Here's the first proposed routing for Sir James.
Fairways still have to be added, but think of this as an exact replica to Adare Manor (the unofficial sister course of Tempo Manor). Nothing but first cut rough and emerald green fairways as far as the eye can see. Something tells me that Sir James might want a few more holes to play towards the manor though…
Hole 1: ~415yd Par 4
A large shared fairway gives players a respectfully straight forward opening swing of the round. The closer you play to the bunkers, the better your angle is to the green which falls away over the back.
Hole 2: ~375yd Par 4
Depending on where the hole is cut, your tee shot will either have to be aimed over the bunker, or towards the tree line on this uphil par 4. Whatever you do, don’t be in the lion’s mouth bunker short of the green. It’s DEEP.
Hole 3: ~545yd Par 5
If the wind is at your back, driver over the two fairway bunkers will give you a good chance to reach the green in 2. Otherwise, you can play as far out to the right as you’d like. Mind you, your next swing will either be over the bunkers to the right if you bail out too far…
Hole 4: ~ 215yd Par 3
Picture a big 'ol turtleback green surrounded by fairway collection areas. This is not a birdie hole. Take your 3 and run.
Hole 5: ~465 yd Par 4
A long par 4 that plays back up the hill can set up a birdie chance IF you challenge the bunkers off the tee. Front right of the green is a large mound that will push any ball that comes up short a solid 30-40 yards back down the hill.
Hole 6: ~ 160 yd Par 3
A short par 3 with a multi tiered green. Grab a scoring iron and take dead aim!
Hole 7: ~ 430 yd Par 4
Similar to the 9th hole at ANGC, your tee shot is played downhill (not as severe) to a fairway that slopes right to left. The farther right you play, the better the angle at the redan-esque green.
Hole 8: ~175 yd Par 3
A big 'ol punchbowl awaits you on this par 3, with a bunker that REALLY doesn’t come into play (visual intimidation only. Large mounds block your view of the left side of the green, but you can trust that anything hit into the punchbowl will feed down towards the center. This is your best chance at birdie on the front 9.
Hole 9: ~ 410 yd Par 4
Fairway bunkers should NOT be challenged off the tee, as the slope behind them will kick your ball towards the brook. Aim in between the traps to leave a short approach to the double green, otherwise you can play short of them and leave a long iron into the green which slopes towards the water.
Hole 10: ~ 375 yd Par 4
The other half of the shared fairway with #1 gives players plenty of room to start off their second 9 with a birdie.
Hole 11: ~ 420 yd Par 4
Bite off as much of the brook as you’d like, but be cautious of the narrow fairway the farther you hit your tee shot. Take note that the angled green will add an extra club worth of carry depending on where the pin is.
Hole 12: ~ 190 yd Par 3
Despite how it’s framed with the brook babbling below, this hole actually plays slightly uphill from the tee. If you’re going to miss this green at all, miss it long. Those bunkers short of the green are DEEP.
Hole 13: ~ 510 yd Par 5
This downhill short par 5 is all about the second shot. An old farming wall juts into the fairway about 100 yards from the green, and anyone trying to get home in 2 needs to carry the wall for the ball to kick off the slope and funnel down to the green. Over this green is certain doom.
Hole 14: ~ 140 yd Par 3
This par 3 plays significantly uphill, and slopes left to right. It’s best to take an extra club and land the ball over the green, where a gentle slope will funnel your shot back down towards the green. Just don’t be short.
Hole 15: ~ 305 yd Par 4
A driveable par 4 that poses a tough question at the tee. Do you pump driver down the treeline and thread the ball in-between the traps? Or play out over the brook to the fairway and leave a 30-70 yd pitch shot to the green. Everything runs away from the putting surface, so be careful not to be long…
Hole 16: ~ 595 yd Par 5
My favorite hole on the course, the old farm wall presents a tough decision off the tee. Play to the left, or to the right of the wall…
Left gives players an uneven lie for their second shot, while the right side is a tighter tee shot. Long hitters can try and go past the wall to give themselves a sniff at the green, but that leaves a major ejection possibility if you don’t get all of it. The green slopes back to front with a slight false front.
Hole 17: ~ 480 yd Par 4
A la Adare, this hole is a ball buster. Send your tee shot down the hill and over the farm wall to leave an approach to this VERY thin biarritz green. If you leave your approach short OR long, you’ll be left with a pitch up a steep slope from a collection area. Par here is a GREAT score.
Hole 18: ~ 515 yd Par 5
A VERY gettable par 5 that plays back down the hill towards the Manor. A long enough tee shot past the wall down the left side will roll down into the flats, leaving just a long iron/hybrid into the green. The fairway slopes left to right, and all you REALLY need to worry about is the brook short of the green. A great chance to end your round with a birdie!
~ 6720 yds 35/37 Par 72 ~
I don’t know if this will be my WCoD entry, but I’m psyched to break ground either way. Just need Sir James’ approval…