Gambling golfers

It's a pity that no one ever gets to see the world's top players fighting it out at Pine Valley as the course brings out the best. But the golf greats have all played here. Some have gambled and taken up the club members' challenge of shooting below 80 on their first attempt. Many have failed.

One notable exception was Arnold Palmer fresh from his 1954 US Amateur win. He took up far more bets than he could afford, but salvaged the day with a sparkling 68.

It takes more than mere talent to conquer Pine Valley - hard concentration and thought are essential. Every shot must be calculated, placed correctly and struck precisely if you're to avoid the double and triple bogeys that can easily jump up and grab you.

This demanding layout is testament to the design skills of two men, club founder George Crump and H S Colt. Opened in 1919 after seven years' work, Pine Valley has a superb array of holes, and each hole has its own special character.