In a general sort of sense, the desire for North Norfolk residents to leave their home pasture and make the trip south of the Thames will require either a special occasion or the promise of something forbidden.
In this instance, a week-end to include the twin heath-land delights of Reigate (with clubs) and Walton-on-the-Hill (to watch the best women golfers on the planet) had me indicating off the A25 after 4 steamy hours in the car on the hottest day of the year to follow, disciple like, the brown signs for a windmill.
From the junction, it is just a short journey on a minor road through the heath to the clubhouse. Originally founded in 1895, the potholes in the driveway and parking area of the Club could be part of the original architecture but must surely take chunks out of the white Porsche 911’s grouped outside – the proliferation of which would seem to make them the favored toy of the prosperous membership.
All travel travails are quickly forgotten however when presented with one of the prettiest clubhouses and views that could be found at the conclusion of any pilgrimage.
Dating from 1763, the Grade II listed windmill has been lovingly restored and from its lofty perch acts like a sentry overlooking the course. The heath stretches over 120 acres, much of which can be observed whilst enjoying pre-round drinks and pork scratchings on the extensive veranda.
Much of the literature on the course focuses on comparisons with Royal Worlington. This is at least partly understandable given that both would feature heavily in any conversation about the best 9 hole courses in England. For me, however, the green complexes at Mildenhall offer some of the most consistently firm, fun and architecturally fascinating playing areas in the world, all within eyesight from the 1st tee.
Comparisons, therefore, could tend to under-rate it’s competitors.
On my visit to Reigate, the combination of soft approaches and slow greens did not show the courses feathers at their most vibrant, but I would imagine that these conditions are the exception rather than the rule given the excellent heath-land turf.
One area where Worlington and Reigate do compare is that, given the propensity for criss-crossing fairways and hitting over roads, they are not for golfer with a nervous disposition, whose equilibrium could be mortally disrupted by oncoming cars or absent minded golfers entering their line.
At Reigate, the 1st and 2nd fairways cross at an angle to create an aesthetically pleasing double playing surface, offering a welcome right sided bailout area for the opening tee shot, if you can just summon enough of a slog to carry the area of gorse and heather in front of the tee.
The approach to the 1st green is less subtly uphill than it appears at first glance. It certainly caught me out anyway, as a decent feeling strike fell rather abruptly from the sky and a full 20 yards short of the putting surface. The type of stroke whereby you pose somewhat on the follow-through but on result are mercilessly mocked by your playing companions.
In contrast to the open feeling of the first couple of holes, the 4th and 5th play through their own private avenues of heather and pine. The former is a delightfully strategic par 5, played from an elevated tee. For the confident slogger, a controlled right to left hit from the tee can reach around the corner and leave a long iron to the generously proportioned putting green. The more modest hitter has conservative options for their opening two shots, firstly to the right hand side of the dog-leg and then to lay up before the well positioned fairway bunker, leaving a short-iron approach.
Having been rather spoilt for choice at the previous hole, the 5th presents you with just a single line from the tee down the left side of the fairway if you are to enjoy a clear view of the slender green. With the fairway narrowing the closer to the putting surface that you get on the approach, the challenge is indeed of the blunt variety – succeed or fail with little middle ground. It is easy to imagine many scorecards being ruined on this hole. In fact, I need not use my minds eye on this occasion, as my long second slices into the pine trees and ferns for the dog walkers to discover in time.
The pick of the short holes is probably the 9th. It plays around 150 yards gently uphill to a stunning green site, surrounded by deep bunkers and heather, all overlooked by the magnificent clubhouse. It is impossible to imagine that the architect had much to do here other than cut the grass short for the green and add some steps for comfort into the bunkers so natural do the contours appear. A pulled 8-iron into the bunker followed by a missed 10-footer for Par completes a somewhat disheartening score of 4 over for the nine.
Whilst time allowed for just a single loop on this visit, there are separate tees for the back nine to add a frisson of variety.
I am tempted to fire a final drive from the 10th tee, which sits invitingly in front of the clubhouse. tumbling down the steep heather clad hillside for around 300 yards which, given the aid of the contours appears in range if one can just put the best swing of the day together. In the end, the thought of a cooling shower and the prospect of losing another ball prevent me from letting fly this time. I will be back.
Golf. Travel. Adventure. 