[Andrew Simpson]

Intro and holes 1-6,
 I hope I'm not posting too long a post on here about Wick GC but as a member and as it has had a few mentions here I thought I'd add a bit more information and a guide to the course. Obviously not in the same league as the many esteemed courses regularly mentioned but it's my home.
 Located in the Far North of Scotland near John O Groats, considered to be the most northerly point on the UK mainland. Or to golfers, 70 miles North of Dornoch!
 First mention of golf being played in Wick was in 1868 and Wick Golf Club was formed in 1870. Play originally was on the outskirts of the town with practice at the Bignold parks which are now football pitches and some golf at the south head overlooking the harbour.
 Golf at Reiss where the course is now, was first mentioned in 1872 and it was a 9 hole course played occasionally. A local hotelier would transport golfers to the course at Reiss just over 3 miles from the town by horse and cart for the princely sum of 1 shilling (as long as there were 4 or more players)
 Even then they had a visiting professional from St Andrews to advise on the course and give lessons to the members. At the time a London newspaper said were it nearer to the city it would be a worthy competitor to Rye or St Georges with it's crisp sandy turf.
 It was extended to 18 holes in 1907 under the guidance of John Sutherland,  the Secretary at Dornoch, architect and an accomplished golfer
 Though it might be seen to be far fetched for such an isolated small town at that time it was a highly prosperous town at the centre of the fishing trade and as such had many important visitors.
 Today it is still considered to be very isolated and as testified by some GCA members a decent test of golf. As a local I think it goes under the radar because of it's even further afield than Royal Dornoch, Brora, Golspie and The Moray basin clubs of Fortrose,  both Nairn clubs and recently Castle Stuart.
 The club is still very friendly, laid back and with a little more resource should be even better but unfortunately with a small membership it's enough to get by year on year. Enough of that, to the course,
Looking up the second part of 16 and up 17 from the top of the dune at the 16^th tee,
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 The first hole is a VERY gentle par four of 290ish yards. If you want to go for the green the central fairway bunker requires a carry of 250 yards to reach the flat green and a lay up on the right should be short of the 2 bunkers about 210 off the tee. At green high the left fairway/semi is about 30 yards wide and anything right will be down a 10 foot slope in heavy rough and likely to leave a semi blind second shot.[/font]
View from the first tee.[/font]
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5382.CR2_zpsggu96xhu.jpg.html][/URL][/size][/font]
To the green from 120 yards[/font]
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5384.CR2_zpsdfjdatbq.jpg.html][/URL][/size][/font]

 The Second hole is a par three of about 170 yards.[/font]
The green is set in a bowl with a bunker guarding the front left, a ditch with OB left and a bunker back right[/font]
Second green[/font]
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5387.CR2_zpspalb69p1.jpg.html][/URL][/size][/font]

  The Third hole is a par five of 550 yards from the back tee.[/font]
The tee shot is quite bland though it has to negotiate a ditch which is an easy carry but gets longer the further right you hit it. [/font]
 The second should be held left to miss the bunkers 90 and 60 yards short of the green to leave the best line to the green. Short of the green there is a small hollow which has to be carried and it opens out to the right of the green where there is a bunker protecting the right side.[/font]
View from the third tee[/font]
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5391.CR2_zpszdfkg17x.jpg.html][/URL][/size][/font]
Looking to the green from pin high right[/font]
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5395.CR2_zpskvrmnr4t.jpg.html][/URL][/size][/font]

 The Fourth hole is a par three of about 205 yards. [/font]
Looking from the tee the bunker left grabbs your attention but it is 10 yards short of the green and shouldn't be a problem, the real trouble is the bunker hidden on the right in a hollow. The front 20 yards of the green is quite flat and accessible but at 2/3ds on it drops down towards the back off the green and a back pin is tricky to get to.[/font]
Fourth from the tee,[/font]
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5396.CR2_zpsvxeqqlsi.jpg.html][/URL][/size][/font]
Front right,[/font]
[/font]

 The Fifth hole is a par four of 420 yards.[/font]
Stroke index one, the tee shot is quite wide like most fairways but there is a ditch across the fairway requiring a carry of 240+ yards. Laying up short leaves a 180-200 Yard approach to a green with a hollow just in front off the green, a bunker right and a ditch long and left! The green is quite testing with a small shelf on the front right which slopes to the lower left level which has a few small features in the front section before sloping away towards the rear which narrows as you go back.[/font]
View from the tee with the cross ditch half way up[/font]
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5400.CR2_zpsg5xeke63.jpg.html][/URL][/size][/font]
Short right trying to show the swale and slopes[/font]
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5404.CR2_zpseruang73.jpg.html][/URL][/size][/font]

 The Sixth hole is a par four of 410 yards. [/font]
The Drive should reach the hill sloping towards the green adding an extra 30 yards to the drive and a short iron to the green but it needs to be held left as anything right will reach the semi rough or even heavy rough. The bunker short left is no real problem but the hollow front right leaves a tricky up and down. A fairly flat green front to back but quite a slope right to left.[/font]
View from the sixth tee,[/font]
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5407.CR2_zps8cva8npw.jpg.html][/URL][/size][/font]
View from left [/font]
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5414.CR2_zpshkhrhgl2.jpg.html][/URL][/size][/font]

[Andrew Simpson]

Holes 7-12
 The Seventh hole is a par four of 390 yards.
Played from a raised tee to a flat generous fairway with 2 bunkers on the right before heavy rough, while the best line is down the left it again has heavy rough and an OB fence. There is a dead bit of ground in front of the green which causes many to come up short while the right has a bunker. The green slopes from the right but otherwise is fairly flat.
From the seventh tee,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5419.CR2_zpsv6lzrlj2.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
Seventh green from short,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5425.CR2_zpsbpzuc07v.jpg.html][/URL][/font]

 
 The Eighth hole is a par five of 510 yards.
The drive is from a slightly raised tee to the lowest part of the course which is very close to sea level and rarely firms up making the hole almost all carry. The hole gently curves to the left with heavy rough on both sides before reaching a slight hump at 80 yards short of the green with a bunker on either side, from here to the plateau green is over another soft low area. The green is very flat but has a small run offs at either side and rear while the front right has a bunker.
View from the eighth tee with the green on the line of the arched shed,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5428.CR2_zpsb05wnx0w.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
Looking to the sea at the lowest part of the 8^th fairway
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5429.CR2_zpsnnwxhph0.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
Looking to the green from 130yards
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5432.CR2_zpsnhlanxcp.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
Looking to the 9^th green from the same position as above,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5431_zpsd0xhxlbe.jpg.html][/URL][/font]

 
 The Ninth hole is a par three of 145 yards.
Played across a flat to a green on a dune , protected by 2 front bunkers the green has 3 tiers. There is plenty of room short, right and left but anything long finds the back of the dune.
Ninth green from the Tenth tee,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5443.CR2_zpsaanxc6y5.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
And continuing round to view the bay,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5444.CR2_zpsrr4e014l.jpg.html][/URL][/font]

 
 On to ten, a par four of 380 Yards
The tee is raised and plays down to a dogleg left which needs a drive of 230 to get over the humps on the corner. From the fairway the green is a part plateau, protected by a steep slope at the front left and back, the right is flat but short right is also a hollow. The green itself is higher at the left with a small kicker in the front and there is a gentle slope to the right on most of the green.
From the tee,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5445.CR2_zpsjevoaw30.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
Trying to show some contouring at the green from front right,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5452.CR2_zpsxod5mk1w.jpg.html][/URL][/font]

 
  The Eleventh hole is a par three of 175 yards.
An open approach isn't affected by the front bunker some 15 yards short of the green but with the green sloping right to left the right hand bunker can require a soft touch. There is also a ditch behind the green that comes within a yard of the putting surface.
View from the tee,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5456.CR2_zpsbtb5bezw.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
The green from short right,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5461.CR2_zps3dc2pk9s.jpg.html][/URL][/font]

 
 The Twelfth hole is a par four of 415 yards.
The drive is framed on the right by a mound  and from there it gently rises to the green that is partly tucked behind a small mound to the left. Short of the green there is a small swale with a bunker and a second bunker on the right of the green. The green has gentle undulations on the right side with the left having a slightly raised shelf.
From the tee with the flag below the tip of the pointed dune and the 13^th beyond that,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5463.CR2_zpsqfcfnaul.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
Green from the fairway,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5467.CR2_zpsms8cy8y2.jpg.html][/URL][/font]

[Andrew Simpson]

Holes 13-18
 The Thirteenth hole is a par four of 380 yards.
Probably the feature hole with the drive uphill through a small valley, then on over some undulating ground to a semi blind green with 2 bowls and a raised section at the back. The front cup is too small to get a hole in but affects the approach and catches many a shot, leaving a putt into the next cupped part that is quite wide but short front to back which leads up a 4 foot slope to the flat back section. There is also a bunker right of the green leaving lots of variety wherever you end up round this green.
View from the 13^th tee,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5472.CR2_zps6fzysgph.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
Looking to the green from the left semi-rough
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5477.CR2_zpst3rppc77.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
The green from short right,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5481.CR2_zpscivkmdxb.jpg.html][/URL][/font]

 
 The Fourteenth hole is a par three of 150 yards.
The tee is set low down and plays uphill to a raised plateau green, protected front and right by two pairs of bunkers. The green slopes gently front to back with the slope on the left part more severe.
From the tee,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5487.CR2_zpsez1qajrx.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
The green from front right,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5489.CR2_zpsrfjxbiug.jpg.html][/URL][/font]

 
  The Fifteenth hole is a par four of 385 yards.
The old fifteenth hugged the dunes as a 300 yard par four but the drive now is further right and  slightly uphill but the challenge comes in with the second. The green is at a slight angle and raisead front, left and right, with the front apron and green contoured by humps and hollows before flattening out to a gently sloping rear section.
Looking to the green from the right side of the fairway,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5492.CR2_zps0ddu87p9.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
The green from 100 yards,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5493.CR2_zpsuvqfwnhc.jpg.html][/URL][/font]

 
  The Sixteenth hole is a par four of 400 yards
The tee is built into the side of a dune and the fairway appears in a slight valley turning slightly to the left. The green is protected by a deep pot bunker front left and the first part of the green slopes to the back of a fairly flat green with a few humps to the right and a ditch at the back.
The tee shot,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5500.CR2_zpsewrkkwrm.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
To the green from the right semi-rough on the corner,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5501.CR2_zpseji79gba.jpg.html][/URL][/font]

 
The Seventeenth hole is a par four of 380 yards
Set on a low point of the dunes the tee gives a panorama round the baywhich curves round almost 180degrees. The hole is a slight dogleg to the left with the green hidden behind the dunes that run up the left and you can be brave and choose how much to cut off or play safe up the right to leave a poorer line to the green. There is a gentle slope leading up to the green but with drop offs on both sides and a smaller run off to the rear.
17^th tee with the line somewhereleft of the post and righ of the top of the dune,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5503.CR2_zpszawaqdrm.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
Looking back down 17 from behind the green,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5354_zpsx6a4edtn.jpg.html][/URL][/font]

 
  The Final hole is a par four of 360 yards.
A short steep climb to the top of a dune is rewarded with another fine panorama of the bay but the eye is drawn back round via a castle and back to the course. The fairway is set low down but goes upwards to the shelf of the first fairway and last part of the eighteenth, while protected by humps and hollows on both sides. The green slowly slopes down from the front and is semi blind with the upper two thirds of the flag visible. There is a bunker front right protecting the right half with a small swale down the right.
From the 18^th tee,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_5508.CR2_zps9omkbngb.jpg.html][/URL][/font]
Fairway to the green,
http://s290.photobucket.com/user/ajrsimpson/media/1-18%20re/IMG_2411_zpsirihy2pd.jpg.html][/URL][/font]

 
 The course is fairly short at 6100 yards with the fairways and greens pretty generous but being almost surrounded by sea, a calm day is very rare with the wind defending par.

 

[Niall C]

Excellent stuff, looks as good as I remember.


Niall

[Thomas Dai]

Andrew,


Photo tours take quit a bit of effort to put together so many thanks for sharing Wick with us. Lay of the land courses have something special about them. Some rather nice subtle looking green complexes too.


Per your other thread, which hole(s) in particular is the suggestion of sleepers in the bunkers for?


Out of interest how many club members are there and how many full time greenkeeping staff?


atb

[Andrew Simpson]

Hi Thomas,
 Have to admit I was getting cross eyed going from Photobucket to the Doc with copy and pasted photo tags!
Most bunkers were up for the sleeper treatment as far as I'm aware.
Up to earlier this year there were 2 full time green staff but one left and we took on an apprentice as a replacement.
I think the adult membership is roughly about 180, so no delays getting on the tee  [size=78%] [/size]

[Jon Wiggett]

Andrew,

wonderful tour of Wick a course which I have pushed on here for the past 10 years or so. It is definitely one that gets overlooked which is a shame. What I really like about the course is the rhythm the routing has and the naturalness of the GCAing. I really need to get back up there soon for a game.

Jon

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