St Georges Hill

OK - great golf course. If I can't play it - for whatever reason - then for me it might as well not exist :)

I'm probably too egalitarian for most - but I'm not really particulary interested in golf courses I can't ever play (which may or may not apply to St George's Hill). In my mind for a course to be recognised (as great -or indeed rubbish) beyond it's own boundaries then it has to be accessible to all.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
To be very contentious - can a golf club that hardly anyone plays be deemed a great golf club. If I can't play there it doesn't matter to me whether or not it exists - so what does 'great' then mean to me for that golf club. Does the tallest tree in the world only exist once man has measured it?
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Hardly anyone plays? Eh? I think you may be mistaken there. I have played there over 25 times and I know lots of people who have done the same and much more. Plenty of people play there as it is a very popular and easily accessible place. Just arrange a game through the secretary, pay a green fee and play. It is not difficult to get a game there. And it is definitely a great club.

The cost is relatively reasonable and certainly good value for money. Anyone who can afford to buy new kit can afford to play SGH. For the cost of a new club, you can have a great day out. One will have no effect on your game whatsoever and the other will give you the memory of a great day out for ever. I know which I would rather have.


That aside, I think the 8th is the best par 3 and that the 12th is the best hole on the course. The weakest hole is the 18th. They should try and improve it if possible. Halfway hut is superb. In winter, I always go for Bovril and Sherry mixed with a splash of Tabasco. Sounds awful, tastes perfect. Rare roast beef for lunch is great too. As is the bread and butter pudding... Very reasonable wine list too with some good stuff at good prices.

And who could ever forget the waitress that looks exactly like Scarlett Johansson? Certainly not RickG or !!
 
Robobum said:
I dislike 11 already. In between clubs :(

Hard 52* or powder puff PW? Damn it
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It is dead easy the 11th. I usually get on with a 54 SW. It plays quite short as it is surrounded by tall trees so not much wind. Not exactly a small target either. It's a birdie chance and a good breather after the 10th and before the 12th - both very good and quite tough par 4's.
 
Robobum said:
I dislike 11 already. In between clubs :(

Hard 52* or powder puff PW? Damn it
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Uphill and the green is 20-25 yards deep. Play it as 125 (or a couple of yards more) irrespective of pin placement. Only if that's really awkward should you consider pin placement imo.
 
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Snelly said:
It is dead easy the 11th. I usually get on with a 54 SW. It plays quite short as it is surrounded by tall trees so not much wind. Not exactly a small target either. It's a birdie chance and a good breather after the 10th and before the 12th - both very good and quite tough par 4's.
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Just don't miss it right.:whistle:

I have played SGH probably as many times as Snelly, so don't really understand the comments about not being able to play it.:confused: Swinley now that is a different matter, although I have managed to get on there through a Society quite a few times.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
OK - great golf course. If I can't play it - for whatever reason - then for me it might as well not exist :)

I'm probably too egalitarian for most - but I'm not really particulary interested in golf courses I can't ever play (which may or may not apply to St George's Hill). In my mind for a course to be recognised (as great -or indeed rubbish) beyond it's own boundaries then it has to be accessible to all.
Click to expand...

@Snelly

Hardly anyone plays? Eh? I think you may be mistaken there. I have played there over 25 times and I know lots of people who have done the same and much more. Plenty of people play there as it is a very popular and easily accessible place. Just arrange a game through the secretary, pay a green fee and play. It is not difficult to get a game there. And it is definitely a great club.
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Tsk - I didn't say I couldn't play SGH - though can I play Loch Lomond these days? - time was as a member of Joe Public I couldn't. What about Wisley? Can I play there?

Sorry - I guess I hijacked this thread with a more general point. I'm also not that great a fan of clubs that charge an arm and a leg to play - because they can and it effectively limits who can play there to those with plenty of £££s. But that is a separate thing again.
 
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SwingsitlikeHogan said:
@Snelly



Tsk - I didn't say I couldn't play SGH - though can I play Loch Lomond these days? - time was as a member of Joe Public I couldn't. What about Wisley? Can I play there?

Sorry - I guess I hijacked this thread with a more general point. I'm also not that great a fan of clubs that charge an arm and a leg to play - because they can and it effectively limits who can play there to those with plenty of £££s. But that is a separate thing again.
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Sorry about that - my post and your second one were written at pretty much the same time - a mix up of communication.

As for Loch Lomond, Wisley etc, I am inclined to agree with you. I have played the former and was not overly impressed. It is basically The Grove with nicer views. Wisley is for members guests only but is a bit of a slog and not worth the effort to get on. Swinley is though - a lovely place full of charm.

In terms of expense, this is a subject that the forum covers regularly. My view is that expensive golf is fine as long as it represents good value for money. For example, £140 or whatever it is to play St Georges Hill is actually really good value for a special day at a special place. A similar argument applies for Sunningdale, Swinley, The Berkshire etc. Conversely, £358 for 18 holes at the West Course, Wentworth is very poor value and anyone paying it must have more money than sense.


Back to St Georges Hill for the OP! The 3rd is easily driveable and a great chance of a birdie. Also, when you go up the 9th, the house overlooking the lake on the left of the fairway with the sculptures in the garden is where John Lennon lived and the video for Imagine was filmed there in the drawing room.
 
Snelly said:
Sorry about that - my post and your second one were written at pretty much the same time - a mix up of communication.

As for Loch Lomond, Wisley etc, I am inclined to agree with you. I have played the former and was not overly impressed. It is basically The Grove with nicer views. Wisley is for members guests only but is a bit of a slog and not worth the effort to get on. Swinley is though - a lovely place full of charm.

In terms of expense, this is a subject that the forum covers regularly. My view is that expensive golf is fine as long as it represents good value for money. For example, £140 or whatever it is to play St Georges Hill is actually really good value for a special day at a special place. A similar argument applies for Sunningdale, Swinley, The Berkshire etc. Conversely, £358 for 18 holes at the West Course, Wentworth is very poor value and anyone paying it must have more money than sense.


Back to St Georges Hill for the OP! The 3rd is easily driveable and a great chance of a birdie. Also, when you go up the 9th, the house overlooking the lake on the left of the fairway with the sculptures in the garden is where John Lennon lived and the video for Imagine was filmed there in the drawing room.
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I wanna play SGH now :)
 
I actually think the 11th at SGH is a fantastic par 3, certainly not a filler hole in any way. Small green, falls away on every side, miss it at your peril! Every course should have a short hole like it, much more interesting and fun than any modern course with 200+ yard par 3's.

Fabulous golf course, I just wish I was low enough to get in to the event.
 
SwingsitlikeHogan said:
OK - great golf course. If I can't play it - for whatever reason - then for me it might as well not exist :)

I'm probably too egalitarian for most - but I'm not really particulary interested in golf courses I can't ever play (which may or may not apply to St George's Hill). In my mind for a course to be recognised (as great -or indeed rubbish) beyond it's own boundaries then it has to be accessible to all.
Click to expand...

I agree with what you say about courses being accessible, the good news is SGH is. OK, it ain't cheap but anyone can get on it :thup:
 
drive4show said:
I actually think the 11th at SGH is a fantastic par 3, certainly not a filler hole in any way. Small green, falls away on every side, miss it at your peril! Every course should have a short hole like it, much more interesting and fun than any modern course with 200+ yard par 3's.

Fabulous golf course, I just wish I was low enough to get in to the event.
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I agree. However, the others are about 200, 180 and 210. There's a huge gap - though that distance is likely to be tested elsewhere. Swinley has 170, 140, 185, 165 and 170. Yes distance doesn't indicate playing length and that distance can be tested elsewhere but same also applies elsewhere.
Camberley's set seems better balanced to me.

By 'connector', I certainly don't mean/consider it a 'filler' hole. But 2, 7 and 14 at Camberley sort of connect - or a way to get to - their 'bigger brothers' before and after them. Same with Swinley 4th and SGH 11.

I've often wondered whether the Par 3s are laid out first or simply are the result of doing this connection between obvious Greens and Teeing positions. Perhaps a combination of both when appropriate or the opportunity arose (as in SHG 11)?

One thing that I check on any new course I play is whether I've used every club in the bag. Pretty rare that I haven't (at least had the option) on Colt courses!
 
These are the sort of events I want to get into. Sadly I don't think i'll ever get low enough, but then I never thought I'd get to where I am now. Never played there but I hear it's stunning. Enjoy and play well.
 
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