COURSES: Howley Hall changes

Forward-thinking Howley Hall have completed major developments on its 8th, 12th and 16th holes, all of which were open in time for the current season. So when NCG were invited by the club’s president, Stephen Bestwick, to play in a professionals v amateurs team challenge event, it was the perfect opportunity to see how these changes have improved the course.

With the course being just a 10-minute drive from the NCG offices, we have been lucky enough to visit and play at this friendly club on several occasions over the years.

And what is quickly apparent is that the changes have all been integrated into the course as if they were part of the original design.

Even more impressively, they were instigated and completed within the winter months with all the work done by the club’s own greens staff.

So what exactly do the changes involve? In a word – water. The 12th now features a lake-size hazard while the 8th and 16th greens are fronted by streams.

Starting with the short 8th, from the back tee you hardly notice the lateral water hazard that runs right across the front of a green that has been extended and slopes towards the hazard.

On this particular day the pin was only four yards on from the front and so caused a real problem with club selection.

Should you play safe to the middle of the green then your first putt will be extremely quick. And since this hole was already a tester at 180 yards, par scores really are well earned now.

Arriving at the 12th, a 380-yard dogleg right, Bestwick pointed out the recently planted trees adjacent to the 150-yard marker on the right of the fairway.

The line is down the left side to open up the green – or at least it used to be. The new water hazard on the angle forces a change of strategy.

Now, you must either play short of the water and leave a longer approach, which leaves a long iron or even hybrid to the green, or alternatively take on the carry over the corner to find a 15-yard-wide landing area some 245 yards out.

The lake holds 3,000 litres of water and is 4ft deep and 40ft wide and when the fairways are running fast during the summer months will be visited by many.

Finally, the 16th now looks like an island green, almost as intimidating as the infamous 17th at TPC Sawgrass.

But considering that, week-in and week-out, most players will be playing their third shots over the water on what is now a signature par five.

The variables of which angle is best to come in from and what the ideal length of approach is will cause for real debate.

Whatever the shot, it is a test of nerve even for pros like Howley Hall’s own Danny Dennison and European Tour pro Ian Garbutt.

Having hit his drive to within around 210 yards of the green, Garbutt could see the pin but not the green itself and so decided that discretion was the better part of valour.

"Previously from a good drive I would attack the green and end up in a greenside bunker at worst,” he said.

“Now it’s different and depends on the circumstances. Today, since the game was all-square I didn't attack and went for a three-shot plan with hopefully a good chip and putt for birdie.

“If my drive had been 15 to 20 yards further I would have gone for it. That's the beauty now of this 16th hole, especially in matchplay.”

For most of us, though, it is a very much a three-shotter. And having laid up, you then have to consider what club to select for the approach.

The hazard is shaped around the front edge of the green, which is wider towards the back.

So do you hit the club you would normally use from that yardage or club up to play safe and ensure your ball finishes on grass? It is a real challenge.

Not to be content with all these changes the previously small putting green at Howley has also been extended during the same period.

It shows that this is a club working in harmony to improve the overall facilities – both for visitors and members alike.

THE VERDICT
Congratulations to Howley Hall’s greens chairman Paul Blackshaw, head greenkeeper Matt Booth and all his staff.

They have made tremendous improvements to what was already a fine course over the winter and they are sure to be a huge bonus for members and visitors alike.

Personally, I can’t wait to come back to Howley Hall in September to play the course again in the Pro Am following the prestigious Yorkshire Open which will be contested by the leading 30 Yorkshire-based professionals and the top 30 amateurs from the county.