The father of golf writers, Bernard Darwin, described Aberdovey as the course his "soul loved best of all the courses in the world". Indeed, it was Darwin's Uncle that played a role in creating the original layout that used flower pots for holes.
Whilst there are records that state golf was played on the links 10 years earlier, a club was founded in 1892. In the 130 (or so) years that Aberdovey has been traversed in the pursuit of golf it has played host to numerous championships; the British Ladies Home Internationals, Welsh Golf Union Championship, Welsh Ladies Championship, Welsh Seniors Championship, and Welsh Hickory Championship all have been played around the course.
The layout itself has had many forms with input from three of Golf Architecture's greats- Colt, Braid & Fowler. Each has left their own mark on the course taking the early Darwin-era course and adapting it into the form we see today. However, there are two lasting institutions that remain part of the layout that Darwin fell in love with; the Par-3 known as "Cawder" and the short par-4 16th which doglegs around the 'Dovey Railway line.
The famed Cawder hole
Looking at any old picture of Aberdovey it quickly shows the hugely important role that the sand dune environment played in the golfing experience Darwin himself would have experienced. Vast expanses of bare sand, natural sand 'blowouts', blind shots, tufts of marram grass, 'blurred' edges between playing areas and roughs, wooden railway sleepers used to construct greensites, the Aberdovey course of yesteryear would have been an exceptional experience.
Islander Golf was delighted to be brought in to consult with Aberdovey as part of a
large-scale management-driven review of all the club's facilities. We were asked to provide a review of the course, identifying key issues that required addressing and provide a design concept that would take the club forward.
One particular concern of modern-day Aberdovey that was identified was the increasing environmental pressure in maintaining the SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) that the golf course occupies.
With sustainability a growing concern in golf generally, it became clear that a key factor in planning any change to the course would revolve around not only improving the golfing experience, but also making environmental gains and improvements. Therefore, in planning alterations to the course, particular attention was paid to the ecology and land management plan that was laid out by Lee Penrose of the STRI.
Another key concern identified with the course was the loss of cohesion in the design & strategy of the golf holes; much of the bunkering was found lacking in placement, scale and strategy, whilst several holes were suffering through poor tee-complex variety, and others were simply "missed opportunities".
Therefore, Islander Golf's review laid out several design philosophies to be adopted as work was undertaken:
- Introduce a bunker style that was aesthetically pleasing, increased the element of risk & reward in playing strategy, and was reflective of the sand-dune environment.
- Reducing the 'footprint' of the golf course in ecologically sensitive areas where it has minimal impact on play.
- Restoring or adapting historical features of the course where they add strategy.
- Creating width for play whilst adjusting hazard placement to interact with lines of play to encourage strategic (rather than penal) golf.
The resulting work has seen nearly every bunker on the course revised in style, placement, and shot values. Numerous 'lost' features of the course have been restored to their former glory, and several tee complexes have been revised to increase variety and range.
Following on from the work Aberdovey has shot into the limelight; winning a regional Environmental Award from the STRI, and being invited to host the 2011 Welsh Amateur Championship & 2014 R&A Ladies' Home Internationals.
For more info about the work undertaken at Aberdovey Golf Club check out the article in Golf Course Architecture Magazine or email john@islander-golf.com.
