The Fairmont Hotel Torrance Course Hosts The Cleveland Golf And Srixon Scottish Senior Open – Episode #14
Posted on 08. Oct, 2009 by Andy Brown in Golf, What To Do, Where to Eat, Where to Stay
In this episode I met with Chief Greenskeeper of the Torrance and Kittocks Course at the Fairmont St Andrews Resort, Neil Ballingall. Neil kindly offered me a fantastic insight into the Torrance Course which had recently re-opened after a demanding 18 months of construction and renovations. Our interview took place during the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open which was being held over the redesigned Torrance Course.
** Special £99 FourBall Offer **
You can book a tee time for 4 players on either The Torrance or Kittocks course until 31st March 2010 for just £99 by calling +44 (0)1334 837023. Further details can be found here.
Cleveland Golf And Srixon Scottish Senior Open
Neil told me that preparing the Torrance Course for the Scottish Senior Open had been challenging for him and his team, involving long days (on course from 4.30am to 9.30pm), unpredictable Scottish weather to contend with and of course lots of hard work. From what I could see Neil and his team’s efforts had definitely paid off. Their attention to detail showed in the condition of the course – it looked fantastic.
The Torrance Course
The Torrance Course was designed by the late Gene Sarazen and winning Ryder Cup Captain, Sam Torrance in 2001, with recent renovations by architect Gary Stephenson. It’s an excellent par 72, 7037 yard course with a beautiful backdrop of the coastal edge and beach, with breathtaking views towards the historic university town of St Andrews.
Neil told me that although the Torrance is marketed as a championship golf course it really does cater for golfers of all abilities. For instance the seniors were playing off 6846 yards, where as the front tees play to 5200 yards. Just 3 miles from St Andrews, the award winning The Fairmont Resort (18th Best Golf Resort in the World by Conde Nast Traveler), offers golfers a luxurious retreat with world class golf. The two courses and 209 room hotel are set in a 520 acre estate, with unique coastal views to the Angus coast and Carnoustie.
Torrance Course Redesign
I’ve played the Torrance Course before several times so I was eager to find out from Neil what changes I could expect to see from the newly designed course. The redesign works included extensive state of the art fairway drainage, all new tees and newly revetted bunkers. Neil also talked me through some of the green and hole modifications which had taken place. The layout has been changed on 8 of the Torrance’s holes, 2 of its’ greens have been moved. The turf from the original 12th hole was moved 50 yards to form what is now hole 14. The 18th green has moved 100 yards south, to create a more uphill and demanding hole with 6 new bunkers. Neil also told me that all of the 4 par 3 holes at the Torrance are very strong. The 11th hole has splendid views of St Andrews in the distance and the 17th features an intimidating 8 foot deep bunker!
Course Conditions
The new Torrance layout offers golfers plenty of variety and challenges with many holes playing in a variety of directions. The first 5 holes cover every direction, north south east and west, and with each one the wind changes will require players to use just about every shot in their bag!
The winds, which are fairly constant at the Torrance, set golfers a bit of a challenge, as do the devilish bunkers, and undulating fairways. As with most courses in St Andrews, when you play the Torrance you will need to master the winds as club selection can make a real difference to your score card here. Neil explained how most golfers, including Sam Torrance, had to adapt their game plan to master the course.
Hosting Golf Events
Since opening in June 2001 the Torrance Course has played host to the Vagliano Trophy, the Red Bull Masterclass, International Pairs, The Partypoker.com International Open and of course the Cleveland Golf/Srixon Scottish Senior Open. During this episode I also discussed with Neil what an honor it is for the Torrance Course to be nominated by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club as a local Open qualifying course for the 2010 Open in St Andrews. He told me that a lot of thought which went into the redesign of the course was with the Open qualifying event in mind.
So if you would like to see some of the professional golfers try to earn their slot in the Open next year get yourself along to the Torrance Course!
Further contact details:
Fairmont St Andrews Golf Courses
St Andrews Bay
St Andrews
KY16 8PN
Telephone Number +44 (0)1334 837023
Fax Number +44 (0)1334 471115
Website: Fairmont.com
Email: Contact here
Finally, the Question of the Day:
When you’re booking a golf holiday what is the most important thing to you. Leave your comments below and we’ll have fun reading them!
Roy
05. Feb, 2010
Hi Andy,
Great stuff. I’ll be staying at the Fairmont next week for the R&A Rules School. Won’t be able to play in this weather though.
If you would like, maybe we could meet up for a whiskey or something. Drop me a line.
Cheers,
Roy
Phil Snelman
15. Oct, 2009
Hi Andy, another GREAT episode, well done.
I played here 2 years ago and found it to be a great test of golf. It deserves to have the Open quaifier there.
Looking forward to the next instalment.
Regards
Phil
TheGolfClub
14. Oct, 2009
Love talking with course superintendents. Beautiful course. We’ll have to talk about each segment on the “The Golf Club”. You know from the US perspective, I know that each part of the course is groomed. It’s beautiful seeing how the balance is kept bwtn nature and grooming on your courses.
Great work Andy. Love escaping through your journey.
Mark Veasey
09. Oct, 2009
The friends that go with you.
Cope with the weather, cope with difficulties on the course, makes things interesting, but a whinging, moaning bad tempered oaf in the group spoils it all.
Fidenciano
09. Oct, 2009
Hello Andy,
Great to see the Torrance Course and listen to the interview.
Easy access to a golf course, friendly staff and well presented course are what I look for. The most important part is playing the game with friends that contribute to a good day out.
Have a great day.
Larry Quah
09. Oct, 2009
Hi Andy,
I enjoyed that. I was in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China in August to play golf there and to attend the Qingdao International Beer Festival. We played 3 courses in Qingdao and you might not know this but there is one called Tiger Links Golf Club in which the Taiwanese developers tried to create something similar to St Andrews with pot-hole bunkers, roughs similar to those of Scottish links and would you believe a bridge resembling that over the Swilken Burn? Go to the posts on my blog under “Golf in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China” and you and your viewers can catch the pix there.
Cheers!
Michael McNamara
09. Oct, 2009
When playing golf outside Ireland the prime consideration for me is that you should have an option to play tees relevent to your handicap. You should not be forced to play very forward tees. Easy access and a welcoming attitude by club personnel is important to me. Golf accross America is streets ahead of Europe in the greeting received on arrival to play.
Stan Ferguson
09. Oct, 2009
Like all golf holidays, weather would be foremost, but however Scotland offers different prospects, so hotel and leisure plays a big part, good food and tough golf courses, not necessarily in that order.
Stan Ferguson ( Scotsman ) 8 H/C
stefan janicki
09. Oct, 2009
hi andy! i play a lot in florida its nice and warm just looking at those high winds in scotland put me off playing golf! only joking i like a challenge i play a lot where woosie grew up but i do like the sun it make you feel like playing golf! many thanx for you videos. stefan
Joe Edwards
09. Oct, 2009
The most important thing for me is the weather. No matter how good the course, the company, the tuition or the local attractions if it rains and snows like it did in Majorca the holiday is ruined.
d.ferguson
09. Oct, 2009
having just returned from the costa blanca,the most important thing was the organisation which i must say was 1st class so a huge thank you to ”golf4ualicante” and the weather is also important.