Course Review: London Hunt & Country Club, by Jeffrey Reed (November 2005)

Copyright 2005 London Ontario Golf

How does one review a golf course as close to perfect as you’ll find anywhere in North America? In the case of London Hunt & Country Club, you consider its history, its importance to the community, its degree of challenge, its aesthetics, its overall design, and on this day the joy it brings you on a crisp fall afternoon.

I, for one, favour old-school courses, heavily treed, bursting with character, and providing an above-average challenge – with just enough risk-reward flavour to wet my appetite. London H&CC provides all of these characteristics – and more – to make it my favourite southwestern Ontario golf course. The folks at the LPGA and RCGA are again counting on the west London club to come through with flying colours during the 2006 CN Canadian Women’s Open. Here’s betting it will.

Those of us lucky enough to have witnessed the 1993 du Maurier Ltd. Classic LPGA event saw some classic golf on a classic course. Brandie Burton beat Betsy King in a sudden-death playoff to cap off a thrilling week of edge-of-your-seat golf. That wasn’t an easy task, since women’s golf wasn’t in vogue 12 years ago. With the LPGA enjoying record-breaking popularity, thanks to its numerous skilled players, better equipment, a bumper crop of talented rookies, and the Annika Sorenstam and Michelle Wie factors, expect bigger and better things during the 2006 Open event.

The course itself will counter titanium and graphite with a $2-million facelift, designed by Rees Jones, son of original course architect Robert Trent Jones. In particular, bunker upgrades provide the classic layout with a lot of bite. I should know: four times on this afternoon, Mr. Jones’s bunkers bit me hard yet left me with a new admiration for this beautiful yet challenging layout by the Thames River.

London H&CC was formally organized in 1885, and first included a 9-hole golf course on land now resting adjacent to the University of Western Ontario, at Richmond Street and Windermere Road. In 1917, the course was expanded to 18 holes and occupied some campus property. City and club growth saw the club move to its current 275-acre Oxford Street West location. Robert Trent Jones designed the current layout, with 18 holes completed in 1959; it opened for play in 1960.

Before the 1993 du Maurier event, London H&CC hosted the 1970 Canadian Open, captured by Kermit Zarley. In fact, the club has over the years been home to many notable golfers, including Charles Ross (Sandy) Somerville, "Silent Sandy" as he was known for his business-like approach on the course. The Londoner captured the 1932 U.S. Amateur, then considered one of golf’s Majors. Today, Super Senior Ed Ervasti continues to shoot in the 70s – despite the fact he is in his early 90s and golfs with an artificial hip. Amazing.

So is the golf course itself. Here’s a hole-by-hole review of London H&CC, measuring 7,216 yards from the gold tees, and carrying a slope rating of 139. Of course, it will play with a different character for the LPGA event – in the neighbourhood of 6,600 yards – but here’s an overview of the course at its most challenging.

No. 1 – Par-4, 415 Yards

Beauty and beast: a beautiful opening hole, but lots of danger. The upper portion of the opening hole’s fairway sits 250 yards from the tee. Reach it with your drive, and you face a short iron approach. This hole appears to be wide open, but beware the treed area on the right, and fairway bunkers at the left landing area. Like most greens, this one appears relatively flat but is actually undulating in a sneaky fashion. It’s also guarded by a large, deep bunker on the front left. Overall, it appears to be an easy par, but like the entire course – thanks in part to Rees Jones’s renovation – it holds plenty of tricks for even the keenest eye.

No. 2 – Par-3, 216 Yards

The club’s signature hole is a beauty, requiring a carry close to 200 yards over an intimidating water hazard set up against the green, closely protected by three bunkers and sloping from back to front.

No. 3 – Par-4, 399 Yards 

A dogleg right, No. 3 plays uphill with two fairway bunkers framing the corner. You’ll face a short to medium iron to the flag, but the large, flat putting surface isn’t visible – shoot a dart, hope for the best: three deep bunkers guard the green.

No. 4 – Par-5, 506 Yards

Birdie opportunity here, but danger rests everywhere. Play it smart. You’ll drive between two fairway bunkers, and most likely will hit a second shot with a downhill lie. An extremely wide yet narrow green demands a soft landing on your approach. You’ll face a bunker to the right of the green, and a pond front and left. Definitely a risk-reward hole.

No. 5 – Par-4, 447 Yards

Very difficult to cut this slight dogleg right, with large fairway bunker in your face. The green here is more than 45 yards deep – a tough par-4.

No. 6 – Par-4, 456 Yards

The longest par-4 on the course, No. 6 features a downhill tee shot to a fairway sloping left to right towards bunkers. An uphill approach to a wide, well-bunkered green sloping right to left and back to front – not for the faint of heart. Settle for par here and count your lucky stars.

No. 7 – Par-5, 617 Yards

Before you concern yourself with the green sloping severely from back to front, think about the downhill tee shot with bunkers left and trees right. Thankfully, the fairway is wide and allows a relatively easy second shot. On your short-iron approach, you’re greeted with a green guarded by two deep bunkers, and lateral hazard right, left and behind the green. Careful of the dreaded snowman at No. 7.

No. 8 – Par-3, 152 Yards

It’s not the deep gorge that makes this par-3 difficult; rather, the top lip of the gorge remains in view even when eying the flag and using the glass-half-full approach. A gorgeous hole, but beware the severely sloping green, especially if landing above the hole. An extremely challenging par-3. I once hit the flag on my tee shot here en route to birdie. This time around, I wasn’t so lucky with three putts – and on a day when the flatstick was working wonderfully.

No. 9 – Par-4, 426 Yards

One of my favourite holes at London H&CC. It’s a dogleg right, but don’t worry about playing a fade here. A solid tee shot avoids a fairway bunker right and sets up a downhill approach. Careful with your mid-iron shot here: the bunkers left and right are deep and deadly. My approach was buried in the right bunker but I was fortunate enough to hit a perfect wedge to set up par – and that’s what it took to save face. At No. 9 you’ll face a great view of the river Thames before making the turn.

No. 10 – Par-5, 591 Yards

My nemesis at London H&CC. Despite the fact there is plenty of fairway right from this downhill tee shot, I somehow managed to once again find the pond hugging the treeline on the left. There are plenty of trees, not to mention the Thames on the right, but they shouldn’t come into play. Lay up here with your second shot. Your approach needs to carry a pond that extends the length of the green, 60 yards in length. Play this hole conservatively and start your back 9 on a good note.

No. 11 – Par-4, 384 Yards

Here’s a short par-4 made difficult by a tough approach to an elevated green. A slight dogleg left, No. 11 requires a long iron off the tee. There’s a large fairway bunker sitting on the corner of this dogleg, but it shouldn’t come into play. An extremely deep bunker front right, and pot bunker at the back of this green are only half the story: the green slopes severely from back to front, and there’s a ridge dividing the putting surface into two sections. Take your par and run.

No. 12 – Par-4, 443 Yards

Before you reach this small, flat, firm green which is framed by three large bunkers, and sheltered by a forest in back, first worry about finding the fairway. The rough is nasty at No. 12, putting a premium on accuracy off the tee. Hit the green in regulation and birdie is a possibility.

No. 13 – Par-3, 195 Yards

A false front just short of a green with a centre crown makes for an interesting club selection. Undulating is an understatement. Slightly uphill from the tee, No. 13 features a deep green and three deep bunkers. Another tough par-3.

No. 14 – Par-4, 401 Yards

A medium-length par-4, No. 14 turns slightly to the left. Don’t hit your tee shot right, or you’ll approach the green over three large pine trees. There are two large bunkers fronting an undulating putting surface. This one’s a favourite amongst galleries; it approaches the clubhouse and provides ample viewing areas.

No. 15 – Par-4, 361 Yards

Another risk-reward hole that offers a chip onto the green if driver is your weapon of choice. Even a solid iron or hybrid off the tee will give you a simple approach shot – but mind the right fairway bunker, stretching 60 yards. The green slopes severely from back to front, and is shielded by two large, deep bunkers front left and right. A soft landing will ensure a birdie opportunity, but a three putt is a possibility.

No. 16 – Par-5, 581 Yards

Big bombers will want to carry the corner of this dogleg right, but beware a bunker and water hazard on your landing. Measuring 581 yards, No. 16 travels uphill to an undulating green, partially hidden and divided by a ridge running back to front. There are also deep fairway bunkers on the right corner, and to the front left and front right of the green. Trees right and short of the green can also play havoc with your approach at this tough par-5 – and par here is a great score.

No. 17 – Par-3, 213 Yards

Club selection here is tough, thanks to swirling wind and the largest green on the course – a T-shaped putting surface flanked by deep bunkers left and right. The green goes from 8 yards wide in front to 45 yards wide in the back, and is divided by a ridge.

No. 18 – Par-4, 413 Yards

The key to scoring well here is landing your approach shot on the upper portion of a two-tiered undulating green with false front. I’ve seen some of the best of them watch their approaches roll back 25 yards. I was fortunate this day, hitting gap wedge pin high after a solid drive up the middle. A good finishing hole bending slightly to the right, this par-4 challenge features fairway bunkers on the right corner and a series of bunkers on the left.

All in all, there is no weak link at London H&CC. Both the front and back have their own unique character and challenges – I like both equally for those reasons. It truly is a pleasure to play this track – despite many rankings, the very best in southwestern Ontario, in my humble opinion.

The 1993 du Maurier event saw a gallery of close to 40,000 invade the fairways of London H&CC. Expect even larger crowds this time around. Just as Redtail GC in Port Stanley offered curious golf fans an opportunity to get up close and personal with its hallowed ground during this year’s Ontario Amateur tourney, London H&CC will again offer Londoners an opportunity to witness some great golf at its classic, historic layout.