Sheringham

So, having finished at Comer we jumped straight in our cars and headed along the coast to Sheringham. It is an easy 15 minute drive between the two courses, but the first round had taken little longer than anticipated. We had a bit of time to spare, but it was a good thing that DTH had arrived early enough to buy his crab earlier in the day.

On arriving at Sheringham Golf Club, you have to cross the train line and I found myself wondering whether that ever caused issues. Looking at the state of the line and the level crossing, however, I suspect that it is not used that often!

The club immediately looked impressive. The clubhouse is quite imposing and has a mast-style flag-pole directly in front of the terrace (similar to those at Deal and Lytham). We checked in with the pro and found that, again, there were plenty of people on the course. Our tee time was at 4:20pm. It was now 4pm and there was a 4-ball on the tee box, with a 2-ball following after that. Fingers crossed we would not have to wait too much on this one.

The match continues

So, to recap, DTH had won the morning round 2&1. Neither of us had played our best golf, but there had been some glimpses shown that we could play. 3 birdies and 8 pars was not a great return, but I reckon that we would score better on a second round. We were both level on 30 Stableford points. We had heard that Sheringham was the more difficult course and the weather appeared to be getting worse. The course looked to have similar elevation changes Cromer, but was immediately more linksy in its feel. The first hole played into the wind and it was clear that was going to be a problem on the front 9.

The opening holes

In contrast to the opening hole at Cromer, Sheringham starts with a gentle par 4. The first fairway is bordered by the 18th on the left and 2nd on the right. The 4pm group hit some pretty wild tee shots, but still seemed to have a decent lie and were able to go for the green. DTH had been fairly scathing of one chap who had gone way right. He promptly followed suit! It didn’t hurt too much, as the green is reasonably generous and he managed to find the centre and 2-putt for par. I got my lines slightly wrong and was fortunate to avoid both the front bunker and the thicker rough. I chipped on, but could not convert. 1-down.

The par 5 second is a good hole. It plays down the hill and towards the end of the promenade at the lowest point on the course. There are bunkers, heather and gorse along the left hand side, and a deep grassy bunker on the right. DTH uncharacteristically chunked it off the tee and then pushed it into the grass bunker on the right. I went left, stayed left and ended up in a protected section of heather. I was lucky to get a free drop, but did not take advantage. DTH, in the meantime, has recovered and is on the green in 4. I join him and we halve the hole in 6.

Holes 3-4

Now we are back into the wind … and back up the hill. The third and fourth holes take you to the highest point on the course. They are not easy.

The third is a long par 4 which runs straight up the hill with the beach on the right. There are fairway bunkers on the right to collect an errant tee shot. Finding one of these turns the hole into a pretty tricky par 5. Given the length of the hole, you need two strong shots to get up and around the green in two. We both hit decent drives, but neither got up as far as we would have liked. I was short and left having hit a 3-wood for my approach. The green is on a slightly raised plateau with a false front. I chipped on and two-putted for a 5, which was good enough to win the hole.

The first four holes are all quite wide – you would have to be very errant to lose a ball. This changes on the fourth. The hole plays from left to right around the side of a mound that is covered in bushes and gorse. The hole is not long at just over 300 yards, so I took 5-iron off the tee to try and put myself into position. Not a good time for the push-slice to come out … 3 off the tee and I was always chasing the hole! DTH hit a solid tee shot and followed it up with an approach straight into the middle of the green. The green is very exposed on the top, so check the flag for strength before you hit. DTH’s 4 won the hole with ease and he went back to one up.

The stretch along the cliffs

Holes 5 to 7 are terrific – a par 4, par 3 and par 5. They play tight along the cliffs and there are various paths taking you down onto the beach. DTH quipped on one of the holes that we probably had time for a quick dip, as we waited for the four-ball in front to sort themselves out (again). The two ladies who had teed off immediately ahead of us got bored mid-way down the 2nd hole and we saw them cut across from there to the 4th tee. I suspect if we played the course every day we would have made a similar decision.

Anyway, the slight dip in pace gave us plenty of opportunity to take in the views and to consider how best to tackle these three holes.

The 5th is a par four that plays from a raised tee box to a fairway that cuts diagonally from right to left. There are bunkers on the left and right at the ideal driving point, which I just cleared on the left hand side. DTH went up the right hand side into the rough. Proper socially distanced golf! I hit a decent approach which came up just short, but DTH had a bit of trouble in the rough. I chipped on and two putted for a 5, which beat DTH’s 6. This was stroke index 1, so I was pretty pleased with the result. All square.

The 6th is a long par 3, especially into the wind. There is plenty of space on both sides of the green, but if you miss it left (as I did) you are pitching onto the downslope. I missed left and DTH missed right. We both chipped on and two putted.

A blind par 5

The 7th is a super par 5. You need to hit a good drive to avoid a blind second. Into the wind this is more difficult. The hole curves gently from left to right and plays back down the hill once you have reached the crest. There are bunkers at key points on the right handsome of the fairway and these are very much in play when you are into the wind. The green is protected by a swale on the left side and two bunkers on the right.

I went left (again) off the tee and DTH lashed one down the middle. We would both prefer to have our second shots back, but we recovered reasonably well to be just off the green in 3. A chip onto the green and two putts each, and we had halved the hole in 6. DTH was in the middle of a stretch where he was very close to holing a putt, but the ball just wouldn’t drop.

Holes 8-9

The 8th hole is a picturesque par 3 – it has a feel of Birkdale about it. We have now turned back and are inland playing back parallel to holes 5-7. This means that we have the wind. I don’t know about you, but I always prefer to be hitting into the wind on a par 3. Unless it is one of those monster 230 yard holes, it is just easier to take a bit more club. This is especially true on a links course where you have other factors to take into consideration.

Today, the distance is 170 yards and I decide on a 7-iron. For a change, I hit the ball sweetly and got some really good height on it. This means, however, that it comes down and lands softly … 15 yards short on the front edge of the green. The pin is at the back. DTH clubs up (the danger is all at the front) and goes through the green. He plays a delicate chip on to gimme distance. Meanwhile I have come up 10 feet short with my putt, and fail to convert. DTH back to 1-up.

The end of the front nine

The front nine finishes with a strong par-4, which is playing much easier today with the wind helping. We have to wait as one of the groups behind is having some difficulty on hole 7 and a couple of them are on the wrong side of our fairway. DTH stripes one straight down the middle with a little baby draw. Lovely shot. I follow him and see the ball bounding down the middle. When we get up to the fairway we can only see one ball (mine).

After rather longer than we should have spent searching, I tell DTH to drop one down on the edge of the fairway where we think it should have been. Having hit mine, I start to walk towards the green. There is a quite pronounced ridge in the fairway and, as I come over it, I see his ball sitting in the middle of the fairway. I think that is the first time we have ever “lost” a ball that was quite so well positioned!

Anyway, I have come up just short in front of the bunkers on the right, but DTH (reunited with his terrific drive) has put his into the middle of the green. My turn to play a delicate chip – this time it works and nestles up close to the hole. DTH sees another putt slide marginally past the hole, and we end the front nine with the hole halved in par 4s.

Holes 10-12

The back 9 starts with a long par 4 that is stroke index 2. It is a tricky hole with strategically placed bunkers lining the fairway. I found the left hand bunker off the tee and was not getting to the green in two. DTH played the hole well and was on the green in two. I tidied up for a bogey and watched from the back of the green as DTH’s par putt lipped out. Not happy! Two fives, but a shot for me brought the match back to all square.

From the toughest hole on the back 9 to the easiest. A gentle par 3, measuring only 150 yards and playing to a generous green. There are two huge bunkers on the front left and right, which almost distract you from the 3 other small pot bunkers. I hit a good tee shot which just drift on the wind and ended up between the bunkers. I would be pitching onto a down-slope, again. DTH was 15 feet right of the pin. It’s a really good green, with a slight ridge in the middle and a false front on the left edge. My short game held up again and I managed to get up and down for par. DTH two putted – another hole halved.

At the 12th you change direction again. This hole has a dog leg from left to right and you end up back alongside the 10th green. The fairway bunkers are in play off the tee and you will need to hit about 215/220 yards to clear them. The green is fairly flat, but is protected by deep bunkers on the left and right. We played this hole pretty well – both in the middle of the fairway and from there onto the green and two putts. Halved in par 4s.

Trouble in the bushes

I have been missing left off the tee quite a lot recently. Often a solid strike, but it goes straight left. This is all part of my attempt to fix the big right miss. This had happened a few times already today, but being links courses (and the rough was not too bad) it had not hindered me too much. This, however, was the second hole with bushes in play on the right hand side. You will remember that I headed straight into these on the 4th. Same again here.

If there is one thing I have been trying to cut-out, it is to ensure that I am in play off the tee. This may sound basic, but if you are playing your 3rd from the tee box you are already chasing the hole and staring down a big number. It was particularly irritating to lose a ball into the bushes for the second time on the round.

Nevermind. Back to the hole! The 13th plays up the hill from right to left. Again, bunkers are carefully positioned on the fairway, requiring roughly 190 to clear them. This is why I had taken driver, as I was pretty sure that my 3-wood (up-hill into the wind) would end up drifting into them. Anyway, if you can avoid the bunkers (and the bushes) you should have a good chance here, as the hole is not long and the green is generous. DTH took advantage of my indiscretion and played the hole properly – middle of the fairway, middle of the green, two putts, par. To add to my frustration, I had a “2nd ball” par … or more accurately, a 6!

More bushes …

The 14th plays out to the furthest part of the course, before you turn and head back along the railway. The hole measures at about 350 yards off the whites and I suspect that there are those who would be tempted to try and drive it. The bunkering will make you think twice, as there is a mound of rough with two bunkers at about 260 yards covering the middle fo the fairway. The green is quite narrow, surrounded by bunkers and has deep rough left and right.

Both tee shots were in play – I was in a good position up the right having hit a slightly thinned 2-iron which was perfect for the fast running fairway! DTH had turned his over towards the 15th tee box and was playing from the rough. As I decided on my next shot, I heard the click of club hitting ball … I looked up towards the green, but saw nothing fall. I went back to my shot, only to hear the same again and then see a ball bouncing on towards the green. Not entirely sure what had happened, I went back to my ball and fired it up towards the green. Came up just short off the front right edge.

It transpired that DTH had gone left with his second and we were back to searching in the cabbage patch. After a few minutes it became apparent that even if we did find it there was no way he was going to be able to play it. It was a good thing he had hit a provisional. I chipped on and two-putted for a 5, which beat his 6.

All square with 4 to play

The 15th is a fairly nondescript par 3. It plays back along the railway line and is fairly flat. The green is long and thin and protected by 4 bunkers. There are run-off areas to the back and right sides. As a result, you are better off being short than long. DTH hit a good shot into the middle of the green, and I was just off to the left. So, I needed to get up and down to put some pressure on. Sadly, I couldn’t match his comfortable par.

And so, DTH went ahead in the match (1-up) and was also carrying a 2-point lead in the aggregate stableford (60 to 58). I was staring down the possibility of losing all three competitions …

Hole 16

The 16th is a good hole. It is a short par 4, but is deceptively difficult. There is a valley that you cross over and so you choose to take a short club off the tee, the second shot will be blind. This is not obvious from the tee shot, as the tee box is on the same level as the green. It quickly became clear, however, why there was a black and white marking stake up towards the green.

Taking a long iron off the tee does, however, take the bunkers out of play. There are 8 of them within 100 yards of the green. If you want to hit something bigger, aim for the right hand side of the fairway and hope that your ball does not run more than about 260 (or is very lucky!). Don’t go too far right, as the railway line cuts in and is out of bounds.

DTH hit a good tee shot up the right and I laid up into the middle of the fairway. The first time you play this hole, the approach is difficult if you are in the valley. I tried to trust the yardage, but there was clearly a bit of wind and my 8-iron flew through the green. DTH put his into the middle of the green and I was chasing the hole (again). My short game came to the rescue, however, and I managed to get up and down for par for a half.

The last two holes

The 17th is a strong hole with some more excellent bunkering. It is a fairly easy drive (if you can avoid going right and OB) and is very much a second-shot hole. There are three diagonal bunkers which come from right to left covering about 100 to 50 yards out from the green. The green is raised on a plateau and set in a little amphitheatre.

I hit another fairway and had about 190 to the green (with the flag at the back). DTH was a bit further up but had run through the fairway and into the rough. I scuffed my approach and was lucky to land on the tufty rough that lies between the diagonal bunkers (leaving me about 95 yards in). DTH hit a terrific looking shot, but the ball had jumped and he air-mailed the green. Here was a possible opening!

I played to the middle of the green and had about 20 feet left for par. Surely I would have at least 2 putts for the hole? He found his ball, but it was unplayable and he dropped a little further up the bank. A hack at the ball and it looped gently into the air and landed on the green about 10 feet from the hole. My putt lagged towards the hole, but stopped 3 feet short … So, we had both played 4. DTH’s putt slid by and left me with an opportunity to win the hole and square the match. Right in the middle – we are all square going up the last.

Drama on the last hole

I have the honour for the first time in a little while and flay a 3-wood right down the centre. DTH doesn’t connect properly and his ball runs up the side into the right hand rough.

The 18th is a good finishing hole. The tee box is enclosed below the 17th green and the railway line. The hole then curves gently from right to left and there is loads of space left towards the first fairway. The ideal line, however, is up the right hand side of the fairway. This takes the fairway bunkers on the left out of play and provides an excellent line into the green. The tee shot is slightly up hill and once you reach the top, the hole plays down hill to the green. Everything slopes from left to right, however, which feeds into the bunker on the right.

I was in the ideal position and had 190 yards down hill to a green where I could feather it down from left to right. I chunked it. Fortunately, I got enough just to clear the bunker on the left and the ball ran all the way down to the front edge of the green.

DTH had hit a rescue club from about 230 yards and although he had hit it well the ball had run on, taken the slope and was now in the front bunker. He hit a terrific shot to about 10 feet. I played a little bump and run and had 3 feet left. In keeping with his luck on the greens, DTH narrowly missed his putt. I holed mine and had won on the 18th 1-up. Not only that, but the extra Stableford point put us level on 65 each.

Final reflections

Sheringham is a fantastic links course. There are no particularly weak holes, it has great views over the cliffs and is really challenging. It is more of a traditional layout than Cromer and has none of the slightly quirky features. As a day’s golf, playing two links courses that are pretty much next to one another, you can’t go far wrong. Two fantastic clubs, some great memories and (as ever) I can’t wait to get back up there.

36 of the Top 100 in England ticked off. Next on the list, Bearwood Lakes …