The Addington
Wherever you place it there's no denying that this is a very fine golf course and in many ways a little different to the norm with a few quirks thrown in along the way.
The rule book is flung out of the window at the first hole when the course opens with a par three. It's a great little hole played up a hill with a tricky green and menacing bunker to the right. That said, I'm not particularly a fan of par three's to start the round and couldn't help thinking this would have been an even better hole had it come mid-way through the round.
The second hole is a par five which is then promptly followed by another one-shotter, the second of six short holes throughout the round and one of the reasons the course clocks in at under 6,300 yards.
The fourth, fifth and sixth are all solid par fours before another delightful short hole followed by a further run of three strong yet differing par fours. The short 11th is nothing more than flick with a wedge but the green is well protected by sand.
The closing holes at The Addington are great fun to play. The 12th is a thrilling par five with a falling and then rising fairway consisting of a little ledge halfway down the slope for those who unwittingly over hit on their tee shot.
Arguably the best par three on the property is the wonderful 13th played to a green plateaued into the hillside and across a valley, which is traversed by walking across one of the many olde-worlde but very striking bridges. Another contender would be the delightful 17th also played over a valley to a wonderful green complex.
Holes 14 and 15 run alongside each other but in different directions, the latter being the better of the two and boasting an inspiring view of the London skyline from its tee with buildings such as the Gherkin and Shard in full view. It contrasts starkly with the rich nature of the velvety purple heather and stunning birch and pine trees in your immediate surroundings.
Turning 180 degress once more there are so many ways to play the par five 16th. From the tee the fairway sweeps down and round through lovely woodland before you are faced with a real risk-reward approach to a slender green or a more conservative lay-up to a narrow piece of land. The closing hole poses questions on both the drive and the second shot.
I liked The Addington very much and the highs were certainly just that but I personally thought there were too many lulls during the round to consider this as a contender for serious world stardom.
Regardless, this par 69 layout is still one of England's shining lights and a fine example of a wonderful heathland golf course. It has a certain uniqueness to it and that alone should be warmly welcomed.
