After a warm up on the range which is right next to the pro shop I head to the first tee with Director of Golf, Clive Coombs, which to my surprise is a downhill par 3, there are not many courses that start with a par 3, Royal Lytham St Annes and Southport & Ainsdale suddenly spring to mind. I am questioning whether this is going to be as tough as those courses. An initial look at the card showing 6.400-yards from the tips you wouldn’t have thought so.
With the wind slightly into us I hit 4-iron which lands on the front of the green but rolls onto the back fringe.
From the back tees the 2nd plays through a funnel of trees and you need to get a good drive away to make the corner so you get a good look at the green and a possible birdie or even eagle chance which I think maybe needed with that tough par 3 start.
The 3rd brings up another par 3 which is followed by the hardest hole on the course a tough par 4. The 6th and 7th holes are back-to-back par 5s the last of which is played on a fairway that slopes right to left with your second/third shot – depending how brave/stupid you are – to a long narrow green that is 42-yards deep with a gap about as wide as a single track road – slight over exaggeration – but believe me its narrow. I turn to Clive and ask what the course record is, as of May 2017 its 65. I didn't think it would be much lower as this course is no walk over, indeed I am told if you get through the first five to seven holes in a couple over par you are doing well.
The downhill par 3 8th is a spectacular hole and plays from an elevated tee to a very big green and if the pin position is back then water could come into play if you go long or left. The front nine comes to a close with a beautifully designed par 4 that is played to an island green and if you look to your right you can see the 18th which is a similar designed island green but a par 5, but more of that later.
The back nine opens with a gentle par 3 of only 124-yards after being reduced down from 180-yards. The Lakes course puts a premium on course strategy and putting your ball in the right areas and the 11th and 12th holes are prime examples of this with an avenue of trees on the 11th and a bunker in the landing zone hybrid is as much club as you need and the same for the course's signature hole the 12th where you have to make sure you are past the trees on the left but between the large bunker on the right to be able to see all of this island green. There is a new risk and reward option on the 15th hole where they have cut some trees down to give you an option of going for the green with your driver or 3-wood.
The 16th is played from elevated tee and rightly holds the position of being the second hardest hole on the course and you will need a long drive so you can see the green that is protected at the front by a couple of bunkers.
The 18th is all risk and reward for the bigger hitters out there, a good drive over the trees on the left to cut part of the dogleg off, will give you the option of being able to go for the green, but being an island green with no bail out, its all or nothing, but no matter what way you choose to play the hole it’s a stunning finish and with the hotel as its backdrop and people watching from their balconies its hero or villain time.
As we shake hands on a beautiful Welsh sunny day and walk off the green I realise I’ve hit every club in my bag, that tells me that I have played a course that has tested every part of my game, all fourteen clubs and my brain; courses like this are few and far between.
