Welsh Wizard Short Tour of Mid Wales: KNIGHTON GC

[Sean_A]

I was taken on a long discussed, but rather last minute tour of mid-Wales by our own Welsh Wizard. I didn't know the itinerary and simply let myself be escorted about between Machynlleth and Knighton...which are two of the courses we played. The other course we played was St Idloes....all 9 holers.

A trusted and well worn club motto.


Knighton is first up. I suspected we might play this course because it is quite close to Kington and I knew of its existence. Its a shame the club doesn't know the existence of the original designers of Knighton, but it seems clear that Harry Vardon laid out a course for the club in 1913.  Somehow the club convinced the great Vardon to play the opening match at what is still a backwater town over 100 years later. 

Getting onto club grounds involved a serpentine lane which was blocked by a locked gate.


The farmer who owns the land is particular about keeping the gates closed. It took a phone call to obtain the lock code!


Of course, the house was empty.  We rolled in as the only car in the lot quickly followed by another group out for a quick nine while holidaying in the area.


After dropping some cash into the wall, we get to the tee. With years of playing hilltop courses under my belt I knew what to expect...yep...straight up the hill. This isn't a good hole, but it leads to better things. The green from the 2nd tee.  A few things are clear, this will be a rudimentary design in a splendid setting. 


Heading back downhill, the 2nd whips sharply left as the terrain moves more right. The approach is uphill and blind. There is no real fairway, merely three heights of grass; short rough, greens and whatever. Once some of the slopes are spied, its obvious that we should be thankful the fairways are long enough to thrwart too much roll out.




The square green is essentially benched into the hill. The 3rd tee is the foreground.


More to follow.

Ciao

[Niall C]

Oh my word, is that a benched green ?


Niall

[Sean_A]

Oh my word, is that a benched green ?

Niall

Terrible, I know. Thank goodness naturalism isn’t the only approach to design.


Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

Oh my word, is that a benched green ?
Niall

You ain’t seen nothing yet! Wait ‘til you see the 3rd etc!  



Here’s the Knighton course tour I did a few years ago -[size=78%]https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,69978.msg1682782.html#msg1682782[/size]


Atb
WW

[Niall C]

David


I love benched square greens. Especially in an open landscape like Knighton appears to be. The only thing that spoils it a wee bit is the fence round about the green. Can't help thinking that ding, ding Round 1 ! would be going through your mind as you stepped into the ring onto the green.


Niall

[Sean_A]

Knighton Tour Cont

Another short hole, the 3rd drives straight up the hill to a very fine tiered and benched green. Behind the green.


A sideview showing the prominent tiers. Play is from the right.


The 4th isn't as harsh as 1 or 3, but we still have some climbing to do.


The shortish approach is not without its moments; mounding short of the green is one way to demand more precision.


Behind the green.


Blind shots are the order of the day and the 5th is on that plate. I consistently under-estimated Knighton only to find a surprise at each turn. The green generally runs away from play, but there is a dip in the middle left.


More to follow.

Ciao

[Sean_A]

Knighton Tour Cont

The 6th took me by surprise. I am not one to spend much time perusing scorecards so when WW hit his drive through the green I was taken aback. The hole looks longer than its listed 212 yards.


As one can see, the terrain is more downhill than it appears.  The drop-off is, I believe, a section of Offa’s 1300 year old Dyke. The Dyke also runs through the 8th.


At under 300 yards the 7th isn't onerous despite being uphill. In fact, the 2nd is the only par four over 300 yards. The sloping terrain is the main defense for the course, but in the case of this hole a small berms shy of the green can't be ignored if the course if firm.


A look at the green from near the 5th green. Its easy to occasionally take the scenery for granted.


More to follow.

Ciao

[Sean_A]

Knighton GC tour cont

Knighton's only three-shotter, the 8th takes some sussing out!  Looking down the fairway it is difficult to know what to expect. Playing the 6th & 7th offers the opportunity to do some recognizance, but not nearly to the degree necessary to understand the hole.  One can chance hitting a big drive over the blind crest of the hill. If done successfully, the green far below can be seen. Many people will not have the distance to attempt the daring drive and will simply have to pick a line on the far hill and hope for the best when hitting the second shot. While whimsical and memorable, I don't much care for this hole.


Looking back up the hill...utter madness.


Much easier on the knees, the 9th takes us back to the house with a blind and fiercely right to left sloping tee shot. Even the approach can be played to the right knowing a kick down the hill will happen.


As seen from the 1st fairway, one of several square greens. 


I don't think there is much question that the 1st and 8th holes are beyond the pale. Neither can I point to any outstanding holes. Despite the flaws, or maybe partially because of the flaws, Knighton did make me smile....and that has to count for something in recreational golf. It doesn't hurt that Knighton is easy on the eyes and plays over magnificent turf. And yes, there are some cool greens and positive surprises here and there.  I wouldn't say most people would enjoy Knighton, but for the inquisitive who are in the neighbourhood, maybe its worth while to give it a go.  2024

Future stops on the tour.

St Idloes
Machynlleth

Ciao

[Ian Cox]

Another fine review, thank you, Sean.


As a Welshman that has enjoyed Knighton, and has been a member of Welsh hilltop, moorland courses, as well as the sublime Pennard a visit and play of Sean’s recent Welsh tour is recommended to the adventurous golfer, bravo, Sean.


Fore, Ian

[Thomas Dai]

I have long wanted to take Detroit Golfer to Knighton and his description in this photo-tour is very fine. His sense of balance on the day was fine too as can be seen in this photo of him navigating the downslope on the 8th hole!


Welsh legend, something never, ever disputed, has it that Franz Klammer practiced here prior to his 1976 Olympic triumph.


Courses like Knighton are IMO the pure essence of the game. It's a volunteer club. There are only 70 members and any work done on the course or around the Clubhouse is undertaken themselves.

In comparison to modern era manicured, immaculate, 'fair' golf, as seen on TV and as seemingly desired by many these days, Knighton has drawbacks for sure.

But from the moment you turn off the main road and head up the steep, narrow track that leads via a gate and cattlegrid to the course you'll experience something unusual these days ....... quaintness, a throwback to past times when golf was more of a fun pastime, a recreational activity.

In playing the course it's difficult not to smile and chuckle at the eccentricity and severity of the terrain and the pretty radical cut-n-fill greens on seemingly nearly every hole with more course management than may initially appear needed required, often in an amusing if occasionally frustrating way.

Here's a further photo taken from the carpark highlighting the steepness of the terrain over which the first few and last couple of holes play. Note the sheep happily grazing the 2nd fairway, the significantly cut-n-fill 9th green and my favourite flag fluttering atop the flagpole near the Clubhouse.


Clubs like Knighton usually struggle for money so if you're in the area make a visit. It's only a few quid (£) paid into an honesty box. You'll probably walk off the 9th green smiling, admittedly with tired legs, and you're unlikely ever to forget playing the course. The turf is lovely to play off, the greens are true, the views are gorgeous, red kites can be seen soaring majestically above. If an affectionardo of early era golf history, architecture and construction you may well learn something too.

For the sake of posterity here’s the Knighton course photo tour I did a few years ago - the Clubhouse has been done-up a bit since then -https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,69978.msg1682782.html#msg1682782

As an aside I've played Knighton with both modern era clubs and with retro period persimmons and blades. Next time it'll be with hickories.

atb

[Sean_A]

Another fine review, thank you, Sean.


As a Welshman that has enjoyed Knighton, and has been a member of Welsh hilltop, moorland courses, as well as the sublime Pennard a visit and play of Sean’s recent Welsh tour is recommended to the adventurous golfer, bravo, Sean.

Fore, Ian

Yer welcome Ian.

WW

One aspect of 9 holers which may be overlooked is that because it’s 9 holes, more severe terrain can be tackled knowing the walk isn’t far. I can’t imagine playing and enjoying 18 Knighton holes, but 9 is very manageable.

Ciao