Four holes on the same side of the road as the clubhouse and 14 on the other side. When we signed the insurance, “that covers everything and includes 4 holes”, we begin to think of snap hooks and shanks and golf’s strange ways in particular. Classic opening and closing stretches 9 out – 9 in. The 1st hole feels broad – then it begins. Apart from the city links in Bude, and possibly the machine shed at Trevose, the fear of teeing off should be gone – without trace! If Links75 were to write an essay on shots that create terror then the drive from the 2nd tee at Borth should take up the first 7 paragraphs. Length 380 yards. Width 30 yards. To the right a well-used road. To the left a beach out-of-bounds. All clubs are possible choices when considering one’s drive; a driver – no!; a wedge – maybe. Change ball. A dent in some bank holiday, travelling Audi or an uninvited guest in the picnic basket of a family from Swansea should not be traceable. Tee in place, grip, stance, tunnel vision. The fairway seems to come together as a yard-wide green belt 100 yards away. Afraid of driving – Who me? No!! Links75 has been on the beach and on the road.
Scary teeshot at Borth & Ynyslas
With cold sweat running down our backs we head for the next hole only to be met by an admonishing sign stating that it is our responsibility if we mishit shots into private property, caravan sites and pedestrians. We fire low shots all over the first six holes to avoid the Fear before we finally come in among the sand dunes and relative calm. We can breathe out and not even a wild shank unsettles us – we are safe. The 7th and 12th are wonderful links holes with sand dunes as our only companions. The 12th is a short par 4 but is a really great links hole which demands traditional creativity and bravery in order to be able to write 4 on the scorecard.
True links at Borth & Ynyslas
Once again we are thrown out towards the road and the Fear. In pure desperation we play the last seven in par in order to quickly draw breath and with closed eyes run the gauntlet in our car between the Tees of Fear.
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