Hillside Golf Club
This course comes with a strong reputation, a successful recent pro tournament and an Ebert revamp underway. The best back 9 in Great Britain etc etc.
The start and the front nine are fairly open and flat. I like the fact that that they have stripped away the trees that run hard alongside the first and second fairways: ‘let them see the trains’ and play accordingly. I agree; this is not pretty, pretty golf this is hard working links. We rattled through the front 9 finding it’s width generous and were not unduly alarmed by the rough. Considerable work has been undertaken to create sandy patches of scrub and water features, all part of the r-Ebert-hing. Natural scrapes are the order of the day alongside the more manicured bunkers, revetted and otherwise. Come and beard me in my comfy club chair by the fire if you will but I am not sure I agree with the aesthetic. Natural scrapes are for Askernish and the wild courses of the west coast of Ireland but here I feel that they are more cosmetic than a revetted bunker. Is the plastic surgery at Hoylake catching on? Do we need to protect ourselves from a r-ebert-hing. From all I have heard it was a very fine course before and am not sure from my single round that the changes I noted were the ones I would make. I greatly enjoyed the sixth and ninth. The sixth dog legs left to a raised green which appears from behind the dunes. The ninth also has a raised green protected by many bunkers and your approach will be dictated by how tight a line your driver will give you.
A great little halfway house to fortify before you take on the wilder shores of the second nine. Ten sets you straight into the prevailing wind, no bale out, take enough club and don’t bottle it! Simples. You have only just begun. There follows some of the most fun links golf in these parts. Mountainous, dunious banks define fairways, wind scarred and covered in ‘Birkdale gristle ‘* the rough is roughs rough. The ghost of every golfer who has been despatched by these demons is out to wreak their revenge on the unfortunate who do not accept the challenge with total commitment.
The contours come alive here as you abut Birkdale; raised tees, raised greens, high expectations and a stream of adrenaline. Raw links, not too narrow, all in the hands of the elements this is almost Askernishing, pure golfing joy. Such a contrast to the front nine which, with every attempt to make it look wilder, the more it looks manufactured. That is not to say I won’t enjoy coming back regularly to check how it is all bedding in. The most refreshing, interesting and spectacular course of the week.
*Birkdale gristle, noun; that wicked briar that lurks in even the shortest rough to snare your laces, your legs and your life. Copyright The Links Golfer
