Enjoy the read and also listen to The Golf Pilgrim podcast from Remedy Oak here https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-golf-pilgrim/id1743914901?i=1000661623962
The green rose from the lake with around 120 yards to the flag beyond a false front.
Mrs W had been in fine form but stood uncertainly, thinned her approach and watched with a combination of bemusement and delight as her ball, as if designed by Barnes Wallis, skimmed the water and leapt onto dry land.
I found the target after seven-iron and nine-iron shots but my par was with my second ball after an appalling shank had sent my original deep into vegetation.
Every hole at Remedy Oak presents a stern challenge, even the par-four eighth at just 272 yards.
At Woodlands, on the corner of the impressive road leading to the golf club, stands the tree from which the club bears its name.
It is claimed that King Edward VI healed people through his divine touch.
I could have used his intervention after a torrid opening nine holes when I failed pathetically to live up to the majestic surroundings.
Although Remedy Oak is less than 20 years old, it would be easy to mistake It for being older because it was cut from a forest, and many of the trees remain. Thus, it has a Woburn feel to complement the water features.
After practising on the impressive driving range and practice putting green, we adjourned to the first hole, an imposing par-four.
Despite its length, bunkers and false front green, it is a relatively gentle introduction with much more drama to follow.
A significant drainage programme is being introduced to improve protection against heavy rain, which closed the course for much of the 2023-24 winter.
Consequently, the attractive, downhill par-five second hole was temporarily transformed into a short par-three over a lake on the day we played.
I was conflicted about the tree that stands in the middle of the fairway on the long par-four third. On the one hand, it looks attractive and makes the hole memorable.
However, I felt I was unjustly punished for a central tee shot, being forced to carve around it and, ultimately, failing to threaten the green.
“This is where I fell in love with the course,” said our host as he recalled his first look at the steeply downward 220 yards +, par-three fourth, set between an avenue of trees. A par-three there would be cause for a lap of honour.
This was among a run of four blobs, as embarrassment was beginning to overshadow my game, which had degenerated into pulls, hooks, shanks, and misjudged putts.
My desperation for my golf to match my surroundings only worsened things.
Nevertheless, I could still appreciate the vivid imagination required to create such a variety of holes.
The contrast is particularly keen on the fifth and sixth—a long par-five with a mid-hole stream and a very short uphill par four to a green with a false front, cunning bunker, and bushes to the rear.
The seventh is arguably Remedy Oak’s craziest hole – a par-four with a blind second shot that needs to hug the left-hand side to avoid a substantial lake.
My putt from just off the green rattled into the back of the cup for a hard-fought five.
The ninth is one of the mind-bending par-threes, through trees to a green with a steep fall-off to the left towards water.
Thankfully, the demon who had inhabited my game in the first nine vanished after halfway refreshments and I began a pleasing run of pars on the picturesque par-three 11th.
I took out the driver for this 220-yarder and found the green, which bends between bunkers and a large pond. I think Mrs W had a much tougher line from the ladies’ tee over reeds and water.
The final four holes are fabulous, providing a tremendous challenge for the match between the tourists (Mrs W and I) and the Dorset residents (our host and match organiser).
The 15th is a par-five, which curves around trees to a fairway that slopes steeply down from the left.
The player is then left with a strategic decision to make about how to avoid a stream that runs alongside the fairway, opening out in front of the green.
I laid up near enough to ensure my fourth shout would be in birdie range. I secured a tap-in for par.
John Jacobs designed Remedy Oak nearly 100 years after the great designer Harry Colt was doing his best work, but the 16th is akin to a homage to Colt, with bunkers running at angles down the right-hand side.
Avoiding them and surrounding bushes gives the player a chance to score but there are more traps in front of the green and rough stuff behind it.
I thought the 17th was a belting hole, albeit a very difficult one.
The drive needs to be over a ditch in front and avoid more water on the right and the approach is to a green beyond two cross-bunkers.
Our opponents nailed it, and we were left one up, going into one of the most nerve-jangling final holes in English golf.
Our playing partners had told us of the joy of sitting on Remedy Oak’s terrace watching players make a muck of the 18th.
This par-four turns sharply to the right after about 200 yards. The approach is often from a downhill lie over a lake directly in front of the green. Bunkers await those who take too much club.
We needed tactical appreciation, so, needing to square the hole to win, I advised Mrs W, who had a shot on our compadres, to lay up. She did so effectively, and we held our breath as she pitched towards the flag.
We were mightily relieved to see the ball bounce on the wooden lake surround and progress onto the green.
However, the show wasn’t over. Our opponent sank a cracking putt to complete his par and Mrs W was left with a slippery downhill one to claim victory. With nerves of steel, she found the middle of the cup.
Thereafter, we had a lovely lunch and watched the suffering of those who followed.
In particular, a lady twice thinned from behind the green but thanked her playing partner for darting across the green to save the ball if not her blushes.
It was the last laugh of many among convivial company on a cracking course.
Comments