Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club ****

Golf Links Road, Worlington, Bury St Edmunds, IP28 8SD

Nearest main town: Newmarket

 

Nine-hole courses are traditionally regarded with a certain amount of suspicion by golfers, who rather blithely dismiss them as 'fun' courses, lacking sufficient variety and length to provide a discernible challenge. Players who visit Royal Worlington generally have these illusions shat­tered by what is a very challenging and picturesque course, and almost certainly one of the best nine-hole courses in the world.

Suffolk is blessed with an excellent variety of courses, including the fiendishly difficult Aldeburgh, Purdis Heath, Woodbridge and Thorpeness, which prove excellent for holiday golfers to this quiet corner of England. Royal Worlington is situated some way away in the racing town of Newmarket, but is well worth the trip, particularly if you take in Gog Magog, on the southern side of the university town of Cambridge.

Royal Worlington, inaugurated in 1890, has a very linksy feel for an inland course, an impression which can in part be put down to the rather haphazard arrangement of holes, with a couple of par-3s cross­ing fairways, and drives being played almost straight over greens. This calls for a certain amount of courtesy to fellow players and a great deal of concentration to cope with the unusual layout. The links feel is also on account of the sandy soil, which provides excellent drainage.

The best holes come halfway, starting with the 5th, a stunning, bunkerless short hole, where an overlong shot is punished by the trees behind the green. The 7th is another fine par-3, with a classic saucer green leaving only the top of the pin visible from the tee.

It is hard not to come away from here impressed, and the plaudits heaped upon the course, particularly by journalists who have been known to get it wrong, in this case are completely justified.

 

Secretary: Mr K. Weston                        

Tel: 01638 712216

Professional: Mr M. Hawkins                                 

Tel: 01638 715224

Playing: Midweek: round n/a; day £40.00-£55.00. Weekend: round n/a; day no visitors.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Lunch from 12pm-2.30pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: How did they design such a great nine holes in a large field? ... A real treat and will return soon... The best nine-hole course in the world? ... Wonderfully traditional ... Who needs 18 when you've got nine of this quality?..Will be back. . .Stunning short course.

 

Aldeburgh Golf Club ****

Saxmundham Road, Aldeburgh, IP15 5PE

Nearest main town: Aldeburgh

 

Secretary: Mr I. Simpson

Tel: 01728 452890 Fax: 01728 452937

Professional: Mr K. Preston                    

Tel: 01728 453309

Playing: Midweek: round n/a; day £45.00. Weekend: round n/a; day £60.00.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Lunch from 11 am-4pm.

Comments: A hard course to play to your handicap. . .Terrific collection of par-4s, bunkers and gorse. ..Tight and difficult . .. Hard-running at times...Real tough cookie...Standard scratch says it all.