Golf Club Atlas
GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Mark Saltzman on February 27, 2014, 04:53:24 PM
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The Royal Adelaide Golf Club moved to its current location and opened The Seaton Links in 1906 with the following routing:
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5020_zps66eeba62.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5020_zps66eeba62.jpg.html)
The course remained largely unchanged, and with some half of the original routing still existing today, until Dr Alister MacKenzie visited the club and proposed the following routing in 1926. While The Seaton Links mostly played around the series of dunes and depressions in the western half of the property, MacKenize suggested changes that would make these features integral to the new golf holes. Many of MacKenzie's amendments were adopted, though the now 1st hole stayed east of the railway line, and the renowned 'Crater Hole,' which was to become a sweeping dogleg of a par-4, was left untouched.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5160_zpsba01186b.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5160_zpsba01186b.jpg.html)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5158_zpsdd72f13e.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5158_zpsdd72f13e.jpg.html)
Though many of the proposed changes were never completed, for completeness, the Ogilvy Clayton Design proposed master plan is below. Even on first glance, it is clear that MacKenzie's 1926 routing was taken to heart.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5163_zpsed38457b.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5163_zpsed38457b.jpg.html)
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Hole 1: Par 4, 348 Meters [Note: All pictures and meterages will be from the championship tees]
I heard a fair number of people call the first hole uninteresting and certainly among the worst holes on the course. While I think Mac/MacK's proposed renovations to the first would be an improvement, I think the hole as it sits is a very good opener, allowing the golfer to ease into the round, while still requiring him to think his way around the hole.
This reverse dogleg asks the golfer to play away from the Line of Instinct towards the bunkers guarding the ideal line. At one point the land to the left of the fairway was utterly flat, thus allowing the unthinking golfer to mistakenly take on the direct line to the green, leaving a terrible angle of approach over the bunkers. It is these types of features that Doak has quietly been eliminating, and I would not be surprised to see Doak widen the first fairway the left.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5024_zps64578ad6.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5024_zps64578ad6.jpg.html)
The first green is slightly raised, angled from front-right to back-left, and protected by a fronting bunker. As seen from the left edge of the fairway, only tee shots on the right have a clear view up the length of the green.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5026_zpsd2b4bcae.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5026_zpsd2b4bcae.jpg.html)
Not an easy green to approach; not an easy green to read. The front-right portion of the green tilts back to the tee, the back-right portion tilts away from the tee and the entire left half of the green falls off on the left side.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5030_zpsf6045d93.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5030_zpsf6045d93.jpg.html)
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Royal Adelaide is separated east (holes 1, 14-18) and west (holes 2-13) by a railway line. Is it still operational? Well, yeah, regularly!
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5034_zps856f85ae.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5034_zps856f85ae.jpg.html)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5035_zps4c4acee1.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5035_zps4c4acee1.jpg.html)
Hole 2: Par 5, 498 Metres
The championship tee for the second is well back and to the left (other side of the railway tracks) of the daily member's tee. The advantage is a slightly angled tee shot over the railway tracks, the disadvantage is that the strategically placed fairway bunker is no longer a consideration for all but the longest of hitters (for many, reaching the fairway is the primary concern!)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5033_zps1eeda12d.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5033_zps1eeda12d.jpg.html)
The green, out of reach in two for most, is best approached from the right. Predictably, this angle is well-protected by a single bunker 110m from the green and a nest of bunkers 10-50m from the green. The tee played may well dictate which bunkers must be navigated on the lay-up.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5037_zps051dbc19.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5037_zps051dbc19.jpg.html)
A rare positive Thompson change, the land short of the second green has been converted from level ground to contoured terrain. While this may encourage more golfers to play an aerial approach, the running shot is still very much an option, but not unlike Royal Melbourne West's 3rd hole, it must be done with purpose. The green itself is another subtly challenging one, with a lower front portion and a pair of shoulder-blade mounds left and right making access to back pin positions far more difficult.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5041_zps0cdaca16.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5041_zps0cdaca16.jpg.html)
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A rare positive Thompson change, the land short of the second green has been converted from level ground to contoured terrain.
He probably meant to build a big mound there, but someone had the plans upside down.
I gather you are quite taken with the course, Mark? It's nice to see a comprehensive tour of RA.
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Hole 3: Par 4, 269 Metres
Alister MacKenzie's world famous third hole once had a completely blind tee shot, but a recently installed oversize flag gives the golfer a better sense of direction from the tee. Even still, without the benefit of a member host, the first-time golfer will have no idea that he should be trying to place his tee shot as far right as possible.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5174_zps9daa69bc.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5174_zps9daa69bc.jpg.html)
Especially into the wind, golfers may see little benefit in smashing away with driver and instead will try to position their tee shot at the crest of the hill some 175 metres from the tee.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5048_zps48b391c4.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5048_zps48b391c4.jpg.html)
The leftward cant of the hill will have any tee shot that is centre or left move farther left, leaving a pitch over this berm. Few golfers are comfortable with a pitch off of tight turf, and the narrowness of the green only serves to accentuate the demand for precision.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5052_zpsbf0ddc84.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5052_zpsbf0ddc84.jpg.html)
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A blind tee shot through a tall set of pines and carrying over a deep sand-filled hollow is required at the 413m par-4 4th. For mine, the stretch of holes from the 4th through the 6th is both the hardest and least interesting stretch of holes on the golf course. Interestingly, looking at both MacK and Mac's proposals for the 4th, neither looks particularly interesting, but I suppose they both rely on the rolling fairway and length of the hole to create interest. An understated and uninteresting hole will always be preferred to an overdone and similarly uninteresting hole.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5057_zpsbb1067d2.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5057_zpsbb1067d2.jpg.html)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5179_zpsd374cb60.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5179_zpsd374cb60.jpg.html)
As the green sits today, approaches from the right are preferred. In an attempt to return the hole to the understated nature depicted by MacK, and to allow the unthinking golfer to hang himself, Tom Doak has removed the first of a series of bunkers along the left. If from the left side of the fairway the golfer can find the green, successfully navigating the green side bunker, that is a feat well-earned.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5060_zps02681334.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5060_zps02681334.jpg.html)
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Thanks, Brian.
I think RMW and BD separate themselves as the two best courses in Australia (10s)
After that, I think there are a handful of courses that are world 100 courses, though probably all well off the highest level, even perhaps in the bottom half of the top-100. Royal Adelaide fits in this group.
Maybe I shouldn't say it, but I'm disappointed RA didn't give Mac more time and a greater opportunity to continue with his work. Reading through his master plan, it is clear that his intention was to bring the MacKenzie design principles back to RA and, having seen his great work at Bonnie Doon, Peninsula, Grange and The Lakes, I am sure his completed renovation would have been a home run. That being said, the scope of work that would have been required was so significant that I can see how people familiar with RA would say the completed renovation might be closer to a new course than a restored RA. Then again, the same might have been said with LACC-N.
It will be fascinating to see what scope of work Renaissance undertakes at RA and, if significant, how the work is received by the membership.
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It will be fascinating to see what scope of work Renaissance undertakes at RA and, if significant, how the work is received by the membership.
Mark:
You say that as if we could do a lot of work out there which the membership didn't approve of. Have you ever seen a renovation where an architect was allowed to run free like that? Royal Adelaide wouldn't even let Dr. MacKenzie run free ... they only used a part of what he had suggested. That's why we haven't done a Master Plan at all. We feel we'll be more effective building trust by demonstrating what we can do.
There were a lot of good ideas in Michael Clayton's plan [I'm not sure why you keep referring to him as Mac?], but there was still a lot of resistance to the scope of it within the club, so when the 17th hole was not well accepted the momentum stalled very quickly. If you want to employ a baseball analogy, how about this: don't swing for the fences until you've put some runners on base.
P.S. We have not done much work there to date ... nothing on #1 yet for example. Half the reason for filling the bunker on #4 was as you suggest, but the other half was to give players more room to aim left so they would be less likely to hit players around #2 green. There are some pretty tight spots at Royal Adelaide and the tree planting has not mitigated any of the problems.
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Tom:
The first answer is easy, Michael Clayton posts as Mac on Australian based forum similar to GolfClubAtlas.
You're right, I should have phrased it as: It will be fascinating to see what scope of work Renaissance hopes to undertake at RA, and if significant, if permission is granted to complete the work and how the work is received by the membership.
Mac is extremely well-respected in Australia, and with good reason. You're right, maybe he should've started with smaller works to build trust... but I have no idea what his marching orders were.
I presume, and you don't need to confirm, that once trust has been built RGD hopes to perform some more significant work. I wonder, once two great architects have suggested significant work, if the membership will be more willing to accept a departure from the current iteration of RA.
PS: If I had a say, I'd say to start with the 5th ;)
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PS: If I had a say, I'd say to start with the 5th ;)
Yes - my 'least best hole' at RAGC. Fingers crossed.
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It will be fascinating to see what scope of work Renaissance undertakes at RA and, if significant, how the work is received by the membership.
Mark:
You say that as if we could do a lot of work out there which the membership didn't approve of. Have you ever seen a renovation where an architect was allowed to run free like that?
Work can be mandated by a club board/management but still prove unpopular after it's carried out. There's a great example of that just to the left as you drive in to RAGC!
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It will be fascinating to see what scope of work Renaissance undertakes at RA and, if significant, how the work is received by the membership.
Mark:
There were a lot of good ideas in Michael Clayton's plan [I'm not sure why you keep referring to him as Mac?], but there was still a lot of resistance to the scope of it within the club, so when the 17th hole was not well accepted the momentum stalled very quickly. If you want to employ a baseball analogy, how about this: don't swing for the fences until you've put some runners on base.
Tom,
I asked Michael about this in another thread, and his response was as follows;
"It was a great lesson for us and in retrospect we should have resisted the club's wish to do the 17th hole first. It was one of 4 or 5 greens they hadn't rebuilt and we thought the new hole would be a real improvement on what was there.
It wasn't sold as a test but obviously is we had our time over we would have done some of the smaller work that would have made a difference without scaring the hell out of the members.
Our plan spoke about the 'spirit' of MacKenzie's drawings and bunkers and it was about recapturing some of the feel of the plan - which we thought had been completely lost in the 80s and 90s - when the club did a lot of work.
Either way the new 17th will be a much better hole than the original hole - the one we replaced."
TK
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Tom
I couldn't agree more with your analogy. It is a pity they insisted on doing 17 first and I told the captain at the time it was an risky strategy.
There was so much other small work they could have dome to improve the course - like filling in those silly bunkers on the 4th hole.
No doubt your version will be a good hole - not that I envy the task of 'fixing it'
We certainly won't fall for the trap again.
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Just in regards to the 3rd hole, while the general concept for it certainly belongs to Mackenzie the execution certainly doesn't. Mackenzie's plan for this hole shows a triangular shaped green with a pair of bunkers, while the green as built is quite elongated and somewhat of a leg of mutton shape, with no bunkers at all. Resisting the temptation to put any bunkers into this hole was, in hindsight, the making of this hole. And I guess we have the RAGC committee of the day to thank for that.
As Tom mentioned the club picked the eyes out of what Mackenzie proposed and only implemented selected parts of it.
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Continuing in the same direction as the 4th, the 422m par-4 5th is another brute of a hole and one that could do with some fine tuning. The pair of fairway bunkers are 240m and 270m from the championship tee, and the golfer will be rewarded with the preferred angle by playing as far away from them as possible. While MacKenzie's plan and Clayton's plan differ in the complexity and quantity of fairway bunkering, both reward the golfer that plays near fairway bunkering on the right. This sound strategy is achievable with the removal of the green side bunker and a re-orientation of the green.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5065_zps7ce4c433.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5065_zps7ce4c433.jpg.html)
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Hole 6: Par 4, 418 Metres
Reversing course at the 6th we play back alongside the 4th and 5th in this series of tightly routed holes (can you imagine if the 1st was on this side of the tracks too, as recommended by MacKenzie!). Already a short fairway bunker left and long fairway bunker right have been filled in. The hole strikes me as one that would be well-suited without any fairway bunkers... and maybe that's where Doak will take it eventually.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5184_zps6294817a.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5184_zps6294817a.jpg.html)
This depression 100m short of the green seems a natural place for a bunker (and is shaped like one may have been here at one time). Though out of play from the tee, it would protect the ideal line if the golfer is forced to lay-up.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5186_zps78590dd8.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5186_zps78590dd8.jpg.html)
To me, this bunker short-left of the green should be the hole's dominant feature. As it sits today, the bunker is the deepest on the course and is avoided at all costs. As MacKenzie depicted, I would love to see the front of the bunker extended into the fairway across the middle go the green. This would impact decision-making all the way back to the tee, especially since most golfers will be playing an approach (both downwind and into a headwind) that runs on to the putting surface.
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Hole 7: Par 3, 164 Metres
The first par-3 of the round is a good one. The hole is a remnant from the Seaton Links with the only square green at Royal Adelaide. There were always bunkers beyond the green and now there are a series of bunkers short of the green as well. It seems the only continuous change is the location of the teeing ground, which shifts from left of the 6th green to right of the 6th green, and back again.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5077_zps81ff12ca.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5077_zps81ff12ca.jpg.html)
The not particularly long on paper, the third is a very demanding par-3. Yes, the green is large, but the uphill nature of the hole hides the green's depth. Add to that a severely back-to-front tilted front portion of the green, the requirement for an all-carry tee shot, and disaster behind the green, and a par is a well-earned score.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5079_zpsb0ab41ed.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5079_zpsb0ab41ed.jpg.html)
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That 7th hole is an extremely difficult hole for higher-handicap players and women. It's all carry over the bunkers in front, the green is not that deep or that tilted, and then it drops off ten feet at the back of the green.
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That green on #3 is so great.
Just don't see that kind've variety very often.
Thanks Mark
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That 7th hole is an extremely difficult hole for higher-handicap players and women. It's all carry over the bunkers in front, the green is not that deep or that tilted, and then it drops off ten feet at the back of the green.
Tom Doak
I know I am not telling you anything you don't know, but there are a number of really difficult holes and/or shots for the higher-handicapped players at RAGC. Sometimes forward tees (red and green) help, sometimes not.
You mention the 7th here. The tee shot on 4 is daunting, as is the tee-shot on 15. The crater hole on 11 is daunting - fortunately the rough on the right of the crater is less thick than it was. Even the approach to the 14th green is fearsome. Other holes are extremely challenging for the less gifted - recovering around 16 green from the left, from the wrong side of the berm on three or even around 8 green requires a significant amount of skill, with limited opportunities for novice shots.
As a newcomer to that club, I can only wonder how and thank the exisiting membership that such fearsome features have been able to be retained. Perhaps I am a little selfish here.
James B
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The 7th hole is proof that,like women, golf holes are better judged by personality than looks.
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That 7th hole is an extremely difficult hole for higher-handicap players and women. It's all carry over the bunkers in front, the green is not that deep or that tilted, and then it drops off ten feet at the back of the green.
Tom,
OK, maybe it's not THAT deep or tilted, but it is some 30m deep and a couple more metres available to land the ball over the fronting bunkers. I would argue that the front portion of the green is very tilted, at least enough so that a putt from the centre of the green to a front pin carries the risk of putting off the green. The whole green tilts back to front and, as I recall, there are a couple of small raised spots at the back of the green that will contain a shot that may be slightly long.
That all being said, yeah, it's probably really hard to hit that green for women and high handicappers.
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Mark,
At some point, approximately mid way back, the gradient does indeed flatten out. I agree, the front portion is very tilted. I think only #6 has as much.
The green is a large target but as noted can be hard to hit. For golfers with a shot on the hole (index 8) the only short grass area lay up is to the right and that leaves a difficult 2nd over or between bunkers.
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It's all carry over the bunkers in front, the green is not that deep or that tilted, and then it drops off ten feet at the back of the green.
Evokes another antipodean 7th.
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Just in regards to the 3rd hole, while the general concept for it certainly belongs to Mackenzie the execution certainly doesn't. Mackenzie's plan for this hole shows a triangular shaped green with a pair of bunkers, while the green as built is quite elongated and somewhat of a leg of mutton shape, with no bunkers at all. Resisting the temptation to put any bunkers into this hole was, in hindsight, the making of this hole. And I guess we have the RAGC committee of the day to thank for that.
I really like the look of the hole, but not something I would have expected. Thanks for explaining why.
Really enjoying the tour and commentary, Mark.
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Hole 8: Par 4, 356 Metres
Though less intimidating, the tee shot at the 8th is similar to the tee shot at the 4th demanding a mostly blind shot through a chute of trees. The blindness is the result of a long runway tee combined with a steep drop to the fairway, and it is mostly eliminated when playing from the Member's or Forward tees.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5080_zpsa4311c8c.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5080_zpsa4311c8c.jpg.html)
Whether the right side of the green is protected by bunkering as depicted by MacKenzie, or mounding as it sits today, the hole has always favored an approach from the left. Yet again, and unfortunately, the fairway bunkering is oddly placed. Rather than placing the bunkers to protect the ideal line, they are placed in a position that will push golfers towards the ideal line. Perhaps the bunkers should be moved to the other side of the fairway, or even better, removed completely, thus tempting the unthinking golfer into playing on the directly line and leaving a treacherous approach to a green that will require an aerial approach and which falls off long.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5196_zps7b03f974.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5196_zps7b03f974.jpg.html)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5089_zps8705686b.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5089_zps8705686b.jpg.html)
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The first time I played the course in the early 2000's, the 7th hole was being reconstructed. I'm sure someone here could tell me if it was altered much at that point. It was only a few years after the infamous 1998 Australian open and the " interesting" design changes made in preparation for that event.
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Dieter
was the green being rebuilt? Resurfaced?
or were the tees being amended? There was a tee between 6 green and 8th tee, used for 1998, now NLE.
James B
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Hole 9: Par 5, 493 Metres
The 9th doglegs slightly to the right and a pair of bunkers 210m and 230m from the tee protect the short line. The bunker on the left, a Thompson addition, was added 275m from the tee to reintroduce the challenge for longer hitters who were driving well past the bunkers on the right.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5200_zpsa017bca2.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5200_zpsa017bca2.jpg.html)
Bunkers flank the fairway left and right from 100m short of the green. Golfers willing to lay back short of the 100m mark are offered additional fairway width, but the longer approach will be challenging. The green is shallow at only 22m in depth (15m deep on the right), and made shallower by a false-front and ridge that runs across the green.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5203_zps91420a97.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5203_zps91420a97.jpg.html)
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Enjoying the pics and discussion, thanks Mark et al.
How about those mounds behind the 9th green?
Fugly!
Tom, when do they come out?!
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Enjoying the pics and discussion, thanks Mark et al.
How about those mounds behind the 9th green?
Fugly!
Tom, when do they come out?!
Yessir, very ugly! But at least they serve the practical purpose of protecting the 10th tee. Can't say there's a practical purpose to the mounds right of 5 though!
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I'll take the mounds over trees, we love using trees to protect the next tee on holes in the US. The mounds don't stop wind and sunlight at least...
thanks for the photos Mark..
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Dieter
was the green being rebuilt? Resurfaced?
or were the tees being amended? There was a tee between 6 green and 8th tee, used for 1998, now NLE.
James B
I don't know James. It was my first visit and I remember the green site behind all the bunkers being returfed. I will ask my father in law who was a member at the time if he recalls what was done.
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dieter
All greens were rebuilt except 15 and 18 before the Eisenhower cup in 2010. Not necessarily reshaped but rebuilt. Took a few years. It might have been that.
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Hole 10: Par 4, 335 Meters
A remnant from the Seaton Links, the 10th hole is a mid-length par-4 that plays along the club's western boundary. MacKenzie's plan would have seen the hole dogleg to the left to a green in the location of the famous Crater Hole. Even in the 1920s the Crater Hole was well-known and one could suspect that the membership would not accept a change that would result in its modification. As it sits today, the drive is played blind over the crest of a hill. A tee shot of only 190m is required to find the downslope on the right side, but on the safer line to the left, a shot of well over 200m is required. On days when the hole plays into the wind, few golfers will have a clear look at the hole as failure to crest the hill leaves a completely blind approach.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5206_zps9e580ca0.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5206_zps9e580ca0.jpg.html)
A treacherous green at the 10th. The first 10m or so tilt back to the tee before a small (and I mean tiny!) plateau is formed with a maximum total depth of 7m. Past the plateau the green tilts hard away from the tee. The fall offs short and long mean the possibility of 'ping pong' is high.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5209_zpsad668fbb.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5209_zpsad668fbb.jpg.html)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5214_zpse352af43.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5214_zpse352af43.jpg.html)
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The 10th green is a fun green to play, although I rarely succeed with it. It can also be described as incredibly frustrating. The middle tier plays a little wider if you are coming from the right, although it is probably more accurate to say the middle tier plays even more shallow if coming in from the left.
There was a period in the 1990's or late 80's where TWP had the front of the green approach converted to green, making a very long 'links-like' green. It was always a let down when the pin was placed where the fringe/approach has traditionally been. I was glad to see the green returned to its current shape, even if the challenge is severe.
I am very, very happy to take 4 on this hole, despite its high stroke index (is it 15?). For that matter, I suspect that 10 and 11 must be the most difficult consecutive mid-length par 4's with stroke indexes of 13 and 15 that I have played. Playing those two holes in par is a great achievement for the weekend golfer, especially if they don't hit the ball over 220 metres. The crest of the hill is perfectly placed for such players - able to be carried down wind and requiring two good shots into the wind. Note that a 9 iron second downwind to this green is very challenging - play conservatively and you are 30 feet short, play aggressively and you are 40 feet long.
James B
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For those that find the 800 pixel width frustrating, the front-9 is now up on One Golfer's Travels... http://onegolferstravels.blogspot.ca/2014/03/royal-adelaide-golf-club-seaton.html
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Thanks for the link Mark, and for taking the time to put all these reviews together. It is much easier for me to look at all the holes together, and then to go back and read the comments later.
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Interesting piece about RA's 3rd hole by Neil Crafter: http://www.golfstrategies.com.au/graphics/articles/FHBD_textp4-5_28_4_04.pdf
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Hole 11: Par 4, 356 Metres
Often we see architects creating a hub of tees and greens around a high point, but at Royal Adelaide the 10th green, 11th tee, 12th green and 13th tee form a hub in a low point on the property.
Along with the 3rd, the 11th hole - The Crater Hole - is the most well-known at Royal Adelaide. The landing area is blind from the tee and a carry of 140m of a bunker set into the dune is a must if the golfer hopes to find the fairway.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5107_zps29558f3f.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5107_zps29558f3f.jpg.html)
Impossible to see from the tee, the fairway tilts from right-to-left, emphasizing the importance of carrying the large fairway bunker. A pair of fairway bunkers flank the fairway 210m from the Championship tee. With only 20m of fairway between them and a fairway that runs out beyond them, it must be the norm for golfers to hit less than driver from the tee. The removal of both fairway bunkers would return the incentive to hit driver.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5110_zpsafcff7b4.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5110_zpsafcff7b4.jpg.html)
I was disappointed that I could not find a picture of the Crater Hole from early in the 20th century, or even one from pre-2010 which showed a forested green site, but from what I've seen the approach as it sits today is little changed from it's early days -- a wonderful sandy amphitheatre.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5114_zpsa0a0a94c.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5114_zpsa0a0a94c.jpg.html)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5118_zps8a628bd6.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5118_zps8a628bd6.jpg.html)
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How soon or at what distance does that fairway run out into the rough divide?
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How soon or at what distance does that fairway run out into the rough divide?
RJ, past the bunkers the fairway runs downhill toward the divide. About 30m from the crest of the hill to the end of the fairway.
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Hole 12: Par 3, 204 Metres
Probably the most difficult green in regulation at Royal Adelaide, the 204m 12th hole plays downhill and into the wind to a Pinehust-esque turtleback green. For such a long approach, the green is curiously small, but given the lack of overt hazards surrounding the green, the concept works well here. If anything, an expansion of the fairway short of the green would help, if nothing else, to decrease search time for (very) poorly struck tee shots.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5222_zps2168ca12.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5222_zps2168ca12.jpg.html)
As seen from short-right, the green opening is only 11m wide (!!) and shots landing in the right half of that opening will more than likely funnel off the green to the right.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5227_zps5a4e2b11.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5227_zps5a4e2b11.jpg.html)
As seen from behind, the green offers a maximum width of 20m and falls long and left as well. The members I played with said less than 20% of tee shots will find this green. Indeed.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5228_zps91168978.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5228_zps91168978.jpg.html)
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For those that find the 800 pixel width frustrating, the front-9 is now up on One Golfer's Travels
Holes 1-12 now up at One Golfer's Travels... http://onegolferstravels.blogspot.ca/2014/03/royal-adelaide-golf-club-seaton.html
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Hole 11: Par 4, 356 Metres
I was disappointed that I could not find a picture of the Crater Hole from early in the 20th century, or even one from pre-2010 which showed a forested green site, but from what I've seen the approach as it sits today is little changed from it's early days -- a wonderful sandy amphitheatre.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5114_zpsa0a0a94c.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5114_zpsa0a0a94c.jpg.html)
Mark,
Here is a picture I took of the crater hole in February 2006;
(http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/kearns_t/RA-11Fwy_zpsf088a4bd.jpg) (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/kearns_t/media/RA-11Fwy_zpsf088a4bd.jpg.html)
The setting of the green site is wonderful, but the green lacks interest in terms of contours.
(http://i1287.photobucket.com/albums/a631/kearns_t/RA-11Green_zps7a65a7c5.jpg) (http://s1287.photobucket.com/user/kearns_t/media/RA-11Green_zps7a65a7c5.jpg.html)
TK
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A couple more cool pictures...
First, a photo from 1926 showing Dr. MacK in what would become the third green site. Wondering how he came up with the idea of building that ridge left of the green? It was already there (and he used it to perfection)!
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/photo-6_zps27063e6e.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/photo-6_zps27063e6e.jpg.html)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5177-Version2_zpsf7526c53.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5177-Version2_zpsf7526c53.jpg.html)
Second, this picture of the 11th from 1995 shows just how forested the dunes surrounding the green had become:
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/RA11_zps22882a1b.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/RA11_zps22882a1b.jpg.html)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5217-Version2_zps898ee5b2.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5217-Version2_zps898ee5b2.jpg.html)
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Hole 13: Par 4, 395 Metres
Returning back to the lower hub, the championship tee on 13 plays across the line of play from the tee on 11. The hole will play very differently whether playing the Championship tee or the Member's tee. From the back set, many golfers will struggle to find a view of the green as a wooded dune on the left juts into the line of play. They are forced to either play right, leaving a much longer approach, or play left, leaving a blind and shorter approach with a poor angle into the green.
The entire hole falls left to right off of the dune -- both in the reverse camber fairway and the primary tilt of the green. Curiously, the golfer able to play to the high side of the fairway is not rewarded.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5125_zpsf51220b7.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5125_zpsf51220b7.jpg.html)
Like the fairway, the green falls left to right. Approaching from the left makes the already narrow target extremely difficult and the shot to a back or left pin impossible.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5127_zps171695e3.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5127_zps171695e3.jpg.html)
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The left wooded dune is a great feature, being the other side of the dune on the left of #3.
At present as Mark mentions the golfer is not iencouraged to engage with it.
A realignment of the green to favour an approach from the left side, some bunker work and perhaps a small amount of 'de-wooding' on the edge of the dune would see this feature be more prominent in the paly of the hole.
This is approximatley what Clayton's Masterplan suggests, awaiting with interest to see Renaissance's approach will be
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An entertaining historical comparison on that 3rd greensite. To me, it looks like the plan called for melting the dune down a bit from the right and push the sand into where the greenpad sits now, while leaving the ridge and dunelines to form the hazard and strategy. I wonder if TD sees it that way?
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Hole 14: Par 4, 442 Metres
Another very different hole based on the tee played as the Championship tee sits across the railroad tracks and some 70m behind the Members tee. A bunker on the right side of the hole, as can be seen from the tee, makes good strategic sense and protects the shortest line on this long par-4. There is ample room to play to the left side of the hole, though the parking lot awaits for the very wayward miss and the prospect of hitting your tee shot into a member's windshield may steer golfer's toward the aggressive line!
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5129_zps26ee07a4.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5129_zps26ee07a4.jpg.html)
Likely in an attempt to add difficulty to an already great and challenging hole, a series of bunkers have been added beyond the initial bunker on the right. The 190m carry over the bunker from the Members tee was once enticing but with the additional bunkers must rarely be taken on.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5131_zps537df12b.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5131_zps537df12b.jpg.html)
Playing an approach from the fairway is very important as the land from 100m short of the green dips sharply into broken ground that is a sand and grass mix. This dip, combined with some overhanging trees on the left, mean that a poor tee shot will more than likely mean a lay-up second shot. Even with a wedge, finding this small green with a false-front and run-offs left and long is a challenge. Like the 12th, this green is a departure from the norm that says long approach = large green.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5133_zps6db5522a.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5133_zps6db5522a.jpg.html)
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Hole 15: Par 5, 467 Metres
The tee shot at the 15th is over the same broken ground as the approach to 14 and through a narrowed chute of trees. It seems that there have been change through the years that make the hole harder, though not necessarily better. Longer hitters have almost no opportunity to hit driver as the fairway is narrowed on the left by mounding, and water on the right at 240m from the tee.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5242_zps613a2fcd.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5242_zps613a2fcd.jpg.html)
Despite the utterly flat land, the composition of the fairway bunkering and the angled green serve to make a compelling second half to this hole. Those intending to play a full third shot into the green will lay well back, short of a bunker 70m from the green that cuts the fairway in half. Challenging the bunker means the golfer will have a pitch up the length of the green, but he will struggle to keep his second shot short of a left fairway bunker that is deceptively short of the putting surface.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5245_zps6db5d5dd.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5245_zps6db5d5dd.jpg.html)
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Hole 16: Par 3, 165 Metres
Remembering that MacKenzie proposed combining the existing 10th and 11th holes into a dogleg par-4, he had to find an additional hole later in the routing -- this addition came in the form of a par-4 with a tee somewhere behind the current 15th green. This new hole would necessarily change the par-3 16th hole, which would have had a tee somewhere between the existing 15th and 17th holes and a green whose orientation would be changed but would be, more or less, in the same position as it sits today. Nevertheless, MacKenzie's 10th hole was never built and the par-3 16th sits today in form similar to the Rymil Plan.
Though the hole is not particularly appealing to the eyes, it is nonetheless a strong challenge -- a mid-iron played slightly uphill and often into a crosswind to a green that will repel most shots. Recoveries played from the deep bunkers left carry with them the substantial risk of a shot running off the other side of the green and yet the hollow on the right, with its almost vertical rise to the green, is the scarier miss from the tee.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5144_zps13df67e1.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5144_zps13df67e1.jpg.html)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5146_zps1fca483a.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5146_zps1fca483a.jpg.html)
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Hole 17: Par 4, ?? Metres -- The 17th hole was out of play, in the midst of renovations when I played in February 2014. Below is a brief history of the recent renovations.
In 2008, the 17th at Royal Adelaide Golf Club was a snaking par-5 of 473 metres with a fairway width that mostly measured 20 yards and which topped out at 30 yards.
An aerial of the 2008 hole:
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/RAGC%2017/ScreenShot2014-02-25atTuesdayFebruary25201473436PM_zpsd39b521b.png) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/RAGC%2017/ScreenShot2014-02-25atTuesdayFebruary25201473436PM_zpsd39b521b.png.html)
Mackenzie's 17th hole is reproduced below and called for a pair of centreline bunkers and the use of a small rise in elevation, which lay well out of play in the 2008 version.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/RAGC%2017/DSCN5158-Version2_zps43bc6db9.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/RAGC%2017/DSCN5158-Version2_zps43bc6db9.jpg.html)
As part of its 2009 Master Plan, Ogilvy Clayton Design, inspired by and attempting to recapture Royal Adelaide's Mackenzie heritage, drew the following proposal for a new 17th hole:
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/RAGC%2017/DSCN5161-Version2_zps6fb4f330.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/RAGC%2017/DSCN5161-Version2_zps6fb4f330.jpg.html)
By 2010, the new hole was built. A 2010 aerial shows the completed version of the hole below. Note the yellow line, which marks the entire width of the 2008 fairway in the same spot. The change in width and scale is remarkable as the fairway now measured 105 yards wide and there was some 135 yards of corridor width. A remarkable change. I never did get to see the OCD version of the hole, but it's scale and style of bunkering was a radical departure from what existed before and what remains on the rest of the golf course.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/RAGC%2017/ScreenShot2014-02-25atTuesdayFebruary25201473610PM_zpsede82ed4.png) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/RAGC%2017/ScreenShot2014-02-25atTuesdayFebruary25201473610PM_zpsede82ed4.png.html)
The membership must not have been pleased with the results of the 2010 renovation as Tom Doak / Renaissance Golf have since been appointed the Consulting Architect for Royal Adelaide. Aside from some minor tweaking, including expanded fairway cuts around the green, widened fairways, and removal of superfluous bunkering, Doak's first instruction was to re-work the 17th hole. Doak and Brian Slawnik have kept the idea of the centreline bunkers, but have considerably shrunk their scale, turning the pair of 'J' shaped bunkers into two pairs of more traditionally shaped and slightly offsetting centreline bunkers. The hourglass shaped and wildly contoured green has been moved back and to the right and replaced with a gently contoured front to back sloping green with a small kicker at the green's front left. Of particular curiosity are the trio of back bunkers, which very, very rarely make an appearance in the Australian world of golf course architecture. Perhaps they are a necessity to protect the 18th from approaches gone astray.
17th Tee:
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/RAGC%2017/DSCN5251_zps72a6089a.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/RAGC%2017/DSCN5251_zps72a6089a.jpg.html)
Centreline bunkers:
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/RAGC%2017/DSCN5252_zps070a6d17.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/RAGC%2017/DSCN5252_zps070a6d17.jpg.html)
Approach from over bunkers:
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/RAGC%2017/DSCN5253_zpsc273ca75.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/RAGC%2017/DSCN5253_zpsc273ca75.jpg.html)
Green from left:
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/RAGC%2017/DSCN5255_zps2b2fbef9.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/RAGC%2017/DSCN5255_zps2b2fbef9.jpg.html)
17th from behind:
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/RAGC%2017/DSCN5258_zpsd330ced7.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/RAGC%2017/DSCN5258_zpsd330ced7.jpg.html)
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Hole 18: Par 4, 383 Metres
It was suggested to me that the 18th at Royal Adelaide is a better hole when played from the forward tee, and based on a very small sample size, I'd agree! From the Championship tee, the hole sits at an awkward angle with the fairway bunkers hidden from view. The photo is taken from the forward tee, which turns the hole into a straightaway, 330m par-4.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5259_zpsbc82c1f7.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5259_zpsbc82c1f7.jpg.html)
The left-side drive bunkers are a Thompson addition, and though they are aesthetically unattractive they do add strategic interest to the hole and are a take on the modifications proposed by MacKenzie. The long and narrow green is best approached from near these fairway bunkers.
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5262_zps60cc84f9.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5262_zps60cc84f9.jpg.html)
(http://i1211.photobucket.com/albums/cc430/SaltyLaw/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5264_zps52633638.jpg) (http://s1211.photobucket.com/user/SaltyLaw/media/OZ%20-%20Royal%20Adelaide/DSCN5264_zps52633638.jpg.html)
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Watching some of the Aussie Ladies Open from Royal Adelaide on the TV. Seems like lots to like. Rather taken with the off-fairway areas.
Any thoughts from locals on how the course is playing, set-up etc?
Atb
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Thomas
it is in excellent condition, but that is typical.The girls are playing something very similar to the members course - about 6600 yards. The back tees are longer (about 7300).Fairways are running wo the holes are playing short.The girl's wedge play is outstanding.The greens accept good shots, but reject any mishits and anything hit with a draw, especially if the wind is from the right as well.
Lots of good scores on the front nine, but lots of shots get hemorrhaged on 10 to 14, plus 16.
Girls struggled with 17, probably needs a little local knowledge. Doak/Slawnik built 17.
We have three GCA'ers visiting in threeweeks, will be interesting to see how they find it for a regular game.
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We have three GCA'ers visiting in threeweeks, will be interesting to see how they find it for a regular game.
It would be astonishing if they didn't love it. The most surprising of the courses I played in Aus, in that it's right up there in the group just behind RMW, and for whatever reason I didn't expect it to be as good as it is.
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Hole 11: Par 4, 356 Metres
I was disappointed that I could not find a picture of the Crater Hole from early in the 20th century, or even one from pre-2010 which showed a forested green site, but from what I've seen the approach as it sits today is little changed from it's early days -- a wonderful sandy amphitheatre.
Mark,
here is a photo of the original Crater hole in 1909.
(https://i.imgur.com/V0wzS5F.jpg)
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Dela
that photo would be taken from about where the member's 8th tee is now.Some of the highest peaks seem a lot flatter today, but the swales are still there.
In 1909, the course is routed per the Cargie Rymill plan.#11 is still the same hole today, with play from the top left of the picture.Mackenzie's plan was to approach the crater from the top right, but this wasn't implemented.
I'm sure you know all of this though Matthew. :)
James B