Phil

Thanks for the information. Great website:

www.coombehillgolfclub.com

"A course seemingly designed by Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"

I'll add this to my list of "historically Jewish" clubs for my research project.

Steve

Philip

Looks like a decent joint, but at 80 quid, I am not likely to gain first hand knowledge.  I just don't believe it can be worth that kind of cash.  London prices are one thing, but prices for golf in general continue to amaze me.  It just seems like nobody blinks an eye on either side of the pond at charging 75 quid or more for nice courses with average conditioning.  No wonder the business side of golf is struggling.  

Ciao

Sean

Philip,

Hasnt it been remodelled recently by a senior eigca member and won an award for it?

Philip,

Some years ago, when I was there, I had a long chat with Tina De Foy, the Secretary (and wife of Professional, Craig De Foy, an ex-European Tour player - they've always had top professionals).  I suggested to her that the Abercrombie clubs should get together once a year for an Abercrombie tournament, rather as the MacKenzie ones do.  She came back to me saying there was no interest in such a tournament.  

As well as The Addington (which is the most characterful of the Aber Courses) Bovey Castle in Devon (was known as Manor House Hotel, but recently bought by de Savary and slightly remodelled by Donald Steel's company), Worplesdon (to my mind the least of the trio of Woking, West Hill, Worplesdon, but it does have some brilliant holes and a very tough finisher, but it also has a dangerous main road to be crossed on foot twice in the round), and Knole Park (of which I have no personal knowledge).  Cornish and Whitten also mention Cowdray Park (which the club credits to Simpson) and West Kent.  

Of the four Aber courses I know, I don't think there is anything similar between them (which is something I have also thought about the Fowler courses I have experienced).  All four are interesting to play with their challenges seemingly based on imaginative use of the topography - all those gullies and dips at The Addington, the broad sweeps of Coombe Hill, the much more heavily bunkered heathland nature of Worplesdon, and the brilliant use of the ubiquitous river at Bovey Castle.  The one thing they have in common is some really good short holes.

I think I've mentioned this before, but on that most recent visit to Coombe Hill (winter 1999 or 2000) I did not play, but walked the course with the course manager.  I did so in my Wellington boots.  I left them in the locker room while I talked to Tina and when I went to retrieve them I found them being buffed up like new as if they were a pair of member's golf shoes!

James

You are correct.  Coombe Hill has been smartened up just recently and the work has been very well received.

Philip

You are a crafty devil.  I knew you were too smart to pay a visitor fee.  I am hoping to emulate you in playing Huntercombe as a guest!  If you do decide to play Addington, give me a call.  This one figures high on my list of must plays.

Ciao

Sean

It seems to me that of that group of really innovative "healthland" architects the one that seemed to get the most respect for his raw talent amongst his peers in his time was Herbert Fowler. Obviously the guy was a real "quick study". At that early time when for the first time some really good inland courses were being built there certainly seemed to be a good deal of "architectural philosophizing". Golf architecture "inland" was coming out of the penal school and testing the possiblities of the "strategic school". A good example of that evolution seemed to be Fowler's Walton Heath (1904) where 'he debated the virtues of cross bunkers versus side hazards' and decided to do both.

In that vein, I wonder if Herbert Fowler stopped by PVGC to collaborate during it's creation?  

Sean,

Your summary of Beau Desert is perceptive.  That cross bunker on the 5th is so much a period piece, but isn't it marvellous that it's not been removed.  It comes into play when you miss the fairway with your drive (very easily done) or for weak players such as me.

Thanks Richard - very nice pictures which do a better job of presenting the course than my words! The fairways in late October are not quite so tidily mown!

Great pictures Richard.  Most people on here won't appreciate how close to central london this course is.  Even though I drive right by it every couple of weeks I'm amazed how green the views are - Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common?  I'm guessing the blocks of flats must be Roehampton?  If the clubs aspect was turned round 90 degrees you'd see pretty much most of London.

To tie in with another current topic, if you visit the clubs website above they even have a page on its history.  But it's all about the personalities that have been associated with the club. The architects don't get a mention nor do they even give the dates the work was done.  If a club like this isn't interested in it's GCA history it helps explains the apathy to the subject in this country.

I think you are right Tony - the glorious Roehampton skyline! It is still a great view that hole -but must have been even better 30 years ago.

You are right re the heather - beggars belief. If they are not pulling out the heather, they are sticking in the gorse, like an alien intruder.

Lynn - if you go the History section of the website (See the link in the first response) then you will discover that the same Archie was a good friend of Edward VIII. It tells the story of how the two of them, in the course of a Mediterranean cruise, managed to hit 3,000 balls into the sea!

GCAers always deliver the goods!  Great reports and pics of Coombe Hill.

Obvious similarities with Addington.  

Bunkers are all too neat and tidy, the usual modern trend. Perhaps getting some heather in the faces would help?