A heathland classic

Given that I grew up in Surrey and then (until recently) lived in West London, it is perhaps surprising that the first time I played Woking Golf Club was in 2018. I had heard of the 3 “W”s and had been looking for an excuse to play them. I was, however, a little slow off the mark. West Hill featured on my agenda in 2017 on a corporate golf day and then again in 2018 in a match for MCC. I played Woking for the first time in May 2018 on the London Solicitors’ Spring Meeting. Since then, I have been back 4 times. Worplesdon (the 3rd of the 3 “W”s), for now, is as yet undiscovered. Hopefully one for later this summer …

Woking is a wonderful club. It has a charming clubhouse that sits between the 1st tee, 14th green, 15th tee box and alongside the 18th hole. The veranda overlooking the 14th green is “in play” and on our first trip here DTH gave two elderly members a fright. When not avoiding incoming golf balls, however, it is an idyllic place to sit and have an early morning coffee (or late afternoon beer). The food is also terrific and I have been lucky enough to have the full dining experience on 3 of my visits to the club.

It has been a happy hunting ground for me during my previous visits – I have picked up 3 trophies, a crystal whisky glass and had an unbeaten match-play record. I was therefore pretty confident going into today’s game, albeit tempered by the knowledge that I had never beaten Bill.

The course

There are numerous lists of the Top 100 Courses in England and Woking features in all of them. I have not found one yet where the course is ranked outside the top 30. It is renowned for its design and architectural features. The course was originally laid out by Tom Dunn in 1893 which makes it the oldest heathland course. It was not until a member, Stuart Paton, created additional bunkers and re-worked the greens that the course really gained its full appeal. The 4th hole in particular is renowned for its centre-line bunkers. Tom Simpson (of Cruden Bay, Morfontaine and New Zealand GC fame) once spent an entire day considering the strategic merit.

All of the major architects of the 20th century have spent time studying the layout at Woking. It would be fascinating to know what Mackenzie, Colt, Alison, Hotchkin and Fowler learned from the course. The layout is a great example of how to make a terrific golf course without needing 18 signature holes.

The course now is not long by modern standards, at 6397 yards from the white tees, but it remains challenging. The heather is extensive and fierce (especially in the summer when it is also at its prettiest). If you miss the pin on the wrong side, it is very easy to 3-putt or 4-putt. The bunkers are deceptively difficult and many of them have the additional feature of heather “eyebrows”.

Today’s match

I met Bill for the first time in the clubhouse at West Sussex Golf Club shortly before a match for LSGS against The Surveyors. We were paired together as we had trained at the same law firm – albeit a few decades apart! It quickly transpired that Bill was a very good golfer and, as we were playing foursomes, I would need to concentrate. I was not at my best over the first few holes, but settled down and managed to play a few decent shots. I am fairly sure that we lost, either way it had become clear that Bill was both as golf-obsessed as I was and extremely competitive.

We had played together once before at Woking – paired together in foursomes again. Fortunately, on that occasion, I was on rather fine form and we made light work of our opponents from the Bar. For today’s match it was straight singles matchplay. Bill on 12 and me on 14.

An inauspicious start

Hole 1

As is becoming my style, I did not start particularly well. The first hole is a short par 4, with heather running along the left edge of the fairway. There are two bunkers protecting the left side and the green is set at the bottom of a gentle slope. There is a steep run-off at the back of the green and it is possible for a good drive to run all the way through leaving a difficult chip back to the green. I unfurled my trade-mark push-slice off the tee, into the small thicket above the 2nd tee box. Bill went straight down the middle.

I punched out from the trees and the ball took the slope and ran down onto the green. I had hit what I thought was the perfect shot, but had not accounted for the speed of both the fairway and the green. The ball ran through and down the slope at the back. Bill meanwhile had played into the middle of the green and had 20-feet for birdie. Having commented that his putting was a little suspect at the moment, he promptly drained the birdie putt and my delicate chip below the hole was rendered irrelevant.

Hole 2

The second is a classic par 3. It plays between 200-220 yards from the white tees and requires a long carry over a V-shaped valley. It was designated by Simpson as the one hole that could ‘be termed of really outstanding merit’. Uncharacteristically, Bill came up rather short and left himself with a rather tricky shot from some fairly thick rough. My strike was a lot better, but it started just a little too straight so that the fade left it just short. The pin was on the top shelf of the green. Bill pitched onto the right level and easily two putted. I got onto the wrong level and took 3 more. 2-down through 2.

Hole 3

The third hole plays from left to right, but the fairway cambers from right to left. The fairway is quite wide and so I would definitely categorise this as a second shot hole. The green is complex and has a steep bank above it. It runs from back to front and has a run-off on the front left. There is also a bunker just beneath the green. If you are going to miss it, do not go long, as the chance of keeping the ball in the green is small. I hit a terrific drive which left me between an 8-iron or a 9-iron into the green. I chose poorly, ended up being above the green and it was game over. Bill had hit a good drive and his approach had come up just short. He chipped onto the right level of the green and 2-putted for a 5.

Hole 4

So, having come into the match with optimistic expectations, I am now 3 down through 3 holes. Not a great start and, from experience, Bill is not normally someone who will give you many opportunities. I decided that a different approach was required and took out a 5-iron on the 4th tee. As mentioned above, there are two centre-line fairway bunkers, which caused a lot of consternation when they were installed. They are an excellent feature and really do make you think about what club to hit. There is also the railway line which runs tight along the right hand side of the fairway. The safe play is therefore out to the left or to lay-up in front of the bunkers.

Bill hit a good tee shot which held just to the right of the bunkers. My 5-iron was a little bit off centre, but put me into a good position albeit quite a long way back. The approach was good, however, and I was on the front of the green. Bill found the front bunker. Neither of us had played this particularly cleverly, however, as the pin was right at the back. I hit a reasonable putt, but left myself 6-feet for par. Bill splashed out and had a comfortable 2-putt. I missed and we halved in 5s. I had, at least, stopped the rot!

Hole 5

The 5th hole is beautifully framed, with heather in front and along the right, a centre-line bunker and a fairway bunker on the left side. The trees had been cleared out on the left and so my errant tee shot did leave me a line into the green. Bill hit the fairway with another metronomic drive. I connected sweetly with my approach, but caught one of the overhanging trees (having started it a little too far left). I punched onto the green in three, but Bill was on in two.

The green on the 5th is a thing of wonder. It is nearly 50 yards front to back and has three distinct tiers, and a handful of shelves. The pin today was on a slight slope on the front left side. Another 3-putt sunk any hopes of salvaging something from the hole. 4-down.

Hole 6

The 6th is a challenging hole, especially when the tees are at the back, and is rated as stroke index 1. For today, that meant a shot for me and an opportunity I had to take. The tees were also forward, which meant it was playing about 50 yards shorter. The fairway is framed on both sides with heather and there are bunkers that are very much in play off the back tees. In front of the green runs a small stream with more heather and bunkers protecting the green itself. The green slopes diagonally from back right to front left.

Bill hit a cracking drive right down the middle. Being on the forward tees I decided to take the bunkers out of play and took driver. I lashed one up the right hand side and it went high into the air. I *just* cleared the right bunker and fortunately the ball landed softly and ran out onto the fairway. If it had landed on the fairway, it would have been buried 10 yards into the heather. My 9-iron approach to the front flag was pretty good and albeit leaving a down-hill putt of about 20 feet. Bill’s approach was on line, but a little bit thin and so ran through to the back edge of the green. Surely an opening!

The putt on its way immediately looked good and Bill had judged this perfectly as the ball nestled up within gimme distance. I really needed to win this hole. Fortunately, my putting touch returned and I also managed to get it to within about 2 feet. By virtue of my shot, the par-4 won the hole and reduced the margin to 3.

Hole 7

The next hole is a par 3 and is one of the easier holes (if you hit it straight). There are bunkers protecting the front left of the green and a ridge on the right. If you miss the green, depending on the flag position it can be difficult to hold it when you chip on.

Today the flag was in the middle but right at the back. We both hit the green, but had under-clubbed. Bill putted first and came up short. I gave it too much and went past the flag. We both missed our second putts. Halved in 4.

Hole 8

The 8th is one of my favourite holes. It has a shallow dog-leg from left to right and favours a fade. This is something I can usually deliver. There is a stream which runs across the front of the fairway diagonally from left to right. It can be tempting to try and take off too much of the corner – don’t do this, as you will be blocked out by the trees on your second shot.

As you approach the green, the bunkering is quite intimidating and makes it difficult to trust the distance. Each of the bunkers has heather “eyebrows” which mean they are deeper than they first look.

Bill hit another good drive and was just right of centre in the fairway. I pushed mine a little bit and ended up in the right rough. I had a pretty miserable lie, but managed to advance the ball up towards the green. Bill didn’t quite catch his, and the ball rolled into the central bunker. I played a solid chip into the middle of the green, and two-putted for a 5. Bill’s bunker was not kind to him and he got on in 4, but the bogey putt just slid by. Back to 2 down.

Hole 9

The 9th hole joins the lower part of the course with the upper part. It is a difficult hole and is probably the only hole on the course which really divides opinion. There is a sharp dog-leg from right to left and the approach to the green is played up a steep hill. It was hot on this round and it was quite a drag up the hill!

The tees were at the back today and that makes it a long hole. It also means the carry over the heather is a good hit. Ideally, you want to play a draw off the solitary tree on the right edge of the fairway. I took the tiger line and went to go over the trees on the left edge. I didn’t quite manage it, but I got it far enough to give me a clear shot to the green. Bill also went left, but was a bit further back and had a difficult shot to get out of the heather. The lie was such that he could only get it as far as the next set of heather, and then sent his next at head height towards me!

I was just off the green in 2, and Bill chipped on in 4. The 9th green is not easy and has a lot of subtle breaks. It is also quick. My approach was close enough that I managed to 2 putt and my 5 was good enough to win the hole. Back to 1 down at the turn.

Hole 10

The 10th is a good par 3 which looks easier than it is. The green is long and thin and everything slopes towards the dip on the left. The bunkers on the right are the obvious bail-out area, but leave a very difficult shot onto the down-slope.

Today, I managed to hit the green and was pin high, but above the hole. Bill went left and as usually happens the ball took a further hop to the left on impact. He played a very good chip back up the hill, but I managed to 2-putt for par to win the hole. Back to all square.

Hole 11

The three par 4s at Holes 11-13 are some of the finest on the course. Set on the high point of the course, with views out back across some of the front nine, these are both scenic and challenging holes. The 11th is the first proper blind tee shot, where you play to a fairway that sweeps from left to right. There is a bunker on the right corner and a huge swathe of heather for anyone who tries to cut off too much of the corner. Another bank of heather runs along the left side of the fairway and this will collect anything that is too straight. If you can carry the ridge, you will get full benefit for your shot from the down-slope. The green is slightly raised and protected by bunkers left and right.

We both went right off the tee and whilst I managed to clear the bunker I was in the heather. Bill was not quite so lucky and his ball bounced back into the sand. I hacked mine out of the heather and was short off the front left, chipped on and two-putted for a five. Bill had a little trouble with the sand and then flew the green with his approach. I was ahead for the first time.

Hole 12

The tee box for the 12th is enclosed by the pine trees. Today this provided a welcome amount of shade and a break from the beating sun. The runs between the 11th (on the right) and the 13th (on the left). Heather separates the three holes and you want to avoid this if at all possible. For the best approach, you should favour the left-hand side of the fairway. The green is framed by bunkers in front and is another tricky complex. There are several little shelves within the general 3 tier arrangement.

I hit a super 3-wood right down the middle that chased on and left me with about 140 yards to the green. Bill went right again and had a difficult shot from the heather. This is also stroke index 2, so I was already at an advantage. I hit a good approach, but had been a bit conservative with my club. I cleared the ring of bunkers (just) and had a short chip onto the green. This was (moderately) intentional, as the flag was at the front and I had thought that there was no merit being long. I got up and down from the front to win the hole and extend my lead to two.

Hole 13

I have good memories of the 13th hole. The last time I had been here, we were playing foursome and my partner had put me in the middle of the fairway with about 220 yards to the green. I drilled a 3-wood right into the heart of the green. Our opposition looked on in amazement (as, quite honestly, did I!).

I could have done with someone else to hit my tee shot today. The strike was pretty good, but it went straight left and into the gorse which separated the heather from the trees. I had to drop out and was chasing the hole from there.

Bill played the hole the traditional way – middle of the fairway, middle of the green, 2-putt par.

The approach to the green is framed by heather on the left and a bunker on the right. They are off-set and so it is quite deceptive how much space there is over the left-hand mound. The green is large and has distinct shelves on the front left and back right.

Back to 1-up.

Hole 14

The par 5 14th hole plays back to the clubhouse which appears in the distance for the first time since the opening hole. The tee shot requires a good carry over the heather, which continues along the right hand side. The fairway is at a diagonal to the tee box, but plays straight from the 2nd shot. There is a set of three bunkers on the right edge of the fairway which are a danger if you are hitting out of the heather, but otherwise are not in play for any other than the longest hitters.

Bill found more heather up the right hand side, but I evaded it and was onto the fairway. I pushed a 3-wood up the right hand side and had a poor angle to attach the green. My approach was also hindered by over-hanging branches. The best place from which to approach the green is on the left, and there is a little punch bowl from the end of the fairway onto the apron. As Bill had been slightly out of position, I was able to pitch down onto the front of the green (the pin was back right) leaving a long putt. Bill was on the green in 4 and 2-putted for a 6. I was fortunate to hit the pin (at speed) with my return putt and was in for par. Back to 2-up.

Hole 15

We stopped for a quick drink on the veranda – we both still had plenty of water, but by now it was tepid. The cold and fizzy drink was very welcome. It definitely re-energised Bill, as you will see …

The 15th is another par 5. I have commented on back-to-back par 5s elsewhere, and this is another example where it definitely works. You play away from the clubhouse down a channel which runs almost parallel to the 14th, separated by the practice ground. There is a large swathe of heather up the left and trees, bushes and the practice ground on the right. The heather pinches into the fairway a little further up and then is in play on the right hand side if you are laying up.

My push-slice miss returned and I went over towards the practice ground. Fortunately, the ball didn’t quite travel far enough to go out of bounds, but ended up in a drainage ditch. The necessitated another penalty drop. Bill meanwhile had reset the metronome: left edge of the fairway to the middle of the fairway and then the middle of the green. I was chasing the hole and had got as far as the front bunker in 5. This bunker had been recently re-designed and now encroaches further into the fairway and has a steeper face. I splashed out onto the front of the green, but was well out of the hole.

Back to 1-down.

Hole 16

This is a gorgeous par 3. It is the shortest hole on the course, but has a wickedly difficult green. The tee shot is played across a pond that has reeds at the front and a selection of water-lilies in the centre. There are bunkers all around the front of the green and the green has a huge ridge that runs across the middle.

Today the pin was on the front portion of the green. Bill hit a terrific looking tee shot that came up just short and caught the front right bunker. I went left and had a difficult chip over the bunker which I just about managed to keep on the correct side of the ridge. Another yard and it would have been 40 feet further away from the hole. It did, however, leave me with a perilous downhill putt for par. As it transpired, it didn’t matter as Bill caught his bunker shot perfectly and after a couple of bounces it disappeared beneath the surface.

A birdie 2 had brought the match back to all-square with two holes to go.

Hole 17

We had a brief pause on the 17th tee box, firstly to settle after the chip-in birdie and secondly to allow some pedestrians on the public footpath that runs across the fairway. The 17th hole plays straight and slightly down hill. The tee shot is better up the left hand side and at this time of year, you need to account for the amount of run you will get in your approach. There is some heather in play for the approach, but the main concern off the tee is the trees. Given the length of the hole, if you miss the fairway you will not be able to go for the green in two.

Bill, buoyed by the last two holes, smashed a driver straight down the middle. By now, I had reverted to my 3-wood to try and ensure I kept the ball in play. It worked here and I was in perfect position on the left hand side of the fairway. We both missed the green with our approaches, and chipped on to be 25 feet (me) and 20 feet (Bill) from the hole. Bill was directly below the hole, mine had something like 3 feet of break from left to right. To our collective surprise, my putter came through and I sank my putt for an unlikely par-4. Bill followed me in! Some terrific golf and halved in 4.

All square on the last

Hole 18

The 18th is a short par 4, which perfectly mirrors the short par 4 at the beginning of the course. The fairway runs from left to right and cambers in the same direction. The hole again plays slightly downhill and if you get the right part of the fairway you can get good value for your shot.

The approach is brilliantly framed. It will normally be a short-iron or wedge into the green, but this is another tricky putting surface. There are three tiers and it all runs towards the pond on the right. The green side bunker protects the right front edge.

Bill hit a perfect tee shot. No pressure. I took out 3-wood again and needed one more good swing. The connection was good, but the direction was not. Straight into the trees on the left with a big first bounce taking it further away from safety. We weren’t sure where it had ended up, so I hit a provisional … that went in almost exactly the same position, but had a slightly kinder first bounce and ended up just inside the tree line. We found the original ball and I had a line under the branches to the green. I felt that if I could feed it up the left hand side, the ball would feed all the way down to the green. Worst case scenario, I would be in the green side bunker.

More bunker magic?

I didn’t quite get it right and ended up in the bunker. Bill, meanwhile, hit the middle of the green and was surprised not to see the ball feed down further to the back right pin. I couldn’t match Bill’s touch from earlier, and the bunker shot left me on the wrong tier above the hole. I could not match the well-weighted putt from Bill that gave him a 4 and the match was over. It was disappointing to have given away a 2-hole lead with 4 to play, but in my defence Bill had played the last 4 one under par. It was a great match and much closer than I had managed in our previous games!

Final thoughts

Each time I have been back to Woking I have discovered different aspects to the course. It is a wonderful course and has so much to offer. The holes are wonderfully designed and combine aesthetic pleasure with strategic complexity. Along with The Berkshire and Hankley Common (more on that to follow shortly!), it is my favourite heathland course. Just writing this has made me start thinking about when I can next get back to play at Woking Golf Club!