Commonwealth has always been a favourite. I played my one and only Division one pennant match there.

So it was nice to go back and experience the course now that the renovations have largely settled in. World-renowned course architect and author Tom Doak published his 'Confidential Guide to Golf Courses' in 1996. 

As well as appraising the better courses worldwide, Mr Doak opened the book with 'The Gourmet's Choice', a selection not of the best 31 courses in the world, but 'the first he would take a good friend to see'. This list included: Ballybunion, Merion, Pinehurst no 2, Pine Valley, Royal Dornoch, St Andrews (Old), St George's Hill, Sand Hills and Commonwealth!

So when it came the time to bring the course into the modern age, Tom Doak and team were the obvious choice to oversee the project. Doak associate Brian Slawnik started by upgrading all playing surfaces.

The tees, greens & fairways are all now world-class. And by cutting back vegetation and widening playing lines they have brought strategic play rather than pinpoint accuracy to the fore.  And the thinning led to an immediate improvement in playing surfaces with gorgeous bunkering and slick greens defining approaches.

 The new driveable short par 4 first hole is an immediate example of the changes made, and a lovely way to start the round. The par five tenth hole is also a significant improvement. Other changes of note include a brand new par 3 seventh hole and the opening up of the par 13th hole.. Commonwealth is world-class!