Just a great golf course and club. Bernard Darwin was very critical of the par 3’s, when first built were seemingly too blind to the eye.
It is already above Portmarnoch, Swinley Forest, Lytham, Cal Club and Woodall Spa to name a few, and is in the same territory as Seminole, Tara Iti and Riviera.
The tee shot needs to carry heather but it should not be an issue with the fairway beginning with another “cops” of raised heather. It was also a bit instructive to see your reply to my review because it led me to re-read it and the day after it reads more critically than I wish it had.
There is also the possibility of going out-of-bounds to the right into the tree line if one overswings. There were no shops, no railway station, and no Ridgemount Road, merely a bridle path over the property running, as it still does across the 2nd of the Old and continuing across to the 9th green of the New Course.Willie Park Junior, was consulted and tasked with designing a course of exemplary character, for the price of £3000. There is a small ridge that reminds me of the “cops” at Royal Liverpool used there to define the interior out-of-bounds. One wants to go have a drink and consider how they will fair on the New course or wants to have another round on the Old.
There are few places that combine all of these things with 2 truly world class courses. 12 is one of the best designed hole you'll ever play, with outstanding cross bunkering. This difference - perhaps with a dash of good fortune - helps promote sustainability and resilience. 18th hole I have had the pleasure of taking some of my US friends to Sunningdale. The hospitality, facilities, food and of course golf are all first class. He also moved the tee higher up the hill to provide a view of the green. The front of the green is open, but there are two bunkers left and one right both about ten yards short of the green if your approach shot comes wide/short while a fourth bunker sits on the left middle of the green.
No pomposity at all that you sadly can get at clubs just outside the top bracket, who’s members for some reason feel the need to be unwelcoming and jobs worth’s. 8th hole What a course. It’s amazing to me what “par” can do to one’s strategy. In general I do not find the land as peaceful, special and pretty as the Berkshire or Swinley. Those holes I like the most are three, four, five, six, seven, ten, twelve and sixteen.The yardage from the scorecard for visitors are listed at Championship tees at 6660, par 70 rated sss73 while the White tees are 6318 sss 72 and the Yellow tees are 6085 sss 70. 12 is a solid par 4 with some good cross bunkering short of the green. It opened to universal acclaim and was among the first successful courses located away from the coast, as many had believed turf would not grow well in such regions.
The London area is blessed with many outstanding courses due to a geological quirk of alluvial deposits of sand that created the Surrey heathland. Length is an advantage here, but skill, clarity of thinking, and ball striking are equally valued. It is a course that has stood the test of time despite the improvements in golf technology. The greens have since been reduced in size which occurred during the wars in order to save on maintenance costs.Harry Colt did change several of the holes. The issue is NOT whether Sunningdale needs more players -- from America or anywhere else for that matter.
Longer hitters are definitely thinking of hitting the green in two perhaps with as little as a wedge on a dry, windless day. There are two scattered bunkers down the inner corner for those trying to shorten the dogleg. However, go too long over the green and one can end up in the trees behind.2 – par 4 489/470. Mr. Colt moved tees and greens and improved the sight lines into these holes. I gave it a 5 for 2 reasons - as an inland course, the views are never breathtaking and more importantly, it is a stuffy place (by design). The best part of the hole is the heather one hits over and walks through. Next there are five cross bunkers. The staff are brilliant, the clubhouse welcoming and the food is a delight. Sunningdale is a club where the players very much like their golf and the terrific clubhouse.
Some of the minimalists are able to disguise this “trick” because the settings have been so splendid and their wild/rugged bunkers are placed and built wonderfully (albeit some are strictly “eye candy”). Such is the ambiance of Sunningdale. I have played several times including as a guest at a corporate day. Having two courses, and therefore the luxury to make one a two ball course for the day really works.Simply put - a day of 36 holes at Sunningdale is one of the best days in golf. There are driveable par 4’s, par 5’s that can be reached in two, and there are a few blind shots.
While these two holes being recognized is not surprising, many consider the tenth to be the finest hole. Another blind tee shot with seemingly endless heather in front of you and two large bunkers built into the heather.
16th hole I make my golf plans not based on what magazines say -- but what a limited network of key people provide me in terms of what they have experienced.I dare say -- if you ask most Americans when contemplating a visit to the UK / Ireland the main focus will center on going to Scotland and Ireland. The green is relatively large for the length. It's a pleasure to experience such civilized formality, and Sunningdale has it in spades.Now on to the golf. The stretch of holes through seven are simply amazing.
For the inland courses, I rate it just ahead of Ganton which I believe offers more challenge.
Once inside the gates you no longer feel like you are in a major metroplex but rather a world apart. The cross bunkers have heather at their back sides increasing the challenge of a recovery shot.
At the halfway house you get a chance to discuss the wonderful front nine over a refreshing drink and the famous bacon sandwich. Sunningdale_Old09TeeClose_8808. They are already in a healthy financial position and presumably they look after their members first.