What a day today….
I made the drive west to play Covesea Links, a 9 hole jewel right on the water. Although this course appears to have been here since the turn of the century, it’s actually less than 20 years old and the vision of a middle aged Scottish couple that love golf. They both quit their regular jobs , acquired a piece of land and went to work. Using the natural dunes and vistas right along the ocean, they shaped their dream into a reality. Only marked by a small sign and a single lane gravel road that crawls over gorse and broom covered hills, it ends in a sandy parking lot with a make shift sea container pro shop and weather haven tent to shield golfers from the elements. I found this place as a “must play” from Tom Coyne’s book.
A Course Called Scotland and it didn’t disappoint. It’s a beautiful mix of par 3s and 4s. Although the fairways appear brown, they are a mix of very tight turf and moss that require precision ball striking but reward good shots with a crisp feel that sends the ball soaring.
After such an enjoyable round at Covesea, I made my way down to Hopeman Golf Club unannounced, but whole heartedly welcomed. This course is normally 100 pounds to play, but after a nice conversation with the pro, I played as his guest for just 20 pounds with no wait whatsoever. He was kind enough to describe some holes and the routing, gave me a yardage book and best wishes and I was off.
Since being in Scotland, I’ve played a lot of Links golf and the first 11 holes are solid but not remarkable….. and then you get to 12. All of Hopeman and many others who know a lot more about golf than I, believe that 12 is one of the best par three holes in golf.
It’s situated high above the ocean and point cliff point overlooking crashing waves and salt spray some 100 plus feet below. At 157 yards, today I played it into an unrelenting near 30 mph wind with spattering rain. It required a very well struck 3 hybrid that took off like a bullet but seemingly froze in the air as it fell backwards in mid flight but just over the green.
When I finally made my way down the sandy zig zag path to the green and examined the lie, making a par seemed a reality. You can only imagine my surprise when my chip bounced thru the collar, onto the sloping firm green and gently curved into the cup for a birdie 2.
No one was there to witness it, but no need. It will be a memory I will hold dear for all the rest of my days playing golf.
Holes 13-17 are also fantastic sea side links holes with post card views that really give this course character.
A nice stop on the way home tonight for steak and ale pie put the cap on another special day in Scotland.
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12 Hopeman
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Covesea Links
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