Hankley Common, Woburn & Back Pain

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Snelly

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Morning,

I played a bit of golf last week and very nice it was too. Wednesday was Hankley Common which was in beautiful condition. For those that don't know it, it is a wonderful course with some great holes and excellent lunches! Rare roast beef last week which was lovely, as were the birdies I got on the 7th and 18th. One is a perfect par 3, rated as one of the best in the country and the 18th is tough. In over a dozen visits, I reckon I have parred it about 3 times so a birdie was very nice indeed. Here is a pic of me easing a drive up the 10th hole!

hankley.png



Then Thursday and Friday were spent at Woburn. Thursday was on the Dukes and whilst it is a picturesque track with two or three sparkling holes (3 and 4 notably), I have to say that off the yellows, I am not that fond of it and think it is slightly too tight to be a fair test. In terrific condition though. Maybe sour grapes as I lost 2 and 1 perhaps?

Friday was a joy. We played the Marquess course and it is truly superb. A wonderful design with several world class holes, most notably the par 5 6th which is just about peerless. I really like the Marquess and there are no weak holes although maybe making the 18th a bit more special than it currently is would be a good move. If you get the chance to play at Woburn then this is the course to choose. In my view, it is the best of the three courses here and by a considerable margin.

My only downside to what was a cracking 3 days is that 3 days of consecutive golf has given me some terrible pains in my lower back. I guess I just don't use my golf muscles very often and 3 days was too much. Seriously sore and am booked in for physio this week.

Anyway, a nice 3 days of golf and if you get the chance, play the Marquess course. It is absolutely brilliant.
 
although we are miles apart in ability Snelly I totally agree with your views on Woburn, I loved the Marquess and found the Dukes too tight and a bit so so. Some of the holes on the Marquess were stunning but none really jump out from memory on the Dukes.

Hope the back is eased soon, the joys of getting older ;)
 
Hankley is beautiful however, from the yellows, the test isn't that formidable and is totally playable for anyone.

The purple tees give the place some real teeth and put all the hazards in play - great place, looking forward to their mid am again this year - must remember not to eat like a horse at lunchtime this year!!
 
Robobum said:
Hankley is beautiful however, from the yellows, the test isn't that formidable and is totally playable for anyone.

The purple tees give the place some real teeth and put all the hazards in play - great place, looking forward to their mid am again this year - must remember not to eat like a horse at lunchtime this year!!
Click to expand...

Completely agree and love that new purple tee on the 3rd. It is tough from the back. 6th is a proper par 5 from the purple tee too. West Hill is the same - a totally different proposition from the championship tees.
 
nice hip clearance!

I found similarity in tees when I first played Wentworth West course, the yellow tees made it a very 'average' track where some hazards didnt come into play and dog legs were mid-long irons as opposed to woods to reach.

I suppose that makes it playable for all handicaps then.........which cant be bad.
 
Thanks Full Throttle. I think my new Woburn rule is the Marquess or not at all. I have played the others quite a few times and enjoyed them but would always wish I was on the M from now on.

Hope you have a good day.
 
Oddly, I prefer the duchess, the so called third course.

I find the hole on the marquess with the split fairway totally mickey mouse. May be it needs a windmill or a clowns head?,
 
murphthemog said:
Oddly, I prefer the duchess, the so called third course.

I find the hole on the marquess with the split fairway totally mickey mouse. May be it needs a windmill or a clowns head?,
Click to expand...

Really? I thought it was absolutely fantastic! Same for the 12th with the to sets of water. Great holes. The duchess is as tight as a mouse's ear, or so the gossip in the town says.....
 
I loved the Marquess - played it Aug 11 in their open and at £65 for the comp and food etc it was stunning value - shame it was 50% dearer last year - but still well worth the money. There are some really stunning holes although it did dip a bit after 14 (if that is the big par 5), with the last four holes (I think) clearly inferior. By a big distance the best course at the complex. The Duchess needs a serious dose of the chainsaw to get some width and let some light in - makes it very hard to remember individual holes. From memory - it has been 8 years - the Dukes was very good 2-7, then quite average, with one or two decent holes when you come back into the trees.

Regarding Hankey, I think it is awesome - and on a par with Sunningdale - simply the best inland site in the world - think what Tom Doak could do with a meaty budget on that 850 acre site - the big heather hills that surround the course - you could have a 90-hole dreamland golf complex!! And the 7th is possibly my favourite golf hole
 
Snelly said:
Really? I thought it was absolutely fantastic! Same for the 12th with the to sets of water. Great holes. The duchess is as tight as a mouse's ear, or so the gossip in the town says.....
Click to expand...

The duchess is tight, it rewards accurate driving, and it is scenic and pretty.

That spilt fairway on the marquess, if I go left I can't make it in two, if I go right, I run out of fairway, and my second shot is an 8 iron off a 45 degree lie full of cack. How many players set up to hit it down the left, and carve it down the right to a perfect position? That can't be right. Swap it, so that the longer route is down slicers alley, fair enough. Currently a naff golf hole.
 
I would never play the Dukes and Duchess again. Much too tight, and once you have played one forest lined hole you have played them all. The Marquis which I have not played sounds like it is worth a go though.

Hankley Common is a fantastic course, which I have played many times as fortunately it is five minutes from where I live. Must be one of the best sites for an inland course in the country. Yes you could build four more courses on the land around the course, but I doubt you would build a better one.
 
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