Much like Norfolk, its southern neighbour, Suffolk, seems part of a lost world of remote villages and alluring agricultural landscapes as captured in Constable's work. For many, it does take some effort to reach this part of England, but the determination is well repaid. This may be one instance where bad roads have been a godsend.
Woodbridge is located just outside the charming Suffolk town of the same name. Originally designed by Davie Grant of North Berwick over Bromeswell Heath, James Braid had his say in the latter half of the 1920s. There were a few interlopers who contributed to the design, but various members of the Hawtree family have tended to Woodbridge for several decades. M Hawtree is working on the bunkers concurrently with a tree and gorse clearing program which started in 2017. I can attest to the effectiveness of the clearance!
The opener is a blind par 4 which in summer months is reachable for many. I was immediately struck by the width of the fairways and well presented rough.
The green follows the slope of the hill in playing front to back.
A down and up hole over water, the 2nd is much tighter than the opener. Taking us back up the hill, the par 5 third is not without some interest at the green end of the hole.
The third short two-shotter in four holes does mean that one's score has to be earned early. While the bunkering is very good, I did walk away thinking there is too much leeway for the tee shot on #4.
More to follow.
Ciao