North Berwick Photos - Golfworld

[John Connolly]

Some beautiful pics of this ancient classic. Never seen better pics to highlight the wonder of the 16th green.


http://www.golfdigest.com/story/north-berwick-is-the-most-interesting-golf-course-youve-never-heard-of?mbid=nl_071617_golfworld&CNDID=22666113&spMailingID=11486761&spUserID=MTMyNjM1NzE3OTU0S0&spJobID=1201452340&spReportId=MTIwMTQ1MjM0MAS2

[David_Tepper]

Thanks for the link. Those are great pics.

[Tom Bacsanyi]

Was the knob to the right of 16 ever maintained at greens height?  Or has it always been part of the surround?

[Wayne_Kozun]

But if you haven't heard of North Berwick then you are rather ignorant about golf or GCA.

[Jason Thurman]

But if you haven't heard of North Berwick then you are rather ignorant about golf or GCA.

It never takes more than three replies...

[Connor Dougherty]

Patrick Koenig has a pretty active Instagram and Twitter account and is certainly worth a follow for his golf photos. He is an incredibly talented photographer.

[Niall C]

It seems to me that North Berwick is becoming the new Dornoch for the American visitors. In the same way that Tom Watson discovered Dornoch for the US, Tom D and Ran seem to be doing the same for NB.


Niall

[Thomas Dai]

Wonderful photos. Thanks for linking to them John.
atb

[jeffwarne]

Fantastic photos.


As the world discovers (and seemingly embraces-at least in this article and in my anecdotal sampling) the joys of quirk and fun, one wonders why "Championship" courses dominate most itineraries.


Hopefully NB doesn't fill the coffers and use the funds to update to "modern" conditioning standards-resulting in the eventual neutering of their best features

[Keith Phillips]

Love North Berwick, and the Pit and Gate holes in particular - I was underwhelmed by the Redan but I guess that's what a double will do for you.  Perhaps OT but those pictures of 16 join my other favorite green complex photos, which are of the quarry hole at CC of Buffalo...regrettably I've never played there. 

[Jerry Kluger]

I recently played NB on consecutive days and the wind blew in the opposite direction the second day which I realized when teeing off on number one which meant that the back nine would be into the wind - made it really challenging.  It has so much quirk and nuance that you have to smile the whole way around.  Most American golfers would never accept a course like that in the US. 

[Tom_Doak]

Most American golfers would never accept a course like that in the US.

I think that's absolutely wrong.  Hopefully someday I will have a chance to prove it.

[jeffwarne]

Most American golfers would never accept a course like that in the US.

I think that's absolutely wrong.  Hopefully someday I will have a chance to prove it.

Americans don't like fun?
It's simply a matter of education.
NGLA wasn't in the Top 100 when I was in my 20s.
Palmetto was a "crappy conditioned goofy course" when I was growing up.
Tom and others have educated many and the masses eventually follow.
We should be careful what we ask for.....

[Kalen Braley]

That begs an interesting question.  Which course in America has the most amount of quirk, aka the closest thing to NB?


P.S.  When I finally get over there, I think NB will be at the top of my to do list!

[Jason Topp]

I have noticed several photographs in the last year that an almost three dimensional look to them. Has there been some sort of technological advance?

[Tom Bacsanyi]

That begs an interesting question.  Which course in America has the most amount of quirk, aka the closest thing to NB?


P.S.  When I finally get over there, I think NB will be at the top of my to do list!

Tobacco Road?

[Kalen Braley]

That begs an interesting question.  Which course in America has the most amount of quirk, aka the closest thing to NB?


P.S.  When I finally get over there, I think NB will be at the top of my to do list!

Tobacco Road?

Tom,


Thats an interesting choice, TR is high on my wish list too, but I suspect there are a lot of differences in terms of playability..

[Keith Phillips]

I would throw Bayonne into the mix...there are a handful of holes I don't like, but the quirk begins with the opening tee shot and continues throughout the round.

[Padraig Dooley]

I played with Patrick Koenig while he was in Ireland before he headed to Scotland.

Some of the photos

http://www.pjkoenig.com/ireland

We had great fun playing and taking photos! Not only looking for the best angle to play the hole but the best angle for a photo too!

[Wayne_Kozun]

It seems to me that North Berwick is becoming the new Dornoch for the American visitors. In the same way that Tom Watson discovered Dornoch for the US, Tom D and Ran seem to be doing the same for NB.

I love Dornoch but NB is a very different place that lacks the remoteness of Dornoch. NB really is at the centre of golf in Scotland. There are a large number of fun and historically significant courses within a very short distance from Musselburgh to Dunbar. Driving along the A198 is pure heaven for a golfer.

[Ed Brzezowski]

I would throw Bayonne into the mix...there are a handful of holes I don't like, but the quirk begins with the opening tee shot and continues throughout the round.

But you have to love a course where a target line is The Statue of Libertys arm?

[PCCraig]

That begs an interesting question.  Which course in America has the most amount of quirk, aka the closest thing to NB?

Town & Country Club in St. Paul


If there is a quirkier golf course in the United States, I'd love to see it. I haven't seen anything that's even close.

[Jim Nugent]

That begs an interesting question.  Which course in America has the most amount of quirk, aka the closest thing to NB?

Town & Country Club in St. Paul


If there is a quirkier golf course in the United States, I'd love to see it. I haven't seen anything that's even close.

Lincoln Park in SF might give T&C a run for its money. 

[MClutterbuck]

I have noticed several photographs in the last year that an almost three dimensional look to them. Has there been some sort of technological advance?

Yes. It is called HDR. High Dynamic Range.


Basically you are combining 3 or 5 photos, taken at different exposures, to allow for a wider/better range of light. You all have encountered situations where the eye sees very well, but there is not enough light for a camera to take in many of the objects in the photo and you are dissapointed with the result. This is even more noticeable at sunset or sunrise, or shades and light. HDR makes photos seem more similar to the way the eye sees an image.


Cell phones do this automatically, but results are not half as good (for now) as a pro doing the process manually and in Photoshop. It works fine with landscapes, does not work with moving subjects, because you are taking 3 different photos, although you are doing so in less than a second. There are a ton of technical considerations to do it right, as well as the obviouos enormous talent of the photographer at NB.


Golf course photography, as well as architecture (inside of libraries, churches) are fantastic possibilities for true HDR.


I can post a few before and after photos using HDR if you want.


 

[Tom Bacsanyi]

I have noticed several photographs in the last year that an almost three dimensional look to them. Has there been some sort of technological advance?

Yes. It is called HDR. High Dynamic Range.


Basically you are combining 3 or 5 photos, taken at different exposures, to allow for a wider/better range of light. You all have encountered situations where the eye sees very well, but there is not enough light for a camera to take in many of the objects in the photo and you are dissapointed with the result. This is even more noticeable at sunset or sunrise, or shades and light. HDR makes photos seem more similar to the way the eye sees an image.


Cell phones do this automatically, but results are not half as good (for now) as a pro doing the process manually and in Photoshop. It works fine with landscapes, does not work with moving subjects, because you are taking 3 different photos, although you are doing so in less than a second. There are a ton of technical considerations to do it right, as well as the obviouos enormous talent of the photographer at NB.


Golf course photography, as well as architecture (inside of libraries, churches) are fantastic possibilities for true HDR.


I can post a few before and after photos using HDR if you want.

That'd be cool.  Maybe start a new thread?