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7th, Tel-el-Kebir – 401 yards, par 4

A study of old aerial photography revealed that there was a bunker to the right of the hole beyond the sand dunes which create the dogleg to the right. It was decided to restore that bunker with the intention that it should come into the minds of the longer hitters who might try to drive the ball as close to the green as possible.

During The Open in 2004, a number of players tried to cut the corner with some ending up quite close to the green. Now they will have another hazard to think about.

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The hole name… (Tel-el-Kebir)

Named after a battle fought in 1882 just before the hole was created.

Hole changes

Fairway bunker restored to the right of the hole and the fairway mown out to allow balls to run into it.

Architect Martin Ebert explains..

“One of reasons for taking out gorse behind 6th was to be able to push the 7th tee back a bit. It’s a view that not many know exist; I was refereeing at The Amateur here a few years ago and someone who hadn’t qualified came up to me and said how incredible it was.

“There is a lovely view from this elevated tee, Ailsa Craig and down the Ayrshire coastline to Prestwick and beyond. The curvature of the hole makes it fascinating and we have reinstated a bunker by the green that we saw on the aerial photography that should be in the mind of anyone who has a crack at it.

“There should be a penalty for that. It is pretty much exactly where it was, and with the fairway mown out, balls will run into it. The shot from there will start to bring a five into play.”

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