GB&I Golf Course reviews – Z to A

Over the next 26 days, I am going to showcase one golf club a day in GB & I.  It is my ode to some great golf in the UK and Ireland.  Full write up’s and more images can be found on golfgurugroup.blogspot or www.golfgurugroup.com Travelling Lady Golfer tab.  So there is no missing out on that extra little bit of information, if needed.

 Feel free to share them to help others.

Southerndown Golf Club

Ogmore by Sea, Bridgend, CF32 0QP

Formerly the Ogmore Down Golfing Society was first registered in August 1905.

Originally designed by Willie Fernie with later modifications by Herbert Fowler, Willie Park and Harry Colt who was in town to design Royal Porthcawl, down the road.  Lending his hand to holes 7, 8, 17 and 18.  All capitalising on the natural terrain of this unique setting.

Laid out on a huge limestone outcrop this hill top course was crafted 360 million years ago.  The course offers part sandy links and part acid-heathland, and a combination of the two in some cases, making it one of the driest in Britain.

This elevated limestone plateau rises 300 feet about the Glamorgan Heritage coast.  With wind whipping up the Bristol channel and depositing sand over the centuries, has helped create the links style of play, despite it being a mile from the actual shore line.

Located in

The South West area of Wales near Ogmore-by-Sea and Southerndown, near Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes.  A favourite haunt of mine as a child, sand sledging down those dunes when we lived nearby. 

As you take on one of the hardest opening holes, according to Henry Cotton (and me!) hole number one is bracken covered on both sides.  Glancing right as you ascend the hill towards the green is Ogmore River valley.  

Once up on the plateau, it does seem to level out a little, but this doesn’t make the play any easier.  With pot hole bunkers, grass bunkers, bracken and gorse in play it is sometimes sensible not go for the big hit.  Placement of the ball is key as the wind whips around at the top.  With generally wide fairways, the playing corridors are defined by the low gorse and bracken, with the latter not at all easy to play from!

Climate

Location and geology all have a major influence on the golf course, but being common land it is freely grazed by sheep too.  The sheep seem to enjoy the grass and are a constant reminder of the openness of the location and the hard job those greenkeepers must have! 

The truth is, sheep have been grazing this piece of land long before golf came along.  As it is common land there are no fences to keep the sheep at bay.  Using natural methods and some clever thinking by providing the sheep with a smorgasbord of lush grass away from the fairways has worked to encourage them to graze elsewhere.  Having their own turf nursery at Southerndown is another sensible way forward. 

Sheep Help

In June 1995, a tee shot found its way somewhere towards a sheep’s backside to the surprise of the golfer – and the sheep!  After fits of giggles watching the sheep walk calmly towards the hole before shaking the ball free some 30 yards closer to the hole.  With good ‘sheep’ luck like that, the golfer went on to win his match.

Without going into a blow by blow account of each hole, I also wanted to mention the closing hole.  A pretty tee shot view towards a split fairway with gorse either side.  The middle bit is not at all inviting so chose which side you are going to go to the green from on this Par 4.  Bearing in mind the approach shot is slightly down hill to a large green in front of the club house.

Green fees from £50

S is also for Semaphore

So this is what on earth I am doing with those golf clubs for each letter!

Flag semaphore is a semaphore system conveying information at a distance by means of visual signals with hand-held flags, rods, disks, paddles, or occasionally bare or gloved hands  Or in my case golf clubs. Information is encoded by the position of the flags; it is read when the flag is in a fixed position

T for The Island