Hole 10
Dun Cearmna
Par 5
518 | 494 | 485 | 457 | 403 yards
The opening hole on the back 9 is a big sweeping dogleg right. The distance after the dogleg makes up a majority of this hole so watch your tee shots as drives can easily carry through the fairway to the slope behind. A very well struck but errant shot can find the 17th hole which sits below this hole towards the ocean.
The play off the hole is partially obstructed by the hill to the right of the tee. There is a lot more room to that side, though most of the trouble also runs down the right side of this hole.
Off the tee an aiming stone again points the line for the drive. At the inside corner of the dogleg are three deep grass bunkers to ward off attempting to cut down the hole. A shot to the right of this aiming stone is not overly aggressive. I think the location of that stone should be more right as aiming at it leaves a rather narrow strip of fairway to land.
Upon turning the corner, you can see how the left side of the hole is framed by a ridge at the edge of the fairway. Down the right center is a large bunker that fronts a stone wall. Beyond this wall sits the green.
The aiming stone is seen here in the left foreground. A layup short of the bunker is the advised play for your second.
As you approach the stone wall and that bunker you realize this is actually the ruins of an ancient structure.
A shot from this bunker must not only clear the hazard but also the ruin. Inside the grass is not mowed so good luck if you hit it in here.
A plaque at the wall describes some of the history of human habitation that occurred on this land. Beyond here the green is again elevated from the fairway
The green is domed in the center so all sides fall away from the middle. A view from the green back down the hill once again shows the wonderful vista of the lighthouse.
Hole 11
Galley Head
Par 3
207 | 198 | 184 | 164 | 140 yards
The longest and most unremarkable Par 3 on the course. This hole lacks the cliff top drama that all of the other Par 3s posses. Don't worry though, you are about to go on another ride, as the next few holes rival perhaps any stretch of holes in the world. What it lacks in scenery it does make up for in difficulty. The hole plays slightly uphill with the green elevated a bit from the tees.
Anything that comes up short will either find the bunker wrapping around the left half of the green or repel off the hill and down into the collection area below the hole. A chip from down here is not an easy proposition, especially with a back pin.
Like all of the other shots, club selection is made more difficult by the winds. The green is fairly deep at around 30 yards but is relatively narrow. A back pin, like we played is very tough to get close.
Provided you hit enough club, there is plenty of room to miss around the green but it is not all without danger. A bunker does hug the back right corner of the green. Adjacent to that trap is a small stone ledge to avoid.
After playing the hole, be sure to walk off the green backwards to enjoy the view back down towards the light.
Hole 12
Courcean Stage
Par 5
564 | 554 | 537 | 425 | 425 yards
The 12 and 13th holes are located on the narrow strip of land that connects Old Head with the mainland. Thanks to this location these holes are unbelievably beautiful.I have often stood on a tee looking at the hole about to be played and having doubts about my ability to hit a small target or avoid some kind of trouble. However, never before have I stepped onto a tee and just stood gobsmacked at the task at hand. I do believe the 12th hole at Old Head has to be the pinnacle of the most daunting tee shot I have ever experienced. As you finish the 11th hole you walk towards the cliff. Rounding a bend the trail comes perilously close to the edge of the cliffs, which seem to be perhaps the highest ones on the headland. As you continue around the bend you realize the tee box is right here too, on the edge of the world.
This 564 yard Par 5 is considered by many to be one of the greatest holes of golf anywhere on the planet.
As you step onto the tee, the hole you are about to play is completely hidden. All you are faced with is a small walking path continuing ahead right along the ledge. All ahead of you stretches the rock face of the cliffs that fall nearly vertical to the sea. The tees sit 50 feet below the fairway, which is over the ridge and essentially perpendicular to the tees.
The winds here are truly powerful. Hopefully you have the advantage of them at your back and not blowing into your face.
If you examine the ledge above the cliff you can just make out the green off in the distance to the left. This hole is a dogleg left but all of the dogleg must be played on your drive. Don't event think of trying to cut the corner here. Your caddie will point you far, far to the right to aim your drive. You won't believe that that could be the proper line to take but trust them, and note the aiming stone where they advise you to hit. You can see the stone here just above the trail meandering along the cliff.
Last winter they actually had to close the course, not because of adverse weather, but because the winds were so strong that walking along this stretch was far too dangerous. I can certainly see why.
The area to your left is surprising clearly marked as a lateral hazard. I can't imagine why.
One last look back towards the tees from atop the fairway crest.
Once you climb up to the fairway, you can see how the hole is essentially dead straight to the green, save for the tee shot you just made. The trouble continues all along the left side. From the vantage point of your second shot, the green looks a million miles away.
The winds here were at our back off the tee (luckily) and that meant they were blowing strongly left to right. Fargle handed my my hybrid and advised me to hit to the left at the cliffs and the wind will bring it back.
I played the shot just as he said but I hit a low stripe that cut right through the winds and didn't move an inch off line. Uh oh. After making a good drive to the fairway, I thought I just hit it over the cliff on the advice of my caddie. I was a bit disappointed.
Back in the fairway... Lisa and Fargle walk down the hole towards the green.
I headed on the line of my ball prepared to take a penalty, only to find the cliff was a bit further than I thought. Still it was a tough lie for my third. I decided to just hack out back to the fairway.
As you approach this green the fairway narrows. From a distance this makes the hole seem even longer than it is. As you approach the green it makes each shot play that much more difficult. Anything down the left is dead. To the right you won't find much better as hills line this side of the hole and they are covered with very thick shaggy grass.
For my approach shot, after having successfully chopped out to the fairway, Fargle told me again, "you are going to have to hit this shot off the cliff. The winds will bring it back". I put my trust in him and did something that seemed crazy. I aimed me shot out to sea, just left of the tower you can see in the distance. Saying good bye to a nice ball, I made a solid strike. The ball leapt forward, a high arching shot right off the edge of the cliff. Then it did the most amazing thing. As it reached its pinnacle, the wind hit it. It seemed to hang suspended in the air. For what seemed like a lot longer than I am sure it was I watched as the wind held the ball aloft and then slowly started pushing it back to the right. Amazingly, the ball drifted and came fluttering down to land squarely in the center of the green. It was the greatest golf shot I have ever hit.
A close up view of the approach you face into the green. Note how close the lateral hazard comes into the green on the left. On the right it would appear you could play off the bank, but your ball is just as likely to sit down in the fluffy grass there. Behind the green is some truly gnarly cover on the hill that frames the back edge of this hole.
You can also see how the green is once again elevated from the tee, repelling shots that run up.
Lisa here hits you approach into the green.
Not wanting to go left, her shot was too far right, onto one of the hills lining this side. You can see how difficult a shot this miss becomes.
John chips up from below the green with an impressive vista behind him as you look back down the hole.
I made my putt to save par.
One of the most intimidating holes in the world of golf. The magnificent 12th. While the 4th hole is the most stunning visual hole on the course, I think this hole is maybe the one I will remember most. Not only is the tee shot unbelievably intimidating, the fun only begins from there. You have to play solid from tee to green on this hole to avoid a big number.
Old Head Part 1
Old Head Part 2
Old Head Part 3
Old Head Part 4
Old Head Part 5
Old Head Part 6
Old Head Part 7
No comments:
Post a Comment