Golf
In front of the green on the 9th looking back down the fairway - 2nd fairway on the right
surrounding countryside. An average golfer’s requirements of a golf
course involves consideration of several factors, including costs, setting, degree of difficulty, general condition, required fitness and welcoming attitudes of club staff. Of course, we must not forget the availability of a warm, comforting clubhouse offering a variety of food and beverages to replenish the inevitably depleted energy reserves of the tired and hungry golfer. The course itself is 6295 yards off the
white tee positions (6067 off the yellows) and is a par 71. The ladies enjoy 5593 yards with a par 73 rating. Market Drayton is certainly not a flat,
The 1st fairway taken from the clubhouse patio
“
predictable and uninteresting course. Some careful decisions about which choice of shot to undertake have to be made throughout the course. The 1st has a slight dogleg right leading up
The importance of a positive first
impression on the visiting golfer cannot be over emphasised. I have been with golfers, playing the course for the first time, look up the first and comment ... “stunning!”
a gentle rise. The main photograph is taken about fifty yards up the fairway from the patio outside the clubhouse, where many a refreshing drink is consumed when the weather is suitable. The golfer, whether average or not, understands the importance of the impression that the first hole gives you as a visitor. It immediately sets the tone of expectation, whether it’s a positive or a negative one. There is a beautifully maintained
flowerbed directly in front of the tee and, when the fairway is mown in “stripes”, the effect can be quite impressive. The initial impression becomes instantly one of “this looks a quality course!” even before the rest of the course is explored. The importance of a positive first impression on the visiting golfer cannot be over emphasised. I have been with golfers, playing the course for the first time, look up the first and comment ... “stunning!” A well maintained and compact putting
practice green is directly adjacent to the 1st tee, with its speed as close as possible to the actual greens themselves. This is often a bone of contention at some courses where the practice putting greens are far slower than the main greens. This is often seen as a “cunning plan” when playing club matches at other courses, which is usually strenuously denied by the opposition. Course layout is often debated by golfers
far and wide. Discussions such as positioning of bunkers and various hazards, such as ponds, abound. Usually, the complaints revolve around “it penalises a good shot”. This response is inevitable when a player hits what they consider to be a good shot and then discovers that their shot wasn’t as productive as they had previously thought. There has been many a conversation about the ancient oak tree just to the left of centre of the 2nd fairway about eighty yards short of the green. The above view is taken from just in front of the 9th green looking back down the fairway. More importantly, to the right of the 9th fairway is the 2nd fairway. It is 351 yards long, starts off down the slope, then turns a dogleg right up the hill to an elevated green just out of view on the top right. All eyes are inevitably drawn to the “Old Oak Tree”… (I’m sure Tom Jones was once laid beneath it? Or was a yellow ribbon tied around it?) in the middle of the fairway at the top. Some golfers have called in the past for the offending tree to be removed because it penalises a good straight drive. The reality is that, if a straight drive is hit down the middle, or even slightly left of middle, then the oak is easily bypassed to the right-hand side. Alternatively, a longer drive can be taken and a short iron used to fly straight over the tree. On occasions, I have witnessed players hitting low shots under the tree; the difference between them
PC FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 I 33
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