Sand Martins - Berkshire - England

A typical modern course, as pointed out previously, there are many of a similar nature. For example, in the same general area, Billingbear, Chobham, Clandon Regis, Pryford, Sutton Green, Traditions and Wildwood. This is, at best a three-ball course, to score it this high places it on the same level as the courses at the Berkshire. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, if you regard Sand Martins as a five-ball course how do you score the very best inland courses, Sunningdale, Ganton, Woodhall Spa, Hollinwell, Walton Heath?

Your point Andrew I think requires a response. Sometimes a course exceeds expectations and based on the relatively poor reviews below I had low expectations of Sand Martins but they were exceeded. I had high expectations of Woodhall Spa but I was disappointed with it when I played it a few years ago. The condition of Woodhall wasn’t great and I felt the course too short off the regular tees plus the greens were slow and the sand in the bunkers (if you can call them that) was inconsistent. For a world ranked course this simply is not good enough. Woodhall’s design is excellent but its condition when I played it was average. I went to Sand Martins expecting an average course and found an interesting one that is varied, entertaining and in good condition. What more can I say? Walton Heath Old = 6-balls. Walton Heath New = 4-balls, Notts = 6, Sunningdale both = 6, Ganton = 6. Perhaps I should have marked Sand Martins 4 but as it exceeded my expectations I gave it the benefit of the doubt. Niall.