Rye GC
It was another warm day in sunny England, and the poms were either queueing up to go to the beach or at the local watching the English soccer team get a drubbing from the Germans...
The beach at Rye is a couple of miles down a narrow country lane past the Rye Golf Club, and as we came in for our 10am tee time, we noticed the signs indicating 45 minute queue times?
It turns out that the cars pour into the beach precinct on a sunny day.
And sure enough they were queued up back past the golf club to the 45 minute sign- just waiting to get a car park near the beach!
Rye Golf Course dates back to 1893 when Mr Harry S Colt had a hand in designing a real seaside links course.
His original work has been changed a number of times since, but it is not obvious that a number of hands have been involved.
The fairways were playing hard and fast, and the greens were in good nick as we took off with about a one club breeze in play.
The rough was long but reasonably thin, and not too penal.
The first three holes played alongside the road and largely outside the main dune land.
They were nice, but not outstanding holes, IMO.
There was some unusual use of timber around some of the greens which seemed to be there to stop the running ball, and force a lofted chip.
It looked good, but perhaps not an option I'd like to see flourish in links golf.
From hole 4 onward the course plays in and through the duneland with a nice variety of holes.
The five par 3's were all of good quality, and different lengths, and there were some interesting par 4's.
Hole 13, the Alps hole has a totally blind longish second shot, which caught me out- but it's a good hole.
Throughout the course there is significant movement in the fairways.
You will constantly be hitting with the ball above or below your feet.
The uneven lies are a feature at Rye and test your balance throughout the round.
But it is kinda fun to rip a drive and watch it continue to roll left and right through the swales...
The little pot bunkers can also provide some difficult lies...
Rye is a lovely old links course in a natural setting, and a must play for all travelling golfers.
It is just good fun!
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