Woodcote Park Golf Club

Woodcote Park Golf Club: another in a seemingly inexhaustible supply of excellent quality parkland golf courses that surround the metropolis of London. Harry Colt, James Braid and J.H. Taylor were responsible for the design of many of them; this one is by another "Golden Age" designer, Harry Vardon.

The opening five holes and closing three are played in an attractive though flattish parkland area, with the fairways separated by a not overly dense tree-line ... a classic parkland scene, with very little deep rough to worry about. As you cross the bridleway to the par-4 6th, the holes flow out and back in pairs. There's a gentle descent as you play holes 6 thru' 10, and then an equally gentle ascent as holes 11 thru' 15 bring you back again.

Throughout, the layout quietly flows along good-width fairways, with nothing by way of water hazards to worry about. A formidable array of large eliptical cross-bunkers come into play at holes 2, 5, 8, 10, 11 and 18, while a few holes (like 16 and 17) could perhaps benefit from more sand features and/or mounding.

This out-and-back design comprises an "inner" front-nine, wrapped around which is the "outer" back-nine. There's not much to see beyond the course, but much mature woodland to admire both on the course and around the perimeter. The generally large, subtly-sloping, sometimes tilting greens will thoroughly test your skills with the short stick.

Pick of the holes: furthest out from the clubhouse is an attractive stretch of holes comprising the short par-4 11th and 12th holes, and the only back-nine par-3, the good-length 13th.