Fun hole though. Swinging an approach in from the left hand bank was a popular move.

[Ryan Coles]

Changing the subject slightly...

Why do they have two Clubhouses?

[Adam Lawrence]

They don't, one is the lodge which contains accommodation for members and guests (though there are a few rooms in the clubhouse too).

[Frank Pont]

The wall behind 11 sees a lot of golf balls getting cozy to it, especially a it was playing downwind both days. Probably very different with a headwind. I heard someone suggest (can't remember who) that they'd like to have seen this green doubled with the 9th and the wall removed. I prefer it separate personally. The wall is a lovely feature for both holes.

Visibility of the fore green could have been better IMO. The bunker couldn't be seen from our tee box.

Fun hole though. Swinging an approach in from the left hand bank was a popular move.

This picture of the white tees shows the visibility issues of hole 11 that Robin mentioned.

[Thomas Dai]

Why does Renaissance Club not get talked about more?  It looks fantastic.

+1

Anyone able to post some more photos?

Information on how to play the course would be appreciated too. It seems to be member/guest but presumably there are 'ways-and means'?

atb

[Daryl David]

Why does Renaissance Club not get talked about more?  It looks fantastic.

+1

Anyone able to post some more photos?

Information on how to play the course would be appreciated too. It seems to be member/guest but presumably there are 'ways-and means'?

atb

If you want to play, you could always join the club.  Your other alternative is to befriend a member and play as their guest if invited.  Seems pretty straight forward to me.