British Course Aerial

[Mark_Rowlinson]

In response to a remark made on another thread I thought you might like a pot shot at a few British courses. I don't think this one has been discussed much on GCA, although it was quite famous in its time.

[James Boon]

I think I know this one, but wont give the game away yet. Not from playing it, but I spend most of my time trying to learn about new courses from looking at Google Earth or other such aerial photo wesites. I think its a Colt course and thats the London to Southampton motorway just to the north? Bernard Darwin once wrote: "Sandy and heathery, long and difficult and costing enormous sums of money and laid out with the most consummate ingenuity by the most famous architect".

Cheers

James

[Mark_Rowlinson]

You are spot on, James.

[Tom_Doak]

Mark:

I don't recognize it at once, but it is a very interesting looking land plan ... it almost looks like it started as a nine-hole course and they found a chunk of land for another nine a little bit away, and bought just enough property to connect the two.

[mike_beene]

Did John Jacobs play-teach here years ago?

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Mike, It is not Sandy Lodge if that was what you were thinking of (see my today's post).

Tom, I think it was 18 holes from the start, but I could easily be wrong.

[Paul Nash]

Spotted it straight away as I was looking at google maps just before playing them in a match a few months ago. Camberley Heath - I was very impressed given how off the radar it is. I think it has a lot of the feel of St Georges' Hill and some very unspoilt heathlandy bits despite being surrounded by houses. Well worth a game. The greens were poor when I played and it could have done with a bit better conditioning but there are some great holes.

[mike_beene]

Yes Mark,that is what I was guessing.Since it was a wild guess thought I would be vague.Jacobs mentions Sandy Lodge in Practical Golf,and I recall he says the first is a par 5.Probably should have put this in other thread.

[Rob Rigg]

Paul,

It looks like there is a decent "tree buffer" on most of the holes?

Is that accurate or do the homes really infringe on the course (as they tend to do in the US)?

[Paul Nash]

Hi Rob
There are a lot of trees and not many houses really look out over the course, but it does vary. I personally felt that houses like this make it more claustrophobic than courses with open boundaries. Some areas of the course like the third have a wonderful away-from-it feel and other areas feel more hemmed in. It is a course that is well worth playing – I can’t make my mind up if I prefer it or North Hants just up the road on the edge of the same railway – Camberley probably has better terrain and more elevation change, and possibly more great holes – there is a par 3, I think the seventh, which is a great hole. In fact, the run of holes from 6 to 13 are a really great stretch, and 17 and 18 are a great finish. With a bit of tlc and attention to detail, I think this course could be on a par with St George’s Hill, although maybe lacking in the x factor and prestige.
There are several heathland courses in this area that don’t get much coverage which are top-notch and underrated. In addition to the above, I would recommend Liphook, Blackmoor and Hindhead (you will struggle to find too many better front 9s). And of course, Hankley Common, which I rate better than Wentworth, Swinley, The Berkshire, New Zealand, St George’s Hill and Walton Heath.
Cheers
Paul

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Yes, Camberley Heath, Colt, said to be the most expensive course built in England at the time. You are more aware of the surrounding housing in winter, and there's a tunnel under a road which is a slight downer. I don't rate it quite as high as some of the other courses mentioned, such as Swinley or New Zealand, but I think that is more to do with the urban surroundings than any deficiencies in the course itself. There is a pond on the 17th which strikes me as being a bit silly. It's not original.

[Scott Macpherson]

Mark,

How much of the current course is original Colt? And who built the lake? Any ideas?


scott

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Scott, I don't know. Paul Turner may see this and give us the benefit of his authoritative knowledge of Colt.

[Richard Muldoon]

Mark,
played here for the first time this 'summer' and thought it was great. There was a lot more elevation change than I expected and apart from a couple of holes there was a lot of fun and interest out there. The 16th was the only hole that I really disliked, as the pond just seemed like an afterthought to put a hazard on a short part 4 and was totally out of character with the course.
I didn't find the houses particularly intrusive, but the noise from the M3 was quite noticable on few holes.
Unfortunately the course was probably suffering like most due to the crap summer we had and was far from firm and fast, but it just means I will have to return next summer with hopefully the sun on my back and camera in tow.
Thanks to my county card I got to play it for the princely sum of £22, fantastic value.
Paul,
the par 3 you refer to is the 8th and I agree it is a cracker, it reminds me a lot of the 18th at Parkstone. the par 3 2nd IMO is also great mainly due to great green and also the uphill aspect of the hole. The 2 par 3's on the back nine are also very good if a little similar in character.
I personally would put it a good couple of notches above North Hants which I found disapointing, but as I have only played both courses once it is hard to make firm conclusions.

[Paul Nash]

Hi Richard
I totted the holes up and can now remeber all 18, which is a sign of a good and interesting course - the pasr 3 is indeed the 8th and it is very similar to Parkstone 18th, another great course that I play every year in a match. The 16th is certainly the weakest hole and the lake just doesn't fit. The fourth was also a little bit so-so - and the walk under the road from 3-4 and 12-13 does destroy a bit of the ambience of the place - maybe its biggest letdown and I think it would have felt better just crossing the road like at Worplesdon. Still not sure compared to North Hants but my first thoughts were to favour Camberley, although some of the negatives mentioned above help even up the slightly weaker nature of the best holes on NH compared to Camberley

[Marc Haring]

Well, quickly recognised this one thanks Mark. After all, I was the superintendent there for three years in the early nineties. The atrocious pond and a horrendous rebuilt green was carried out while I was in charge but should point out that I was instructed to do so by the new Japanese corporate owners and the whole thing was contracted out. It replaced a clever narrowing natural hollow that allowed the brave to get within chipping distance of the green if they were acurate enough.

Hey, it could have been worse. One of the members was a friend of a well known golf personality who wanted to bulldoze his way through the lovely natural heather clad mounds on the 3rd, 10th and even the 18th I seem to recall. That one to be replaced with an ornamental pond!!!!

Some crimes against golf were committed during that time including the destruction of a delightful arts and crafts clubhouse to be replaced with the OTT gin palace, that concrete tunnel and cart paths throughout.