Woking V Worplesdon

[Sean_A]

1. While Woking offers a fine driveable par 4 it is perhaps the wrong time in a round to be introduced.  Worp's opener is handsome if a bit conventional, still it wins.


2. Both holes are very good and normally I would pick a longish par 4 over a par 3 because its easy to make a good short hole, but in this case Woking's green wins the day.  All square.


3. It is a pity that these two holes must square off because each is one of the highllights of the course.  I love Woking's 3rd with its centreline bunker, but Worp has one too and an interesting front to back green with the 1st fairway as a backdrop.  Half - all square.

Woking


4. A case of two more very good holes, but as Woking's 4th has the history and Worp's is a par 3, a very good par 3, but a par 3, the winner must be Woking.  Woking 1 up.


5. Both are fine par 4s using the features on offer well.  Woking's green is superior and I like the concept of seeing the green from the tee on a dogleg.  However, Worp's is a fine dogleg two-shotter using heather (these are meant to be heathland courses) and features a cool dip shy of the green.  Heather wins out over the green.  Worp - all square.


6. I have not seen the remade 6th at Wok, but the old version rankled me as I thought the water wasn't used well near the green nor did the bunkering look right in the fairway.  Worp's 6th is a very reachable par 5, but a bit tricky as the green moves away from play down the hill Draw - all square.

7. Two par 3s to match up and both are good enough.  Draw - all square.

8. Totally different holes as Worp's is a short par 4 and Wok's is rather similar to the 5th, but a better version.  Both are fine holes as the greens on each are exceptional.  Draw - all square.

Worp


9. I don't care for either hole.  Worp's bends around water to a boring green and Wok's bends hard left with the ground moving right.  The difference is the approach - Wok's is superior and requires a long club - something slightly lacking on both courses.  Woking 1 up.


10. A shortish par 3 over water for Worp with an interesting 3 tier green.  Wok features a benched green par 3.  Both are good holes. Woking 1 up.

Woking


11.  I am not as enamoured with Worp's 11th as most people seem to be although the slightly angled green is interesting.  Wok's 11th is an alright two-shotter bending left with a sucker carry bunker.  Draw-Woking 1 up.

Worplesdon


12. Once again two excellent holes matchup.  I greatly admire Worp's par 5 and think it much better than the its par 5 11th.  It is perhaps too short these days to be a three shotter, but even if one is going for it the two shots are as good as you find on the course.  Wok has one of the best greens in England, but the drive isn't up to much.  I have to give this one to Worp on the principle that building a a good par 5 is tough. All square.


13. Wok uses heather very well on its bending right to left par 4 and has a neat little mound on the side with an interesting green.  Worp's is a beautiful par 3 which makes one glad to be alive.  I will vote with my eyes on this one - Worp 1 up.


14. I like Worp's par 4 because it is longish and has a very well placed bunker short of the green.  Wok's par 5 however has a good green with the clubhouse as a backdrop.  I am gonna vote with my eyes again and go with Wok.  All square.


15. A matchup of par 5s.  Neither is particularly good, but Wok's has an awesome green.  Wok 1up.

16. A matchup of par 3s.  This is Wok's water hole and I like it because the green is interesting and the water does add to the hole when up front.  When in the rear this is a totally different hole.  However, Worp's par 3 is an old fashion affair that plays much harder than it would seem despite the flat green.  Draw - Wok 1 up.

Worplesdon
 

17.  Another tough matchup because I greatly admire Wok's old fashion runaway green.  But this is the one time when Worp can be justly proud of its superb green and its tougher to get into position for the approach.  Gotta go with Worp - all square.


18. Another difficult choice, but I am fond of short par 4s to finish.  That isn't to say a longer, tougher hole can't do the job well, but it must be special.  Worps' is good, but Wok's green and use of water taakes the day.  Woking 1 up.

Intangibles

19. Somehow I think Woking hangs together better than Worplesdon.  I don't care for going out to 15 (unless it were #1) when 14 should clearly be the finishing hole at Wok (shades of Hoylake here and that too bugs me), but at least we get a wonderful spot to hang.  Tough to explain why, but I like its rhythm better and I think the course is just that much more clever in using oob, bunkers and interesting greens.  Wok 2up.

20. Both clubhouses are attractive, but the wee bar at Woking and outside sitting area are special.  Woking 3 up.  

21 The greenfees are similar with Woking just winning out, but the twilight fee makes Woking a clear winner here.  Woking 4 up.  

22. History, both have enough history to be respected in the right circles without belonging to golfing masses like an Open venue.  Draw - Woking 4 up.  

While the quality of each course is quite similar, for me Woking pulls away in the experience of the day and that is ultimately why I pay a green fee.   

Ciao      

[Jason Topp]

Thanks Sean.

John Mayhugh and I chose Woking for my only round in London last fall and I greatly enjoyed it.  Beyond the quality of the holes, I found the place magical.  It is such a pleasant walk.

I also love a short par four as an opener. 

[Stewart Abramson]

Sean - Great post. Reading it and seeing the photos I could recall the breeze, smell and feel of walking these two courses and imagine a train rumbling by on #4 at Woking.  Woking was the first course I played in England so it has a special place in my heart. If you are going to include history and club houses in the mix, Worplesdon has the mixed foursomes with lots of history. Cool to see Bernard Darwin, Joyce Wethered and others on the clubhouse wall and their spirit on the course. I'd be happy to play either course again any day.

[Noel Freeman]

While I would have Woking winning more holes, I finally agree with Arble on something. Worplesdon has made strides in recent years, it is a very good golf club, but Woking's new Black tees are also a healthy test, something Arble doesnt go into.

[Noel Freeman]

Also, I love the 1st.. Oh its not a great hole except for one fact, you think you should walk off with birdie and also if you can get your drive to die on the ridge before the green and let it softly roll on, its pretty cool shot value, a hard runner will find the area in back of the green which is not an easy up and in.. A par feels like bogey on that hole and then the 2nd has a long iron shot value which is immediately a tough shot.. I love the start.

[Mark Chaplin]

Interesting, Noel says "Worplesdon over Woking? That is a fine joke." Then Sean only gives Woking the win by a hole on the course and puffs it out with the fluffiness of the towels or whatever device he came up with.

Anyone played Worpy since they cleaned out 1000s of trees?

[Mark Pearce]

Interesting, Noel says "Worplesdon over Woking? That is a fine joke." Then Sean only gives Woking the win by a hole on the course and puffs it out with the fluffiness of the towels or whatever device he came up with.

Anyone played Worpy since they cleaned out 1000s of trees?

I have only played Woking and very fine it was.  Worplesdon in a couple of weeks for the comparison.  I too noticed how Sean struggled to make it a convincing win for Woking.  Too close to call was the impression I got (though the atmosphere at Woking is tremendous, I have never seen one of these comparisons resort to extra-golfing considerations).

[Adam Lawrence]

You know, the atmosphere at most of these old Surrey clubs is pretty amazing. At Woking you have the ghosts of Darwin et al; at Worplesdon you walk past the honours boards and see the names of Joyce Wethered, Arthur Balfour (Prime Minister only a few years before he became the club's first captain); at Walton it's all about Braid. Lots of history wherever you go.

[Sean_A]

Mark

I never shied away from the fact that for me the experience is the most important thing as if it was all about architecture then I wouldn't pay so many green fees.  Its true, there is a certain unknowable (for me anyway) element about Wokming which makes me greatly prefer it to Worpelsdon even though I don't think it is all that much better.  It could be a few very simple features such as the OOB and running away green on 4, the magnificent view of the house on 14, the freak green on 15 or the best use of water on either course at #18.  Somehow, it all comes together better for me.  While I think Woprlesdon is pushing it a bit at £80, I am still happy to pay full whack at both places.    

Ciao  

[JNC Lyon]

Sean,

I'll give the match between these two courses a shot.  I played them twice each, and I really enjoyed both of them.  However, I think Woking is a good bit ahead of Worplesdon.  Here goes:

1. Worplesdon's opener looks good, but it does not make a ton of sense from a strategic standpoint.  Woking, on the other hand, has a very unique opener where a driver from the tee can result in 2 or 7.  The green at Woking is very unique, whereas the one at Worplesdon is solid but present elsewhere.  WOKING 1UP

2. Woking's 2nd is phenomenal long par three, my favorite of the trip along with Addington's 13th and West Hill's 15th.  The green at Woking is first-rate.  Worplesdon's 2nd has a cool tee shot, but it is not nearly as exciting on the second shot.  Also, there is no reward for challenging the more dangerous left side off the tee.  WOKING 2UP

3. Both of these holes are among the best on the course.  The centerline bunker on Worplesdon's 3rd is placed perfectly into a ridge, but the green and lone bunker at Woking's 3rd are real standouts, as is the sidehill tee shot.  Woking's 3rd is proof that a hole only needs one bunker and interesting green to be great.  WOKING 3UP

4. Worplesdon's 4th is a neat uphill par three.  Woking's 4th is one of the best par fours I've ever played.  The centerline bunkers, the railway, and the subtle but brilliant green mesh perfectly.  The angles at Woking's 4th couldn't be better.  WOKING 4UP

5. Woking's 5th is a very solid short par four, with timeless strategy and a brilliant indy-turn green.  However, Worplesdon's 5th is superior.  The diagonal tee shot over the heather is very elegant, and there is tremendous reward for biting off the purple.  As good as Woking's 5th green is, Worplesdon's is also first rate, and I love the bunker carved into the front left.  WOKING 3UP

6. Woking's 6th is a solid par four, but, unlike the first five holes, I've seen a bunch like it elsewhere.  Worplesdon, on the other hand, has a great fallaway green, meaning the short par five is made difficult without the use of fronting hazards.  A slinging second into Worplesdon's 6th is one of the most fun shots on either course.  WOKING 2UP

7. As you say, Sean, both are solid par threes.  I wish Woking's still had the bunker in the center of the green.  WOKING 2UP

8. 8 at Worplesdon has an interesting second shot into a two-tiered green, but I really think you sell Woking's 8th short.  This is a brawny par four, and the tee shot is splendid, where a long drive down the right sets up the best look at the green.  The array of bunkers short of the green defending the long iron or fairway wood second shot brilliantly, but they don't affect weaker players who play the hole as a three shotter.  As for the green, it is subtle in some places and dramatic in others, far superior to the standard two-tiered affair at Worplesdon's 8th.  WOKING 3UP

9. Worplesdon's 9th is the weakest on either course.  Woking's 9th has a strange tee shot, but the uphill second shot is very exciting, and it is made very fun by the back back that cuts into the left side of the green.  For a 470-yard uphill par four, Woking's 9th was something more than the usual slog.  WOKING 4UP

10.  I like the ridgeline par three at Woking.  I really do.  But Worplesdon's 10th, despite the ornamental water hazard that Scott Warren pays too much attention to, is superior.  The green at Worplesdon's 10th is sectioned beautifully, to demand different placement on every play.  A short par three with a large green divided into small sections is ideal, and Worplesdon's 10th delivers here.  WOKING 3UP

11.  I don't know, Sean, Worplesdon's 11th is a really good par five with superb bunkering.  Somehow, even with modern technology, those bunkers seem to catch a lot of shots today.  Plus, the green, which runs away from the golfer deceptively, is very well presented.  I like 11 at Woking, but something about it is a bit awkward.  WOKING 2UP

12.  I don't get the fuss over Worplesdon's 12th.  The hole is well-routed, and the greensite is cool, but the bunkering scheme strikes me as a bit pedestrian.  Meanwhile, 12 at Woking has one of the wildest and coolest greens I've ever seen.  WOKING 3UP

13.  Woking's 13th also has a cool green, but it is not as cool as the last green, and the hole doesn't have much else exciting going for it.  On the other hand, Worplesdon's 13th is a gorgeous par three, playing to a brilliant fortress of a green lying in a sea of heather.  Very dramatic.  WOKING 2UP

14.  I love that green close to the clubhouse at Woking, the ground before it, and ridgeline bunkers on the second shot.  However, Woking's 14th is a tremendous long four from beginning to end.  Should you drive it close to the left hand bunkers to get a shorter shot and better angle into the green while risking an uneven stance? Or, should you drive it right, where the ball will kick forward when it lands and leave a level lie?  You tell me.  The bunker short of the green and the spine within the the green are also great features.  WOKING 1UP

15. Neither par five is much as you say, and Worplesdon's is a bit screwy on the second shot.  Woking's has an excellent green with great surrounds.  WOKING 2UP

16.  I like Woking's 16th, but I loved the blind, uphill par three at Woking's 16th, between the two mounds.  Very striking.  WOKING 1UP

17.  Worplesdon's 17th is as solid as the coming, with a drive challenging Windrow's Bunker on the right leaving the best angle into a wild green (surely Park built this one, not Abercromby).  However, Woking's 17th is another brilliant exercise in simplicity.  The semi-blind drive that needs to hug the woods on the left, and, more importantly, the one-bunker green that slopes perfectly from front to back.  I liked this hole the first time I played, but I loved it the second time I saw it.  WOKING 2UP

18.  The finisher at Worplesdon is sweet, to be sure.  The greensite is superb, with a long miss exacting the biggest penalty.  However, everything comes together perfectly on Woking's 18th.  Everything slopes gracefully from left to right, and the green is a giant three-tiered affair that descends from the clubhouse wall to the lake.  Woking's closer has tons of drama packed into just 350 yards.  WOKING 3UP

[Noel Freeman]

Interesting, Noel says "Worplesdon over Woking? That is a fine joke." Then Sean only gives Woking the win by a hole on the course and puffs it out with the fluffiness of the towels or whatever device he came up with.

Anyone played Worpy since they cleaned out 1000s of trees?

Chappers, arrest me next time I land for heresy..

[Sean_A]

JNC

I can't really disagree with much of your post except for one spot.  Worplesdon's 12th is a brilliant hole using the bunkers on the inside of the fairway to great effect in dragging players to the wrong side of the fairway.  The greensite is fantastic angled into the 13th tee.  I like Woking's 12th, but lets face it, its a drive and pitch hole.  This goes a long way to negating the strength of the green.  I could see a half, but that green alone can't make it a winner. 

Ciao 

[JNC Lyon]

Sean,

I don't see why anyone would try to drive it left on 12 at Worplesdon.  If you want to reach the green in two, you will have to challenge the bunkers and cut off the distance on the right.  You may get the better angle from the left, but this will be moot for most people, because driving left will take the green out of reach.  Of course, if you have the distance to reach from the left, you should have no trouble holding a shot on the green from the right.  If you can't reach 12 in two, the second shot is the one that matters, and that can be placed on the left without much trouble.

12 at Woking is straightforward off the tee, but I was hitting 7 or 8 iron in there last year.  Moreover, the green's sections are small enough to test accuracy on a wedge approach.  The tee shot is nondescript, yes, but the wide fairway just gives the player a better chance to experience the thrilling approach.

[Peter Pallotta]

Merci, mon ami Monseiur Arble.

I defer to your judgement re Woking.  But just to say, my favourite looking holes on either course are all at Worplesdon, i.e. #s 1, 5, 13, and 16.

Thanks again
P

[John Shimp]

Sean
I played Woking 2 summers ago and it truly was one of the biggest surprises I've ever encountered.  I only played it and Addington and expected the add to be more difficult and more interesting. While I really liked it it was less difficult and due mostly to the greens and the greater amo t of approach precision required at Woking less interesting despite the dramatic and fun land that it s on.  I thought Woking was superb particularly the greens and the "on the brake and on the gas nature of the ball striking" (ie. Deft shots required into 6, 7 then really have to hit it on 8,9. 

How do Worps greens com are to Woking.   My sense is Woking may be quite under appreciated.  It is a real treat w much more challenge than what I seem to hear others say when they pay there.  Thanks

[Scott Warren]

Alright then, looks like too much fun to miss out on, especially with Chappers crying blue murder over the result.

I played Woking once in the summer of '09 and Worpy three times in '10 (yes Chapski, after the trees came out).

Rather than 1 v 1, 2 v 2 etc I might compare similar holes. Starting the excercise I have no idea how this is going to play out.

Wok 1 v Worp 1
Woking's green adds interest to the hole, yet as the opener it's slightly wasted, as few will be up to the challenge of a driver that dies delicately on the ridge 40 yards short and trickles to the green with their first swing of the day. Worplesdon's hole has its weaknesses, but it allows more of an introduction to the round and the green's steep drop-offs on the left, hidden by the bunker short, reward a drive down the right. Worpy 1-up


Wok 2 (above) v Worp 4
Woking's hole is an easy winner, the low right portion of the green making for a real challenging par 3.5 hole over great land, testing your long iron, hybrid or wood play. Worplesdon's 4th is a fun mid-iron, but the green lacks much interest once you hit it and there's no real way to bounce the ball on, wheras Woking's hole is packed with options and alternatives. All Square


Wok 3 v Worp 3 (above)
The battle of the centreline hazards. The slight elevation of the green and the effectiveness of the greenfront bunker at Woking seal this one in its favour. Worplesdon's 3rd is also a fun drive and approach, but the shorter club you're hitting in detracts somewhat from the challenge posed by the hazards and the steeply sloped green. Woking 1-up

Wok 4 v Worp 9
Both par fours played down the OOB line, two quite interesting greens. Easily the weakest hole at Worpy IMO, while even with the assistance of modern technology the drive and approach at Woking's 4th are enjoyable and challenging. Woking 2-up


Wok 5 (above) v Worp 2
I'm torn here because I like the drive at Worpy, but I love the approach at Woking, where a running approach with the right shape on it can use the green well to get close, while the green slips naturally down off the hill, with the bunker perfectly placed to create an awkward short, especially if you stray right off the tee. Woking 3-up


Wok 6 (above) v Worp 5
Both holes have brilliant drives and interesting greensites, but I lean towards the Worpy hole because of the "bite off as much as you can chew" nature of the angle (and the heather right is deep and unforgiving). Then the swale short of the green means you can bounce one in, buty it has to be done deliberately and land 20 yards short, while anything that flies there but lands a few yards shy will die in the valley. And I love the front to back two-tier green. Woking 2-up

Wok 7 v Worp 7
Woking's mid-length par three here has nothing really special about it, whereas Worpy's hole boasts a great green and that ridge running from the front right diagonally back towards the tee, forcing precision if you choose to bounce it up. Woking 1-up


Wok 8 v Worp 8 (above)
The drive at worplesdon with the option of using the hill to run a draw a long way down is a real plus here in my book, as is the downhill approach to a steeply tiered green, giving you some ptions to a front pin but forcing you to fly it to a back pin, with the top tier actually sloping slightly away from you. For me 7-10 is the weakest section of Woking, and I expect it might lose all four holes in this match (though would win 9v9 were it set up that way). All Square

Wok 9 v Worp 6
I pitted these two against each other as I feel they both use their land a touch awkwardly. Ultimately the extreme dogleg, with no great chance of cutting it thanks to trees, at Woking and the very small green for the shot you're hitting really hurt it, while the chance to run one down the hill and find the 6th green at Worpy in two is quite a fun shot, with the green sloping away as with the opening hole at Woking you need to be delicate with the pace on the ball, but it's far for tempting and doable on your second shot to the 6th hole than your tee shot on the 1st hole. Worpy 1-up


Wok 10 v Worp 16 (above)
Aside from the fantastic 2nd, I think Woking's par threes are its weakness, where over the fence at Worplesdon the one-shotters are a standout, so it's a win here to the 16th - a surprisingly large green set behind that foreboding ridge of heather and sand. Simply a great heathland hole and a wonderful test at a late point in the round. Worpy 2-up


Wok 11 v Worp 13
The one great mis-match in hole style, but both are fantastic for what they are. The approach to the 11th at Woking is somewhat like the same shot at the 3rd, but with a slightly less exciting green. The 13th at Worpy is the best par three on the course, with the space around the green allowing the bunkers to dominate the eye. I'm awarding as half. Worpy 2-up

Wok 12 v Worp 14
Two words: Woking's green. The Worpy hole is yet another great par 4.5 hole, of which Worplesdon has many, but I find the drive a bit awkward and the green less than thrilling. On the other hand, the drive at Woking is a tough one between seas of heather either side and the green is just spectacular and rewards an accurate shot while there's three-putts galore waiting for anything outside 20ft. Worpy 1-up

Wok 13 v Worp 15
Another great woking green, perfectly suited to the length of the approach. Worpy's contender offers nothing remarkable IMO, repeating similar principles from the 6th but with less drama and less temptation. All Square


Wok 14 v Worp 12
Two brilliant approach shots on short par fives, with trouble everywhere at the greens. Woking's is a hell of a good hole, but the approach to 12 at Worpy with a wood or long iron in hand is one of the best shots on either course, so it's not being beaten. Worpy 1-up

Wok 15 v Worp 11
Both courses offer back-to-back par fives on the back nine. Worpy won the first match-up above and it will win this one here by a greater margin. The large rolls of the land are perfectly placed in the DZ and the approach from there is super tempting, though a lay-up eats away in your head as the wisest play even from inside 200 yards. I considered doing this 14 v 11 and 15 v 12, but the truth is either way you pair them, Worpy wins both. Worpy 2-up

Wok 16 v Worp 10
The par threes over water, both with interesting greens. Worpy's 27-tiered effort sure is pretty and a lot of fun to putt on, but I like the way the bunkers are used on Woking's hole and the smaller green is more fitting for the shot, IMO. Worpy 1-up

Wok 17 v Worp 17
Woking offers up another interesting, well-defended low profile green that's hard to look past. Worplesdon offers another smart two-tiered green, the sngle of the tier making it hard to play the drawn approach the hole seems to ask for. I'm finding it hard to split them, so I'll award a half. Worpy 1-up

Wok 18 v Worp 18
A fitting end to both rounds - their closing holes each summing up what the course as a whole is about (as do the opening holes, IMO). I'm not a fan of the approach to the hole hole at Worpy and I feel there is too small an area to play to given the length of club you'll have in your hand, whereas at Woking it's a clever drive and pitch to a wild green. The water is there, but should only really come into play for someone who tries to drive the green and misses right. Woking all the way. All Square

To be honest, starting off I thought Woking might finish two or three up, but as I progressed through I was reminded how good 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 16 and 17 at Worpy are as a match for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17 and 18 at Woking.

The other thing that stands out is that the courses have many similarities, but also some great differences.

Both courses have par threes at 7, 10 and 16.
Both courses have back-to-back par fives followed by par threes on the back nine.
Both courses have bold greens - perhaps the two boldest heathland sets I have seen.
Both courses keep the trees out of play for the most part.

For their differences:

Worplesdon is a more interesting driving course, more temptation and more reward for hitting the right spots.
Woking is more interesting into and around the greens, owing the smaller undulations vs Worpy's many bolf two-tiered green complexes.
Worplesdon uses its bunkering as more of a feature.
Woking has more drives where the land is the major hazard/feature.
Worplesdon is chockers with long fours and short fives (5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18).
Woking has a lot of long threes and short fours (1, 2, 4, 18).

Finally, their routings: I think Worplesdon's uses the landforms in a greater variety of ways, though Woking isn't far behind in my mind. BUT. The road crossing at Worplesdon is a downside - it's bloody dangerous, really, and creates long walks from 10 to 11 and 14 to 15 and as such I'd probably say it's a tie, more or less, here as well.

So I guess I have it as a tie, more or less, but if I had to choose one to play tomorrow I'd go with...
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A 36-hole day, playing each of them once - Worpy in the mornming so I'll be warm for the opening tee shot at Woking!

[Mark Bourgeois]

Worp has some very nice holes but man does Woking have fantastic rhythm (not to mention hole excellence)..

[Eric Smith]

Scott, do you specifically aim to play at times of the day where light is perfect for photo taking? the definition you got in some of those snaps is very impressive indeed.

Agreed.

Scroll through Scott's post without reading the text and you find yourself saying, 'that is one damn fine looking golf course!'

[JNC Lyon]

Scott, do you specifically aim to play at times of the day where light is perfect for photo taking? the definition you got in some of those snaps is very impressive indeed.

Agreed.

Scroll through Scott's post without reading the text and you find yourself saying, 'that is one damn fine looking golf course!'

Interestingly, Scott's photo tour is a combination of Woking photos and Worplesdon photos.  It just shows how great the land is in that area, as Woking and Worplesdon are very close to one another.

I don't know about how strategic it is, but Worplesdon's 13th is one of the best looking par threes I have ever seen or played.  To steal a line from Tuco's St. George's Hill thread, Worpy's 13th IS Brooklyn Decker.

Can someone please explain further why the 12th at Worplesdon is a such a great par five?  I realize it is a solid hole with a neat greensite, but I don't think it is one of the most compelling holes in the Woking area.

What is the better bunker placement: the centerline bunkers on four at Woking, or the centerline bunker on 3 at Worplesdon? Seriously, I can hardly imagine a better centerline bunker than 3 at Worplesdon, which is set perfectly in the driving zone and is cut perfectly into a tiny ridge.

[Noel Freeman]

How many of you have been to West Hill?  Gets no play here.  Cuthbert Butchart and Wee Willy Park Jr.

Tom Simpson was a huge fan of this par 3..--the 15th.. 210y or so, Tuco hit 3 iron.



When I originally saw it, found the course right up there with Worpy. Until Worpy did work. Russell Talley was also a fan.. The old pro there was a craftsman of beautiful persimmon woods.. But he is gone..

[JNC Lyon]

Tuco:

West Hill was one of my train trip adventures while in London.  I took the train to Brookwood, which is the stop after Woking.  The station is 10 to 15 minute walk from West Hill.  Instead of going down the main road, I went out the back of the station and cut through a cemetery.  When I got to the east end of the cemetery, which sits right across from the West Hill entrance, I figured out there was no way to get out.  The cemetery is surrounded by stonewalls, each of which have a fairly sizable drop to the street, and all gates in the wall were shut.  I found the shortest drop, carefully lowered my clubs over the wall onto the sidewalk below, and then jumped over.  I can't even imagine what this would have looked like to someone passing by in a car.

Of course, the whole ordeal was worth.  West Hill is a solid layout, and that par three you mention is stellar.  It has a great bunker scheme and a fascinating green.  Other favorite holes included 3, 7, 8, 11, 13, 16, and 18.

I took the main road back to the station after I finished up.

[Ally Mcintosh]

How many of you have been to West Hill?  Gets no play here.  Cuthbert Butchart and Wee Willy Park Jr.

Tom Simpson was a huge fan of this par 3..--the 15th.. 210y or so, Tuco hit 3 iron.



When I originally saw it, found the course right up there with Worpy. Until Worpy did work. Russell Talley was also a fan.. The old pro there was a craftsman of beautiful persimmon woods.. But he is gone..

I like West Hill though it sits a little behind Worplesdon and Woking in my book... Did love 15 though... and 8 (shown below) which is a pretty good example of the bottle concept...

[Scott Warren]

Brian S:



It's funny, Lynn Shackelford asked about my Riv pics last year how I manage to get such a large depth of field and as with then, I can only tell you it's just fortune!

I've had some experience and lessons with a camera through work, but to be honest none of that besides composition is of much use with the point-and-shoot I use for my golf pics (or "used" in fact, the poor thing died over the course of my final days in the US and I haven't replaced it yet).

I tend to agree with Mark Bourgeois that Woking has a flow or rhythm to it that Worplesdon lacks somewhat, or perhaps Woking is a touch more cohesive.

One more similarity to add to my list up above: Each has a four hole loop near the clubhouse allowing an abridged 14-hole round or a quick 4-hole twilight hit.

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