SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE
Jeremy Ellwood visits four courses in 18 miles along the A4130 corridor on the edge of the Home Counties
The Springs
The Springs is a late-1990s Brian Huggett creation that was acquired by Darwin Escapes in 2017. They appointed renowned architect Tim Lobb to weave his magic and the end result is an unexpectedly striking layout over what is essentially flat terrain near the Thames. Much of the enhancement work has focused on bunkers and lakes, with the front nine in particular boasting some exceptional bunkering. Water first comes into play left of 7, with that same body then making its presence more keenly felt left of the long par 3 that follows. It’s a kind of repeat scenario on 9 and 10, though this time it is water right on both holes you have to think about. The course gets closest to the Thames on the bunkerless par 5s at 14 and 15, with a final expanse of water to contend with on the potentially tempting short par-4 17th, with its distinctive rollercoaster green.
Par 72, 6,481 yards
GF: round: £30-£45 Mon-thu; £35-£55 Fri-sun
SHOWSTOPPER
Huntercombe
SOMETHING DIFFERENT
Huntercombe really is ‘something different’ on account of the many grass ‘pots’ or hollows that flank fairways and greens. The course is the handiwork of two-time Open Champion Willie Park Jnr and the pots were his idea. You don’t realise quite how high up you are until you walk through the trees to the 2nd tee, where a fine downhill par 4 awaits. The short par-4 17th is then the epitome of risk-reward, potentially in range but with a raised, heavily protected green.
Par 70, 6,324 yards
GF: round: £80-£120; day: £150
Henley
This pretty James Braid design works its way through the valley, up onto higher ground, then back down again. At 437 yards, the opener is a tough test despite room to bail out right on to 18. When you come to that par-5 18th, the proximity of OOB on the left will have you on edge a little, whether you’re attacking in two or simply wedging on. In between, you encounter six par 3s, with the mid-length 2nd to a two-tier green and the long downhill 16th the picks.
Par 70, 6,264 yards GF: round: £50
HIDDEN GEM
Hadden Hill
Hadden Hill, between Wallingford and Didcot, enjoys views over the North Wessex Downs. The course opened in 1990 and a right-to-left shape will come in handy over the opening skirmishes, where the tight but gettable 2nd may whet the appetite depending on mood! The short 7th stands out visually heading out, playing to a green beside a knoll guarded by a vast bunker. The run for home from the 13th is then far from easy, so try to make the most of the par-5 finale.
Par 71, 6,441 yards GF: round: £27wd, £33we
GREAT VALUE
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE Stay The Springs, Wallingford
The new accommodation at The Springs includes some exquisite hotel rooms in the eye-catching Tudor-style manor once owned by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. Next to the hotel lies a cluster of Millpond Premier Lodges enjoying fine views and their own hot tubs, while more contemporary lodges lie closer to the early holes. The Ridgeway Restaurant in the clubhouse is an excellent spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner, while other facilities include the 1893 Spa in the manor house and an indoor golf studio.
Where to go
Didcot is a famous railway town and the Didcot Railway Centre is the living museum of the Great Western Railway. Henley, of regatta fame, is a delightful market town with a Grade 1-listed, five-arched bridge over the Thames.