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Scotland 2007 - St. Andrews Links - Castle Course - Day
In 2007, we were fortunate to visit the Castle Course.
If you did not click on the above - or you did so and you are reading this, again - and, you want to continue on with the 2007 Castle Day summary, just continue on with this Web page!
Someday, I will try to "match" some of these 2007 photos with those taken in 2009, 2012 and 2014. For now, the sets of photos are kept separate.
Note:The following 2007 comments were made while not "knowing" the course. We were walking the grounds as the course was under development. Certainly, the 2009, 2012 and 2014 versions of this Web page are more "technically"/golfing-wise correct, as the comments in the 2009, 2012 and 2014 Web page are made after having played the course. I leave the 2007 comments (mostly...) as-originally-made, for "history"-remembering sake.
The Castle Course is the newest addition to the St. Andrews Links Trust managed courses. The Castle Course is located a short distance from St. Andrews and overlooks the castle-side of town.
The course is built upon land used for grazing/farming and has views of the sea and town from most holes.
We were fortunate to walk the under-construction course during our April 2007 visit to St. Andrews. A sincere "Thank You" goes to: Ms. Sheila Buntin and Mr. Peter Mason for arranging such and for hosting us. The course was planned to open for play mid-2008. By September, 2007 players could make reservations for playing the course in mid-2008. Again: A reminder - The following photos and 2007 comments are from an April 2007 visit.
2007 Comment: On most holes of the Castle Course, there will be views of the sea.
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2014 Note: This is a view of the 2nd green, taken from a second shot area - or, perhaps even the third shot area for some of us.
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Probable Location of Above Photo - 2nd Fairway Area
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2007 Photo
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2012 Photo - 2nd Fairway, Second Shot Area
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Click Below to Compare the Above Photos Side-by-Side
2007 Comment: And - Of the town.
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2014 Note: I think this is from the 3rd Green area of the Castle Course, looking out to town.
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Possible Location of Above Photo - 3rd Green Area
Or... See the next 2012 photo...
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2007 Photo
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2012 Photo -- 3rd Green Area Looking to Town
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Possible Location of Above Photo - 3rd Tee Area
Or... See the previous 2012 photo...
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2007 Photo
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2012 Photo -- 3rd Tee Looking to Green and Town
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2007 Comment: And - Of the town...
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2014 Note: I think this was simply a camera-zoomed photo of the previously-shown (above) 2007 photo. I am becoming more convinced the answer is from the 3rd green area at the Castle Course.
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Possible Location of Above Photo - 3rd Green Area
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2007 Photo (A camera-zoomed photo)
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- 3rd Green Area Looking to Town
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2007 Comment: It is difficult to imagine that this was quite-flat land prior to the golf course being formed.
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2014 Note: This MAY be taken from the now 3rd green or, perhaps, the 4th fairway area looking over to the 5th green area ????? I plan on checking this out during our 2016 trip. I do not have a good matching photo from 2009,12 or 14.
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2007 Comment: On the other side of this view, is the Old Course and its companion courses (New, Jubilee, Eden and two other courses).
2014 Note: The 2007 photo is camera-zoomed -- and is, for sure, taken from the 7th tee / 6th green area of the Castle.
A popular viewing area! Nice.
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Location of Above Photo - 6rd Green Area or 7th Tee Area.
The 2007 photo is camera-zoomed. Both the 6th green area and the 7th tee areas have wonderful views "back to town".
Any year!
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2007 Photo (Camera zoomed)
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- 6th Green Area Looking to Town
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2007 Comment: On the other side of this view...
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2014 Note: Again: This is, for sure, taken from the 7th tee / 6th green area of the Castle.
2014 Note: The 2007 photo is, once again, camera-zoomed -- and is, for sure, taken from the 7th tee / 6th green area of the Castle.
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Location of Above Photo - 6rd Green Area or 7th Tee Area.
The 2007 photo is camera-zoomed. Two more of this wonderful view "back to town".
Any year!
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2007 Photo (Camera zoomed)
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2012 Photo -- 7th Tee Area Looking to Town
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The 2007 photo is camera-zoomed.
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2007 Photo (Camera zoomed)
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2012 Photo -- 7th Tee Area Looking to Town
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2007 Comment: What a wonderful, challenging first-shot this will be!
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2014 Note: Well... I have gone back and forth with this 2007 photo (and the next, as well). I was not sure if the photos are from the par-4 7th tee area of the Castle Course - or, are taken from the par-3 8th tee. For now, I am voting for the par-3 8th tee. I am going on the assumption that in 2007 we walked around the 7th fairway and we did not get a photo looking down the 7th. Memory fades! Let's assume this is the par-3 8th.
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2007 Photo
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2012 Photo -- 8th Middle Tee
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2007 Comment: This will be the first shot from the same hole as in the previous picture. Just, a different tee. Variety.... Challenge.
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2014 Note: The Par-3 8th Forward Tee view at The Castle.
The 9th (and shared 18th) green is in the distance as viewed here.
The clubhouse was not built at the time of this photo; now, the clubhouse will be slightly viewable in the distance.
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2007 Photo
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- 8th Forward Tee View (Camera Cropped)
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2007 Comment: The greens are large -- and, undulating, and run-offs as with most Scottish greens.
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2014 Note: Assuming the previous two photos shown, above, are from the 8th at the Castle Course, then we must have turned around a bit and walked to the 7th green area and viewed out to town and up the 7th fairway at The Castle. It seems reasonable...
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2007 Photo
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- 7th Green Area Looking Back to Town
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2007 Comment: As with the Old Course, town's people and other walkers will be alongside the golf course. With the town a constant presence.
This 2007 photo is camera-zoomed.
| 2014 Note: Assuming the previous photo is from the 7th green area, this view (with the walk way so close to the fence) is taken up a bit from the 7th green area of the Castle Course -- or, alongside the Par-3 8th at the Castle. Either places would have this view and are close to the coastal hiking path.
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2007 Photo (Camera zoomed)
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- 7th Approach Area Looking Back to Town
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(no comments made for these photos in 2007)
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2014 Note: Again: I am not certain what tee area this is taken from; However, I am voting for them both to be taken on the Par-4 9th at the Castle.
I DO know that when I take the time to compare these wonderful 2007 views with the photos of 2009, 2012 and 2014 -- I will be able to tell! Stay tuned.
The clubhouse, now, is visible in the right-side distance-view of these photos. It is nice to have a photo before such came about.
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(no comment made for this photo in 2007)
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2014 Note: This is the Par-4 9th green (that is shared with the Castle 18th green), looking to town. I will compare with something taken in 2009, 2012, 2014! I bet that I will get a match...
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2007 Photo (Camera zoomed)
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- 9th Green Area Looking Back to Town
Photo Cropped / Zoomed.
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2007 Photo (Camera zoomed)
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- 9th Green Area Looking Back to Town
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Compare 2007 and 2014
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(no comment made for this photo in 2007)
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2014 Note: This is, for sure..., just off the 9th green at the Castle. Although I don't show an after-2007 photo from the spot, here -- Someday, I will; I am certain that we can find the exact spot near the fence and, then, the walker's path just beyond. The 2007 photo is camera-zoomed.
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2007 Comment: The clubhouse will be here -- and will have some wonderful views of the sea.
It will be a great place to have an early-evening meal.
2014 Note: I love this photo. If one turns their back from the above-shown/previous photo, this spot now views the clubhouse. Yes, the view from the clubhouse to the green/sea is VERY special. Well done, designer/architect!
The yellow field shown in the background of his photo is located across the (to/from Crail from/to St. Andrews) road from the Castle Course and - at least in Aprils of 2009, 2012, and 2014 - the yellow field is still very visible while playing the back-nine of the Castle Course.
The 2009 photo, below, is taken from a left / forward location of the shown 2007 photo.
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2007 Photo (Camera zoomed)
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2009 Photo -- 9th and 18th Green Area Looking To Clubhouse
Actually, taken from alongside the 18th approach area.
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2007 Comment: This is the green the clubhouse will overlook.
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2014 Note: Again: This is taken while on the 9th and shared-with-18th green of the Castle Course.
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Although I do not have an exact-location photo taken from the green to town, as shown above in the 2007 photo:
These two photos show the wonderful view of the 9th/18th greens from the clubhouse area.
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- 9th/18th Greens Viewed from Clubhouse.
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2014 Photo -- Early morning (Breakfast-time!) 9th/18th Greens,
Viewed from just outside the Clubhouse.
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2007 Comment: Can you picture the previous use of the land? Crops, cows. The rabbits and rodents are no doubt sill here!
The mounds and shaping were done by the shown-machine/machines and by workers.
2014 Note: Based upon the sequence numbers of the 2007 photos (unfortunately, the camera did not have a timestamp on each photo) I suspect that we walked up the service road after the 9th/18th green at the Castle and this photo is taken from the Castle 1st or 10th tee area ... or, perhaps, even the 1st green area. Someday, I figure it out!
The shaping work shown here is probably being done on the Castle's 5th or 6th fairway... I think....
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Once again, I do not have an exact-location photo taken from the green to town, as shown above in the 2007 photo:
These two photos are from the 1st Tee area (near the 10th Tee, as well, and the practice putting/chipping area. The results of the above=shown 2007 shaping of the course is quite impressive to see.
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- 1st / 10th and Practice Putting/Chipping Area - Course Starter of the Day.
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2014 Photo -- 1st Tee Looking Out to the Castle Course .
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2007 Comment: Yes, there is a tree on the grounds.
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2014 Note: I think this is taken from around the 10th Par-3 tee area at the Castle Course, looking out to the being-created 11th fairway (with the 11th green being seeded). If I am correct, this photo was camera-zoomed in 2007. Someday, I confirm this view!
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2007 Photo (Camera zoomed)
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2012 Photo -- 1st Second Shot Area
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(No comment for this photo in 2007).
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2014 Note: I am quite certain this is taken from the 15th green at the Castle Course Par-5 as the burn that is now located in front of the 15th green was being created. The 15th is a wonderful/challenging golf hole and it is fun to see it from this angle - from 2007!
I wish that I had taken a 2007 photo from the fairway looking to the green.... It would have been nice to see the difference to today's reality... but, OK... I missed that chance!
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2007 Photo
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo --
Looking Back Down the Castle Course 15th from Behind The Green.
An early-morning photo - with the sun at my back.
Taken 3 minutes after the two fairway-shot photos that follow, below.
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These are 2014 photos of fairway shots into the 15th at the Castle Course (the green shown above).
These photos were taken into the sun, looking to the sea early in the morning; taken 3-minutes prior to the above-shown photo.
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2014 Photo - Castle Course 15th Second Shot Area
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo - Castle Course 15th Third Shot Area
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2007 Comment: If you are a golfer and you cannot appreciate this approach shot with the sea in the background -- don't go to Scotland to play golf!
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2014 Note: This is, I am certain, the 16th Par-4's fairway at the Castle Course looking to the 16th green and to the sea.
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2007 Photo
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2012 Photo -- 16th Approach Area at The Castle Course.
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2014 Photo -- 16th Approach Area at The Castle Course --
Photo taken into the morning sun.
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- 16th Green Area at The Castle Course.
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2007 Comment: Another wonderful challenge.
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2014 Note: This is a terrific photo: The Par-3 17th at the Castle Course prior to its being "addressed" by the golfers. The course designer and builders/developers at their best. Nearly all golfers who play this golf hole over the years will have a photograph of this hole.
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2007 Photo
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- 17th Tee Area at The Castle Course.
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2007 Photo
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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Another 2014 Photo -- 17th Tee Area at The Castle Course.
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2007 Comment: This Par-3 will become a classic.
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2014 Note: A special golf hole. The stakes located behind the shown green show planting of more "yellow bushes" (gorse) and the forming-of the Par-5 18th's tees at the Castle Course.
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Although I don't have an exact-match of the 2007 Camera Zoomed photo, I show the 2014 photo-cropped, trying to show have things have evolved.
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2007 Photo
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2014 Photo -- 17th Tee Area (shown from left-side) at The Castle Course.
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2007 Comment: This is what the right-side of the previous tee shot has in store if you push your shot.
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2014 Note: The walking/hiking path, clearly shown on the right side of this photo, continues on past the Castle Course all the way to St. Andrews and the other six courses that are managed by the Links Trust. The path ends alongside the Jubilee Course and takes about 3hrs one way.
The 2007 photo is camera-zoomed, showing the 18th green's approach area (I think... that is what is shown in this photo "out there") in front of the shown-in-this-zoomed-photo's town view. he 2014 photo is zoomed, as well - focusing on the cows moving to the grazing area in the early morning before the golfers arrive! Wonderful.
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2007 Photo
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- Zooming Into 18th Fairway Area for Cows Moving Early Morning at the Castle Course.
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This is a 2014 photo taken from the 1st/10th green area --
or, from the 18th fairway area near the clubhouse -- at the Castle Course
and looking back to the area shown in the above photo.
A brilliant view, eh?
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- Looking Back, into the sun, down 18th Fairway Area at the Castle Course.
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2007 Comment: Another view of the previously-shown Par-3.
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2014 Note: The "bailout" area to the left of the green is apparent, in this photo. A well-used place for many golfers over the years!
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Once more: I don't have an exact-match of the 2007 Camera Zoomed photo.
The 2014 photo shows, if you choose/succeed to get to the bailout area "left" of the chasm:
A nice approach shot is setup.
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2007 Photo
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2014 Photo -- Bailout Area at the 17th on The Castle Course.
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2007 Comment: Hikers: Be careful!
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2014 Note: Other than if one decides to take the coastal walk to St. Andrews - No reason to "go down" there.... Yet, it is a special-view location.
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Once again, I don't have an exact-match of the 2007 Camera Zoomed photo, I show the 2014 photo-cropped, trying to show have things have evolved.
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2007 Photo
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2014 Photo --
17th Tee Area Heading to the Coastal Hiking Area alongside The Castle Course.
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2007 Comment: Heading "In" by playing the inward few last holes.
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2014 Note: Actually: This photo was taken on THE final hole: Par-5 18th at the Castle Course. The "finished" area to the forefront of this photo is just off the 18th Back Tee. The driver's line is the tree in the distance and, once there: About 300 yards to the right is the 18th green.
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2007 Photo
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- 18th Back Tee at The Castle Course.
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(No comment for this photo when posted in 2007)
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2014 Note: This is taken from the middle tee area, looking out over the Castle Course to the left of the 18th on the Castle Course. The course designer/builder was in the midst of the shaping the course.
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Although the 2014 photo is not taken from the same location as was the 2007-shown photo: It is on a similar "viewing line" and shows how the Castle Course has evolved.
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2007 Photo
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Course Layout (Location In Red)
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2014 Photo -- 15th Tee Area Looking Out The Castle Course.
That is the 11th Green in the forefront of this photo.
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2007 Comment: In 2008 and thereafter: Have a nice/shady relaxing end-of a terrific round of golf.
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2014 Note: Although I don't have a similar-spot-taken photo: The tree is still there as I write this!
The clubhouse is down the road to your left, from this photo's location. A fine day is past - with a nice meal in-plan.
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