Ipswich Golf Club aka Purdis Heath
The following photos are from my only visit in December 2015. Memory suggests it was a particularly wet winter but the course played fine. An obviously well to do club, with a manicured and well presented course. Ipswich city centre is not impressive but parts of the town are suburbs with a large commuter element working in London 80 miles to the West. Purdis Heath is right on the edge of town. I played with someone who’d just joined and the whole experience was friendly and welcoming. It’s definitely worth a visit.
Although Braid 1928, gets the credit here its worth noting that Hawtree and Taylor were employed to construct it. They did some fine work in East Anglia, Hainault Forrest Upper and Lower and Chigwell. So the routing was likely Braid but who can honestly say about the detail?
NB the course is routed as an outer and inner link of 2 9’s each moving in a different direction.
The round stated dull and the low sun made photography difficult – so just a few.
4th Hole The one you’ll remember -the !!? one. 429 yards.
Sign on Tee
tee shot
Fairway runs out (I’m guessing at 280 yards. So if you’ve hit a good one you can walk forward and check out the green – which is at the bottom of a large pit!
(This was the result of an underhit 2nd)
Looking back
I was most impressed with a fine set of Par 3’s, this is the 6th.
Although several fairways are flat its well bunkered and holes do move up and down.
The greens make for smallish targets – very interesting.
Even in winter the Heather is evident.
Approach to 9th Green
11th looking back #the similarities to the Surrey Courses is evident.
13th?
15th Best of the Par 3’s? – certainly the prettiest.
Home Hole
Overall its very playable for Club golfers, and whilst there were some nice short par 4’s I doubt there’s enough there to test the longest players once the ground firms up and the ball runs. Still, not my problem and I eagerly look forward to a return visit. Perhaps not quite up there with Swinley and Sunnigdale but worthy of inclusion in the discussion for the next best Heathlands in the UK.
PS their relief 9 holer also gets high praise from the members and it's seriously cheap.
PS I don’t have photos but I also played Woodbridge – less than 20 miles away. Another Braid Heathland, but one with less ‘polish’ or detailing but equally engaging and I’d rather base myself there than Ipswich!