The Torrance Course

Originally designed by Sam Torrance, now re-designed with 8 new holes and classic Scottish revetted bunkers, the course was a qualifier for the 2010 Open Championship and has been home to the Scottish Seniors Open and European Seniors Tour. The Torrance course is a 7,230-yard layout built on the clifftop overlooking the North Sea. It was constructed with many principles of links golf in mind, and offers risk/reward opportunities at many of the holes.

The opening 8 holes are routed up the hillside around the site of the hotel. This introduction offers the golfer a chance to acclimatise to the very fast running greens and take account of the many challenging bunkers that protect the greens. Standing on the 8th tee, a downhill par 3 hole measuring 191 yards, the full glory of holes can be seen as the course opens out, displaying emerald green fairways, with St. Andrews and the Tay Estuary in the background.

There are some fine holes on the back nine, none more so than the 220-yard, par three green, which is protected by a dry stone wall and deep, punishing bunkers. The course was reconfigured in 2008 when the old 17th and 18th holes on the Torrance were included in the layout of the new Kittocks course, replaced by holes 3 and 4 from the former Devlin layout. Considerable effort was also made to isolate holes on the back nine by introducing large, mounds between fairways and these earthworks have resulted in an inward half that enjoys a natural feel.

The weather was relatively neutral for this round, with patches of sunshine and only a mild breeze. But the unfamiliar layout and unkind bounces off fairway bumps, not to mention the punishing rough that swallowed up many balls, took its toll: no one played to their handicap (36 points) and over half the field failed to make it to 30 points.

Three players, Jennings, Sparks and Cramb - sat comfortably on 28 points but it was once again the defending champ Dr. Golf that set the pace for the main contenders at 30 points.

Robertson and Johnson slogged their way into fourth place at 32, beaten by the younger Rooney (33 points, just two better than his father!). The quiet but dependable stalwart Alan Harper cruised in with 34 points and was looking fairly safe.

But today was a time when the cliché of "When the going gets tough . . ." really did ring true, with the champ of champs Billy Wilson carding a very strong 35 points to take the lead.