Sunningdale, which do you prefer?

[David Stamm]

For those that have played both the Old and New, which do you prefer and why? From what I can tell, it seems they both would make a magnificent 36 hole day if the chance presented itself.

[Andrew Summerell]

There is not much between them for me, but I actually prefer the New mostly due to its routing.

It’s a conversation that I have had with a few friends who possibly think I’m an ignoramus for liking the New over the Old, but “I likes what I likes!”

[Michael Rossi]

David

I have played both in one day a great treat and it is a difficult choice to pick a side. My first thought is the new, it just gave me a better feeling, perhaps HS Colts best.

Some of my favorites on the property are 6 on the new 10, 12 on the old.  I really like the tee shot on 6 and 10, the bunkers on 12, the diagonal hazard aspect appeals to me.  

MR

[Tony_Muldoon]

Me, I likes the old best, but my brother prefers the new.

At Walton Heath the preferences are reversed.

At the Berkshire, I think he goes for the Blue and I go for the Red.

There's some smashing 36 hole days on the heaths, but I think it's only at Sunningdale where you have a marked choice between two clearly different characters.

[Sean_A]

It isn't a strong preference, but I think the stretch of 4-6 swings it for the New.  That said, I haven't seen the Old in quite some time.

Ciao

[Adrian_Stiff]

Old but itsa 51/49 call.

[Tommy Williamsen]

If I were to bring someone, I would play the old.  It has such a good feel and a classy style that everyone should play.  If I were to play by myself I would go with the new.  I loved the challenge and variation of par fours. 

[Tom Birkert]

It really is a tough call. Ask 100 people and you'll probably end up with a pretty even split...

The Old is probably more fun for a quick, social round. Although many would say it's the easier of the two courses I know many people who actually score better on the New.

The New is a tougher test of golf, especially driving. The tree removal has given it a very different feel to the Old.

It really is a coin toss to be honest.

[Tom_Doak]

The Old course is more fun to play ... and it's the old course, after all.

The New course is probably the BETTER course in terms of variety, shotmaking, etc.

Both of them have 2-3 iconic holes that make you want to go back.

And yet both are probably overrated compared to the rest of the world, because of the history and the ambience of the place.

[Sean_A]

The Old course is more fun to play ... and it's the old course, after all.

The New course is probably the BETTER course in terms of variety, shotmaking, etc.

Both of them have 2-3 iconic holes that make you want to go back.

And yet both are probably overrated compared to the rest of the world, because of the history and the ambience of the place.

Tom

I think the ambience aspect of ratings is spread fairly evenly round a great many of the top courses - they all get a boost.  Its human nature to enjoy the experience of a course and club and if both are excellent, it stands to reason that clubs offering the "full package" are going to perhaps be more highly regarded than many other clubs with a great course, but not much else.  I know most say they aren't influenced by the extras, but I never believe it.  AwsHuckster is right, for those of us not in the business, its next to impossible to know what are actually the best designs.  If we want to know that, we should have only archies do the rankings - and I think there would be some surprises thrown in there.  Otherwise, if its a punter's PoV, I honestly believe that the experience is being ranked largely from a visitors PoV, but that isn't so bad - is it?

Ciao

[David Stamm]

Thanks for everyone's opinions. It sounds like Sunningdale can certainly lay claim to being one of the very best 36 hole clubs in golf. I like the fact that the descriptions of the two courses sound so different, yet, the quality sounds so close.