I’ve been coming here for a few years, and I think the first year I came here, the fairways were the narrowest I’ve ever seen. Which is strange, because when you make the fairways narrow, it means everybody hits more drivers, as you’re likely to miss them, so you might as well whack it down there.

So, I’ve been encouraging them to expand some of the fairways towards the hazards. This way, they’re wider targets, but there’s actually more danger, so it becomes more of a risk-reward situation.

Take the 18th here as a perfect example. The fairway, when we first came, was probably 18 yards wide, but now it’s 40 yards wide. However, it’s actually a tougher tee shot now. So, it’s fairer but tougher — more risk-reward.

It’s the same around the greens. We’ve brought a few of the hazards into play that were near the green run-offs. So, when you miss the green, the ball runs down 10-15 yards, and you have to chip off the fairway, which is tougher for us than chipping out of the rough. Again, it’s more manicured, it looks good, but it’s actually tougher.

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There are a few places where we’ve made it a little easier, and we’ll be correcting that at the end of the week! But in general, it’s more of a risk-reward course, yet a fairer one.

This course can change quite a lot in the wind. Certain holes can be really difficult, with tough tee shots. The tee shot on the 3rd is very tricky, and the stretch of holes 9, 10, 11, and 12 can change significantly depending on the wind direction. You could get a good break depending on your tee time in the first two days, but come the weekend, it’s the same for everyone. It can be brutally tough at times, but then sometimes you get a nice, advantageous wind, and it’s all cheery!

I love consulting; I really enjoy it. I’ve done it at quite a few places now. Officially, I do it at the Renaissance Club for the Genesis Scottish Open. But I’m always looking to give feedback. I want to make golf holes look and play better. Ideally, a golf course should be very playable for the handicap golfer and difficult for the professional. What we tend to see is golf courses that are incredibly difficult for amateur golfers and very easy for the pros.

Sometimes they get it the wrong way around. Clubs should always prioritise the needs of your membership and playing community, much more than the pros, because we only come once a year. You’re much better off considering the playing members, making the golf course enjoyable and playable for them, and then adding in certain elements, like a bank running down to a hazard, which you can keep at a certain height so the ball won’t run down. Then, when the tournament comes, you cut it down to fairway length, and the ball will run into the water. Very simple. Little things like that can change the character of a golf course and suit everyone playing it.

Main Image: Ross Kinnaird