Huntercombe – Golf Course Review

Golfer’s Tips

• The members like a nice brisk round, so rounds are limited to 2-balls or foursomes and the aim is for 3qtr hour rounds max – one of many pleasant quirks at Huntercombe.
• The 7th is a great par 3 which is often played into the prevailing wind, which whistles down the chute between the trees. Club up and your miss should be pin-high to long left, which leaves a relatively simple chip on, anything right can be treacherous or worse.
• Despite being one of only two par 5s on the course, driver may not be the play from the 16th tee. Longer hitters may run into tree trouble on the left corner of the dogleg right, and cutting the corner requires a long hit over OB and very steep mounds. The firm downhill nature of the hole could mean that a long iron or fairway wood results in the green (or nearby) being reachable in two if desired.

Signature Holes

• 4th – the standout hole within the initial 5-hole loop, a par 4 that could be drivable but beware the bank at the front of the diagonal green which could kick an approach shot through the green. Whether you play a running approach shot or fly the ball all the way, a well played shot is required.
• 17th – the classic Willie Park Jr/ Huntercombe short par 4, not long but testing. At only 275 yards but turning right to left, the play is to hit around 200 up and around the corner, avoiding multiple hollowed and heathered areas, before playing your short second into another two-tiered green sloping back to front.

Review:

Huntercombe is a beautifully mature and unspoiled course with just enough history and traditions to make this a real gem.

Unlike many within the Top 100 ranks, which is vastly populated by links and heathland tracks, Huntercombe is an excellent parkland layout played through mature woodland, albeit with heathland feels. Its defence, given the relatively flat land and short yardage, is based around gnarly grass bowls and fast sloped putting surfaces, with several heather lined banks to navigate and consider. The greens are receptive if they’re hit, but very fast and difficult to hold if running in or playing from rough.

Starting relatively gently with a short par 3 and then a wide downhill par 4, although both greens offer an insight into the rapid and undulating surfaces to come, the completion of the initial 5-hole loop is found with a string of par 4s that set you up for the Huntercombe test as a whole. Fairways will generally turn one way or the other, with mature trees providing the shape to the hole, and the fairways and greenside approaches are littered with hollows of varying sizes and conditioning which are definitely to be avoided.

Following the initial loop you walk up to the par 5 6th, a fine longer hole, and then comes the strong par 3 7th which is played down a chute of trees with a rare sand bunker right and mounds and grass bunkers left. The 8th is a more straightforward par 4, albeit until you reach the two-tier green which possesses an incredibly severe slope – back pin is brutally difficult to get to and hold, even with putter in hand!

The middle section of the course is back and forth in nature but is by no means benign, each hole is sufficiently diverse and intriguing. The whole place feels very mature and an absolute pleasure to play – very much playable, but far from being easy despite the shorter length and openness at certain points.

After the fine short par 17th comes the 18th which provides a lovely finish – threading a tee shot through trees aiming for the bunker on the right hand side of fairway, preferabkh with a draw, with the resulting approach shot played over a bank of heather and gorse into a green sitting attractively in front of the old clubhouse.

Huntercombe, with its mature course, old-school traditions and links to Ian Fleming/ James Bond(!), is a real treat. Fully deserving of its status within England’s top 100 ranking and a round that every level of golfer could enjoy.

NB. The presence of the Red Kite as the club’s logo is not just symbolic – these beautiful birds are present across the course, swooping just above you at many points. A real bonus and an absolute treat to observe.

• “Top 100” Ranking: 73rd (England)
• Golfer View Rating: 80%

https://www.huntercombegolfclub.co.uk/

Back to Reviews