Dear GCA,
Andrew Slane and myself had the opportunity to play with James Boon at Hollinwell last weekend.
Upon arriving down the driveway we saw a Lone Ranger walking down the 18th fairway with a nice leather bag and a few old clubs lo and behold it was actually James playing with hickories prior to our round with 'standard 21st C clubs'
Having not played Hollinwell for around 5 years - the place always astounds me with its space, variety and its nature. The course is long and very strong there is so much variety of holes not one is similar to the other. The bunkers have been given a refreshing new natural craggy outline look which I think has improved the appearance of the course and tree removal in places has enhanced the course.
For me it is the best inland all round course in England - that begs the question why isn't it higher up in the rankings (having seen some old ones it was certainly higher that it is now)
Compared with others higher up in the rankings like Sunningdale Old, Woodhall Spa, Ganton and Alwoodley which I have played. I can't get it why they are higher
Is it the location?
Do the other courses have a better group of par 3's
Do people think Hollinwell is too long a slog fest?
Are the greens not the same level as the others?
I asked James the question do you think 5 and 9 should be improved - you can imagine his response
![Grin ;D](http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/Smileys/classic/grin.gif)
they are both understated par 3's not ones that are really memorable compared with the other courses I have mentioned.
Hollinwell for me has better par 4's and par 5's than the other courses. The ebb and flow all the way round is great - I feel that both Woodhall and Ganton loses it a bit in the middle of the round. Sunningdale can be a bit awkward in places.
Hollinwell remains in my top 10 of courses that I have played.