Senior PGA Professional at Woburn Golf Club Daniel Grieve tells us where the drama will unfold over the Marquess course at the Ricoh Women's British Open.
Senior PGA Professional at Woburn Golf Club Daniel Grieve tells us where the drama will unfold over the Marquess course at the Ricoh Women's British Open.
The Marquess course is a modern masterpiece and rewards the intelligent golfer who is able to think their way around. This year's Ricoh Women's British Open will be won and lost around the quick, sloping greens. There are many double breaking putts and the greens will be running fast, around 11 on the Stimpmeter.
Accurate drivers of the ball will be able to take advantage of perfect lies on tight fairways to generate spin and control to leave their approach shot on the best side of the hole to avoid treacherous putts. Those wayward off the tee will face a first cut of rough of 3 inches, the ball will sit down making a good contact very difficult, leaving some tricky up and downs around the greens.
It is often said that you make your score on the front 9 holes on the Marquess course and that you simply hang on coming back. The last five holes are particularly challenging and yield very few birdies.
Charley Hull obviously has an advantage having played a lot of golf on the Marquess, however, the players and caddies are so good that after a couple of practice rounds and armed with the yardage charts and green books available these days, they will soon work out the course and greens! It should prove to be a very exciting Championship.
Key Holes
2nd: Par 5, 475 yards (pictured above)
This hole presents a good birdie opportunity on this fantastic sweeping right to left par-5 through the pine trees. Drawing a drive around the corner will allow the big hitters to go for this green in two shots. Those players who can’t reach will need to consider the pin position and decide the best angle for their pitch shot.
3rd: Par 4, 318 yards
From previous tournaments, this hole always plays as one of the toughest. A long par-4 which dog-legs right to left and then significantly downhill. The drive needs to hug the large oak tree on the left to make the hole shorter, the further right you hit it off the tee makes the second shot much longer. The bunkers around 100 yards make the green look closer than it is and then you are faced with one of the most undulating greens on the course. A par on this hole will pick up approx half a shot on the field.
Hole 7: Par 5, 507 yards
The signature hole on the Marquess and arguably the most spectacular par-5 in the UK. A split fairway with a cluster of tall pine trees in the middle mean strategic decisions must be made off the tee. The bigger hitters will hit down the right hand-side that gives the best angle to go for the green in two, albeit over a huge ravine! If playing as a three shot par-5 then you hit down the left, but be careful to lay up short of the large oak tree with your second shot or you will be blocked out for your pitch shot in.
Hole 12: Par 4, 318 yards
The classic risk and reward par-4 - go for the green with your tee shot or hit into the island which leaves a pitch shot over water to a devilish sloping green. The tee markers may get moved forward on different days to tempt the players into going for the green. This is the last realistic birdie chance before a very difficult closing 5 holes.
Hole 18: Par 4, 388 yards
A strong finishing hole and a player requiring a par to win the Championship will not be a formality. A straight drive is required avoiding the large trees on the right and the fairway bunker on the left. The green is 38 yards long with a ridge running through it and protected by a large bunker at the front. The pin will be on the back portion of the green on Sunday so club selection will be crucial.
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