The clubhouse is a delight, the practice area a short walk from the 1st tee and post round drinks sat in adirondack chairs near the putting green made for the most wonderful experience.

The 1st is a gentle handshake, a straightaway par 4. But even then the green introduces you to Ross' work if you have not had the pleasure to play his designs before. Small greens on the whole, difficult to hold and even more difficult to putt on with slopes, borrows, tiers and breaks. All at a stimp of 13! I hit my approach into the 1st, landed on the surface only to see it run through the back into the dormant Bermuda. A chip on the green highlighted the subtle slopes but still managed to leave myself a 3 footer for par.

Playing in November, the rough had gone dormant, but the tifeagle greens and zoysia fairways remained green, a stunning contrast. Whilst the 1st and 18th play over flatter land taking you to and from the more interesting land, once you step onto the 2nd tee you are in for a roller coaster of a ride. Dramatic falls, steep climbs and gorgeous vistas across the course await. Pine tree lined in parts, clumps of trees in others, but generally quite open, with generous fairways, strategic  bunkering and excellent green complexes.

The dramatic falls in elevation is highlighted at the 6th, a par 3 193 yards, played downhill to a green sat in the valley floor, a fall of some 40 feet or so. A large pond creeps in front of the green leaving only a small parcel of land right as a bailout. This approach  leaves a very tricky chip over 2 bunkers to a green that will run away from you. A false front repels any balls not fully hit back towards the pond. The green itself has multiple slopes and mini tiers making a par here a very good result.

The 8th offers an even large downhill elevation change. A par 5 that leaves the longer players with a decision to go for the green, over Rae's Creek, in 2 or lay up. Laying up proved the sensible strategy leaving 100 yards in, giving greater control on the ball in to a narrow but long green, with a mini biarritz running through its middle.

The new 9th then plays up hill and is a strong hole, with a large bunker lining the right hand side of the fairway, and the green sat slightly into the hillside.

On the back 9, the par 3 12th, offers a similar look and length to the 6th, water coming into play on the left side of the green with bunkers left and right and another green with multiple slopes. The 13th is a quality par 4, long, with an infinity green, where holding the green on a long approach is the challenge. The last of the par 3s the 14th,  is a short/medium length uphill, well protected by bunkers, almost blind green from the tee. It varies to the 4th which, whilst also uphill and similar length, is less elevated and more open, although well protected by bunkers.

The par 5's are spread nicely through the round. The first of these is the 5th, a sweeping dog leg right with well positioned cross fairway bunkering and a tiered green with small plateau. The 8th we have already touched on and the 11th and 15th, play similar - initially a downhill drived before 2 full blooded uphill approach shots. The 15th was my pick out of these 2, with bunkers well positioned to the right and in front of the hole, meaning a full shot is required.  Once on the green it slopes back to front and also right to left.

The run in is strong. The 16th is an uphill par 4, quite short but with strong bunkering and a back to front sloping green, will testvyour short game skills. And then the 17th, playing back down hill to a beautiful green cut into the hillside, 2 bunkers protecting the approach and a fairway that feeds your ball left. In fairness, an angle from the left for a right handed golfer offers up a better approach and chance of holding the green. The 18th is fairly standard with a pretty flat green in comparison with what has come before, but its long at 440 yards off the back tees and is no pushover as a finisher.

Whilst ACC may never get the coveted love its neighbour gets, this is a classic Ross design, and stands on its own 2 feet as a course that you must grab the opportunity to play, if you get the chance. Plus sitting outside post round in the warm November sun over a pint of chilled beer, with a wonderful host, made for a perfect day out in this part of the World.