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Opened in 2001 & 2002, both St Andrews Bay courses have matured well given their excellent start in life at the hands of Messers Gene Saracen, Bruce Devlin and Sam Torrance. Whichever course you choose, you are guaranteed a good round - although higher handicappers might find the Devlin a tad stretching.
The Torrance course was Sam Torrance’s initial outing as a designer and he describes it as a ‘Scottish seaside course’ rather than links. Like a links though, the fairways are rolling, separated by swathes of wafting fescue and ever-advancing gorse and broom. Ancient walls and cliffside greens add further qualities to a site with stunning prospects across the water to St Andrews and beyond to Carnoustie and the Grampian Mountains.
Playing the course gives little concession to its early years. After the first six holes (which are perhaps its weakest) you embark on a links-like progression all the way to the finish. The terrain is entirely open and on such an exposed clifftop promontory you are obliged to deal with the elements. Here on the approaches you can bounce the ball into the green very much like neighbouring links while the greens are large and accommodating. There is not a weak hole on back half with the 14th, 15th and 17th standing out as best tests. The 16th is less obvious in that it does not incorporate such striking physical features but as a challenge, considering the bunkering at the dogleg and the effects of a south-westerly wind, it is, some would say, the more demanding hole.
The 17th lingers long in the mind, an extensive Par 4 of 444 yards off the back tee with cliffs to the right all the way. But what causes consternation is a rather ominous crevice cutting straight across the green’s entrance. Even with a good tee shot you are still looking at 200 yards onto the green. To go for it or lay up short, these are the options. This is a make or break hole... but it’s a dream come true if you get away with it. (Reviewed June, 2005, ©David J. Whyte)
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