North Shore
It’s difficult to say how many holes are parkland and how many are linksy because several times the same hole has a bit of both! The 17th for example starts as a tree-lined dog-legging par four very much of the former variety before you play to a brilliantly undulating green on the top of an exposed dune ridge.
Unlike other courses which employ both styles of golf North Shore mixes both intermittently throughout the round. The first two are positively parkland, the third is a bit of a mix and then the fourth and fifth are closest to the coastline, and therefore much faster running, before the front nine closes with four holes on the flatter, lusher ground. A similar scenario is then repeated on the back nine.
This contrasts to other venues (Pwllheli, Seahouses, Porthmadog and Newburgh-on-Ythan are a few that spring to mind) where you have two distinct loops of each type played in order. Here they interweave during the round which I found to be a pleasant change.
It’s a shame there isn’t more holes on the linksland because these do provide the better and more interesting golf. The pick of the bunch is the fourth; a modest par four which plays down and across the dominant dune ridge that runs the length of the course with a couple of centre-line bunkers to contend with and a green that exemplifies the natural undulations of the land on this part of the property and allows you to feed the ball in. The 18th is also a lovely finishing hole played through a shallow valley to a green nestled in front of the clubhouse.
Of the parkland holes the ninth is a clear winner thanks largely to the superb internal putting contours of the green. This also sits tight to the clubhouse and at just a touch over 250 yards, albeit uphill, there is a chance of driving the green, however, much trouble in the form of deep bunkers and out-of-bounds lurks ominously at this fine risk-reward hole.
Indeed out-of-bounds is a threat on a number of holes. You don’t have much room to miss the fairway (on the right) at holes; 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 11 to avoid having to reload.
What I particularly liked about North Shore was how Braid had gone about tackling the dune ridge. Some holes are played alongside it, some on top of it and others directly over it. It’s a slight shame the ground isn’t as sandy as it no doubt would have been when he laid it out around 100 years ago.
My round here was in the middle of February so no doubt I didn’t get to see North Shore at its best but the ground conditions, on all sections of the course, were excellent. Playing from grass tees and to normal greens was an enjoyable winter golf experience and with a hotel on site it would certainly make for a quick off-season getaway whilst I suspect many other inland courses are closed or playing off mats to temporary greens.
