The architectural merits of Woking - help!

[Richard Pennell]

Dear Discussion Group


Since I first starting lurking (and occasionally posting) on GCA.com some dozen or so years ago, the site has had a strong effect on my career path. I have made many friends and connections through my interest in great architecture, and the association has opened doors to various roles, jobs and experiences in that time. I now find myself as the Secretary of Woking Golf Club, with a course that is rightly regarded as a pivotal piece in the jigsaw of strategic golf design (which I first played and fell for in the company of a certain "golf historian" T. Muldoon!).


I am now in the process of re-designing the Club's website, and having asked a few architects for their input and a short quote on what Woking means to them, it occurred to me that there is an additional wealth of input from GCA.com regulars who have experienced this wonderful old club and course over the years. If anyone would like to drop me a line to offer some words that they are happy for me to use to highlight Woking's charms, I would be very grateful! My email address is richard@wokinggolfclub.co.uk or via Twitter @WokingGolf


I hope I will not be torn apart for this request! I suppose it is sort of off topic but any responses to the begging request will not be! Many thanks in advance...I hope I have the chance to welcome some of you here in the near future...


Richard

[John Kavanaugh]

Richard,


I will be in London next week and have time for a game Thursday or Friday. (13th, 14th) While I doubt I can offer anything you can use I may show you something you wish to avoid. Thanks.

[David_Madison]

Richard,

Please make sure to remind me of this request when my son and I come to visit you in the next few months. What I can say now to you and to anyone reading this is that you've been wonderfully welcoming and informative as I'm planning my trip over there this coming fall and that I can't wait to see Woking and meet you in person. Thanks!

[BCrosby]

Richard -


I will be in touch with a number of things. Great news about your new job.


Bob

[Richard Pennell]

Richard,

Please make sure to remind me of this request when my son and I come to visit you in the next few months. What I can say now to you and to anyone reading this is that you've been wonderfully welcoming and informative as I'm planning my trip over there this coming fall and that I can't wait to see Woking and meet you in person. Thanks!

Dear David


Thank you - my hickories and I will be here, waiting for you both!

[Richard Pennell]

Richard -


I will be in touch with a number of things. Great news about your new job.


Bob

Many thanks Bob - hope you are well, and that we get the chance to meet again soon!

[John Mayhugh]

Congratulations on the new job, Richard.  You are at a wonderful place.

I'll think a bit on the website. Showcase those greens more, for sure, and hopefully much more prominence to the special place in golf design history that the course holds.

[Scott Warren]

Congrats, Richard. What a superb post to call your own and congrats WGC for hiring you.


NZ, R. Wimbledon, Woking -- you certainly have impeccable taste in employers!





And to think it all began with you staring out a commuter train window at humble old Mitcham GC and lamenting "I'd rather not be going to the city..."

[Josh Stevens]

The best compliment is that Woking is the Heathland course you would be happy to play until you pop your clogs.
Its is just the best of all worlds. 
Hard enough to be challenging, but not so hard as to be a grind.
Lovely undulation but no hills
Width but not a cow paddock
Best greens on the planet
Streets ahead of the other two Ws such that there really is no debate, but people do keep insisting
Historic but not pompous
And in good Buddhist tradition, throws in a couple of crap holes so as not to offend the gods

I played it first time after having lived in London for about a year and having first played all the usual other local suspects - came off thinking it was amazing, but wasn't sure why.

[Josh Stevens]

Would Woking be so highly regarded if it were in the US?

[Richard Pennell]

Congratulations on the new job, Richard.  You are at a wonderful place.

I'll think a bit on the website. Showcase those greens more, for sure, and hopefully much more prominence to the special place in golf design history that the course holds.

Thank you John - that would be great. I look forward to reading it!

[Richard Pennell]

Congrats, Richard. What a superb post to call your own and congrats WGC for hiring you.


NZ, R. Wimbledon, Woking -- you certainly have impeccable taste in employers!





And to think it all began with you staring out a commuter train window at humble old Mitcham GC and lamenting "I'd rather not be going to the city..."

Thanks Scotty, good to hear from you. Yes, that was the first of a few lucky breaks...
Most people seem keen to play the Top 100, I am trying to work at them all...

[Richard Pennell]

The best compliment is that Woking is the Heathland course you would be happy to play until you pop your clogs.
Its is just the best of all worlds. 
Hard enough to be challenging, but not so hard as to be a grind.
Lovely undulation but no hills
Width but not a cow paddock
Best greens on the planet
Streets ahead of the other two Ws such that there really is no debate, but people do keep insisting
Historic but not pompous
And in good Buddhist tradition, throws in a couple of crap holes so as not to offend the gods

I played it first time after having lived in London for about a year and having first played all the usual other local suspects - came off thinking it was amazing, but wasn't sure why.

Thanks for this Josh. I will definitely keep "best greens on the planet" but might skip the last sentence about crap holes!!!

[Sam Andrews]

Dear Richard,


Congratulations on the new role. Can I suggest you follow your former boss at NZGC when it comes to website design (I note you can't even access it today!).


Sam