Hoylake and cops

[Bill Gayne]

In Bernard Darwin's book "The Golf Courses of the British Isles" he describes Hoylake as having "cops." For instance:

"Whatever the wind, it is our duty to begin with a long, straight drive between the club-house railings on the left and a sandy ditch and cop on the right. At about the distance of a good drive from the tee the cop turns at a right angle to the right,  and we must follow the cop, striking it as near as we dare."

"If it be blowing strongly against us on the tee we shall hardly get home in two, and our second must needs be played over the corner of the cop and the out of bounds region that lies within it. If it blows behind us we shall be well clear of the cop with our drive..."

"The fourth is a short hole-the 'cop' by name so called from yet another bank that gaurds it."

"There is a narrow triangular green, guarded on the right by some straggling rushes on the left by an out of bounds field and a cop; there is likewise a pot bunker in front."

What is a "cop"? Is it simply some type of embankment or mound?

I went to the Hoylake web site and the date on the course featured on the site is 1933. Darwin book was done in 1913.  

[David_Tepper]

My guess he is referring to a "copse," which The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary defines as "undergrowth, esp. the low trees and undergrowth of a copse" also see coppice - which is defined as a small wood of undergrowth and small tree.

That sounds about right to me.

[Michael Moore]

Mr. G -

That is correct. A cop is the summit or crest of a hill.

[David_Tepper]

Well, I stand corrected (not for the first time either). My same dictionary defines a cop as "the top of something, esepcially a hill," also "a hedge bank, an embankment."

[herb]

Hi Guys,

I played there last summer...the "cops" is basically a wall of earth about 3-4 feet tall and about 5 feet wide that that runs along the periphery of the practice range at Hoylake. As I recall, the 1st hole is a par 4, 90 degree dogleg right with the "cops" marking the right side boundary of the hole. The effect is rather intimidating because it defines the OB...It's staring right at you.

Also, a par 5 , I think it is the 16th, doglegs to the right around the "cops." Your tee ball does not quite reach the corner so you need to play over the corner of the "cops." It's really fun.

[James Edwards]

All, Sorry if this is viewed as a hijack of the post (but it is related)!

What are your opinions of the hole?  

I personally don't have a problem with it, although I know plenty that do!  I will say though, that it will spark controversy at some point with the players especially if the wind is hard off the left (although that is infrequent)

2 Questions:  Where will the range and tented Village be located?  

j

[Bill Gayne]

To all,

Thanks for the replies.

Bill