Is there a better turn in the British Isles?

[Tom_Doak]

I do not think much about "the turn" because I'm not as wedded as most to having the ninth hole return to the clubhouse. 


Originally, the routing for The Renaissance Club came back to the clubhouse at the 3rd, 5th and 8th, and the little par-3 out the back was the 9th hole ... nos. 8 through 10 in that routing was also a pretty good bunch of holes.  The idea behind that was to be able to throw out two holes [4-5] or three holes [1-2-3] if we ever got permission to build on the new land, but I did not think much at all about how the numbers of the holes would be revised then.  [In fact, I still have trouble remembering which of the old holes is which number, after the change.]


The walk back to the 10th was part of our negotiations with the environmental agencies ... we were lucky that they allowed us to build any tees back there at all, instead of making us build a 250-yard straightaway hole with a severe right-to-left tilt.

[Bill_McBride]

I do like the turn at Deal, a couple of crackers. Not the most scenic I will give you that but some really good golf.

Plus the opportunity for a cool beverage in the drinks hut at 9!

[Sam Krume]

I do like the turn at Deal, a couple of crackers. Not the most scenic I will give you that but some really good golf.

Plus the opportunity for a cool beverage in the drinks hut at 9!

Absolutely.....or a quick dram at this time of the year.....what am I on about, a dram at any time of the year!!!!

[Dónal Ó Ceallaigh]

Isn't the "turn" (for home) generally at the end of a traditional out-and-back layout?
I think Royal Lytham & St.Annes has three pretty good holes at the turn. Silloth's 9th, 10th and 11th are very strong holes as well.
One of my favourites is Dunfanaghy's stretch from the 8th to the 10th.

[Benjamin Litman]

Donal, I too assumed a traditional out-and-back layout to be a necessary limitation of the discussion. Again, I'm more interested in whether architects put special emphasis on designing holes around the turn, as we know they often do for opening and closing holes.

[MCirba]

Has anyone else actually played the newest three holes ato Renaissance Club, today's 9, 10, and 11? 

I have my own feelings regarding what else changed to accommodate the new holes but would like to hear from others in relation to these specific holes.  Thanks.

[David_Tepper]

While not on the level of some of the "great" courses already mentioned, holes 8-9-10-11 at Golspie are the "heathland" holes and are some of the best on the course. When the heather is in bloom they are very pretty as well. #9 is as good a par-4 as you will find anywhere in the Highlands.

[Tim Gallant]

Has anyone else actually played the newest three holes ato Renaissance Club, today's 9, 10, and 11? 

I have my own feelings regarding what else changed to accommodate the new holes but would like to hear from others in relation to these specific holes.  Thanks.

I have only played the course with the 3 new holes. Like Tom, I am confused by hole numbers as Jerry was tinkering with the start both times I played. However, if we use the Cape hole as 10, then 8 is my favourite on the course. It is a fantastic par-4 that I would gladly play every day. I loved the challenge of the 9th, and played it in two wind directions. Downwind it was tough to hold the green, and had a drop-off past the green that I loved. To me, it challenged no matter the wind direction.


10 is a superb par-4. Both times I had trouble picking how much I wanted to bite off, and both times ultimately ended up on the beach.


I wasn't as sure about 11. Into the wind, it appeared relatively straight-forward, however, downwind, it was difficult to hold the green, but there was a 'back-stop' there to stop balls from running off. One in our group hit the wall and ricochet to 5 feet on the hole. Coupled with the wall, the rough in front of the green was too tall to consider playing short (or even short right as I think there is a front bunker if memory serves). It meant the only play appeared to take too much club and hope for a good bounce off the wall.


I would love to hear Tom's comments on these holes (11 in particular).

[Jon Wiggett]

While not on the level of some of the "great" courses already mentioned, holes 8-9-10-11 at Golspie are the "heathland" holes and are some of the best on the course. When the heather is in bloom they are very pretty as well. #9 is as good a par-4 as you will find anywhere in the Highlands.

+1, agree completely.

[Mark Chaplin]

Tim I'd take the turn on the New over the Old at Sunningdake all day long. The 9th Old drags the course back in world class terms.

Shovril - sherry and bovril is the ideal winter hut drink or port and brandy mixed together.

[Tim Gallant]

Tim I'd take the turn on the New over the Old at Sunningdake all day long. The 9th Old drags the course back in world class terms.

I loved the 9th hole, and thought it only added to the stellar collection of par-4s on the Old course. The bunker positioning provides tons of options, and because the green is semi-blind and angled left to right, it makes choosing a line off the tee very difficult. Although I could be biased as it is one of the only eagles that I have had on a top course


I would love to hear other's thoughts on this hole.


I have never tried Shovril before, but I imagine it would warm the body on those cold, chilly days!

[Sean_A]

I don't think Sunny's Old or New is in the conversation for best in the British Isles.  The Old's 9th is the weakest hole on the course...rather too much like TOC's 9th in that regard 


Ciao