Trevor Sandford

The Nicklaus Course at St Mellion was his first European course design and modestly quoted by its creator as “potentially the finest course in Europe.” That may be arguable today but it was a pleasure to play a course where Seve, Ollie, Langer and Casey have been international winners.
The 18 holes wind their way around hill and valley in spectacular fashion, with narrow fairways cut into the hillside and small, well-protected greens surrounded by woodland creating a mature, secluded environment belying its mere 28 years. Every hole presents a different challenge with severe slopes deployed to great effect creating stunning vistas on every tee and water coming into play on five holes. Every fairway has a “crimped” edge (like a Cornish pasty) so the buggy path is a real roller-coaster ride over the mounds; buggies must stay on it meaning a lot of to-ing and fro-ing but on pristine fairways. Maintenance and signage are excellent, there are 3 or 4 well-equipped comfort stops and it is easy to find your way around this picturesque but very challenging course.
The par-3s were target golf to hillside ledges with recovery difficult if you missed the green. You need your A game here, and not just with your irons. The 14th needed a full mini-driver into a strong wind over a valley, bushes and 2 short bunkers - not for the faint-hearted. The 5th required a full 200 yard shot over a lake to leave a short pitch over a stream to the green, but the 11th offered perhaps a more daunting 180 yard downhiller over a lake and bunker to a narrow green. With 6 groundstaff pausing to watch, I was relieved to nail a rescue club just over the flag and wander off muttering “too much club”!
I was lucky to get a free round, courtesy of my nearby holiday cottage which had membership, but the course fully justifies its £80 green fee. They hadn’t heard of TSG in the pro shop but Crown Golf members get 20% off. Keeping the buggy, for which I paid £22, on the path was a bit awkward but it would have been tough to walk and it allows year-round use. Inside are a decent, if expensive, pro shop, bar and restaurant typical of a luxury hotel with good leisure facilities that offers a range of deals and golf breaks which are worth looking into.

I played the best round of my life so i am biased but this was an excellent course to play. A bit squishy after last night's rain but still played well - and a really good "walk the Woosie" winter deal too.

Not a good start as turned up in shorts which, apparently, are not allowed in the clubhouse after 10. However, the catering staff were very welcoming. Teed off at 10 and the quality of the course made up for the dull day. Quite challenging, though, and you have to plot your way around. Playing as a fourball, we let a few smaller groups through, but were still harrassed a bit by the final group behind which was disappointing. Spoiled the superb view of Thorndon Hall going up the 18th.

With so many doglegs on the front 9, a yardage chart would have been really handy for the first-time visitor; unfortunately they didn't have any. Also the greens had just been tined on the front, which made putting a bit of a lottery. The back 9 was Ok and you could even hit a driver occasionally. Having had this course bigged up by a member just a few days before, I have to say I was very disappointed, but then when you play as abysmally as I did, you have to find some excuse for it.

Up and down a lot, playing over hedges and back across the green you've just come off are some of the features of this James Braid design, but it's a fair test with varied holes which can yield a good score. The clubhouse was quiet when we visited and, though it has grand aspects, the visitors' locker rooms are a real let-down.

Varied holes, quite generous fairways and fair greens proved a good test on a pleasant day. Clubhouse very traditional with good facilities and the best pracrtice nets I've ever seen: you hit the ball and it rolls back to you so you don't hve to get another one!!

Tranquil parkland splendour surrounds elegant clubhouse so close to A1/M25. Members enjoy superb service at this private club which is not open to casualvisitors but does take society bookings (as unfortunately evidenced by the many pitch-marks I had to repair). A lovely course in superb surroundings with many varied and excellent holes. We'll be back for their Christmas special in December, though as it's a Jewish club, there'll be no bacon butties.

With no bunkers and run-out at 230-260 on nearly every par 4, this is a course for plotting your way round. No wonder Luke Donald won the Berkhamsted Trophy here as an amateur. Even the par 5s have a narrow neck in the fairway at driving distance. If you can hit the fairway about 220 yds off each tee, you'll be well on the way to a good score. Bumps and mounds protect the greens and the fairway lies range from lush to hard, so there is a bit of luck involved too. Also watch out for dog-walkers, runners, cyclists etc on this attractive heathland course.

We could have played the West course as a fourball today but had to split into 2 two-balls to play the High Course. It was worth it as this proved a high point on my M25 tour in more ways than one. Tight fairways required long hits off the whites but the first cut was reasonable and I didn't lose a ball - except at the quirky 11th where I'd play 5-iron,3-iron if I was playing it again: definitely no longer than a rescue club off the tee.

Stunning Palladian clubhouse with amazing internal decor worth a visit in itself and surprisingly good value food in the bar.

Friendly members' club sports a varied course with some short and some long holes for a good test. Greens are fair though fairways can be quite undulating.

It was a very quiet Monday morning when we visited so we played millionaires' golf. The greens were all good, but a tight front 9 is followed by a more spacious back 9 with stadium-type holes rather in the style of East Sussex National or the PGA at the Belfry. These proved more amenable to the wayward longer hitter, as I proved by playing the 14th fairway three times, making birdie from there on the 15th. At this friendly and accessible club you are always conscious of the M25, if not trains and planes as well, but wildlife also awaits in the secluded ponds and streams if you have time to stop and stare.

No water and little heavy rough but still a challenge to find many of the fairways on this attractive parkland course which is a bit hidden away behind iron gates in an otherwise unremarkable west London suburb. Very much geared for members with little signage and no strokesaver available, but you can see most of it and it's flat. Greens quite fast and subtle, hard to read the breaks.

Two excellent courses and an impressive clubhouse make an elegant venue. We played the New course: longer, slightly more open than the Old and pretty challenging in the strong wind, with careful club selection required on all tees and good greens to finish.

Staight at the pin with a rescue club at the first, a long par 3. If only I'd stayed with that club all round. Trouble is it's 6786 off the whites so you feel you have to knock it up there, or else play them all as par 5s. You can play out of the heather if you find your ball, but there's a big premium for finding the fairway.
Bathed in tradition with princes and parliamentarians as past presidents, the club offers oak-pannelled dining rooms and unassuming, traditional service. The putting green is like the benign back lawn of some country house but the heath can be brutal if the wind blows. You are playing a course where Europe lost the Ryder Cup to a superb American team in 1981. Play like Tom Watson here and you'll be OK. If not, just enjoy the views and try not to hear the thunder of the M25 around the turn.

Well-maintained if short course at friendly members' club. 7 of the par 4s just reachable but rescue + lob wedge probably a better strategy. Numerous sloping fairways and several longer (400yd+) par 4s. Little water and sand not dangerous. Some par 3s a bit quirky and 10th (SI1) very odd and tricky on first encounter. Longer hitters would be frustrated here but a nice afternoon out and welcoming environment generally.

It was a washout all day, but I managed to plot my way round with a rescue club off the tee on the shortish par-4s from the yellows. Looked a nice course and one i'd return to in decent weather when I'd be looking to post a good score.

Very dry and looking quite scruffy in places but that reflects the weather. Wide fairways with tight lies mean you have to play links golf in summer. Greens play better than they look. Expect a manicured course and you'll be disappointed but expect pay and play and you'll be pleasantly surprised by this quite challenging and good value course.

A beatiful course I've played twice recently and learnt to put away the driver and think what to play off each tee. Amongst the picturesque, tree-lined fairways, even a wood is too long on some. Yet you can hit out on the two fabulous finishing holes (9 & 18) over water back down to the clubhouse, a great setting for a drink on the patio as the sun goes down. I paid £51 for a society day in May (incl bacon rolls, meal after etc) and £40 for the same in April, which I thought was excellent value.