The morning after a long weekend, and the course was busy with maintenance workers and their noisy weed-eaters. But no one cutting greens. I was initially disappointed, but once the dew had evaporated, they putted beautifully true at a comfortable pace. You have to ask whether daily cutting is essential as we go into autumn. Most golfers prefer this speed when putting, and pace of play improves. Firethorn, redesigned 10 years ago, is a good layout on which to test your driving as fairway bunkers are cleverly situated, and being in the trees is a no-no. Advantage to be on fairways which are superbly covered. The challenge at Firethorn ramps up on the back nine, with much stronger holes than the front, not just their length and design, but trickier greens too, notably at 16 and 18, testing 4s down the final stretch. Two excellent 5s (12 and 14) with daunting bunkers guarding the greens.