A Hackers Guide To Royal Ascot - Part 1 (Minchin View)

Royal Ascot is the oldest golf club in the area, dating back to 1887. It now plays on one of the newest and best courses in Berkshire opened for play in 2005 but for many years was housed inside the famous racecourse. The new course, no more than a par four away from the resplendent modern grandstand is a much tougher test than the old course. It is still maturing but already has played host to professional and county amateur events and is a good test for golfers of all standards.

Minchin View
The course starts with a par 3. From the yellows it is only 163 yards and represents a gentle introduction to the round. However off the white tees it is a brutal 229 yards long (stroke index 10) and is a savage start especially with a competition card in your hands.

For most members a one over par 4 (usually with a shot) represents a fair start. Standing on the elevated tee, the line of trees from the right are strategically placed at about 200 yards and will catch anything drifting to the right. Out of shot here but clearly visible on the course guide (below) is a pond to the left which often does regular business for anything pulled or hooked. Standing on the tee though it is actually quite hard to see it and it is a case of out of sight out of mind until after impact when the ball is veering left. Did I mention the out of bounds right? It runs down the side of the hole until the line of trees but is only twenty or so yards to the right and it really doesn't take a very wayward shot to find it.

The ideal shot is on the left hand edge of the line of trees jutting out as the ground falls away right to left towards the two left hand bunkers. Anything too straight will fall towards a sandy grave. Should the ball run right to left and miss the front bunker there is also a small ditch (water hazard) although to be fair it needs a bit of a long hooky shot to find that particular danger.

The official guidance taken from the clubs website is:
"From the medal tee a stiff opener, playing 229 yards but slightly down hill. Take one club more than you think. Don’t ruin your round here keep it in play, avoid right rough."

So to sum up so far, we have a very long hole. It has out of bounds close to the right hand side. It has a hidden pond and trees that jut out and it slopes towards two deep bunkers. Feeling confident? If you can't reach the green, the hackers guide recommends taking something you can hit relatively straight and about 190 yards. It is a long and flattish green and so the chip on shouldn't pose too many issues. If you are going for it you do have the option of landing it short as the ground is normally firm and it will release. Don't be too straight though as it will fall away. Take your four and get out of there in a hurry.

I have managed to get my round off to the flyer with a birdie on a couple of occasions but there have also been some nightmares. My highest score on the hole is 7 (four over par). I have been out of bounds off the tee, had terrible problems getting out of bunkers and had plenty of issues with the pond on the left. However I take solace. Whilst a 7 is never a great way to start, Royal Ascot veteran and venerable member Tommy Goode managed a 13 in a club competition. Suffice to say he didn't need his acceptance speech on that particular day.

It is a hole that commands respect and really does focus the mind from the outset.