Contributing Editor Rob Smith reviews the excellent International Course at the London Club - perfect for matchplay and full of risk and reward
London Club - International Course Review
There are two excellent courses at The London Club (opens in new tab), and while the Heritage Course is the preserve of members and their guests, the International Course is every bit as exciting and welcomes all comers.
Dating back to the mid-90s, both were designed by the Jack Nicklaus (opens in new tab) company with the International credited to the Golden Bear’s associate, Ron Kirby. It is a classic matchplay course with plenty of options from start to finish, beginning with a par-5 that is played down into the valley to a green protected by water.
On the other side of the valley, two and three are par 4s protected by deep bunkers, with the latter stroke index one and calling for both a solid drive and even more solid approach.
The next four holes constantly change direction and offer a chance for some points, before you arrive at the beautiful but deadly short eighth. Played from an elevated tee over water, as on so many holes on the International, it pays not to be short or right. The halfway hut that sits between this hole and the fourteenth green is well worth a visit.
An extremely tough two-shotter takes you back up towards the clubhouse, and the back nine begins with a slightly less demanding par 4 and par 5 before you reach two very exciting holes, each of which would probably be the signature hole on most courses. The twelfth is a bunkerless par 3 played from on high, but what is lacks in sand, it more than makes up for with water.
Thirteen is a classic par 5 with a split fairway and the choice of going left, or more safely right of the trees. Either way, there is more water waiting to swallow up anything short.
The round concludes with testing par 3s at fourteen and seventeen which sandwich a pair of more forgiving par 4s, and a fine, long closing hole that offers a final chance to get one back on the card.
Related: London Club - Heritage Course Review (opens in new tab)
In October 2014, specifically due to its more dramatic nature, the course hosted the Volvo World Match Play Championship (opens in new tab) in which Mikko Ilonen defeated Henrik Stenson in the final. With so much risk and reward on offer, it was an ideal choice for the historic matchplay event. Those in attendance and watching on TV will have noticed a luxury speedboat in the lake between the first and eighth holes, and this is how it got there…
… and for anyone interested in how the star golfers managed to beat the traffic…
It is kept in absolutely first-class order, and the relaxed atmosphere in the spacious, modern clubhouse combined with the club’s impressive modern history and easy motorway access make this an excellent venue for a game at any time of the year.
The International Course is great fun, and in my view every bit the equal of its sibling.
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