One Willie Fernie, not
the Willie Fernie, originally designed Southerndown GC in 1906 over a vast limestone outcrop which rises some 200 feet above the Bristol Channel. Off in the distance the meandering River Ogmore trickles its way between the village of Ogmore and the dunes of Merthyr Mawr Nature Reserve. The cliffs of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast toward Southerndown expose the limestone that lies beneath the golf course. Southerndown is a refreshing location!
The Fernie course didn’t last long, however, it is thought 1, 2, 4 & 16 plus a few odd greens remain by his hand. It was rather obvious that its 6900 yards was a beast…and this was Herbert Fowler’s opinion, a man not afraid to build courses with some length. Fowler completed some changes in 1908, but some of the details are not known. It would seem the club wasn’t quite satisfied with Fowler’s work. Willie Park Jr was called in for his two cents and only the 10
th remains as Fowler left it. Park’s 1913-14 works seem to have had a lasting impression; 7, 8, 15, 17 & 18 are still standing. The length of the course was down to about 6300 yards. Perhaps more importantly, the routing Park Jr left is essentially the course we play today. Still, Southerndown was considered brutal and took too long to play. Colt made his revisions soon after WWI. He reduced the bunkering to 126! I think there are about 90 bunkers today. There are also six greens attributed to Colt, which include 13 & 14, holes thought to be all Colt. So, we have a true hodge podge design which works fantastically well.
The only serious reservation I have is the opener. It rather reminds me of Painswick's 1st and Dornoch's 16th. We shall hurry to the second, arguably the best hole on the course. At over 400 yards, into a 30 mph gale there was no chance of reaching the green in two. On great holes, thank goodness the game is about much more than reaching the green in regulation. There is a string of bunkers cutting off what feels like the correct route.
If the first line of defense is negotiated, reserve trouble awaits.
This is the gap of salvation. Blind and barely the width of a country lane.
Three takes us away from the edge of the property. Not a bad hole. Back into the wind for 4. The fairway seems plenty wide, but we all struggled to keep our ball in play down the left. The firm sloping fairways were often too much to cope with in the wind we had. Thank goodness a load of ferns and gorse have been removed since the days I used to play Southerndown fairly often.
Another tricky approach for this 400+ yarder.
Our first short hole and it is outstanding. The angled green is set perfectly over a great chasm.
Behind the green with the impressive property in the background.
More to follow.
Ciao