Had the pleasure to play Woking for the first time in perhaps 15 years today. The course has held up fairly well to the barrage of frost, snow and rain, but I can't help thinking it should be draining better than it does. I think this is what the club has in mind as well. There is a clearing out process in gear right now. Nearly the entire front nine is finished. I expect it will take a few more years to complete the back nine and continue the program of heath re-generation. The club is also slowly re-doing bunkers. It looks like they are trying to get heather faces/banks on some, reshape some for better drainage and make some more gathering type bunkers. Lastly, the course will be extended about 200 yards for a total from the tips of ~6550. Apparently, Ebert (sp?) of the old Steel firm is a member and is lending a guiding hand.
I could hardly recognize the difference in open-ness. It hits you on the first tee where you can see down to the 4th through the trees. Its quite something! I also didn't remember how wonderful some of the greens are. In the summer Woking would be a lot of fun. The only drawback I can think of is the length. It is rare for me to applaud the lengthening of a course, but Woking has the space to do so and it needs it. Too many holes are driver-wedge. Mind you, in the summer, even though there is a fair amount of room, banging a driver about may get one into trouble here and there.
2nd hole - probably the best par 3 on the course.
The 3rd, a medium length par 4 with a cool fronting bunker. The green plays perfectly to the bunker because it feed all down to the front right.
4th, in the winter wet its a bit of a nothing hole really. It needs f&f to make the angles count.
A closer look at #4 - this is one of the holes that has been lengthened.
#5 - notice how clear it is under the trees and up the hill behind the green.
Thinking back now, the par 3s are probably the strong the suit of Woking. I like them all - here is the 7th.
The 8th is one of the better par 4s on the course. I liked the uphill approach - this hole reminded me of Swinley.
Approach to #8, the bunkers to the right of the green are lovely. They are connected by a ridge.
The approach to #9. The old reverse dogleg rears its ugly head again! This is a sharp legger left around tall trees. No matter the tee, its a layup drive then a wood home. Not my cup of tea.
Short 10th. Apparently the green was starting to subside on the left so the left bunkers were filled in. I hope they take the trees out on the right.
The 11th also reminded me of Swinley. It looks like you want to fade off the tee, but there is a load of room out to the left. However, that leaves a downhill lie to an uphill green, on the right of the fairway is a wee shelf which offers a level lie. Clever hole.
Approach to the 12th. This is a great green - it caught me out for a 3 putt from 15 feet. Everything sort of funnels down toward the bunkers, but there are two pimples to mess with the golfer who hits it too deep.
The 13th looks a bit dull, but it calls for a well placed drive as this may be the narrowest fairway on the course. There is nothing to be gained by carrying the bunker - red herring - stay right.
A good drive leaves you 215ish into the short par 5, 14th.
Many people will approach from around this area. Woking has a lovely clubhouse. Its very traditional without being stuffy or fussy.
The unusual 18th. Not too many heathland courses use water this way. This is a fun hole because its driveable in the summer, but very dangerous!
Woking is a lovely day out. I don't think it is quite the test that its near neighbours are, but it has bags of charm. Because the greens are that much more interesting than Worplesdon's (and despite Worp having holes like #s 12 & 17 which are better than anything Woking has) I would give the slight edge in preference to Woking: 6 on the SRA Scale.
Ciao