Apologies for the delay in posting … struggled to find time (& brainpower)
Another 5min drive but in the opposite direction to get to Royal Portrush. Weather was looking promising. Was introduced to Tim & Matt, who I was paired up with up, along with my caddie for the day, William. Didn’t take long for the conversation to flow, as we exchanged notes on where we’d played before today
Being the small world that it was, it turned out that Tim & Matt had also played Portstewart the day before, and commented on the beauty of the 8th hole, and how hard the 9th was with its narrow fairway. I mentioned I lost a ball there as it hit the fairway but bounded off into the rubbish. He then casually asked, “Was it a Taylor Made with a blue line & 3 blue dots below the numbers?”, and proceeded to show me the ball that I lost!!!! Matt kindly offered to give it back after some chuckles, but that ball & I obviously had marital issues so it was best we went our separate ways – after all, I look for a long term relationship with my gofl balls. The way Matt was driving I doubt he would ever lose a ball, straight as an arrow, and Tim smashed this old Ping 1 iron further than my drives
Anyway on the Valley Course, our warm up course for the big show in the afternoon. But quickly, we were all blown away by the quality of the course. Could have had something to do with us scoring particularly well early; couple of birdies & a big eagle in the first few holes. But more than that it was it was the undulations, testing tee shots & subtle breaks on the green. You play more amongst the dunes than you do on the Dunluce course so it feels less open but (not dissimilar to my thoughts on Ballyliffin) very natural & uncontrived.
Because of the British Open the Dunluce Course is putting is putting in 2 new holes, so took 2 from the Valley (5th & 6th), maybe not coincidentally, the regarded signature holes of the Valley course, and gave it some new holes with a slight change in routing. You could hardly tell the holes blended in so seamlessly – the only give away was a slightly dead feel at present. Anyone who doesn’t play the Valley course is missing out on a brilliant track, and if not for the course next door would get more accolades.
After a wholesome lunch in the clubhouse (where we saw Darren Clarke, taller than I thought & according to the caddies shot a lazy 65/66 in the morning), we were ready for the main event. More formality for this tee off with a charming & proud starter herding everyone into place (not unlike Royal County Down). Weather had been good to us, and we were hoping for more of the same. William, after watching me make a promising start on the Valley course, only to melt like butter in a pan when the going got tough, must have been dreading another 18. Sensing the occasion, he got into me, pepping me up & was also more switched on with short clear instructions . Tim & Matt also went for caddies, and they clicked nicely with the rest of us, making us feel very comfortable. Promising start on Hughies with a birdie.
As we got further from the clubhouse we started getting an idea of the views which were quite special, made all the better by little breeze, and clear sunshine, allowing us to see Scotland. Giant’s Graveyard, a beautiful dogleg left with fairway bunkers guarding the best line right into a tricky green protected by bunkers on its left – we must have been intimidated, all finding the mugumbi waaay left.
The 4th (Fred Daly’s), a long & tough par 4 – reminds me some of Metropolitan’s tough par 4’s, where the green is just slight offset from the line of play. On the right was a most beautiful mansion, apparently belonging to a chicken-farmer-made-good. Must have sold a few chickens.
As we turned to the ocean there was another cracking par 4 (White Rocks), down hill dogleg right, with a big carry over a mound. From that green, and the next tee box (Harry Colt’s) you are as close to the ocean as you’ll get, and the view is fantastic.
Harry Colt’s is a long uphill par 3 with two tiers – for those who know me, and also those who are sandbelt fans, will appreciate the beauty of this. It’s also to the right of this that the two new holes were put in (not yet in play) for the Open. Both very good looking holes, one a tough looking par 4, and another a long zigzag par 5 right against the dunes. Again, anyone not knowing the layout would not be able to tell that it was just put in. A good fit for the course and to be honest, more testing & interesting than the ones being replaced. Into a breeze but that didn’t stop Tim sticking a 6 iron a few feet from the hole, and dropped the birdie.
Back in land a bit more, and more beautiful par 4’s, e.g. PG Stevensons, Himalayas …. running out of superlatives … both tight driving lines. The latter of which has a green that long as it is narrow. So relief of hitting the green is short lived when you realise there was another 2 club lengths to a back pin. Then gentle enough Par 5 to take us to the halfway hut, but not before negotiating a steep false front. For the budding ornithologists out there …
After a quick drink we marched up the hill to start the back 9 with some glorious views of the whole course
Dhu Varren – William: “Keep your drive left”. I put it 15m into the left rubbish “Left enough for you?” William (do your own irish accent) “I’m not going to lie to you that is sh …” (rhymes with bite). Next is a great little hole (Featherbed) … blind tee shot over a mound to a plateau before a massive drop down to a turtle back green. Then Skerries, another clever par 4 with bunkers right deterring you from the best line to a green with lefthand protection.
Then the famous ‘Calamity’ … everyone gets their cameras. One look at the ravine, and we know where the name comes from. Not dissimilar to the wonderful 7th at The National Old Course – there are not too many options apart from hitting the green. Matt & I chose the latter & did our best impression of a duelling Alpine Ibex, whilst Matt rather smartly hit the green.
Then ‘Purgatory’ … rather ominous & apt – the last of the strong holes before coming home on 17 & 18. Glenarm (17) is a fairly straight & short par 5 unless you’re playing into a very stiff breeze, and whilst right ‘Big Nellie’ (a rather imposing high faced bunker/dune) is scary, it’s not really in play. Lastly, Greenaway is a long straight par 4 (for us mortals) but pros would gobble it up. From what we understood the last 2 holes will be loaded with tents & marquees during the Open hence the new holes, and everyone of us thought the new holes would be a much better challenge.
That brought us to the end of a fantastic day for golf with a complete overdose of clever holes, beautiful scenery, great company and a smattering of some good golf. Tim & Matt were off to Royal County Down the next day, and I must admit a tinge of jealousy that they were going to play it in beautiful weather.