Fifteenth revisited
Correspondent • Published 25 Aug 2011 09:30
I first caught sight of Reading Golf Club while driving to Kidmore End one day. Bathed in sunshine and flashing bright green through the trees, I thought: "That looks very nice."
I now realise that what I was looking at was the 15th, as demanding a short par three as you'll meet. The green is 30 yards deep and the flag will be only 120 to 140 yards from you. But…it is cut into a hillside.
Anything left will bounce off the slope towards the cart track and out-of-bounds. If your ball does stay in you have a shot back where you can't see the pin - as you do with a tee shot that falls short.
Go right and you are in the bunkers, go long and you are chipping back to a green sloping away from you.
After putting my first two out of bounds I revised my "nice" verdict with some fruitier language.
Reading celebrated its centenary last year and is a lovely mature parkland course on the edge of town.
The first four holes are what you would expect. Open, tree-lined gently undulating, lulling you into a false sense of security. It is when you walk through the woods to the fifth tee it all changes and you realise you are on the South Oxfordshire Downs. The hole is a sweeping downhill par four of just over 300 yards, it's a delicious dilemma - lay-up safely or go for it and take on the bunkers?
A short uphill par three is next (birdie, thank you very much) followed by some excellent holes where you will need all your guile to get pars.
The 10th has an intimidating tee-shot over a hedge. The 11th is another attractive par three. But the 12th is a truly stunning hole.
At 472 off the whites (466 off the yellows) it's just short of the par five distance but a lovely elevated tee allows you to make the most of a good drive as the fairway seems to funnel down. Naturally it is stroke index one. The gentle par five 14th should cheer up your scorecard as it is a mere 31 yards longer than the par four 12th.
Enough said about the 15th , before you turn for home uphill on the 16th (only 300 yards but stroke index eight). The excellent finishing hole is flat as it runs alongside the first. But getting your ball in the right spot to attack the green is no easy matter and there's a big, thick looming hedge behind so you need to get your club selection right.
Into the bar for a deserved pint of London Pride and an excellent menu. Obviously there are specials for the serious diners, but I was impressed by what I think of as the golfer's basics, the bacon or sausage sandwiches, jacket potatoes and best of all cheese on toast (bliss). Just what the pro ordered!
Visitors are welcome during the week and 18 holes costs £40 or you can play 36 for £50. Teeing off after 4pm is just £25 and Under-18s play for £15.
Membership is available and there is no joining fee at the moment. At least playing there regularly you might one day get a ball on that blessed 15th green.
Reading Golf Club, 17 Kidmore End Road, Emmer Green. RG4 8SG. 0118 947 2909.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 01 Aug 11
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