The Gog Magog Golf Club - Cambridge

[Ben Stephens]

Yesterday I had the opportunity to play the Old Course at Gog Magog. Opened in 1901 then owned by Gonville and Caius Colleges at Cambridge University designed by a local pro W.Duncan. Over the years the Old Course had modifications by members themselves, Willie Park Jr, James Braid and more lately Martin Hawtree.

I had heard about it by reputation but to my surprise it was a lot better than I had thought it would be. They had a great set of greens - mostly undulating ones apart from the flattish 18th green. There was a number of sunken greens - punchbowl, valley etc. The course was not long but the challenge was to put the ball in the right areas of the fairway to give the opportunity to aim at the flag without going over hazards. The course had a interesting set of par 3's (5 of them) of various distances.

I would recommend it to anyone if they are in the Cambridge area. The Old Course is complimented by the Wandlebury Course by Hawtree which is used for the Local Qualifying for the Open.

Apologies for no pictures - no camera! duh! Hey ho there are so good pics of the course on the club's website

http://www.gogmagog.co.uk/

Cheers
Ben

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Ben, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've been banging on about it for years, but when no one else enthuses you begin to question your judgement. Thank you for restoring my faith!

[Art Roselle]

If nothing else, it has a great name

"According to the tradition, the giants Gog and Magog are guardians of the City of London, and images of them have been carried in the Lord Mayor's Show since the days of King Henry V.

The Lord Mayor's account of Gog and Magog says that the Roman Emperor Diocletian had thirty-three wicked daughters. He found thirty-three husbands for them to curb their wicked ways; they chafed at this, and under the leadership of the eldest sister, Alba, they murdered them. For this crime, they were set adrift at sea; they were washed ashore on a windswept island, which after Alba was called Albion. Here they coupled with demons, and gave birth to a race of giants, among whose descendants were Gog and Magog."

That story makes it even better.

I love Google

[Jamie Barber]

I like both courses at the Gogs. Did you manage to carry the cross bunkers on the 16th? I've never come close

[RichMacafee]

I played a tournament at Gog Magog back in 2000 (Lagonda Trophy??) - and really enjoyed the course. The bunkering is a bit inconsistent, and you can tell it's been tweaked by different people over the years, but it's a great setting for a golf course and the greens are small and interesting.

My main memory of that event was a helicopter landing in a paddock next to the 18th hole to a frantic awaiting media. We had no idea what was going on - turned out it was Frankie Vettori being flown in after a life threatening fall at a nearby racetrack. He was whisked off to the Cambridge hospital by ambulance from the chopper.

I stayed in Cambridge for the week, and it's one of my favourite places on earth. Such a great town.

[Ulrich Mayring]

I'll be there (Gog Magog Old Course) on August 1st, probably afternoon, so if anyone wants to join me...

Ulrich

[TEPaul]

Ben Stephens:

Do you or anyone else have any idea what some of the meanings or etymologies of the words Gog and Magog are? Particularly Magog.

I'll tell you one of the reasons I ask later?

Well, I'll tell you now. Magog is the name apparently reserved for the person with a particular prominent reputation (sexual prowess) in the senior class of Yale in the secret Skull and Bones Society. In 1947 it was George Bush's (President #41) Skull and Bones handle. There were various bizarre and often historical sort of set handles for that society for every member as they came through in their senior year. His son George (President #41) was Skull and Bones too but apparently he couldn't make up his mind what his Skull and Bones name should be so they just gave him the one time Skull and Bones handle "Temporary."  

[Ulrich Mayring]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gog_and_Magog

Ulrich

[Ben Stephens]

GCA

This explains why Gog Magog drains very well in winter -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gog_Magog_Downs


TE Paul

Gog and Magog from Club's History page -

http://www.gogmagog.co.uk/index.lasso?pg=9e55e5478a0ab4e4&cl=1&catid=2327c4d0fcc53dec&mp=33bbc8a2b153e83d


Jamie

My driver had a right off day so tried to lay up with a 3 wood and went into a fairway bunker!! managed to hit a rescue club from 190 yards uphill just off the green then up and down for a 4!

The club is currently reconstructing all the bunkers on both the Old and Wandlebury. The newly reconstructed bunkers are much better and gives the course a older and more traditional look rather than look 'tired' and 'worn out'


Rich McAfee

Was it a plane crash rather than a riding accident near Newmarket that nearly claimed Frankie Dettori's life? -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/773519.stm


Cheers
Ben