Playing the old course in the morning was always going to mean I had to lower my expectations for the afternoon on the New. It’s such a strong finish on the old course that the new course felt a little bit lack luster after the first couple of holes. In an ideal world, you’d play the New course first.

Once you get to the third, there is a distinct feeling of open space, views across the heathland estate extend for miles - a bit like Hankley. Holes three and four are good solid par fours but when you get to the fifth, it is by far the prettiest par three on at Sunningdale. The fifth feels like it is all on its own in the middle of the heathland, completely secluded. Not the longest at 160 yards but an absolutely world class 3 shotter.

Leave the green on five and continue to climb to higher ground. Stood on the tee of the par 5 6th, the entire hole is laid out in front of you. It is phenomenal and in my opinion the best par five on the estate. All of a sudden you have forgotten about what felt like a weak start now having played two holes that feel better (at least to me they did) than the Old course.

Seven, eight and nine are another stretch of good solid par fours, semi blind, undulating fairways from the tee with large heather carries set these apart. You arrive at the third par three on the New course and it’s another belter, again I feel like this par three is better than any of the par three’s on the old course - good old Harry Colt!! At over 200 yards playing downhill with the halfway hut and the 10th of the old in the distance. A green that feels like it’s sitting on a ledge with the ground all falling away on the left - again world class!

11 to 13 bring you back over towards the spectacular par 3 5th where you get another glimpse of that special view. More glorious Sunningdale with picture perfect heather lined bunkers and heather framing every hole.

15 to 18 brings you back to the piece of land near the first. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good but it’s not as good as the rest of the course that stretches out over an elevated heathland landscape. 14 and 17 are good par three’s but, and again it’s my opinion 15, 16 and 18, like the first; don’t feel quite as good as the rest. 

There are 14 phenomenally good holes on the New course, arguably it’s the more testing of the two. If the other four were stretched out over that elevated heathland it would be very hard to choose between the Old and New. I can see why members love the New so much.