Tony,
My feeling on the course is that it is a good solid links course, but lacks just a little excitement. It is a far better course than the Jube and although a better overall course than the Eden, The Eden possesses many more thrilling holes (along with the duds).
The first is a nice gentle starter, perhaps too gentle but that may depend on where you sit on the nurse them in-hi em hard eraly architectural spectrum. I played it 5 or 6 times and probably caddied there 15-20.
With 2 there's a bit of "didn't I already play this one feel" it's just way too similar to the first.
The third is a good par 5. For the good player even if you have the power to reach in 2 it's probably a better option to lay up and strike your best wedge. That said many wedges either end up short or long and the up and downs from either aren't easy. A wonderful green, especially the 15th portion of it. While I'm on the 15th a lovely tough 4 at just the right point in the round with a devilish green to both hit in regulation and putt out
Four is a very good short 4, many players take too much club or the wrong line off the tee.
Five the site of my worst misread as a caddie (sorry Mianne
) A tough tough hole. Have to aim centre of green but anything slightly long is in the swale or even worse the gorse. A tough tough par. The best miss is probably wide right, nice flat area and as long as the pin isn't far left a decent up and down.
Six, one of the more interesting holes on the course. Bunkerless but tough (although it should be favoured by the wind more often than not I always seemed to have it against) especially into a headwind, a blind 5 wood into that green is no picnic.
Seven is a good hole but I just feel it could be more, the green itself is a little boring considering the shortish approach.
8 is a hole I really like, good well positioned cross bunkers, and decision to be made whether to go for it in 2 (usually the decision should be no)
9 a hole I couldn't really warm to. Hit away and hope, hope you have the right number for the roulette wheel green.
10 Another bunkerless green but a lovely hole with plenty of movement on the fairway, have to try and stay left despite wanting to play (semmingly) safer to the right.
11 A decent hole perhaps another bunker short and right of the centre line bunker would cause more decisions to be made.
12 Again a decent hole that could be more, Not a lot of interest in the drive, bomb it as long as you can and go from there.
13 A good hole, looks easier than it is, always plays a club longer than distance and wind suggest.
Is the fact I have barely any memory of 14 some indication of the blandness? Not long not short no bunkers no real movement in the green ho hum, quick get to the 15th. Which I've already spoken about. A hole you could play approaches to some positions all day without nailing it. As tough an approach as any I can think of is the front right pin on this hole.
16 is a good enough long 4. The tree behind the green is a curiosity that somehow fits, The only tree on the course and a good reference point as it's left of centre and that's where yuo want to be on this hole.
17, 17 ohh the bane of my caddying existence this reasonably good long par 3 cost me a bag in the British Open and so should be blown up. If I could have those 5 seconds back again I would not have handed over the 7wood and forced my golfer (at pitch repairer point if need be) to use the 5iron I'd suggested, or in hindsight perhaps even a 6. But Nooo 7 wood it was long into the crap behind the green, then shunted it back over the green into the bunker where it lay against the face. Chalk up a triple bogey. Miss playoff for the cut by one stroke. DAMN IT
18 A good hole with some interest at the green which differentiates it from much of the course
Well there you go, much more than I planned to write. All said I'd still prefer a round on the Eden. Even less tourists over there (Although that was before the advent of Castle and I expect traffic by tourists on the new is diminished as a reslt).