I was fortunate to get a look at Batchworth Park today, a relatively new Dave Thomas course near Rickmansowrth - south of Watford - in a green belt that also houses Moor Park GC, Rickmansworth GC and a new as-yet-unnamed pay for play course.
I am also told Seve, health willing, is lined up to re-design Ruislip GC, about 10mins to the south. He is already responsible for The Shire, near Barnet in North London.
But back to Batchworth. It's the jewel in the crown of Crown Golf, and a private members club that accepts no unacompanied visitor play. It's sole mention on GCA so far seems to be in the Courses Worth Grovelling To Play thread, and after spending an afternoon there, I'd say it's probably not worth grovelling to play, but it is certainly worth keeping the name in your head, so when you come across a member, you can be ready to accept an invitation to check it out.
I was really impressed and quite surprised by the course. There are some seriously cool golf holes out there. Located on a street named Batchworth Hill, you expect some undulating terrain, and that's exactly what is serves up. But not only does is run along and between the ridges and valleys, holes like 3, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 17 are routed over the hills - which are rally steep in sections. A few holes also also boast pretty awesome views.
My one complaint might be that the bunkers are over-countoured, but unlike the Thomas course I played last weekend (Traditions GC in Surrey), the back edges aren't covered in rough, so a ball approaching at any decent pace will still find the sand. What I didn't like that the mounding behind many bunkers meant you couldn't see them from either the tee or the fairway as you approach. Not only would the strategy be a bit clearer, the aesthetics would be enhanced.
It's not overpowered yet by trees, and here's hoping the club management strops the trees encroaching, because the feeling of space is one of the great joys of the course. It marries parkland, downland and heathland features nicely, and while it definitely feels "new", I don't mean that in a bad way.
The par 5s are standouts. The two on the front are quite short (I hit a 5i and 7i for my second shots), but on the back, both measure over 550yds (I hit a full 7i and a full PW for my third shots). They sit on some of the most interesting terrain, which is utilised well.
The short par fours also stand out as quite memorable. 2, 4, 8, 10 and 17 all reward a perfectly-struck driver, but also give some love to the canny golfer who hits his long iron or hybrid into the right position.
Pics to come in next thread.