Westward Ho! RND proposed course changes

[Sean_A]

I must admit, I am having a hard time visualizing a better place for the 7th green than the spot proposed.  If the new green is simply moved right of the rushes, the 7th becomes a dull hole requiring some fancy dan bunkers to create interest and the walk to the 8th is a bit silly.  Making the hole a par 5 brings on the possible carry in two over rushes. 

Is it for sure they plan to extend the rear of the 9th green?  I didn't get that impression.  Although, I would like to see the green go back to one bunker.

Happy Holidays

[Thomas Dai]

Positioning the new 7th green up on top of the rise towards where the new 8th tees are currently planned would be some hole ... and a great viewing spot. 8 and 9 would then need reconsidering though.
As to significant changes to the 9th green, well that would seem to be akin to changing the 17th green at TOC or the 16th green at North Berwick. Quirk and variety are interesting and memorable and should surely be preserved.
Atb

[David McIntosh]

Sean,

I agree with you on the 7th. The proposed location is as good as they could have done given they’re being forced to move from the current green. There will be far more interest there, with I assume most playing approaches over the rushes the last portion of the hole doglegs around, than by placing the green to the right of the rushes to keep it as a par 4. So making the best of the situation, just not quite as good as what is currently there in my view.

I think they settled on leaving the 9th green in its current form. This doesn’t appear to have been the initial intention as could be seen in the visualisation flyover video but thankfully it now seems it will remain as is.

[Sean_A]

David

Ok, so perhaps we should be thinking the club and archies are making the best of a bad situation. I don't think the criticism is warranted.

Happy Hockey

[John Mayhugh]

Sean,
If the 9th green doesn't get changed, then I think my criticism mostly goes away. I'm not sold on their concept for bunkering the 9th (keeping two of the three bunkers and moving the right one across to the right side of the fairway and away from the green), but if it doesn't work it's easily changed.

[Thomas Dai]

Short video and photos posted by RNDGC showing work on the new 8th hole -
https://twitter.com/i/status/1301065458167283717




Note current 7th and 8th greens at right near the shore and the new 7th green to left between them.

atb

PS - Should you be wondering why some holes on the course have needed to be altered this short video might give you a hint - https://twitter.com/i/status/1238135008906412032

[Tommy Williamsen]

That second video makes me sad. Pebble ridge is no more.

[Ben Stephens]

Was fortunate to be able to play the 'old' 7th and 8th plus 9 off the proper tee - they will be well missed

[Tommy Williamsen]

What is happening with nine. Have the changes been made?

[Thomas Dai]

What is happening with nine. Have the changes been made?

Some changes to the 9th front bunkering have been made - see photo posted below.
At some stage I understand the 9th tee is supposed to move to the top of the ridge behind what is going to be the new 8th green.
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[Tommy Williamsen]

Is it still a par five until they move the tee?

[Ally Mcintosh]

That bunkering on 9 looks like an improvement.


What is the distance and elevation gain between new 7 green and new 8 tee?

[Thomas Dai]

That bunkering on 9 looks like an improvement.
What is the distance and elevation gain between new 7 green and new 8 tee?

I haven't seen the revised 9th bunkering with my own eyes yet, the photo I posted above is by RNDGC. Seems like the right hand bunker has moved significantly more to the right.
The height difference between the new 7th green and the soon to be new 8th tee is from memory is approx 15 ft. But between them is also a further lower area which sometimes contains water. You can make out the lower area from the two aerial photos I posted above.
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[Ben Stephens]

That bunkering on 9 looks like an improvement.
What is the distance and elevation gain between new 7 green and new 8 tee?

I haven't seen the revised 9th bunkering with my own eyes yet, the photo I posted above is by RNDGC. Seems like the right hand bunker has moved significantly more to the right.
The height difference between the new 7th green and the soon to be new 8th tee is from memory is approx 15 ft. But between them is also a further lower area which sometimes contains water. You can make out the lower area from the two aerial photos I posted above.
atb

Dai,


Do you think they should have moved the new 7th green nearer the 8th? and use the natural valley feature as a hazard this would shorten the walk between the green and tee however will it make it a better hole?


Cheers
Ben

[Thomas Dai]

Do you think they should have moved the new 7th green nearer the 8th? and use the natural valley feature as a hazard this would shorten the walk between the green and tee however will it make it a better hole?

The new 7th, which seemed from viewing during construction like it's going to be a fine hole, if instead played to a green over the natural valley towards the new 8th would likely be a beast, even more so into a chilly northerly wind.
I did wonder about the new 7th being a bit shorter, then playing the new 8th as a par-3 uphill over the natural valley. The positioning of the new 9th tee and the playing angle/safety of the tee shot might be an influencing factor for this though, a blocked r/h or conservative tee shot aimed well away from the left side 'fog' could end causing issues with the other new holes.
Lots of space but storms and water channels do strange things over time so we'll see what happens.
Wonderful course though.
On another thread quite a while back Sean suggested that all golf tourists to the UK should have to pay a £5 tax to be used to preserve Westward Ho! Spot on!
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[Thomas Dai]

Here's an updated aerial video from RND of the work in progress -
https://twitter.com/i/status/1302188224454983681
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[Thomas Dai]

The latest from RND/WHo! on the course changes.
See - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCyhW7YVtuA&feature=youtu.be
Photos below shows the new 9th tees.
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[Thomas Dai]

Some recent pix of the new 7th and should you wonder why changes to the course were needed a short video posted by RND/WHo!


Video - turn the volume up - https://twitter.com/i/status/1238139163972636681 - yikes!

[Ben Stephens]

Some recent pix of the new 7th and should you wonder why changes to the course were needed a short video posted by RND/WHo!


Video - turn the volume up - https://twitter.com/i/status/1238139163972636681 - yikes!

Looks rather benign to me - no where near as exciting going for the old 7th green 

[Tommy Williamsen]

The old second shot was thrilling as was the tee shot to hug the left side of the fairway. I probably have played the course fifty times when I had an overseas membership. I love the place. I'm not sure I will get back to the course but I will be interested to see the finished product.

[Thomas Dai]

Some photos recently posted by RNDGC of the 'new' 8th.
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[John Mayhugh]

It has been more than eight years since I played the course, but these bunkers look far too symmetrical and refined compared to those on the rest of the course. There's no way I would ever have guessed this was Westward Ho!

Looking at their twitter page, seems they are rebuilding bunkers more in this style.

[Tommy Williamsen]

RND really has a few different style bunkers. There are some with sleepers, some are grass faced, and some in the style of the new hole. They do look more refined but I guess that is because they are so new.

[Thomas Dai]

Maybe it’s because theses two bunkers are on the rather windy sea facing side of a green that’s situated on the top of a ridge? Just speculating.
Seems however, like they’ve not pursued the front-left bunker shown in M&E’s revised holes 7-8-9 proposal video -https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xZWTIIc1yLA

Atb

[Thomas Dai]

Some photos of the 'new' 7th green and currently growing-in new 8th hole at Westward Ho!

Below, the new 7th, an initially straightaway par-5 that doglegs left over/around an area of the famous RND/WH sea rushes, plays-in from the right side of the photo to an angled green. The left side of the green is nicely humpy-bumpy. The right side is sea rushes etc and long isn't good either!

Below, the currently growing-in new par-3 8th hole. The hole sits on top of a ridge and affords splendid views. The 9th currently plays from various old tees in that area. When the 8th opens I believe the 9th tees will be re-positioned such that the 9th will play more as a dogleg left.



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