Md Younus

Posted on Nov 18 • Originally published at sportyspectra.com on Nov 18

Take the anaconda that became the Classic Parkland Course

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When asked if I like Parkland or links golf courses, my vote goes to this one.

I’ve been lucky enough to play some of the best examples of each floor and feel that I have a slight advantage on links built with tundier turf and more open spaces.

But, as a short handicapper, which allows clubs that gather a lot of dust, I often feel hit by tall structures in the trees and being able to visit very tall trees, many balsoons will not do for you near the green.

So, after being given the opportunity to play the hills of Sir Nick Faldo’s Chart – the Parkland Track in the heart of Kent – there was a certain amount of treapition mixed with excitement.

The hills of Cills remain the only signature Faldo Design Golf Course in Europe and are located on 200 acres of land. If you fly into London Gatwick, it’s about a 90 minute drive.

Opened to play in 1993 and was Sir Nick Architure Ref. The course upset the girls english open from 2004-2007, with Solheim Cup Stars Maria Hjorth and Becky Brewereton both took the title there. It is always well-allowed to form where the best players step up.

Under new ownership, the hills hit the hills have undergone some major changes and renovations since 2019 and have been rebuilt where the renovations have been going on for the past few years.

Format: Water

Players: Dave Tindall, Scott Murray, Pat Bristow

Booking a round in November in the UK would be a fool’s errand but we have two big things in our favor today: Mild Weather and a golf course in excellent condition.

Since he has not hit the ball (even at this range) since August – not very smart for someone of my level – I park and accept the opportunity to release a little. Free buckets of balls are available on the range so it’s a great opportunity to get into the groove.

As I get there early from my drive down on an endernight, there’s also the chance to grab a bacon sarnie and a cuppa from the club’s upstairs bar (breakfast 7AM-5PPM).

A refreshed atmosphere and views of the study panel through large windows add another layer of comfort. Proper heating (sign). Full stomach (tick). Sudden good weather (tick). There’s no reason not to give it a Decent Shot Today, despite my other-time golfer status.

There is even a six par-3 course called ‘loop’ (holes ‘(holes ranging from 50 to 100 yards) near the car park but, alas, we don’t have time to test our wedge games.

Lesson

In some early research, I noticed that most hill descriptions on the chart focus on how many bunkers there are.

Here’s Sir Nick himself: “This golf course is unique even from the first hole because there aren’t many courses in Britain where you open with a line of bunkers.

“We’ve got a lot of bunkers on the golf course that make it more difficult, it’s more fun, it’s to give it its character.”

Yes, the view from the 1st – a Dogleg Par 5 measuring 537 yards from the ’61’ (yellow) tees – line the fairway bunkers.

I get a good Donk drive but one of those sand bars reaches the arm and pulls my ball. Oh dear.

At this point I need to admit that I often forget how to play from the bunkers. If I have a good teacher / player with me, I can follow their lead and succeed but without killing people.

So getting sand with my first drive is not good. But as if to show that I’m not curled, I take out the fairway wood, I believe I can carry the lips. Playing my partners take turns with worrying bets.

But fortune favors courage. I make clean connection and knock down the fairway, the shot paving the way for a perfect bogey-6.

Rumor has it that there are over 130 bunkers on the course and, surprisingly, I only found one. I don’t go out the first time but I will float the second time to eight meters, and add a few more tension points.

The list of different bunners is impressive but the standout of the ‘maconda’ is the “Anaconda” that climbs up the side of the par-5 5th and cuts across the fairway. From tail to head it is a mighty 200 meters, perhaps the longest humpback whale in Europe.

Given that Sir Nick is a three-time Open winner, perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised to see bottles of bunkers on the fairways. I dodge one by a whisker at 9 but my playing partner Scott doesn’t. It’s so far that his head is under the slip but he pulls it out bravely for the first time.

With a helping of fofofofford on every hole I reach a 16-point draw and thoroughly enjoy what can only be described as a great golfing experience.

The chart hills are mostly played from the ’61’ Tees, teeing off at 6,169 yards (PAR 72). Note, that Yardage extends to 7,119 on the back ’71. It’s 6,653 feet from the ’06s so there’s plenty of room to keep up with wherever you’re going.

With so many doglegs, so many water hazards, all those bunkers and the Big, often careless, greens in unruly condition, there’s a lot to catch the eye.

In the house I said I like to bite to eat and here is a tip

Maybe, because of that, I use a six-task bag that strikes at 10 and 11, continues and gets 19 points in the back of a 35-point draw.

I’m very happy with what the first look has given and I know better spots to (try again) to hit in the future.

I got some shocking points on the Parkland tracks (under 20) but today’s effort feels like I was rewarded in some respectable ways, getting the speed of the greens and having my gray matter work well.

You’ll hope Faldo’s design will reward brains and not brawn and this case is sure to hit the charts.

I really like the set of 3 3’s they play in 4-3-3-4. At the 171-Yard 7th, I hit about 10 feet but missed the putt.

The short final hole declined on the famous 17th with the famous sawgrass and, with a twist, I hit my best shot there, triggering a short bell that could be close.

When they get to the island Green My Ball is actually to be seen but they are thankful that it tends to REEDS who are guarded back and I enter the dance well before entering twice.

As if to completely reinforce the essence of the sand, the bunkers are scattered everywhere at the top of the 18th hole and make a sight from the tee as we hit in the low sun.

Thank you I avoid them and I can close the game without Green even though it almost steals the tie in a wonderful style where for a long time, I don’t take it out – this is short, considered as trophies.

The Barn

After walking around, we grab a bite to eat at the bar and watch Manchester City v Liverpool.

After that I enter the place where I stay for the night.

The ‘Barn’ is located a minute’s drive from the course. It holds up to eight people (four bedrooms: two stairs and two landings) and a perfect walk-in space.

My room is lovely and cozy on a November evening and I come back to watch the day’s game on the big TV.

And, get this, there’s even a putting green in the back if you want to go outside to get those errant skills out.

Perfect for sitting and playing, my night in the barn is a fun golf experience.

Scott Murray (The Guardian) Review

There are 133 bunkers at Chart Hills. My favorite of the 132 I visited was the pot to the left of the 14th green; Cracking out of four feet with a sandy keeper.

My second favorite? One of the watchers before the 9th, a short par four set up for deep traps, like the rose hole Copy-and-paired often.

Just getting out was fun and a welcome confidence boost for the famously skitish player. Take me from the old way, I’m not afraid of you now.

As for the anaconda bunker, which ends its path on the right side of the par-five of 5 meters … well, I liked my drive to split the fairway; Of course I would.

But there is a kind of morbid beauty in being able to boast that my ball was swallowed by the longest snake in an English garden. It remained in the disaster of its Serpentine glory, just, he just asked to be properly collected with a hybrid and sent instead. I might be raiding on the side of the roads, but Carpe Diem, EH kids?

I took it off my face. Just do it. But let’s stay in detail.

You probably don’t get into things the first time, and here’s the thing about Chart Hills: As you’d expect from Nick Faldo Design, you have to use the old noggin and plan your way.

No point blasting the driver all over the place: My best shot of the day was a fairway down the middle of the aforementioned 14th. The only problem is, you run out of fairway pretty quickly and the river runs into it.

Cue EFF, Jeff, and one of the few rummages in the bag on another rock.

Therefore, danger is everywhere, but such good ideas to hide everything.

And it’s exciting when you can successfully navigate a problem; I have had few greater pursuits on the golf course than successfully chipping up the Foli Front Forth Green to a few feet. Even if I putt.

Chart Hills – Cerebral, majestic, scintillating – it was great fun. I would love to play it again. If nothing else, I still have one more bunker to visit.