Tom
Jeff obviously has a higher threshold of tolerance than myself. I defintely draw the line at balls going underground in cracks in the earth. Twice I had to play from this sort of lie just off a fairway. Golf is hard enough without having to purchase a spade iron. Its not merely a growth issue, there is something going on because there was a lot of moss and brown patches (the start of ferns?) mixed in with bare earth. The greens too were easily the worst I have seen so I obviously disagree with Jeff's memory of several years ago. But I think the greens will be fine...eventually. I am, though, very concerned about the fairways.
Moving forward, Tenby was in worse nick than Pennard
. There are obvious residual flooding issues. The greens were terrible. There were several holes with standing water. Again with the moss and brown stuff in the fairways. Most folks cite the 15-17 as a weak link. I noticed the club has cleared the trees in this area of the course over the tracks. Still, the long walk is not rewarded. At best I think we can say there is one terrible hole (16), one okay hole (15 - though this was the scene of my only lost ball of the weekend - a plugged ball lost 20 yards right of the flag
) and one good hole (17).
Tenby is a town of great charm sitting on high ground, with two beaches, city walls, a lovely working harbour, Giltar Point off the beach, St Catherines Island and a bit further afield, holy Caldy Island. It is a town which is wholly turned over to tourism in the summer, but in the winter Tenby retains a locals atmsophere.
The course is one of the oldest in Wales, being founded in 1888. Not surprisingly Braid had a hand in the design, as did Ken Cotton (I suspect the newer three holes are to his design). The terrain is absolutely wonderful, tumbling dunes mixed with level areas and all manner of interesting greens; a feature of Tenby I appreciated far more than previously. I spose most would call Tenby a classic holiday course, but the club has taken steps to be taken more seriously. Those measures begin on the 1st. Not only is there a conspicuously placed driving range hard left of the fairway, but some 35 yards have been added and the hole is now designated as a par 5. This is the first of four par changes which have altered the course par from 68 to 72 while adding some 400 yards to the daily tees. In any case, the opener is a good welcome to Tenby.
The second is a good hole moving through milder terrain in the middle of the property. The third is named in honour of Dai Rees. Three times bridesmaid at The Open ('53, '54 & '61). Rees played in nine Ryder Cups and such was his reputation that he captained the side on five occassions. At the 1957 Lindrick matches he famously led Great Britain (as the side was known then) to victory and its first win since 1933. The hole takes us about face for a very long 381 yards. The drive is tight and the approach is tighter - excellent hole!
Commissioner Spangles and The Bandit negotiating their way toward safety.
Tough plateau green.
The Bell too is an excellent hole if of a more forgiving nature than Dai Rees.
With the South Beach at our rear, the fifth heads straight for the tracks. Placement on the blind drive is of importance.
The green is very good, as is the green for the short 6th.
6th.
#s 7 & 8 run along the railway line; both are good holes. #7.
The eighth is a fierce hole with the longest 150 yard shot I know. The approach inclines steadily upward to a large green wrapped around a dune. I guess my 150 yarder was really about 190 plus.
On the 9th tee we are at the furthest point from the house. This hole is radically different from my last visit. Where a par 3 previously existed we now have an intense if modest length par 4 with its championship tee hard on the beach. The fairway is quite narrow with large hollows and bunkers left and right.
The uphill green nestled between dunes runs diagonal to the line of play. Its a very difficult approach even with wedge in hand. The balls below are failed approaches. The other is to the rear of the green.
More to follow.
Ciao