Outside the pro-shop hang wonderful black and white photos of heroes that have made an impression at West Lancashire. This is a links course that has been used for a long time as one of the most used local qualifying courses for the British Open in this region. In 1976 Nick Faldo, Bernard Langer, Ian Woosnam and Sandy Lyle sought qualification at West Lancashire. Lyle and Woosnam failed to qualify. All four later won the Masters over the course of their careers. Impressive.
Over the last few months the tough rough has been insurmountable. The first time we ended up in the high grass it felt as if we would never get through to the bottom – it seems endless. A lesson that makes us focus intently on the fairway. The course runs along the sea with a protecting wall that at some tees allows glimpses of Liverpool and Snowdonia. We commence on the opening nine with guidance from a particularly hospitable starter who does all he can to convince us to play from the rear markers, but we happily choose the yellow ones.
8th green, West Lanchashire
The start is comparatively straightforward – some holes are par 4 from the yellow tees and par 5 from the rear ones, which probably is better from a layout point of view. On this particular day there is an unusual south-west wind, which makes us kings of the drive – before we meet up with it on the 5th and are forced to retreat. The 7th is a quite difficult par 4 dogleg right, which is worthy of respect as the holder of the world’s longest hole-in-one -393 yards. We can’t believe it and the fact that it was made in 1972 only increases our astonishment. We hook way left and get away with a bogey. A hole-in-one?
12th green, West Lancashire
The closing nine begins with two classic links holes, the 10th – a par 4 and the 11th – a par5, which seem straightforward and inviting alongside the railway tracks but strike from below and smirk at bogeys when we thought birdies. On the 12th to the 15th the course changes character and suddenly we don’t just have the rough from hell but even the horns. The 12th is a completely wonderful par 3 and has a concrete-like green that makes it nearly impossible to land the ball on the low-cut surface. The 13th has everything a classic links hole needs – deep fairway bunkers, dogleg, raised tee. red markers and a green with run-off areas. Superb. The 14th is a blind hole with no marker post just a bell. We would rather have a marker post and hit wildly to the left. Mr J wins 5 and 3. At the 16th we are suddenly back in the original terrain to finish with a par 5, par3 and par 4 straight into the wind. Woosnam and Lyle are in good company.
English
Svenska