Hillside's modern aspect (I think F Hawtree made significant changes to the course sometime in the 50s) is the main sticking point for me. I prefer the front 9, but all the real dunes action happens on the back 9. The problem is, the back 9 is routed very unimaginatively. Its all through dune valleys with harsh rough eating balls slightly off line. Even the front 9 has its problems. The course in general has loads of legs which turn at the 230-260 mark with narrowed fairways or other trouble beyond - making use of the driver very difficult. Its a terrible pity that a course built on this fantastic terrain should be characterized like this. Even so, I liked the course and reckon it would be a better place to play in the winter when the turn of the legs isn't so apparent and the rough is down.
The 1st is a gentle opener, but the 2nd is a very good par 5. In typical Hillside fashion, there is trouble lurking off the tee with a driver in hand. Water left (a ditch in addition to the railway line acting as a divider with S&A) and bunkers right - which are really centreline bunkers, but there is harsh rough to the right rather than fairway. Holes 3 & 4 are decent enough. #5 is another very good par 5 which uses the dunes and bunkering excellently.
Below is the approach from a crooked drive on #6. I was trying to get far right to get a view of the green for the approach. Cleverly, trees block out wind effect and its dead easy to see balls pushed right to great surprise. One alos gets an idea of how harsh the rough is!
A closer look at the green which I like.
#7 is a solid little one shotter. The green is much narrower than it appears. #8 is a drivable and predictably turns at about 240 yards. #9 is another layup hole unless you can confidently and accurately carry the ball 260ish. #10 is a lovely little par 3 into a holler. I really like this hole because many think the place to miss is the back of the green. This leaves a nasty downhill pitch/putt. #11 is probably Hillside's signature hole. A shortish down and up par 5 which looks like a snake and plays just as narrow and uses bunkering rather too obviously to accentuate the fairway turning points in a regimented way. This is a shame because this hole should be world class. Once again, the fairway turns at about 240ish then virtually disappears. The safe play is to layup - yet again. The 12th is a wee legger to the right which is another layup hole or one can easily go through the fairway. The green is very cool as it falls sharply away from the fairway and is obscured by the terrain.
Below is a look at the approach for #13. Once again, the very regimented "in play or out of play look". Also, the suggested kick in from the left has been cut off by a dip which catches balls. This ploy was is used on a few other holes as well.
The 14th is yet another hole which turns at the magic mark. There isn't much point in pulling out driver except that the layup is difficult to judge being downwind and downhill. 15 is another turn at the mark hole and 16 is a good long par 3 into a holler. The green narrows toward the back which makes putting and chipping hard to judge.
Here is the last of the par 5s, #17. I can't help thinking so much more could have been done with this back 9. However, I do like the skyline approach.
I like the look of 18. The fairway takes the long player out to the left when the proper line is from behind the bunkers. One can try to take this lot on, but is about a 275 carry. I am afraid the hole looks good, but the play is to layup - yet again!
Its evident I am not overly keen on Hillside. The course seems to showcase some of the worst elements of modern design, but the terrain is so compelling. Even so, I couldn't recommend staying away from one of the other courses in the area for a game at Hillside. I would say its generally in the class of Formby and Wallasey for shot testing (whatever that means), but I much prefer both of these because their use of the land is more daring and less formulaic.
Ciao