One course in London

[Joel_Stewart]

If you have 1 spare day, mid week, in the summer, what course would you play in London or close by.   

Probably need access to the train or subway, no car.

[Mike_Clayton]

Joel,

The station is right down the road from Sunningdale so that is easy.
Woking is not so easy - but well worth the effort.

[Scott Warren]

Disclaimer: I have played neither course at Sunningdale.

One spare day?

36 at The Berkshire with lunch. ~140 quid. Nothing else comes close to that kind of value for variety at the pointy end of the field and it gives you a great example of Fowler and Simpson's genius, as well as two quite different courses laid over the same property. Train to Ascot and a short cab ride.

One round?

If you like brawny courses that offer a test: Walton Heath (Old). 30-odd mins on the train and then a 2min cab ride to the course.

If you like charm, character and quirk: West Sussex. Maybe an hour or so on the train and then a 2min cab to the course.

[Will Lozier]

Joel,

I was lucky enough to teach school in Surrey for a year and played a great number of the great Heathland courses around London.  My recommendation would be to head down to Croydon and play The Addington.  I played Sunningdale Old one morning before heading off for a second round at The Addington and there is not a more fun place to play.  Sunningdale is truly one of the finest clubs in the world with 2 absolute world class courses and a great membership - not too many places where you can have a pre-round pint next to Sam Torrence!  However, for the money, The Addington - one of Doak's favs - is an outrageous deal and the variety of holes cannot dissapoint. 

I played most of my rounds with my Athletic Director at West Hill (which for me is vastly underrated) which is literally right next door to Worplesdon and Woking.  This would be another possiblity if you could get on two of the three, but that would require a little bit of work in advance.  I would recommend 36 at The Addington.

Cheers

[Ron Csigo]

Joel,

The station is right down the road from Sunningdale so that is easy.
Woking is not so easy - but well worth the effort.

+1

Joel,

You can walk from the station to the club.  If I were in your shoes, Sunningdale.  No doubt.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Joel

In terms of ease of access for quality courses, from SW1 and thereabouts Addington is easiest, followed by St George's Hill followed by Sunningdale.

Personally for your criteria I would go w St George's Hill. Great course and fine English club.

Sunningdale and St George's can be a bit tricky sometimes to get on, leaving Addy as an excellent backup.

Will L that is one fine premier post. Welcome.

[Adam Lawrence]

I think if you're just doing a one-shot deal and they have a slot that day you should do Sunningdale and go for the full monty 36 hole and lunch experience. Somewhere like Woking probably has a little more charm, but if it's a one-off, why not start at the top?

[Sean_A]

If its 36 and yer rich, Sunningdale is the place.  If you only want 18 and don't mind splashing out, St Georges Hill (still the best course I know of around London).  If you are on a budget (well a London budget anyway), try Woking first, Addington second.  Perhaps Pulborough can be thrown in there for "budget" golf, but I hesitate to recommend it too highly as its been nearly 20 years since I saw the place.  If you want a purely "I love the place" recommendation, its Woking for sure.

Ciao

[James Boon]

There must be something wrong with my computer. All the replies regarding getting on a train and travelling down to Deal seem to be missing... 

Joel,

I'd second Scott's suggestion of a 36 hole day at The Berkshire as a pretty good way to spend a spare day in London. Though in all honesty, if you play any of the courses mentioned so far, you wont be disappointed!

Cheers,

James

[Mark Chaplin]

Sunny Old £195, Sunny New £160 so a beefy round.

I'd play Worplesdon 8 times out of 10 over Woking. New Zealand is also close to the station and a fine heath.

James - the question was London or close by! Depends on the definition of close, I travel 100 mins e/w to the club so my close is a little left field.

[Mark Pearce]

I'd play Worplesdon 8 times out of 10 over Woking.

That's fighting talk on here!  I'm playing Worplesdon for the first time in a couple of weeks and looking forward to it.

[Scott Warren]

Mark P,

Chappers has played Worpy at last 20 times I'd reckon, and has only played Woking once - and in winter.

That being so, I'm not surprised he feels the way he does.

[Mark Chaplin]

Scott - 1st and 2nd very ordinary, 9th a slog, 10th moderate and 18th pretty but no great design. There are some very fine holes in the middle and yes I've played Worplesdon lots!

[Kevin Pallier]

Agree with the Sunningdale nominations for a great day out - though as shown it is a pricey but worthwhile experience.

Walton Heath and The Berkshire are great suggestions as well though am not so sure about access by the trains. An Easy-Car car hire isn't that expensive for the day though surely ?

[Scott Warren]

KP,

Having done both by train I can vouch for how easy they are.

Plus, no RBT on the trains, so you can enjoy the post-round pints without worry!

[Noel Freeman]

Worplesdon over Woking?

That is a fine joke.  While I like Worpy, Woking has better par 3s and par 4s--and that includes #16 which is not a great par 3 that they are weighing up changing.  Woking is cunning and strategic, Worpy is nice golf and a pleasant round, sort of like St. George's Hill Lite for enjoyability.  Note, played Worpy 3x, Woking 10x

I have done almost all of the Heathlands out of Waterloo etc.

I am not as high on the Berkshire as many, its good, but not great although I love the 6/6/6 # of the beast card at the Red.  Sunningdale can be prohibitively expensive for many and tough to get on for visitor play even though they claim they are open for it.

I find Woking to be the best value, it is a 5m cab ride for 8-10 quid, there are always cabs there, there is great food at the clubhouse and you can lounge around after without feeling like and outsider while sitting outside watching shots to #14 and #18--its great fun

They also have a 45 pound after 3:30 fee which if you visit say b/t now and Aug 1 you can easily finish your round by 7pm and that is great value.

Besides Chappers, one can get killed crossing Bagshot road at Worplesdon.  Its a scary crossing.

The Addington was a great choice when Mrs. Fabes ran the place and greens fees were much much lower.

[Tom_Doak]

Joel:

You do not say whether you've ever played in the heathlands before.  Assuming the answer is no, I would say you have to choose between Sunningdale and Walton Heath for the classic heathlands feel.  The other courses mentioned are all ones that I am very fond of, but I could not recommend them over the two pillars of London golf.


Noel:

The Addington was a better choice when Mrs. Fabes ran the place, because it wasn't so busy!  I played there a couple of years ago and with the all-access rules, some holes are quite dangerous now ... we were searching for our balls on the downslope on #12 when the group behind starting firing into us!

[Mark_Rowlinson]

With the new high speed rail service from St Pancras to Ashford you can get to Rye in little over an hour - it's certainly now a London course, but then so are Royal St George's and Royal Cinque Ports........

[Mark Chaplin]

Shivas - it's not Eurostar but Southeastern Trains, tickets are the same price a year or an hour in advance.

[Sean_A]

Joel:

You do not say whether you've ever played in the heathlands before.  Assuming the answer is no, I would say you have to choose between Sunningdale and Walton Heath for the classic heathlands feel.  The other courses mentioned are all ones that I am very fond of, but I could not recommend them over the two pillars of London golf.


Noel:

The Addington was a better choice when Mrs. Fabes ran the place, because it wasn't so busy!  I played there a couple of years ago and with the all-access rules, some holes are quite dangerous now ... we were searching for our balls on the downslope on #12 when the group behind starting firing into us!

Tom

I hesitated to suggest Walton because changes are afoot.  It may be better to wait.

Ciao

[Adam Lawrence]

I don't think there will be any major changes at Walton in the near future. The two new relief holes will probably be brought into action in the next year or so, but I understand the much-debated sale of the clubhouse and land on the other side of the Dorking Road is not likely any time soon.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Mark, I didn't realize that Rye could be so close.  God bless high speed trains.
Joel, Sunningdale is one of my favorite places to play.  I can't think of many places I'd rather spend a day.

[Tony_Muldoon]

What no suggestions for John Lyons favourite London course by train?

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,43568.0.html 


We are very lucky indeed.


On a day trip from London I've enjoyed Pennard and Burnham and Berrow several times. Sutton Coldfield a  few times and Royal Birkdale once. Deal, RSG, Princes dozens of times. Oh Rye and Littlestone too.  Very few of the interesting courses in Scotland, Ireland, France Belgium etc. couldn't be done in a a day with low cost airlines.  And thats not mentioning the heathlands.


Just one? it would be hard to top Sunnigdale for a London experience.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Mark C I love ya baby and you're welcome to play Worp over Wok to your heart's desire -- I relish people who think for themselves -- but, c'mon, to reco Worp over Wok is stark raving nuts!

While both have par 3s over water, at Wok it's a bug: at Worp it's a feature!

Worp's maybe got a better opener, a better dog fountain, and a better trophy case.

[Scott Warren]

Chappers:

The 2nd at Woking is "very ordinary"?!

I think a return visit is in order.