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| St. Andrews New Course |
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St. Andrews New Course © 2006, Richard & Mary-Alice Jafolla More Folds and Wrinkles Than A Sharpei Puppy When it comes to golf few things in St. Andrews are new, so don't let the name fool you. The "New" links were laid out in 1895--Grover Cleveland was president of the United States, the Wright Brothers were still repairing bicycles, and it would be another year until Henry Ford built his first automobile. No, the New course is plenty old and has had loads of time to mature into a first rate course. In fact, GOLF WORLD rated it 38th in their top 100 courses in the UK. Considering the abundance of fine courses in the UK, that's quite an honor. Though it's really not surprising when one considers that it runs directly next to the famed Old Course and so shares its topography and general layout. In fact, if The Old Course didn't shine so brightly, golfers would see The New Course for the brilliant sun that it is. Just as Phil Mickelson's reputation as one of the finest golfers of his generation is somewhat diminished by Tiger Wood's brilliance, so the New Course suffers in comparison to the one-and-only St. Andrews Old Course.
Like its older and more famous sister, the New Course looks deceptively simple, especially when the sun is overhead. But see it at sunrise or sunset when the sun is low in the sky and you'll know why links golf is so challenging. The course is filled with more folds, wrinkles, and undulations than a Sharpei puppy. And situated as it is next to the North Sea, the winds are always a factor. Plus, of course, there are the pot bunkers and the gorse, that beautiful flowering plant that is such a pain in the neck when you land in it., and there's plenty of both--wind and gorse--on this course. The New Course uses the natural features of the land to create a classic links golf course. It is a traditional out and back layout and even has a shared hole feature--the 3rd and 15th--that some of the very old links courses have. It starts out innocuously enough with a 336 yard par 4. The only thing to watch out for is the gorse on the left side of the fairway. Other than that, it's a fairly easy par 4. Oh, did I mention the monster pot bunker in front of the green?
The first sign of trouble will be on #3, a 511 yard par 5. Pot bunkers line the fairway, especially on the right side although there is a nasty one at 211 yards on the left. So a straight tee shot is required. If you can carry this bunker watch out for the two at 275 yards. The 5th is a 180 yard par 3 but be careful where you land on the green. There is a deep dimple at the rear and if you have to putt over it you are looking at 3 putts. I like #8 a lot. A 481 yard par 5, it's the number 1 SI hole. Don't know why, but it just appeals to me. Maybe it's because it's reachable in two even for a short hitter like me. Of course I need a great drive to get close enough to try but when the ground is hard and the ball is rolling well, it's an eagleable hole. The challenge on this hole is not distance, it's accuracy. As the photo below shows, you have to thread your second shot between two embankments, each with deadly pot bunkers in them. The man I was playing with went for it in two and landed in the one on the left. He had to hit out sidways just to get out of it and was lying three in the same position as I was. I was lying two because I had laid up with my second shot. I ended up with a birdie, he had a 6. Of course, if he were a little more accurate he could have eagled it. Such is the risk and reward on this hole. The 3 fairway bunkers all within driving distance that keep all but the most accurate drivers playing short on their tee shots. A short tee shot makes it virtually impossible to get on in two unless you can roll it past these nasty greenside bunkers.
Fairway bunkers dictate your tee shot and greenside bunkers dictate your approach. That's pretty much the story with this golf course. Your ball will come to rest on on side hill, uphill and downhill lies. And the wind…always the wind to contend with. Get yourself a yardage book. They have a terrific one with actual photographs of the hole you will be playing. Plus, there is advice on how to play each hole. It's one of the best yardage books I've ever seen. If you've read our introduction you'll remember what I said about the friendliness of the Scottish people. This has been especially apparant to me with many examples on the golf course. The day I played the New I teed off alone and was playing behind a very slow foursome. On the 5th hole the ranger approached me and asked if I would like some company. He thought I may have been lonely and said he always likes someone to play with when he plays. He mentioned there was another one-ball a hole behind me and would I like him to ask if the man would like to join me. I agreed and the ranger drove off to set it up. When he came back we had a nice conversation until the man joined me. It was a friendly, caring thing to do. David Millett, the ranger, is pictured below. He said he didn't mind if I made him famous!
This is a wonderful course and one you will enjoy playing. It will give you a real taste for links golf, which doesn't get any "linksier" than The New Course. And at a less than half the price of The Old Course, it's a bargain. Golf Nook Scotland rating -- a solid BIRDIE Scorecard
SSS 72 -- LGU SSS 75 Greens Fees: April thru October 18 holes - £50 3 day ticket - £110 7 day ticket - £220 14 day ticket - £395 November thru March 18 holes - £35 3 day ticket - £65 7 day ticket - £130 14 day ticket - £235 St. Andrews Links Trust St. Andrews KY16 9SF Tel: 01334 466666 Fax: 01334 477036 Email: reservations@standrews.org.uk Web: www.standrews.org.uk *For WHAT TO DO ALL DAY, please refer to St. Andrews area. |
