Sunningdale Golf Club – New Course

6,716 yards, 138 slope from the Blues

Apparently Colt was a hell of a Club Secretary. It was formidable reign at Sunningdale where he imposed an ironclad philosophy with the staff and management yielding to the membership. His affection for the club is evident and it was during his tenure that his growth as a course architect took place. This was in no small part due to his work on the Old Course, yet includes Swinley Forest, St. George’s Hill, Ganton, Alwoodley and significant involvement at Pine Valley. His work on the Old was an indication of a larger transition of sorts in the world of course architecture, as Colt began to take the baton from Park. Colt tried to resign from his post in 1911 but the club would not let him. Begrudgingly, the club accepted his resignation in 1913. Colt then accelerated his involvement in course design, which included St. Andrews Eden, Royal Liverpool, Old Elm and Bloomfield Hills, all before returning to Sunningdale to begin on the New.

And so it is that Sunningdale gleams with character from both Park and Colt. Colt had intimate knowledge of both club and land when he returned, along with the invaluable experience of the numerous projects he amassed. In partnership with Mackenzie at the time, the New was highly anticipated and no expense spared for its construction. The routing spread out across the land, lengthy and brawny. While one needed to charm and coax at the Old, he needed might and resolve at the New. It opened in 1922 to wide acclaim. In the 1930’s, however, just as Colt with Park at the Old, Simpson came in to revise the New, replacing the Sixth to Tenth. Simpson was involved in the original construction of the New and ran in a clockwise loop. Yet Colt returned four years after this revision and switched the loop to counter clockwise, the direction they run to this day. In fact, the course largely remains as it was from the time of Colt’s return, with extensive tree removal taking place in the recent past to restore all avenues of original playing corridors.

It is inevitable that the second course of a 36 hole club will be compared to its older sibling and many will derive the overall character of them both based on this comparison. While there are several ways to examine this comparison, it’s a lot more direct to realize the second course either elevates the stature of the club or it doesn’t. Then it can be examined how the course contributes to the overall club character. Here, the New certainly elevates because of its similarities and differences with the Old. Yes it would be an outstanding course in its own right if the Old never existed but the symbiosis between each course elevates them both by crystalizing their distinct attributes. The Old is a subtly deceptive driver’s course with an uncanny ability to exude pleasantness in every sense while the New is left with something to prove and alas, more forthright in its challenges. Forced carries, stiffer recovery character, more exposed to the wind and the hills more confrontational. Suave wit alongside robust cunning. Indeed, there is no denying that the New complements the Old and leaves Sunningdale with two extraordinarily designed courses, the membership blessed to decide between them depending on how the mood strikes.

The First is a 460 yard par 4 (from the Blues). A long par 4 moving uphill to start with rough on either side off fairway and a tree line moving up the left side. The left fairway bunker is not original but adds challenge to the tee and the fairway narrows past it. Another bunker is further up on the right. The approach will undoubtedly be a long one to a deep, wavy green. A single greenside bunker on the left that quite honestly, you should hope to catch if you’re going to miss the green because it gets very tight off the green otherwise. More of a hot handshake opener.

The Second is a 164 yard par 3. Colt certainly enjoyed elevated par 3’s. There are two at the front nine of the Old and then the one here. There is plenty of room before the green but it all moves back down the hill. The contours provide most of the character here, as the bunkers are at the front and off to the side. Lots of fin movement yet deceptively tough when one realizes they actually need to get the ball in the hole eventually.

The Third is a 409 yard par 4. A bit more strategical consideration at this tee shot that is placed at the utmost right hand side with the fairway moving across from the left. The golfer must decide when his ball will break to the left and reach the fairway without blasting through it altogether to the left side tree line. The bunkering near the green obscures just how much ground there is between them and around the green, on the left mind you, with a general right to left movement prevailing from tee through the green.

The Fourth is a 455 yard par 4. Another long par 4 and here along with the hole prior, we begin to realize that heather is relied on much more formidably and frequently here than at the Old. While the green was moved to a lower right location, Colt placed it back on the plateau, reaffirming his affinity for high ground greens. The bunker on the right is well placed, especially with the flow of the terrain, further teasing the golfer towards the narrower left side.

The Fifth is a 182 yard par 3. From one high point to another, anything short, or even at the absolute front edge, will fall towards the ravine and bunker that is short center. All sides except the right fall off pretty severely so all signs suggest hitting the green or having to work hard to not lose any strokes.

The Fifth by H. Rountree in 1931. Stunning.

The Sixth is a 517 yard par 5. This hole to the Tenth are the series of holes worked on by Simpson, then subsequently by Colt. Up front, it was one of the best par 5’s of the trip, its elevated tee shot must carry the hillside of heather moving down the hillside. The fairway awaits and really, there’s no where good to miss. The heather is no good, nor is the tree line on the left. Upon walking down from the tee to the fairway, the golfer immediately starts climbing up to the green, gradually then all of a sudden. The fairway dog legs right but kinks a little at the turn so it goes left before right. Heather continues on both sides and the golfer must calculate his second shot carefully to avoid it and end up some where preferable for the approach. A high ground green to the surprise of no one awaits, lots of room at the entry point but bunkers on the sides, left is high, right is low. A brawny hole requiring precision and thought with plenty of time for inspiration.

The Seventh is a 377 yard par 4. Another elevated tee shot with a slight dog leg to the right, the tee shot is blind and the turn to the right is enough that golfer may unwittingly drive through it. Something less than driving is advisable unless the golfer is certain on the line. Just a single greenside bunker to speak of on the right, lots of room on the left.

The Eighth is a 399 yard par 4. No bunkers to speak of here, the tee shot must carry heather before the fairway then get to the elevated green where the right side falls of the most severe. With the subtle yet effective terrain movement, high point green, trees and heather, there simply is no reason for bunkers. The natural terra and fauna is sufficient for engaging golf.

The Ninth is a 458 yard par 4. Another long par 4 to close out the front, another tee shot to carry heather to reach the fairway. Once the fairway starts, it heads downhill and cants considerably left to right. The fairway then starts to narrow as it approaches the green and the left to right movement is much more pronounced, with the low right side including a large greenside bunker. A thrilling denouement to fabulous use of terrain in the name of sporty challenge.

The bunkering in scale to the green and hillside

The front nine shines with its par 4’s and 5 while the par 3’s are better than those on the front of the Old. I would rank them 3, 9, 6, 4, 1, 7, 5, 8, 2.

The back nine starts with the 215 yard par 3 Tenth. A wonderfully back stabbing par 3 that will smile and cajole all the way until you feel the dagger go in. Fantastic movement, all of it even far away yet leading to the left greenside bunker, which seems to ultimately collect all the shots. It’s still a much better place to be than the higher right side bunkers, or long for that matter. My favorite par 3 of the course despite the parade of strokes it set me on.

The Eleventh is a 442 yard par 4. This is what it feels like when a hole is draped over the landscape. The tee shot is blind but the golfer knows he is headed downhill and the ridge to the other side is in view. The right to left cant is likewise visibly evident, which encourages right to left shots off the tee to take full advantage. The fairway runs gently downhill to the green, where the contours and right to left movement intensify at the green. The single fairway and greenside bunkers are well placed, suggesting the strategic advantages as one makes his way to the green.

The Twelfth is a 398 yard par 4. The right to left theme continues as the tee shot needs to carry a good deal of native grass before reaching the fairway, which moves off the hillside and indeed, imparts right to left movement. The bunkering is on the right, which the golfer needs to flirt with in order to properly use the movement and obtain a clear view to the green, which is set above the fairway, the lower left chock full of heather that is not preferable at all.

The Thirteenth is a 560 yard par 5. You learn a lot about Colt here. He certainly liked heights and vertical fluctuation, this elevated tee is one such instance. The carries from tee to fairway are another example of the difference between the Old and New. Colt sought to challenge the tee shot vertically, sometimes even more than horizontally. Here, there is plenty of room to the sides yet heather is at the sides, including around the right fairway bunker. The fairway widens for the second shot but a center line bunker complicates matters, one needs to decide on one side or to carry it altogether. The green is deep and some what narrow with a sole bunker before it to the right. The green seems to recognize the arduous green to tee journey and while unencumbered with plaguing hazards, its contours still ensure an honest effort for the scorecard and match.

The Fourteenth is a 189 yard par 3. Yes it could be, an encouraging of right to left movement yet too far right will result in too much of a good thing. The trees provide a nice insulated corridor and amphitheater at the green while the left bunker guards the most advantageous angle and putting lines at the green. The age old adage is intact; flirt with danger for strategic spoils.

The Fifteenth is a 437 yard par 4. A dog leg right where the inside is defended with trees and water, yet the tree lines on the left flummoxes the golfer at the tee, who is left with little choice but to decide on a line and commit. The approach is a bit uphill to the green with a gaggle of bunkers guarding the front of the green. The rear side drops off especially at the left while the high right side continues the right to left movement theme of the back nine. Favor the rear of the green and take those consequences over the gang of front bunkers.

The Sixteenth is a 396 yard par 4. A shorter slight dog leg right where the tree lines dictate play more than they do on most holes here. The diagonal bunkers before the green ensure only proper approaches find the green while they may actually come into the equation more on recovery shots. The deep green runs back to front with bunkers on its left side.

The Seventeenth is a 170 yard par 3. The brilliant use of trees here is under discussed. Like Pine Valley, trees do not irrationally interfere with play yet are occasionally used strategically and even more so used for isolation sake. One hardly realizes just how close they are to adjacent holes. Here, the green is next to the First green, Second tee, as well as the Sixteenth and Seventeenth of the Old. Yet the peaceful refrain felt throughout each course prevails, allowing the golfer to focus on the task at hand. The green is a little off center with a couple scalloped deep bunkers on the right below the hole. The golfer only thinks he knows where his shot will roll out or the acceptable miss areas but it’s not until he sees the shots in action does he realize there is much more to learn before deriving that kind of knowledge.

The Eighteenth is a 488 yard par 5. The trees finally yield and we see the home hole is running to the clubhouse next to the Old home hole. The tee shot is straight and the fairway a little narrower than we’ve seen, a sign that closing out the round will need to take on the same vigor as the rest of it. The first and second shots need to be straight and long to set up the approach, which needs to avoid the bunkers placed diagonally on the right as well as one on the left. The contours and bunkers come in waves while the green is a bit rambunctious in movement, its farewell to the golfer for old time sake.

The back nine asserts strong points of the overall design character off the course, offering variety with the terrain and structure of play and able to seamlessly transition between wooded seclusion and elevated al fresco inspiration. My ranking of them is 11, 12, 10, 15, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18.

Generally, Sunningdale New is an insightful reflection of Colt’s design philosophies on splendid display among terrain up for the occasion. The attributes of the holes are tougher, mainly with sterner recovery character yet also requiring more gambling, risk and length. Colt asks for strategic resolve and skill yet provides respite and expressiveness within the varied landscape. The balance Colt imparted in meeting the demands of membership in a bigger, better, tougher course than the Old was met in sophisticated layers without falling into the trap of trying to hit the golfer over the head bluntly. This sophistication is different than the Old but within the same blood line, which certainly elevates the identity and character of Sunningdale. The golfer that is able to play both in a single day takes in more brilliance and heightened challenge and charm of the game than some countries possess in total.

Clubhouse/Pro Shop: The pro shop is separate from the main clubhouse with the whole facility area set up almost as a small village. The putting green and driving range further down the hill, the First tee of the New on the way. The clubhouse is one of the more famous out there and certainly one should spend some time at as its views of the Old sprawl forth from the patio.