Saffron Walden - Cambridgeshire - England

I have now played this golf course 3 times, twice in the summer and once in the winter. I must say that during the summer, playing here was a very enjoyable experience and most of the holes were very beautiful with some majestic views of Saffron Walden. My favourite in particular was the par 3 that look out onto Audley End. I feel like the tee off times were managed pretty well and I was never stuck behind or chased by anyone. The club house was very nice and welcoming, although the driving range doesn't reflect the superb quality of the golf course. I do believe this golf course deserves to be in the top 3 in Cambridge and I am very much looking forward to plaing it once again.

I’d heard from various sources about the quality of this Vardon designed course on the Essex/Cambridgeshire border, but I have to say, it more than exceeded my expectations and has been the surprise package in the courses I have played so far in 2021.

The course is an attractive parkland layout routed across Windmill Hill to the north west of the town amongst the rolling grounds of Audley End House. The trees across the hill are mature and the course well established in its surroundings. The routing is as testing as it is interesting and certainly plays more difficult than its relatively short yardage. Tricky greens mixed with a number of partially sighted drives and cross hill lies mean that no hole on this course is a pushover.

I was impressed with the front 9, particularly the 3rd and the expansive views from the 5th tee, but it is the back nine where the quality golf holes start to appear thick and fast. The run for home is varied and challenging with holes 11, 13 and 17 deserving special mention. Finishing with a downhill par 3 is a rarity and one that elicits fond memories of playing a course as a junior called Sicklehome in Derbyshire. That being said, this is a much better hole than that one further north and provides real last hole drama in front of the clubhouse veranda.

A little on the club itself; it’s clear this is a thriving members club with an inclination for constant improvement and a pride in the golf course. Work has been undertaken during lockdown to really add carefully to the existing layout, particularly in regard to bunkering and run off areas around the greens. The results are in keeping and have bedded in extremely well.

I am surprised that so few people have taken to reviewing the course on the site. It’s well worth a visit if in the area and in the condition I witnessed, must be pushing for higher accolades and attention.

Originally laid out in 1919 on land by Capability Brown you find a not overly long, by modern standards, a challenging yet fair course. Add in fantastic scenery, well maintained and fast tricky greens Saffron Walden is a genuine test. The signature 5th hole with views of Audley End House is just one hole that looks simple enough but is anything but. A warm welcome, super clubhouse and great practice facilities......A must visit for any Golfer.

Played there recently in a society day. We were made to feel very welcome. I played there a few years ago and it is obvious that they are spending lots of money on both clubhouse and course. I really like what they have done with the 13th hole and the new bunkers around the 11th have changed the hole from mediocre to a good test of golf for a short par 3. If I lived closer I would definitely join this club although I did hear a rumour that they are closing the membership list.

This is a very good club and a full membership underlines the popularity in some tough financial times for many clubs. As for the course, I would say that this is rightly towards the top of the Cambridgeshire rankings and without getting blown away this is a decent place to play. Some of the holes that stick out for me are as follows; The par-4 4th is a great 90 degree dog-leg to the right around 360 yards, the choice of tee-shot is important, a 200 yard lay-up and then a mid-iron is the sensible option but aiming at the corner with a little fade could just set-up a decent birdie chance. The par-4 12th hole needs a long straight drive to avoid bunkers left and right at landing point, then favour the left-side of the green to avoid the dreaded downhill putt. The 14th is a short par-4 (all courses should have one) at around 310 yards; my observations for this hole are that the green is too big and the bunker protection is nowhere near severe enough – happy for the hole to be drivable for the big hitters but it needs toughing up, a birdie should need to be worked for, here it is too common. The very next hole is my choice as best on the course; a strong par-4 at 420 yards turning slightly left at about 240 yards and many will struggle to hit the green in two shots – four is an exceptional score. Another tough par-4 comes at the 17th and a stroke index of six is a little misplaced, it is much harder than this. It is not unlike the 15th but with a slow uphill climb for the entire hole, this is even tougher to make four on. The last hole is worth a mention too; a mid-length par-3 sitting right in front of the clubhouse with great views back over the town – I call this a fun hole because that is just what it is – but my message to the club is have a bunker plan for this hole – of the seven that are protecting, three are not in-play anywhere near enough and a re-design of their positions is a must with the main reason being, poorly hit tee shots can roll and roll straight on to the green – if a closing par-3 is the choice then bunkering is so key so making it a stand-out hole. In summary, Saffron Walden is a good course with plenty going for it but with a few course plans (especially bunkering), this could be the number one course of the county.