The Centennial Club (Parkland Contest Entry)
Sept 19, 2021 11:20:12 GMT -5
jwfickett, SAM, and 8 more like this
Post by cg444 on Sept 19, 2021 11:20:12 GMT -5
This is the first 18 hole course I have published for any design competition – The Centennial Club is my entry to Ben and Charlie’s Parkland/Golden Age contest - enjoy your rounds!
Firstly – this contest was great as I really explored golf course architecture and learnt a huge amount, and this course is designed with both my interpretation of template holes and a homage to famous elements of golden age golf design (think Road Hole bunker, Principles Nose, (controversial) Church Pews).
The course itself is set in a rolling parkland environment, with a river running through the low point of the property. The greens are fast and tricky – and promote an emphasis on ground game to reach certain pins and a good day with the putter will yield a good score! The red tees also provide a couple more driveable 4's for those on a more relaxed round.
So tee up, make sure to have a quick go on the putting green, and take in the famous clubhouse from various vantage points on the course – and enjoy my ramblings of a course description below before your round (+ pictures).
The course:
Par 72
White: 7199 yards
Green: 7018 yards
Red: 6550 yards
5 Par 3's, 5 Par 5's
Pin sets:
1 - easy
2 - hard
3 - medium
4 - hard
Hole:
1 – Punchbowl
A long par 4 going up the hill from the clubhouse, be sure to check the pin position as a spine will dictate your second shot, being on the right side yields an easier putt.
2 – Redan
Downhill par 3, clue: ground game will help you access all 4 pins on the green, so be brave and aim further right that you think.
3 – Hogs Back/Maiden
First of back to back par 5’s, the Hog’s Back fairway is not just to ensure a straight drive, use it to choose your angle left or right of it to either open up the Maiden green, or leave a slightly shorter approach.
4 – Alps
Par 5 up the hill, the drive looks innocuous but taking on the right bunkers will give a better angle. The marker post will guide you to the green – again use the slopes to access various pins for a better score.
5 – Lions Mouth
First driveable par 4 on the course, protected at the front by the Lions Mouth bunker. The green is treacherous being such a short hole, but offers helping slopes to access all pins for an accurate drive.
6 – Bottle
Par 4 back towards the clubhouse – being left is a longer carry but opens up the green and leaves you hitting down the green rather than across it – anything long will drop off at the back leaving a tricky chip.
7 – Eden
Par 3 - featuring the hallmarks of St Andrew’s own Eden hole, the tricky green slopes from back to front and distance control is a must. Short of the hole is better, long of the green may include a visit to a treehouse.
8 – Leven
Par 4 - a huge bunker short left of the green forms the “Leven” mound here, with a longer carry to the right opening up the narrow green which suits a wedge approach – favouring the bold.
9 – Biarritz
Long par 3 - my favourite hole to design on this course, and designed to frighten those who look at the scorecard. The back pins clock in at ~280 yards, playing downhill a well struck 3 wood will traverse the Biarritz slope – if hit straight!
10 – Crook/Crenshaw
Another favourite template of mine, this short par 5 plays tight along the river, with the longer carry to the left opening up the green. The green slopes towards the water, and the hole also plays like a Switchback in that a draw off the tee and a fade 2nd shot will help set up an eagle opportunity
11 - Cape
Back along the river with a par 4, be sure to check the pin position to choose your side of the fairway. A wedge into this treacherous green is preferred, anything left will be donated to the junior members at the club!
12 – Knoll
Second driveable par 4 on the course, be sure to check the slopes around the green for any kickers! Treacherous Knoll green – you wouldn’t want an easy ride on a short 4 right?
13 – Narrows
Short par 4 up the hill to a tiered green – a longer drive takes on the narrow opening in the heavily bunkered fairway. Be sure to visit the flower garden on the left should you not fall off the false front.
14 – Long
Huge par 5, nearly 650 yards and a true 3 shotter. Hitting the fairway is a must, challenging the right bunker leaves a more favourable view of the 2nd shot. The 2nd shot is dictated by the pin of the day, but generally right of the bunkers gives you a better angle and more green on your 3rd shot – essential as there is a huge fairway drop off at the back. Oh – I played around making a Church Pew bunker and whilst controversial – it is staying.
15 – Double Plateau
Mid iron par 3, the double plateau green is not as obvious as typical double plateaus, but be sure to check your landing zone and read the green from the tee to access pins.
16 – Road
Playing alongside the Hotel (with no name), a drive up the right on this long par 4 will open up the front of the green and the slopes of the green. Featuring a huge pot bunker short, make sure you have enough club, and again any balls going out of bounds are donated to the junior members of the club.
17 – Short
110 yards of pure terror, the green is one of the most demanding on the course and any sand wedge approach must be near the pin to ensure a putt for 2. Two bunkers short and left were made very deep after a local protested that 2K21 bunker play was too easy, and those who miss this large green with a sand wedge should be punished accordingly.
18 – Prize Dogleg
One of the requirements was an iconic 18th hole – this is my attempt. Usually I frown at retaining walls – but here you go, have loads. The more you take on to the left and the longer carry, the shorter your approach to this again tricky green. Be sure to take in the clubhouse views on the second shot – rumour has it a collection of golf clubs are in the river following a golfer who visited the bunkers on 17 before slinging one into the drink on 18.
18th
Clubhouse
10th tee - view of 11th green and 7th green
10th green
11th green
5th hole
7th green
Firstly – this contest was great as I really explored golf course architecture and learnt a huge amount, and this course is designed with both my interpretation of template holes and a homage to famous elements of golden age golf design (think Road Hole bunker, Principles Nose, (controversial) Church Pews).
The course itself is set in a rolling parkland environment, with a river running through the low point of the property. The greens are fast and tricky – and promote an emphasis on ground game to reach certain pins and a good day with the putter will yield a good score! The red tees also provide a couple more driveable 4's for those on a more relaxed round.
So tee up, make sure to have a quick go on the putting green, and take in the famous clubhouse from various vantage points on the course – and enjoy my ramblings of a course description below before your round (+ pictures).
The course:
Par 72
White: 7199 yards
Green: 7018 yards
Red: 6550 yards
5 Par 3's, 5 Par 5's
Pin sets:
1 - easy
2 - hard
3 - medium
4 - hard
Hole:
1 – Punchbowl
A long par 4 going up the hill from the clubhouse, be sure to check the pin position as a spine will dictate your second shot, being on the right side yields an easier putt.
2 – Redan
Downhill par 3, clue: ground game will help you access all 4 pins on the green, so be brave and aim further right that you think.
3 – Hogs Back/Maiden
First of back to back par 5’s, the Hog’s Back fairway is not just to ensure a straight drive, use it to choose your angle left or right of it to either open up the Maiden green, or leave a slightly shorter approach.
4 – Alps
Par 5 up the hill, the drive looks innocuous but taking on the right bunkers will give a better angle. The marker post will guide you to the green – again use the slopes to access various pins for a better score.
5 – Lions Mouth
First driveable par 4 on the course, protected at the front by the Lions Mouth bunker. The green is treacherous being such a short hole, but offers helping slopes to access all pins for an accurate drive.
6 – Bottle
Par 4 back towards the clubhouse – being left is a longer carry but opens up the green and leaves you hitting down the green rather than across it – anything long will drop off at the back leaving a tricky chip.
7 – Eden
Par 3 - featuring the hallmarks of St Andrew’s own Eden hole, the tricky green slopes from back to front and distance control is a must. Short of the hole is better, long of the green may include a visit to a treehouse.
8 – Leven
Par 4 - a huge bunker short left of the green forms the “Leven” mound here, with a longer carry to the right opening up the narrow green which suits a wedge approach – favouring the bold.
9 – Biarritz
Long par 3 - my favourite hole to design on this course, and designed to frighten those who look at the scorecard. The back pins clock in at ~280 yards, playing downhill a well struck 3 wood will traverse the Biarritz slope – if hit straight!
10 – Crook/Crenshaw
Another favourite template of mine, this short par 5 plays tight along the river, with the longer carry to the left opening up the green. The green slopes towards the water, and the hole also plays like a Switchback in that a draw off the tee and a fade 2nd shot will help set up an eagle opportunity
11 - Cape
Back along the river with a par 4, be sure to check the pin position to choose your side of the fairway. A wedge into this treacherous green is preferred, anything left will be donated to the junior members at the club!
12 – Knoll
Second driveable par 4 on the course, be sure to check the slopes around the green for any kickers! Treacherous Knoll green – you wouldn’t want an easy ride on a short 4 right?
13 – Narrows
Short par 4 up the hill to a tiered green – a longer drive takes on the narrow opening in the heavily bunkered fairway. Be sure to visit the flower garden on the left should you not fall off the false front.
14 – Long
Huge par 5, nearly 650 yards and a true 3 shotter. Hitting the fairway is a must, challenging the right bunker leaves a more favourable view of the 2nd shot. The 2nd shot is dictated by the pin of the day, but generally right of the bunkers gives you a better angle and more green on your 3rd shot – essential as there is a huge fairway drop off at the back. Oh – I played around making a Church Pew bunker and whilst controversial – it is staying.
15 – Double Plateau
Mid iron par 3, the double plateau green is not as obvious as typical double plateaus, but be sure to check your landing zone and read the green from the tee to access pins.
16 – Road
Playing alongside the Hotel (with no name), a drive up the right on this long par 4 will open up the front of the green and the slopes of the green. Featuring a huge pot bunker short, make sure you have enough club, and again any balls going out of bounds are donated to the junior members of the club.
17 – Short
110 yards of pure terror, the green is one of the most demanding on the course and any sand wedge approach must be near the pin to ensure a putt for 2. Two bunkers short and left were made very deep after a local protested that 2K21 bunker play was too easy, and those who miss this large green with a sand wedge should be punished accordingly.
18 – Prize Dogleg
One of the requirements was an iconic 18th hole – this is my attempt. Usually I frown at retaining walls – but here you go, have loads. The more you take on to the left and the longer carry, the shorter your approach to this again tricky green. Be sure to take in the clubhouse views on the second shot – rumour has it a collection of golf clubs are in the river following a golfer who visited the bunkers on 17 before slinging one into the drink on 18.
18th
Clubhouse
10th tee - view of 11th green and 7th green
10th green
11th green
5th hole
7th green