The second will kick away anything landing short or left, the former 'treating' the golfer to a great view of his ball heading 40 yards back down the hill, taking his chance of a par with it
The 11th is a beautiful 180-yard par three that plays to an amphitheatre. The gorgeous visuals betray how difficult the hole is
Course name: Canterbury
Location: Canterbury, Kent
Four Word Course Review: Amazing one-shot holes
Location: Canterbury, Kent
Four Word Course Review: Amazing one-shot holes
Two-thirds of the way from London to the famous links courses of Kent sits the historic town of Canterbury. Golfers headed to experience Sandwich, Deal, Rye and Littlestone might stop there to see the 12th century Cathedral, but few bother with Canterbury’s Harry Colt-designed golf course.
I stopped in on the way home from a morning round at Deal and the set of par threes alone was worth the visit. Only my third Colt course, but I am becoming quite the fanboy! Aside from the repositioned 4th green and 18th fairway, most of the course was faithful to what Colt designed.
The enormous greenside bunkers looked fantastic where many clubs have cut such hazards into two or three smaller traps, and I have not seen a course before with such extensive use of grass bunkers – the construction of some putting a skewer in the occasionally-heard claim that Golden Age GCA’s didn’t move much dirt.
On such sloping land, some large-scale excavation was needed to build up the low side of several green sites.
I stopped in on the way home from a morning round at Deal and the set of par threes alone was worth the visit. Only my third Colt course, but I am becoming quite the fanboy! Aside from the repositioned 4th green and 18th fairway, most of the course was faithful to what Colt designed.
The enormous greenside bunkers looked fantastic where many clubs have cut such hazards into two or three smaller traps, and I have not seen a course before with such extensive use of grass bunkers – the construction of some putting a skewer in the occasionally-heard claim that Golden Age GCA’s didn’t move much dirt.
On such sloping land, some large-scale excavation was needed to build up the low side of several green sites.
The 4th, 7th, 9th and 14th holes have each seen a single tree added to tighten the approach, and while my partner in crime - a Colt-spotter from way back - probably put it quite succinctly by commenting “I don’t think this is the sort of thing our friend Harry would have built”, in all instances they protect the holes from the advancement of technology, forcing the tee shot to be placed well for an easier approach to the green rather than merely bombed as far as possible.
There are some average holes on dramatic land not suited to golf, but by and large there is plenty to thrill, and even those average holes have some great features. Several par fours traversed or ran along steep hills down to a gorge that runs through the course. Through green placement or doglegging, each hole asks you to keep your tee shot as close to the high side of the fairway as possible. The 15th was one such hole, and its built-up green and bold bunkers were a highlight of the course.
The 2nd and 11th were the pick of the par threes, but there wasn't a weak one-shotter to be found. By and large, they reward only a well-struck and accurate shot, with very few kind landing areas off the putting surfaces.
There are some average holes on dramatic land not suited to golf, but by and large there is plenty to thrill, and even those average holes have some great features. Several par fours traversed or ran along steep hills down to a gorge that runs through the course. Through green placement or doglegging, each hole asks you to keep your tee shot as close to the high side of the fairway as possible. The 15th was one such hole, and its built-up green and bold bunkers were a highlight of the course.
The 2nd and 11th were the pick of the par threes, but there wasn't a weak one-shotter to be found. By and large, they reward only a well-struck and accurate shot, with very few kind landing areas off the putting surfaces.
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