Mike Clayton (7)

18 South.

The new tee area offers a magnificent panorama and setting for the first shot. In fact I think this would have been an outstanding Mike Clayton designed hole if it weren’t for the major flaw of the landing area for the drive. The average mid-handicap player will land the drive just short of the fairway slope that runs from the RH bunker across the fairway to the LH bunker. This means that a well-hit drive with a bit of run on it is almost certain to catch the slope and kick off-line into the LH bunker. There is maybe a 5m gap just to the left of the RH bunker in which to hit the drive so that it doesn’t end up in the LH bunker. Again, way too punitive for an otherwise well struck shot. I think any hole should provide a decent (at least 30m) landing area for a well hit, mostly straight drive.