This was my 2nd visit to Hillside, the last was 5 years ago. Whilst I remembered some holes, others had receded in the memory. Was this because my memory has somewhat gone downhill or was it because the course, whilst excellent, did not have more standout holes than those I recalled? Revisiting, it showed me it was more the latter.

The back 9 is much lauded and rightly so. Set within towering dunes and framed beautifully by pine trees, it is a spectacular loop and these holes are what I had remembered hole by hole.

The front 9 is laid over flatter land behind the dunes. Not unusual at all as it's almost impossible to have all 18 holes threaded through large dunes on a links course. But, by being flatter and in the shadow of the back 9, inevitably it suffers in direct comparison.

The front 9 is good. The 1st hole has one of the most visually intimidating tee shots I've played. Pro shop to the left of the tee, clubhouse directly behind, players practicing their putting to the right and then, directly in front of you, a narrow fairway, offset given the tee box is left hand side, with trees and OOB tight left and 3 large bunkers right to catch a tee shot that has opted for safety! Nice, easy 1st shot - not!

It's a slow start, but be patient as the course will and does get going. Notable takeaways on the front 9 include:

- a welcome to the quality greens on the par 5 2nd. A green that slopes back to front, protected by pot bunkers short left and right, potbunker front left and a shaved run off right. The green has other slopes in it, making for tricky up and downs

- the 3rd is a strong hole. Dog leg right, the more you bite off the further down the fairway you go, but a brook diagonally crossing is a potential hazard. Play safer left, and bunkers and rough is ready to catch you out.

- the 4th, the 1st par 3 showcases some of Eberts improvements seen on the front 9 around the green complex. Personally I'm not a fan of excessive sand scrapes by Ebert but here they have been done well.

- hole 7, the next par 3, feature a green that runs diagonally to your tee shot, leaving a narrow and long green. Bunkers front left and centre requires an accurate all carry approach

- whilst the dog leg right 8th requires accurate positional play, the further right the better angle in to the green, too far left means a blind approach over a large dune, the 9th I found too one dimensional and was for me an average end to the front 9. It plays dog leg left, but a road crossing the fairway forces a layup. There is no reward for taking the Open corner on as the thick rough extends past the 300 yard mark. Personally I would have liked to see some reward for taking the corner on.