Enjoy the read and also listen to The Golf Pilgrim podcast from Tandridge at https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-golf-pilgrim/id1743914901?i=1000660403827 or your favourite platform
"Which club has most surprised you?" has become a regular question from those interested in my golf travels.
Now I have the answer… Tandridge – which, on its centenary, deserves to emerge from the shadows of its more trumpeted Surrey neighbours.
The final six holes are among the most exhilarating I've played on an inland course.
And that isn't to say its others are bad or unmemorable, far from it.
It is easy to see that Tandridge's leadership has a 'vision' - it is the first heading on its impressive club website.
The listed promises reflect a commitment to its members and the club's future. In return, they are being asked to support a radical programme of change.
The alterations to the course, originally designed by master architect Harry Colt, are most interesting to us as visitors.
Colt's day had 200 bunkers, and the trees were low, so the clubhouse could be seen from most of the course.
However, trees and bushes grew, and Tandridge became known for its tight fairways and scary avenues.
Now, while keeping the philosophy of Colt in mind, extensive work is being is taking place to update the course and improve playability.
As with any renovation, this has caused healthy debate, but not having seen the track previously, I found the variety of the holes impressive and the conditioning admirable.
This is particularly true of the pristine tee boxes, speedy and subtle greens, devilish run-offs and consistently good fairway turf.
The large but traditional clubhouse has a great feel and lunch with two members was lovely before we embarked upon the first – par-five with real possibilities.
I struck an okay drive down the right, faded a three-wood inside the bunker on the left of the green and, astonishingly, was left to contemplate an eagle putt!
However, my shirt-over-the-head moment will have to wait because my first putt was woefully short and my birdie follow-up skimmed the cup.
"You're on the point-to-point course, " our compadre exclaimed as my podcast partner launched his third-hole drive over Tandridge's boundary fence.
However, PP argued that the comedy moment came on the tricky par-three fourth, where correct club selection is essential to avoid deep bunkers in front of the target and menacing traps behind.
I found one of the former, failed to raise the ball the required 15 feet in three attempts, and picked it up.
It began a close relationship with Tandridge's sand traps but, fortunately, I extricated my ball successfully on further holes.
Interestingly, their number is being reduced further to 75.
I scored consistently during the first nine, including pars on the attractive short eight and par-five ninth, which was a pretty hole in front of the clubhouse.
After our round, the friendly lass behind the bar asked me about my round. I advised her that it was most enjoyable but had left the rails during the back nine.
"You aren't the first person to say that", she said with a wry smile, as she poured drinks.
Actually, the par-four 10th and 11th had yielded points because they had more in common with opening holes than those to come.
The ascents began on the bending par-five 12th, which, given much tree clearance on the right, should have had fewer demons.
However, its false front to a rising green caused indecision over the speed of approach. That said, the views from the green across towards Kent are outstanding.
Throughout the round, our otherwise jovial host warned of the perils of the 13th - a glorious 223-yard downhill par-three that, according to the website description, "The Club Professional regards as a test of nerves."
Sand traps down the right push thoughts to an approach from the left, but a cunningly placed bunker will punish those flying too low into the green.
While the rest of us floundered, PP hit his ball with the accuracy of William Tell and walked off with a very satisfying par.
The view from the 14th tee will live even longer in the memory as the player is confronted by a steep drop to a fairway cut between a wood on the right and more trees on the left.
The ball floated for an age before finding a downhill lie on the fairway that then rises past a stream and a trio of bunkers to a very tricky raised green.
There was much debate on the 16th tee over club selection because the curving par-four looks reachable with the wind and laying up risks a nasty mid-fairway bunker.
Meanwhile, out-of-bounds on the right questions thoughts of cutting the corner to the long double-tiered green.
The putting surfaces at Tandridge demand greater guile than mine, but even the best players could suffer on the 17th - a pretty par-four that looks straightforward until the green is found.
The borrows are so intense that the ball can look like it is progressing towards the hole, only to mockingly turn back towards its owner.
After being beaten up since the 13th, I endeavoured to salvage some pride in a splendid home hole in front of the classic clubhouse.
The 18th fairway leans so heavily from left to right that some may find their drives arriving on the adjacent 17th fairway.
It then turns to the right before a narrow green entrance inside some hellishly steep bunkers.
It was a grand finale to a course under constant review from a club that seeks to advance in the rankings. I would not be surprised if it achieves that goal.
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