Woking - Appreciating A Classic

[Michael Whitaker]

Needless to say, Woking is one of the great old classics that deserves proper attention. I was fortunate to play here recently and very pleased to see that the fairways and greens were considerably firmer than my last visit. I personally think that firmness (or lack of softness) is essential for a course of Woking's style as it allows so many of the inherent features of the course to come alive. The efforts of the new team along these lines is very apparent and should definitely be continued.

The course weaves around the property in such a sublime fashion... creating a wonderful journey. My companion and I commented that even with some significant elevation change you are often unaware that you have worked your way on top of a hill until you are actually there. Brilliant!

Heather abounds and should be avoided at all cost as it was quite a challenge... thick stuff that swallowed balls whole without a trace. The net effect is basically the same as water. We even started playing a ball hit into the heather as a lateral hazzard to keep things moving.

In all, Woking is a dream to play... it's like taking a old luxury car out for a cruise. The members must love being able to play there on a regular basis... I know I would! They are lucky to have a new leader in Richard Pennell who "gets it" with respect to the course's architectural history and is committed to maintaining its significance.

[David_Madison]

Michael - I totally agree with your thoughts. My son and I were fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Woking a couple of weeks ago and were delighted. There was an earlier thread here that asked for one's list of the best five sets of greens you've ever played, and Woking's came up more than once. Woking definitely belongs on my list.

Richard and his people are doing wonderful work at Woking, a piece at a time bringing to the fore its wonderful playing character. While playing the course, I was reminded more than once of Old Town Club. Many similar elements - - a comfortable, natural, and logical routing that just flows over the land as one might just walk and explore the property; a set of greens and surrounds that is varied, imaginative, and provides for many different types of playing challenges; and an old, comfortable club vibe that just feels right.

[Richard Pennell]

Dear Michael, David


Thank you for your kind words. Woking is a wonderful course and we all feel very lucky to have such a set of greens to work with - they are a classic must-see for architectural enthusiasts! The Club is pretty special, too!


No doubt I will have the pleasure of bumping into other GCA'ers here in the future, which I look forward to!


Richard

[BCrosby]

Catching up here. As noted above, Woking is a delight. It is one of the two or three courses in the London area that is a must play. Which is very high cotton indeed.


But for CGA'ers, or anyone else with an interest in the history of golf architecture, Woking is an essential stop. Under the direction of John Low and Stuart Paton, Woking was probably the first inland course to incorporate basic strategic design concepts. If you know what to look for, it is a veritable museum of early modern golf course design.


For example:


- the single "governing" bunker on the 3rd.
- the centerline bunkers on the 4th
- the "Johnnie Low" greenside bunker on the 17th


Those and other features were once considered highly controversial. For a variety of reasons they marked decisive breaks with older Victorian design axioms. It is not crazy to think that Woking played a central role in setting golf architecture on a new trajectory.


In addition to Low and Paton, other architects have worked on the course over the decades. Tom Simpson in particular. Given that history, Tom Doak has called Woking one of the best "eclectic" courses, by which I think he means that several different hands made together a great course. That is pretty rare. I agree.


In addition to all that, there are few places in the world as delightful as having a drink in on Woking's veranda overlooking the 14th green, scarcely three or four steps away.


Finally, Richard Pennell, Woking's new Secretary, is a friend of many of us here. 


Bob       

[Mark_Rowlinson]

Nice posts, which sum up Woking very well. A special place.

[Tim_Weiman]

I was fortunate to have a consulting job based in Woking for about 5 months. Always enjoyed going over to the golf club and having a walk around the course. Can't thing of a better "walk in the park".

[Josh Stevens]

Would it be a better course if they managed to do something with the 1st and the 9th?  Or are they just there to make the other 16 look good.

The 16th of course was always the problem child, but I am told it is improved but I haven't seen it.  But 1 and 9 always got under my skin. 1st hole just seemed to be a way of filling in the land between the clubhouse and the 2nd tee where the course proper starts - perhaps to loosen up and sober up after lunch. 

And the 9th???  Given the historical propensity for Woking members to sneak out at night and make changes, damned if I know how that bloody tree has survived this long.

Otherwise my favourite course

[Adam Lawrence]

The ninth and tenth are not original. The ninth used to be a straight hole playing to a green now in the woods to the right of the fairway, near the boundary with Hook Heath Road. I once had a rootle through those woods and the old green, as well as the former tenth tee, are quite easy to spot. The tenth was then a two-shotter that attacked the hill diagonally, playing to the present green. I like the tenth hole, but it's pretty obvious that the green was not originally built to accept a shot from the current direction of play.


I agree entirely that the ninth is the worst hole on the property. It starts at at the tee complex, which has been built up way too high, to give some semblance of visibility -- it's an excrescence. Then, as you say Josh the tree at the corner is right in the way; it's a very nice tree but it is completely in the wrong place, and if the hole corridor is to remain as at the moment it needs to go and be replaced by some kind of risk reward bunker complex. Finally the green is chronically short of pinning locations.


I don't agree re the first, I think it's a super opening hole. You feel you should get a three, but the severe fallaway green makes it much harder than you'd think. My general philosophy is that you might as well try to drive the green, because you are probably going to end up through the back anyway and better to be there in one rather than two. But it's a taxing shot to have first up.

[Josh Stevens]

I like the first hole but not as the first hole.  If it were a couple of holes in I would have great affection for it - but bouncing a little finesse shot into a severe front to back green is a bit much straight off the bat.

[Sean_A]

I too think the 1st is an awkward opening hole and might fit better coming later in the round. Which is partly why I think starting on the 15th is an idea which should be explored.  The only hole I don't like is the 9th...though I think the 6th could be miles better with an extended green.  I too think the 9th would benefit from trees coming out on the left and perhaps bunkering slapped into the hill. Big hitters have far too much advantage because they can go over the top as it is and basically have a short iron.  Another thought could be to remove trees and bank the far side of the fairway to mitigate the push of the land somewhat.  The hole as it is now is far too much on the target/prescribed side of things.  Regardless, Woking is on my "if you could only play one course the rest of your life" shortlist.

Ciao

[Josh Stevens]

I might note however that while the veranda is lovely, its also dangerous.  Few years back my playing partner got smacked in the right temple by a skulled approach into the 14th.  Almost spilled his Pimms, but we managed to catch it before he slumped to the ground.

[Michael Whitaker]

I might note however that while the veranda is lovely, its also dangerous.  Few years back my playing partner got smacked in the right temple by a skulled approach into the 14th.  Almost spilled his Pimms, but we managed to catch it before he slumped to the ground.

[Ira Fishman]

An inspirational thread.  I just arranged to play for the first time next year.


Thanks to all.


Ira

[Mark Chaplin]

I've always been a fan of Woking (bar the 9th, possibly the worst 3Ws hole), however as you walk off the 14th green it does feel like you've seen the best of Woking. Therefore the idea of starting on 15 is appealing, I don't know the course well enough to know the logistics around everyone getting from the current 18th green to the 1st tee. The run from 10-14 would be a really strong finish.

[Sam Andrews]

I think that is a bit harsh. 15 is a solid par five that needs a really straight drive to start (which is why it might not make a good first hole, there is often a lot of looking in the heather) and it has a great green. 16 to me is a much improved hole that could do with a bit of softening of the green's contours (there seems to be only one pin position). 17 has a great approach that demands real accuracy if you are to make par and 18 is a truly strategic finisher -- go left for safety and the tree by the green and the tiers are in play, go right and you risk a bad lie. The shame of it is that it means the conclusion to a match lacks an audience of Pimms-drinking rowdies.

[Niall C]

Without knowing the respective merits of the holes, I think there will always be an element of "should I stop now while I'm at the clubhouse ?" and for that reason alone maybe its worth having the 14th as the final hole. That said, I don't know the course.


Niall

[Sean_A]

I guess the most important thing is there are two very different size loops...something which I think is usually a big advantage over 9 hole loops for private courses.  Of course, if one is playing the boozer's loop of 15-18 then it is very easy to know when the 14th is clear    It is also quite easy to play 1-6, hop on 11 and go from there to either 14 or to 12 etc.  Lots of options.

Ciao

[Josh Stevens]

It would only be a 200m walk from 13th green to 16th tee if they hacked a path through the woods, and then about 150m from 15th green back to the 14th green.  So its a bit of a pain, but not overly onerous, although walk from 18th green back to 15th tee might be bit hairy with balls coming at you from two directions.

[Niall C]

Josh


It looks like you've just stated the case to keep the course as it is !


Niall

[Michael Whitaker]

I've always been a fan of Woking (bar the 9th, possibly the worst 3Ws hole), however as you walk off the 14th green it does feel like you've seen the best of Woking. Therefore the idea of starting on 15 is appealing, I don't know the course well enough to know the logistics around everyone getting from the current 18th green to the 1st tee. The run from 10-14 would be a really strong finish.

It is a relatively short (and logical) walk from 18 to the first tee. Starting on 15 would be a very easy switch.

[Ally Mcintosh]

I've always been a fan of Woking (bar the 9th, possibly the worst 3Ws hole), however as you walk off the 14th green it does feel like you've seen the best of Woking. Therefore the idea of starting on 15 is appealing, I don't know the course well enough to know the logistics around everyone getting from the current 18th green to the 1st tee. The run from 10-14 would be a really strong finish.

It is a relatively short (and logical) walk from 18 to the first tee. Starting on 15 would be a very easy switch.

But it would also be the only point on the course where you need signposts to find the next tee.


A beautiful flowing routing is a rare thing. You'd have to think carefully on the benefits before compromising that. I can't believe the the option hasn't been considered and discarded on more than one occasion down the years.

[Sean_A]

I've always been a fan of Woking (bar the 9th, possibly the worst 3Ws hole), however as you walk off the 14th green it does feel like you've seen the best of Woking. Therefore the idea of starting on 15 is appealing, I don't know the course well enough to know the logistics around everyone getting from the current 18th green to the 1st tee. The run from 10-14 would be a really strong finish.

It is a relatively short (and logical) walk from 18 to the first tee. Starting on 15 would be a very easy switch.

A beautiful flowing routing is a rare thing. You'd have to think carefully on the benefits before compromising that.

True.

Ciao