Played By NCG: Sunningdale (Old)
Reason for a Sunningdale (Old) Golf Club review
Often voted in the top few courses in the UK, so why wouldn’t you?
Where is Sunningdale (Old) Golf Club?
Located 30miles to the south west of London, on Chobham Common in Berkshire, just South of Windsor, and a stones throw from Virginia Water.
The Old course was laid out by Willie Park Jnr in 1900, the course has held many prestigious tournaments over the years, including the Seniors Open and the Walker Cup.
What to expect
Heathland golf at its best, with fast running springy fairways, and quick firm greens.
The Old course is not long, however it allows you to hit driver and as a result is fun to play. It always feel like it should offer better scoring that normally occurs, which is a great testament to the design.
There are a number of blind shots, but whoever said that was a bad thing, and certainly adds to the charm of the course.
Favourite hole
So many good holes to choose from, but the par 4 10th is hard to beat, requiring a long and well struck drive threaded between a deep bunker on the left and heathery banking to the right.
From here a good mid iron is required to a rewarding green which is perched up and sits towards you. With the halfway hut behind the green this is always a pleasing green to get to!
My best bit
Being down at the hut, meaning F&B was not on me, and then pulling the game back on the last 8 holes to take the spoils… win, win!
What to look for
Don’t be fooled by the short par 4 11th, coming after the hut the tee shot can be tricky as the body has seized up, and then what seems like an innocuous green, isn’t!
Trying to hold a simple 80-100 yard pitch on the green is a great challenge.
When I go back…
The club are investing a large sum in state of the art practice facilities including driving range and short game area, I always enjoy trying these out before play.
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Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
