Post by alpha on Apr 7, 2024 8:08:40 GMT -5
My Version of a real Coastal headland course, Cairndhu Golf Club, located on the Antrim Coast Road near Larne, Northern Ireland, between Belfast and Portrush with the Scottish coast line in the distance. I used the Flyover video and Online photos for reference, so there will be some deviation from the real course especially on the greens, I recommend using Default Time which is set to 12:14 noon , if you change the time of day you move the sun and that will change the hole look of the course , also I fine a EAST or WEST wind best, because it gives a better all round direction, most holes will have a With or against and some with cross winds , using NORTH or SOUTH gives mostly cross winds, and I like Medium & High winds it can give a chance of driving some of the par 4 holes. There is also a Air Show Taken place with a race as its main event (blink and you’ll miss it).
HOLE 2 The Head
Hole Description
Having caught your breath following the climb to the second tee, prepare to have it taken away again by the stunning views of the Scottish coast and the Antrim Plateau and by the sight of Cairndhu’s signature hole. On the tee you are almost 100 metres above the Famous Antrim Coast Road and facing a shot from an elevated tee to a long narrow green that falls away sharply to the left to light rough and is bunkered on the front right-hand side. The club selection is vital and is totally dependent on the weather. Depending on the direction of the wind a player could hit anything from a lob wedge to a one iron. Having safely found the putting surface the only significant borrow is from the left edge to the centre of the green.
Pro's Tip
Have the courage of your convictions, especially into the wind – hit the ball better, not harder, and use the slope to the right of the green to gather the ball.
HOLE 3 High Corner
Hole Description
The tee shot off the edge of the cliff at this tough par 4 is the key. It is a blind carry of approximately 130 metres over rough, gorse and rocks to a fairway on which the further you hit the ball the more it will be thrown down the slope and into rough. There is plenty of room to the left ( rough, a few fir trees and the 1st fairway). The second shot is not exactly plain sailing to a green significantly below you which is protected to the left and right by large bunkers. Once on the green the break from back-right to front-left is fairly obvious.
Pro's Tip
From the tee, keep left of centre. And don’t let the Ghostly Aberrations in haunted mansion windows put you of your stroke.
HOLE 4 Maidens
Hole Description
The fourth takes you back up the hill and despite its obvious lack of length can be a very challenging hole. With quickly maturing trees coming into play both left and right the premium is on accuracy from the tee. The green sits on a ledge and any shot missing to the right is thrown swiftly down the steep hill and invariably leads to a dropped shot. The ridge round the right side of the green can act as a cushion and help control an approach. The green falls from the left, more noticeably at the front and left of the green.
Pro's Tip
Always be aware of where the flag is when trying to place your drive, if you get caught on the right side of the fairway with the flag on the right side of the green it is almost impossible to get close.
HOLE 6 Twin Copse
Hole Description
A good pitch-hole to a generous green that falls to light rough to the left and to a shallow bunker to the right. The main protection for this hole is the two copses of trees at either side of the green after which the hole is named. A small mound on the front right of the green can cause problems when pitching and putting, other than this area the green generally falls from right to left.
Pro's Tip
Club selection is important here, as is nerve; a shot into this green will hold even in the height of the summer, if it is hit properly!
HOLE 10 Knockdhu
Hole Description
Don’t be distracted by the beauty of Ballygally Bay because this hole requires total concentration. It is a difficult hole in its own right and marks the beginning of Cairndhu’s own “Amen Corner”. The tee shot is one of the hardest on the course with trees and rough on both sides and a fairway that slopes left to right. The second shot is not much easier as anything short will bounce away to the right. The only good news is that there is a gathering bank to the left and at the back of the green. The putting surface slopes from back to front and from left to right.
Pro's Tip
Don’t be afraid to hit something other than a driver here. If you hit a fairway wood or a long iron straight use it, hitting the fairway is very important on this hole.
HOLE 15 Tobergell
Hole Description
This is another very good driving hole with trees lining the left-hand side of the fairway and light rough and out of bound lurking to the right. The trouble on the right is heightened by the fact that the fairway falls to the right. For most players, the second shot is blind following the slight dog-leg left over the hill dropping down to a green that falls away to the right and left and even more severely to the rear, all of which makes it a difficult target to hit. Once on the green, the borrows are not that obvious but again there is a general fall from right to left.
HOLE 18 Ailsa
Hole Description
The last hole is again short in length, placing a great premium on the player to think their way home. Many big hitters in the past have tried to drive the green only to find one of the five bunkers that guard the green or, worse, have crossed the out of bounds fence that sits only a few metres to the right of the green. So if anyone decides to take this shot on, don’t say you weren’t warned! Assuming the tee shot finds the fairway short of all the bunkers, the second shot is very short but, depending on the pin placement, no less difficult. A recently enlarged green allows for great variation of placing with the far right being the most devious. The green is full of subtle breaks and borrows and three putting is not uncommon. It is amazing how often this innocuous looking 269 metres can spoil a good score. Also a good view of the most haunted mansion in Ireland.
Flyover Video and some screen shots with hole description which I copied from the club website.
HOLE 2 The Head
Hole Description
Having caught your breath following the climb to the second tee, prepare to have it taken away again by the stunning views of the Scottish coast and the Antrim Plateau and by the sight of Cairndhu’s signature hole. On the tee you are almost 100 metres above the Famous Antrim Coast Road and facing a shot from an elevated tee to a long narrow green that falls away sharply to the left to light rough and is bunkered on the front right-hand side. The club selection is vital and is totally dependent on the weather. Depending on the direction of the wind a player could hit anything from a lob wedge to a one iron. Having safely found the putting surface the only significant borrow is from the left edge to the centre of the green.
Pro's Tip
Have the courage of your convictions, especially into the wind – hit the ball better, not harder, and use the slope to the right of the green to gather the ball.
HOLE 3 High Corner
Hole Description
The tee shot off the edge of the cliff at this tough par 4 is the key. It is a blind carry of approximately 130 metres over rough, gorse and rocks to a fairway on which the further you hit the ball the more it will be thrown down the slope and into rough. There is plenty of room to the left ( rough, a few fir trees and the 1st fairway). The second shot is not exactly plain sailing to a green significantly below you which is protected to the left and right by large bunkers. Once on the green the break from back-right to front-left is fairly obvious.
Pro's Tip
From the tee, keep left of centre. And don’t let the Ghostly Aberrations in haunted mansion windows put you of your stroke.
HOLE 4 Maidens
Hole Description
The fourth takes you back up the hill and despite its obvious lack of length can be a very challenging hole. With quickly maturing trees coming into play both left and right the premium is on accuracy from the tee. The green sits on a ledge and any shot missing to the right is thrown swiftly down the steep hill and invariably leads to a dropped shot. The ridge round the right side of the green can act as a cushion and help control an approach. The green falls from the left, more noticeably at the front and left of the green.
Pro's Tip
Always be aware of where the flag is when trying to place your drive, if you get caught on the right side of the fairway with the flag on the right side of the green it is almost impossible to get close.
HOLE 6 Twin Copse
Hole Description
A good pitch-hole to a generous green that falls to light rough to the left and to a shallow bunker to the right. The main protection for this hole is the two copses of trees at either side of the green after which the hole is named. A small mound on the front right of the green can cause problems when pitching and putting, other than this area the green generally falls from right to left.
Pro's Tip
Club selection is important here, as is nerve; a shot into this green will hold even in the height of the summer, if it is hit properly!
HOLE 10 Knockdhu
Hole Description
Don’t be distracted by the beauty of Ballygally Bay because this hole requires total concentration. It is a difficult hole in its own right and marks the beginning of Cairndhu’s own “Amen Corner”. The tee shot is one of the hardest on the course with trees and rough on both sides and a fairway that slopes left to right. The second shot is not much easier as anything short will bounce away to the right. The only good news is that there is a gathering bank to the left and at the back of the green. The putting surface slopes from back to front and from left to right.
Pro's Tip
Don’t be afraid to hit something other than a driver here. If you hit a fairway wood or a long iron straight use it, hitting the fairway is very important on this hole.
HOLE 15 Tobergell
Hole Description
This is another very good driving hole with trees lining the left-hand side of the fairway and light rough and out of bound lurking to the right. The trouble on the right is heightened by the fact that the fairway falls to the right. For most players, the second shot is blind following the slight dog-leg left over the hill dropping down to a green that falls away to the right and left and even more severely to the rear, all of which makes it a difficult target to hit. Once on the green, the borrows are not that obvious but again there is a general fall from right to left.
HOLE 18 Ailsa
Hole Description
The last hole is again short in length, placing a great premium on the player to think their way home. Many big hitters in the past have tried to drive the green only to find one of the five bunkers that guard the green or, worse, have crossed the out of bounds fence that sits only a few metres to the right of the green. So if anyone decides to take this shot on, don’t say you weren’t warned! Assuming the tee shot finds the fairway short of all the bunkers, the second shot is very short but, depending on the pin placement, no less difficult. A recently enlarged green allows for great variation of placing with the far right being the most devious. The green is full of subtle breaks and borrows and three putting is not uncommon. It is amazing how often this innocuous looking 269 metres can spoil a good score. Also a good view of the most haunted mansion in Ireland.