Askernish GC, Winter (L) The 'lost' Old Tom Morris classic
Mar 22, 2024 11:10:45 GMT -5
rjwils30, mctrees02, and 1 more like this
Post by madfranky on Mar 22, 2024 11:10:45 GMT -5
New LiDAR course release.
Askernish GC, Winter (L)
In 1891 the land owner of South Uist island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, Lady Emily Cathcart, invited Old Tom Morris to visit and to design a golf course for her. In the years between the start of the Great War and the Second World War as all the men were sent away to fight it fell into disrepair. Some of the course was levelled and used as an airstrip in the 1930s then a 12-hole course was laid out to the north of the original holes and this became a 9-hole affair with 18 tees back in the 1970s.
In 2006 Gordon Irvine (responsible for the restoration of Royal Cinque Ports in Deal) heard about a 'lost' Old Tom Morris classic and embarked on a quest to bring the original course back to life. He, along with architect Martin Ebert and a stack of local volunteers spent the next two years transforming the Askernish Machair into an 18-hole layout that most closely resembled the routing of Old Tom’s course. During that period, Mike Keiser (owner of Bandon Dunes) visited and following that he asked world famous golf architect Tom Doak to visit and lend his advice. Keiser actually covered most of the costs involved in the restoration work. The restored course opened for play in 2008.
Holes 7 through 16 play over and through some of the finest dunes-land to be found anywhere in the world and with stunning views down the coast to the islands of Barra and Eriskay the course has now become a bucket list destination for lovers of the game worldwide.
As with many common-land courses in the UK, from October to April the course is grazed by cattle and sheep, with electric fences erected to keep them off the greens. This winter version reflects that, and also features areas of standing water that come into play over the wet season. Also to reflect the time of year the fairways and greens are slow and soft.
My version has the green, white and red tees as per the scorecard with the addition of my own blue tees, stretching the course a wee bit to enhance play in the game.
As ever, with it being a links course, high or very high winds are recommended for an authentic round.
And finally, with thanks to blueblood1995 for the beta playtesting!
Askernish GC, Winter (L)
In 1891 the land owner of South Uist island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, Lady Emily Cathcart, invited Old Tom Morris to visit and to design a golf course for her. In the years between the start of the Great War and the Second World War as all the men were sent away to fight it fell into disrepair. Some of the course was levelled and used as an airstrip in the 1930s then a 12-hole course was laid out to the north of the original holes and this became a 9-hole affair with 18 tees back in the 1970s.
In 2006 Gordon Irvine (responsible for the restoration of Royal Cinque Ports in Deal) heard about a 'lost' Old Tom Morris classic and embarked on a quest to bring the original course back to life. He, along with architect Martin Ebert and a stack of local volunteers spent the next two years transforming the Askernish Machair into an 18-hole layout that most closely resembled the routing of Old Tom’s course. During that period, Mike Keiser (owner of Bandon Dunes) visited and following that he asked world famous golf architect Tom Doak to visit and lend his advice. Keiser actually covered most of the costs involved in the restoration work. The restored course opened for play in 2008.
Holes 7 through 16 play over and through some of the finest dunes-land to be found anywhere in the world and with stunning views down the coast to the islands of Barra and Eriskay the course has now become a bucket list destination for lovers of the game worldwide.
As with many common-land courses in the UK, from October to April the course is grazed by cattle and sheep, with electric fences erected to keep them off the greens. This winter version reflects that, and also features areas of standing water that come into play over the wet season. Also to reflect the time of year the fairways and greens are slow and soft.
My version has the green, white and red tees as per the scorecard with the addition of my own blue tees, stretching the course a wee bit to enhance play in the game.
As ever, with it being a links course, high or very high winds are recommended for an authentic round.
And finally, with thanks to blueblood1995 for the beta playtesting!