Dawlish Warren could never be termed a winsome town, but the nearby golf course exudes charm and a simple beauty which more than makes up for the town’s shortcomings. To many the existence of a golf course situated on the Dawlish Warren Spit at the mouth of the Exe Estuary might seem highly unlikely. The Warren’s 1892 founding in all probability grandfathered the course when special measures were later taken to protect the area. The Spit is wrapped in a multi-layer blanket of National Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest, and Ramsar Wetland of International Importance etc!
The powers that be seem to be taking these ecological reasons for protection seriously as the entire backbone of the Spit has been reinforced as a measure against storms and high tides. The result is a magnificent beach on the seaside of the Warren which stretches to the ear shaped point not far from Exmouth on the far side of the River Exe. The club has worked closely with Devon Wildlife Trust and Natural England in managing the site to ensure golf and nature can successfully co-exist. It is clear to me that one immediate result for golfers is a gorse clearing program which not only makes for more playable golf, but also opens site lines to help alleviate safety concerns from blind shots.
A serious downside of the Warren is the holes along the marsh, which include 7 and 14-17. I imagine these holes will play dry in the summer, but beyond the issue of damp, these holes feel shoe-horned. 14 & 15 are tricky short 4s, 16 is a dull short hole and 17 opens up a bit, but isn’t a hole of much merit. The club devised a clever plan to avoid all of these holes except the 7th in offering a 10 hole rate. This option creates a bit of a walk to the house as the 10th green is just behind 1st green, however, if time and money are tight or water is plentiful(!) then the 10 hole option is the perfect solution.
Entering the club is a bit bewildering. A tunnel under the rail tracks initiates a journey through age old beach-side pleasantries that would make the Ringling Brothers blush. Upon reaching the gates the 18th green is on the left and it is highly likely that golf balls are coming in your direction while folks on the first tee wonder what new idiot has rolled into town.
Having a shared fairway with 18 makes the opener generously wide, but I expect the house isn't meshed because it looks good. The front left bunker works well with the right to left cant of the green.
A bit of a surprise, the second plays over a marshy area toward the 17th before turning hard right.
The green sits on completely different terrain, much more of the links variety.
An excellent short hole, the third features a bit of a blind bowl green.
The front of the green is quite harsh, but in a way which makes one smile.
Blind bunkers are one of Warren's headlines. What can't be seen from the tee is the rear bunker.
4 and 9 (on the left) share a fairway replete with blind bunkers.
There are many bunkers which are gracefully eroded. If the club can keep balls from burrowing under the "lips" then all is simply perfect.
A look at the large uphill green from near the 5th tee.
More to follow.
Ciao