Abrupt slopes and
broken ground are features in greens and green surrounds common on the courses I admire,
particularly the Old Course at St. Andrews. The 14th
hole at Royal Dornoch epitomizes this feature, and there are
some examples at North Berwick. Muirfield did not display this
feature as much; generally there was a heavy slope in the front
of many greens. One reason these features are prevalent on
The Old Course is documented by Scott Macpherson in his book,
The Evolution of the Old Course, where he records that two
sources from 1887 and 1913 mentioned that the putting greens
were leveled by raising their lower edges. These man-made
changes may account for these distinctive features as compared
to other courses I mention here. The mound as a feature in front of the green
was used to a more limited degree as well.
Here are some samples of these
green features at Royal Dornoch and North Berwick:
| To the
right is the 15th hole at North Berwick. Among
many interesting features in this hole is the table land
along the right side of the green approach. |
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Hole 16,
pictured to the left, at
North Berwick was a surprise. The slope in front
runs at a diagonal to the approach shot. This
feature would be enough to make play to the green
interesting. |
| The slope
that distinguishes the front of the green is along the
entire green except for one spot which makes for a very
interesting challenge. |
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This
picture of hole 16 green, to the left, is taken from the
right side of the green where you see why there is a
break in the slope in the front part of the green: a swale
through the green creating almost a triangular shaped
pad of putting green to the right in the picture.
Green is to the left of this swale as well.
|
| Here is the
18th green at North Berwick. There is a tremendous
slope in the front, right portion of the green that
descends sharply to a deep swale. Notice the
subtle bumps in the approach area to the green, and what
appears to be a slight rise within the green.
Unfortunately, I can not recall all of the nuances from
my one day trip, but I do recall the bumps and slopes in
front causing me to carefully plan my approach shot.
|
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The 14th
green at Royal Dornoch is a magnificent treat.
Approaching the green from the right side of the fairway
proved very difficult. Because of the length of
the hole and the wind I recall playing the hole as a three
shot par four. The high slope in front is at a
diagonal to your incoming shot and can very well deflect
your shot away from the green. |
| This is not
from where you want to be approaching the 1st green at
Royal Dornoch, however this picture from behind the
green reveals some interesting bumps and pockets as well
as a magnificent little basement area in the back, left
of the green, or to the right, front as viewed from this
angle. |
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 |
This is the
12th green at Royal Dornoch. Notice the large knob
in the front, left approach area of the green. The
farther back the pin in the left portion of the green
the less the knob is a factor except for the fact the
shot is blind unless you are approaching from the right
fairway. It can have an impact on any pin position
in front as well. Overall it is worthy feature to
employ on any golf course. |
|
Before embarking on a review
of the greens at The Old Course in St. Andrews here are
some novel shots from Nairn, Dornoch and St. Andrews.
To the right is the childhood home of Donald Ross in
Dornoch. |
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This I
believe to be the resting place of Young Tom Morris and
his wife, Margaret, in St. Andrews. I believe Old
Tom Morris was laid to rest close by.
Their life and times are written about in a brilliant
book called Tommy's Honor, by Kevin Cook.
The father and son were always hard to appreciate
because of the lack of interesting information about
them, but Mr. Cook has done an admirable job of telling
their story in a way that made me feel guilty for having
little interest in them all these years. |
| What an
interesting guy he must be, the one on top of the hay!
|
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Upon reflection, it
seems to me the
most interesting greens incorporated these sharp, and tumbling features but in
varied ways that were not repetitious. I like the
placement of the bunkers away from the center of the green, and
instead the use of slopes and bumps to challenge the play into the green.
The slopes and knobs in addition to being challenges unto
themselves, can also can serve to direct balls toward the
bunkers to the sides. Because there are so many occurrences
where a sharp slope is in front of the green or rises up within
the green it is necessary to know why it doesn’t seem
repetitive. The lack of receptiveness may have something to do
with the characteristics of each hole: upon arrival at the green
everything may appear fresh and new. Or, it may be that having
played the course just a few times I have not picked up on a
sense of repetition. I doubt it though. The more I
study the greens the more distinctive each one becomes in my
mind.
The following is
an examination of the greens at The Old Course using my photos,
the book, Experience the Old Course, by Rich Goodale, and
St. Andrews: Evolution of the Old Course, by Scott
Macpherson. I am sure I will reference other books and
articles I have regarding the Old Course and will try to note
those as well.
| THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 2 |
|
|
At hole 2 green the landform leading
into the green toward the left side is high and it
matches the elevation of the green through the left
side. In the fairway the land comes into the green
much lower than the left side. The
lower right side of the fairway comes into the green low forming a
little cupped area within the green in front then
the land rises, breaks and tumbles for a bit before
it settles down and assumes the level of the right
side of the green as it descends down away from the
left side. Not all the right side of the green does
this. The far right side is gentle as it forms into
the green and continues to slope down and away from
the left. Any pin on the right side is very
accessible to an approach played from the right side
of the fairway.
Pictured to the right
is a view of the 2nd green from the right side of
the fairway.
|
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The picture above is
taken of the high ground as it tumbles toward the
green. Pictured above, right is a view from the side
of the green. The pin is near the horizon,
just to the right of the magnificent movement in the
green.
Pictured to the right
is the high ground that characterizes the fairway as
it comes into the green. This view is from the
front, right portion of the green looking back
toward hole 17. |
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 |
Pictured to the left is a view from the far left
side of hole 2 looking at the green. This is an
excellent angle from which to approach the green
particularly where the pin is positioned in the
picture.
Pin positions in the middle of the
green behind the tumbling ground, and toward hole 16
green would definitely best be accessed from the
left side of the hole, even playing from the left
rough is an advantage. This approach would
bring the left side fairway bunkers more into play;
the bunkers can be seen in the picture.
The left side fairway bunkers includes the
Cheapes bunker which is anywhere from 222 yards to
298 yards from the teeing area, and the first of two
bunkers farther down the left side, is within 300
yards from the front of the teeing area. These
bunkers sit within rough, not abutting the fairway
maybe due to the fairways being narrowed for the
Open. In front of the bunkers grass is low and
thin, but it is definitely rough beyond the
bunkers to the left toward the hotel where is very
rugged terrain and dense grasses. These bunkers were in a
direct line, and likely to have been in fairway
when the hole played from a tee near 17 green to
what is now the 16th green.
|
| THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 3 |
|
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At hole
3 the green is open in front and bends toward the
left where it becomes the 15th green. There is high
ground in the green approach; it falls steeply to
the left revealing the Cartgate bunker which makes
an indentation in the green. The high ground is
broken as well, combining pockets and humps. The
Cartgate bunker starts ahead of the green slightly
and then follows the shape of the green. A slope in
the approach area that descends from the high,
broken ground in front flows into the back side of
the bunker. Certainly weak shots that impact the
slope will be directed toward the bunker.
Unfortunately, for the picture of the third green,
to the left, the pins were out since it was Sunday,
a non-play day on The Old Course. |
| THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 4 |
|
| The
fourth green is similar in shape and has the bunker
left side but it is in alignment with the back of
the green leaving much of the perimeter of the green
open. The green is lower in relationship to its
surroundings. The ground in front of the green is
distinguished by a large hill. Naturally a lot of
pin positions are in the front part of the green
bringing this hill into play. The green descends
toward the right. Midway into the green there is a
slope beyond which there are more slopes descending
toward the right. Within this broken ground are some
excellent pin areas as well. This area is closer to
the left greenside bunker. |
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 |
|
| Along
the left green edge the ground descends and flows
down to the bunker edge, pictured to the right.
Notice the pin location, which is a Sunday pin
placement. Depending upon the angle of
approach, a run up shot would have to contend with
the sloped approach area that could direct the ball
into the bunker. That part of the green is
very narrow, my guess it is only 30' deep, then
there are two small bunkers behind this portion of
the green. |
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| THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 5 |
|
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I remember this green more than any
other made me anxious due to the long, steep slope
in front, and the depth from the bottom of the swale
to the front edge of the putting surface. It
appears that most of the tournament pin positions
are in the front of the green. The interesting
aspects of the steep feature in front of the green
are that it is hidden, but anyone with any knowledge
of the course will make certain you know it is there
if you are a first time player at TOC; and, it is
such a strong feature to overcome when you consider
what comes before it. It all comes together if you
are approaching the green from a considerable
distance because you must focus on the Spectacle
bunkers, and the narrow way between them, and once
you pass through this area somehow predict how your
ball will make it through the deep swale and up the
steep front to the green. If you choose not to go at
the green in two shots you must give generous
consideration to the placement of your lay-up shot
in relationship to the Spectacle bunkers, once this
is accomplished, then you must give equally generous
time and care to your approach shot particularly if
the pin is front. |
| Another
view of the green front, though it is hard to
appreciate the depth of the swale. Again
notice how the land pitches toward a bunker toward
the back. left of the green, and notice the lack of
any rough around the bunker. In the background
is the 13th green which is connected to the 5th
green. |
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 |
Having
departed the 5th green and preparing to walk down
the 6th tee toward its green on a Sunday, I
encountered two ladies giving their dogs a walk.
I must
admit now looking at the photographs whether the
experience of walking and playing the course might
be more enjoyable if more of the land were free of
the gorse that can be seen in the picture to the
left. It seems the landforms would be
attractive if their forms were exposed, not covered,
much like the land forms I am depicting in and
around the greens. |
| THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 6 |
|
| Hole 6
green has interesting elements which contributed to
my understanding of why greens with substantial
movement in the approach area work best when
employing these elements on new design. One element
at hole 6 green is the high ground in front is to
one side of the green. The right side of the green
is visible then disappears to the left behind the
high ground in front. Many of the most challenging
pin positions are near the front of the green just
beyond the point where the green rises from the
swale. Not to beleaguer the point but again gorse
behind the green hides more distant views,
especially toward the River Eden, that could be most
intriguing. The removal of the gorse and replacement
with heather might allow for some magnificent views
beyond the green. Heather is being expanded
throughout the course but it is retarded by the high
Ph in the water that is used to irrigate the course.
Furthermore, heather does not do well in areas of
high foot traffic. |
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Closer
examination of the green from the side reveals the
most interesting element. A large swale is in
between the green and the high ground, actually a
portion of the front of the green is in the swale.
How a ball reacts on the ground as it travels
through this area is what makes the approach shot
each time a new adventure. As Mr. Goodale pointed
out you can add another option to the approach if
you are playing into a head wind by lofting your
shot onto the green in an attempt to take the
uncertainty of the terrain out of play. |
|
Pictured to the right is more of a view of the high
ground in front of the green. The picture is
taken from the right side of the hole. |
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 |
Pictured to the left is a similar view of the 6th
green depicting a wider angle of the high ground
left, the swale that encompasses the front portion
of the green and green approach areas, and the rise
up to the top of the green: imagine the challenging
pin positions just beyond where the green rises to
the top. |
| THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 7 |
|
| The
approach to hole 7 green presents one of the few
forced carries. There is a substantial amount of
ground between the Shell bunker, the main culprit in
the forced carry, and the green. The slope is broken
and undulating in a manner that would satisfy anyone
who has attempted to build such an interesting
feature in a green. Although I focused on this
feature there must be some interesting terrain in
front of the green more toward the back, right as it
gets closer to hole 8 tee. This area in front
descends from the front of the green toward a small
bunker. |
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 |
In the
front of the green is a slope that is angled in
relation to the angle of approach. It is an
interesting combination of elements: the Shell
bunker makes it difficult to determine the length of
approach to the pin, behind the bunker is a
considerable distance of fairway before reaching the
green, and once at the green this impressive slope
awaits. The picture to the left is probably taken
from just past the Shell bunker looking toward the
11th green. The feature on the horizon, toward
the right portion of the photo, is the bunker in
back of the green. |
| This
picture to the right is taken looking along the
slope toward the Strath bunker at the 11th green.
Not only is the slope a strong feature, the ground
comprises the slope is broken by pockets and ridges. |
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| THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 8 |
|
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The
theme has concentrated on dramatic land features
abutting greens or within putting surfaces. The
small bunker in front of the 8th green is about 8
yards in front of the green. I never appreciated the
hole more than I did on my second trip when one of
the days I played the pin was directly in line with
the bunker from the tee. As noted previously on hole
4 regarding the mound in front of that green, one of
the key aspects of the bunker placement here is it
is off center, placed to one side of the center line
from the tee to the green. Although there are no
demarcations between the double greens it appears
there is more green dedicated to hole 8 to the right
of the bunker than to the left. The bunker probably
impacts at least 20 yards in width of the left side
of the green.
Pictured to the left
is the view of the 8th green from the tee. The
small bunker is about in the middle of the picture,
slightly off set to the left. It is the dark
looking feature, and when a feature has a dark
shadow within it you know it can not be good.
The horizon line of the hill looks higher because it
blends in with a hill in back of the green. |
| The
hill in which the bunker is carved has a horizon
line that hides putting surface when viewing from
the tee. There is a mound in the back of the green
that looks a part of the hill with the bunker in
front. These elements combine to make the pin
position behind it a very difficult shot to judge.
The bunker is ominous looking and definitely tells
you it must be avoided. The green is deep behind it
so it seems the strategy of taking plenty of club to
clear the bunker is a safe one. However, into a head
wind my tendency was to go with a strong club, in
this instance a 2-iron, and while I hit it well the
hard conditions caused my shot to end up beyond the
green and into the dreaded gorse. The hill in front
without the bunker would have been much less
intimidating and may have caused me to select less
club because the consequences of being short would
seem much less severe.
Pictured to the right
is the bunker. Now you see why it is so
treacherous. Extending an imaginary line
through the right edge of the bunker and through the
green, there is approximately 20 yards width of
putting surface from that line to the left edge of
the green that is impacted by this bunker. It
is obvious why all of the pin positions for the
British Open are concentrated in this area. |
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THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 10
 |
Hole 10
green continues the features that I have been
examining here. It is a wide fairway coming into the
front of the green, but that interface between the
fairway and the green is anything but tame. The
entire width of the green is fronted by fairway,
about 150’. This includes a portion that is hole 8
green. According to Macpherson’s book on The Old
Course about 110’ measuring from the left side
toward the right is what is in play for approaching
pin positions on the 10th green. As with all
of these features in the front of the greens there
obviously is an impact on the approach shot played
on the ground. On hole 10 according to Macpherson’s
book the final day pin at the 2005 British Open was
located near the front of the green not far from one
of the pockets, or swales, that protrude into the
green, and certainly protected by the ridges and
broken ground in front. Many of the pin positions
for the 2000 and 2005 Open were located in the
middle to back of the green where there are
undulations to contend with.
|
| Most
of the green is fronted by a ridge and there are a
couple of interesting breaks in the ridge where the
ground falls below the ridge into pockets that
protrude into the green. This is depicted in the
picture to the right. |
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THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 11
 |
Hole 11, the High Hole, otherwise referred to as the
Eden Hole is famous for the ground upon which the
green was situated. The two famous bunkers, the
Hill and Strath, are important features, but it is
the characteristics of the ground that are most
prominent. The most prominent ground features that
garner attention are in the area between the bunkers
and leading up into the green between these
bunkers. Interestingly, all of the pin positions
for the Open Championship in 2000 and 2005 are just
over the Strath Bunker, and in line with this bunker
and the tee toward the back of the green. It is
likely the green speeds for the Open do not allow
for pin positions in the area between the bunkers.
There is the strong slope in the front of the green
between the bunkers, then, there appears to be about
42’ of area where the pin can be located before
encountering a strong slope in the back.
There is a large hill to the right of the Hill that
still affords a view of the green but must be
contended with on the tee shot. The ground then
falls away to the right exposing more of the green
however a strong slope continues across the front of
the green.
|
| One
of the March stones mentioned in Macpherson’s book
can be seen here. These stones marked the limits of
the golf course at one time. The stone is
depicted to the right, and can be seen in the
picture above, near the bottom of the picture,
clothed in an artificial turf glove. |
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 |
The
ground around the Strath Bunker, pictured to the
left, seems less likely to deflect shots into this
bunker. |
| The
picture to the right is the area in front of the
green between the Hill and Strath Bunkers. |
 |
 |
The
Hill Bunker is surrounded by terrain that slopes
toward the bunker, deflecting shots into the
bunker. The bunker is shown in the picture to the
left. |
THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 12
|
The
12th green was one that stood out on my first trip
around the course. To start one must avoid being
distracted by the hill in the fairway in front of
the green out of which a bunker has been carved. It
is this hill, as I recall, Tiger chose to play left
of on his tee shot in order to have a simple chip to
the pin thus taking the low, undulating green in
front out of play. The hill, depicted in the middle
of the picture to the right, sits in front of the
portion of the green that is most intriguing and
challenging. This is a significant amount of green
to the left of this area that appears much easier to
play to before becoming a part of the 6th green.
That part of the green is around 60’ deep and very
accommodating to an approach shot but it is fronted
by sloping ground as well making a bump and run shot
most challenging.
|
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Beyond the hill the front of the green as mentioned
is a low area marked by undulations, pictured to the
left. It is about 51’ deep so it encompasses a
significant portion of the green. I assume it is
not pinnable, and if this is true, represents a
controversial strategy for any course that has to
build greens at a respectful cost, but nonetheless
makes for some very interesting fun for play. From
this low area the green rises sharply to a plateau
that is about 36’ deep where most pins are located.
Beyond this plateau the green descends sharply away
from the line of play for another 27’ of green area
that is not pinnable. This is the most interesting
and challenging part of the green. |
| Pictured to the
right is a close up of the low, undulating
ground in the front portion of the green. |
 |
THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 14
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The 14th green is a
magnificent finish to a great hole. A slope guards
the entire front of the green. The front of the
green follows the slope as it protrudes toward the
player before curving in toward the 4th green, and
at one point near the left bunker it seems to fall
into a hole. The left portion of the green
appears slightly deeper but like hole 12 green the
back portion of the green descends along a slope
that can easily propel a ball off the back of the
green into more trouble.
|
| A close up of the
area that appears sunken right before the bunker is
pictured to the right. All the slopes in this
area can deflect a ball away from the intended
target and direct the ball toward these bunkers. |
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Like
hole 12 green the front part of the green which is
in the slope does not appear pinnable, yet it has
significant implications on any approach shot into
pin locations beyond the slope. The middle portion
of the green is about 111’ deep. Toward the right
front of the green after you ascend the slope in
front the ground continues to rise and then pitch
downhill before reaching the green. This portion of
the green, which is the far right side, extends
right, away from the incoming shot and very near the
15th tee. While the table land on top coupled with
the green makes for a deep target the actual green
itself is narrow, probably 60’ deep. It appears
most of this area descend away from the incoming
shot making it even more difficult to properly judge
an approach shot into here. |
THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 16
|
The
16th green again has a low, front portion that is
green that ascends a slope which goes across the
front of the green culminating in the Wig Bunker on
the left side. The slope is at a diagonal to the
approach shot. This slope along with other slopes
around and in the green cause the large green
surfaces to effectively be much smaller with regard
for trying to find the pin on your approach shot.
The slopes can deflect shots or create very
difficult approach putts if you end up on the wrong
side of one. The low, front portion of the green
does not appear pinnable but a weak approach shot
will likely remain there making for a most difficult
putt to judge with the mighty slope between your
ball and hole.
|
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 |
Pictured to the left
is a close-up of the low portion in the green and
the diagonal slope that defends many of the pin
positions on the upper portion of the green.
Notice how the slope follows along the front of the
green then is punctuated by a bunker on the left
side. |
THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 17
|
The
ground features in the front of the 17th green is
probably the most memorable and formidable. This
ground feature is so overpowering upon my first
visit I remembered it as distinctive until upon
further experiences at The Old Course I realized
there were many greens with similar features, but
all distinctive themselves for a variety of reasons.
This dramatic rise in the green is noticeable from
the fairway. With this in mind and the other
features such as the road and wall in ball and the
Road Bunker to the left it makes it difficult to
approach the shot with a high degree of confidence.
|
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Once again there is
a significant, sloping land form in the front
portion of the green, as is often the case it
protects the entire front of the green, and it has a
bunker that punctuates it. So much is made of the
Road Bunker for good reasons, but the magnificent
ground feature across the front of the green stands
out the most for me. |
| As with many of the
greens on the incoming nine holes there is a low
portion of green in front of the slope, as pictured
to the right. In back is a tremendous slope that
has a protruding knob before it curves sharply
toward the Road Bunker. |
 |
 |
Again, a mighty
slope in the front portion of the green is
eventually interrupted on the left side by a bunker,
the most famous element of this green, but in my
mind the sharp rise in the front of the green is the
most engaging aspect of the green. |
THE OLD COURSE AT ST.
ANDREWS-HOLE 18
| The
Valley of Sin in the front portion of the 18th green
makes this a very challenging approach shot when the
pin is nearby as evidenced by Macpherson’s book. In
there the pin locations for the Open Championship
are all clustered just beyond the deepest portion of
the valley toward the left side of the green. |
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 |
The bump and run
shot through this area is somewhat different
compared to other holes because the slope in the
front portion of the green is a part of a valley
meaning there is a slope on the other side of the
valley that can cause some erratic bounces. This is
best illustrated by the picture to the left. |
| Moving across the
front of the green the sharp slope in the front of
the green continues to be a factor on approach shots
to pins located near the front of the green. |
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|
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