Mill Hill - Middlesex - England

Played here earlier today in a match and the day was superb.

Friendly and helpful staff, nice coffee and then, after a rather strange subway crossing of the A1, we tee’d off on the 10th as drawn.

What a nice hole, with water in play for the second shot. Immediately I was thinking how “out in the countryside” it felt and looked with just the humm of traffic on the A1 to remind you that you were halfway between the M25 and the centre of London.

Each subsequent hole nice looking, varying challenges and fast true greens.

The 15th SI 1 is a long corker that goes down and then back up, and the 17th is another dog leg and features water.. A very satisfying and enjoyable back nine holes.

Then onto the front nine on the card. A welcoming drive down the first, and then a stunningly pretty short par 3 2nd hole over water. 3rd and 4th are dog legs (one each way) ….all good, the rest of the nine does not disappoint.

All in all a very nice place, unusual (former coaching inn stables ?) clubhouse but very nice inside and out, and the bar service, lunch and hospitality from the home side was excellent.

Course played worldwide #470 - and 328th in England

Mill Hill has an unusual start: the clubhouse is located on one side of the busy A1, but the course is on the other. Fortunately you don't need to run across six lanes of heavy traffic with your golf clubs as there is a subway 100 yards down the road, but it's far from ideal and often floods. After teeing off on the 1st with the loud din of the A1 behind you, you are able to leave the noise of the traffic behind for a few minutes, until you reach the 2nd, when the incessant roar of the M1 and the ugly Scratchwood services disturbs the view over the lake.

Sadly, the growth of motoring has not been kind to Mill Hill, as all 18 holes are sandwiched between the A1 and M1, two incredibly busy trunk roads. Trying to ignore the traffic (easier in summer when the leaves are on the trees), the course plays in two loops of nine that start on low ground near the lake and ascend a hill then drop back down.

The two holes over the lake (2 and 10) are the most picturesque, both feature an approach across the lake to a green which slopes down to the water. 3 is a very interesting short par 4 guarded by a stream, and 16 is one of the hardest par 3's I've played, over 200 yards uphill to a wickedly sloping green.

Apparently, the course is often under water in winter, but in summer it's a pleasant enough course with some interesting holes.

Not worth a visit as many other better courses locally, has main road running straight through the middle of course and uninspiring course, pro shop unfriendly and unhelpful but can't blame the course for that!