Walton Health (New)

On a beautiful summer's day, Walton Heath preened like a peacock and the New Course bore gifts.

This track conjured thoughts of the serious Old Course's more light-hearted sibling. It has plenty of opportunities to reach greens in regulation or even fewer but don't be fooled into thinking that means the job is done. Without care, fiendish undulations mean regular three-putting can be a feature of any round.

Big hitters will be rubbing their hands at the prospect of two par fours which are less than 300 yards in the first four holes and the course's three par fives provide other opportunities.

But the complacent will certainly face their comeuppance with errant drives penalised by horrible lies or lost balls in the notorious heather.

Nevertheless, as I egged on my playing partner to one of the games of his life, it was apparent that this gorgeous heathland course can be tamed with concentration.

As it emerges from the Covid emergency, Walton Heath has twice been a superb venue for our golf society and we enjoyed the New Course just as much as I did the Old a month ago.

Indeed, the whole Walton Heath experience is special - even practice putting green outside its famous clubhouse must be one of the prettiest in golf and sets the tone.