The tour to Suffolk began at Felixstowe Ferry, which met our President’s desire to try and play a links course if we could. A great links course it was too and, despite a fresh(!) breeze of 40kts, there were some very good scores as well as some interesting second shots! A great start.
On Tuesday we played Woodbridge – a championship heathland course just a few miles from Felixstowe. What a treat. Superbly presented and in fabulous condition it was the one course that everyone wanted to play again. Once again some very good scores on a challenging and stunningly beautiful track.
Our third day was a complete contrast. Ufford Park is spa hotel and golf complex with a long parkland course with a monster 567-yard uphill into wind par 5 and plenty of water. Having rained heavily until just before our first tee-time there was less run which made it a bit more of a challenge, but the course drained well and once again there were some good scores.
The tour concluded at the famous James Braid Purdis Heath course at Ipswich, where once again we were very well looked after by the club. Although another heathland course, it was very different from Woodbridge with some testing greens and semi-blind dog-legs. The fourth hole was quite stunning, with a well guarded approach and 50-foot sharp descent to the green. A surprise to us all and a hole we will all play differently next time.
As always, the tour rewards consistency, and this year the two most consistent players over the four days were Barry Thornton and Nigel Dowdall. Taking the best three of the four rounds it was eventually Nigel who took the honours, just two shots ahead of Barry.
So having concluded a most enjoyable sojourn to Suffolk, next year we are off to Shropshire with Stu Butler. We are looking forward to it already.