Royal Winchester Golf Club

Feature Review - Royal Winchester Golf Club

Posted by: Tom Furniss on Tue 04 Nov 2008

"Royal Winchester GC is situated within the City boundaries but is open to farmland and distant views towards north Hampshire from much of the course, and from the Clubhouse. Quite strenuously hilly in places with tough rough and well-manicured and presented tees and greens, and particularly good, springy, diagonal-cut fairways.

Extensive work has been done for 2008 in extending the course and its previous rating of SSS 70 has gone out to 72 to equal the par (from the white tees). Many of the greens have ridges and subtle borrows - local wisdom has it that all putts on the front nine turn towards the ninth hole in the valley but there are a few exceptions.

There is now a much wider range of approach shot lengths so club selection is much more significant and the course will test all parts of your game, particularly if you obtain permission to play from the white tees - the most dramatic change has been the 6th, formerly a par-4 SI 1 now a par-5 which has retained its "most-difficult" status! Cross-bunkers just inside the 150 marker, and against the prevailing wind, will have you wondering whether to lay up and leave a long third stroke into an awkward green.

The only slight weakness that stops the course from becoming the best test of golf in Hampshire is the number of approach shots you have to play where the green, or at least the bottom of the flag, is not visible and you cannot see your ball pitch. As a result the feedback you get from seeing how your ball responds when it lands is limited. Still, "rub of the green" is all in the game and if you have the character to take the unexpected - good and bad - then you will enjoy the experience.

A new putting green and nets are coming into use in Spring 2008, the professional's shop has a reputation for good value and deals, especially at sale time (clothing is often very reasonable) and the Clubhouse, built in 1995 after a fire destroyed the old building, is spacious and airy with a great balcony overlooking the 18th, and good service.

At the time of writing there is a winter offer until the end of March for a fourball including a snack meal for an astonishing £80, and the course is playing as well as many do in mid-summer."

Terry Wall, 10th March 2008.