One of Britains best... Royal St Georges!
I was fortunate enough to have played Royal St Georges yesterday in a County match - foursomes in the morning and singles in the afternoon with a practice round the day before for absolutely nothing.
We also were allowed to use the new championship tees which, I can assure everyone, makes the course much tougher than the course Greg Norman won on some 10 years previous.
Most of the bunkers have been renovated with the typical pre tournament revetting which I believe was all done in-house this winter.
I was able to take a few shots so I will find some time between my pen pushing and designing to post a few asap.
The changes are interesting to say the least. New back tees at number 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The surface is as good a quality as i have ever seen on a links course anywhere!
Hole 2 / 413 (376) par 4 - was always a long iron followed by a wedge, but with the tee pushed back some 40 yards, the approach is tougher and the fairway bunkers are now in play - good improvement.
Hole 4 / 494 (468) par 4 - with the famous sleeper bunker now is a serious challenge to carry. The new back tee is 25 yards furher back and I managed to just carry it each time. The approach The hole boasts a fantastic tiered green in excess of 8ft which must be carried otherwise the resulting 3putt wont surprise anyone! - great improvement.
Hole 6 / +17 yards. excellent short pitch hole!
Hole 8 / 455 (418) par 4 - another 40 yards of brut power required at this classic hole. Slightly blind drive to the horizon followed by a downhill approach to one of the best green complexes on the course ( which once was played as a short hole). The green is neatly tucked in amongst dunes on 3 sides with a subtle tier which divides the front and rear plateaus. The tier is the only elevation change on the green withboth sides at the same height. If your approach goes long beware of the long putt up and over the tier.
Hole 10 / 413 (399) par 4 - this straight par 4 up hill has been modified to a slight dog leg left. Excellent improvement as the fairway bunker has some meaning now.
Hole 11 / 216 (240) par 3 - What a golf hole!
I hit Driver every time due to the wind conditions. The edition of a back bunker has been cruely conceived to catch the running shot!
Note: people know my opinions on back tees! I won't go into it.. now..
Hole 12 / 365 (380) +15 yards
Hole 13 / hmmmmmm! arguments will start here!
459 (443) par 4.
A new championship tee to the right of green 12 has made the hole visible and not blind! Now word is, it helps with public access between holes 12 and 15 which are nearby each other, but the new tee doesn't make sense in terms of bunker strategy and placement. It is penal. 2 more bunkers have been added on the left aswell. A tough blind hole has now become a penal visible hole.
My experience of RSG yesterday has only confirmed it's position as one of Britains finest! (without 13 tee)
