I am fan of everything at Moor Park Golf Club; the courses, the mansion, the tournament history and the obvious air of quality. The West course in places is as good as the High course here with around four holes that are superior.
A little north of London in the county of Hertfordshire is the Moor Park estate - the mansion is Grade 1 listed set in over 300 acres of landscaped Hertfordshire parkland. Built in the 17th Century, Moor Park Mansion has had a number of renovations to become the wonderful golf clubhouse it is today.
My earliest memory of being at Moor Park and the West goes back to 1980, some of the holes were used to make up a composite 18 when hosting the Bob Hope Classic, which was such a star-studded event. There were eleven of these celebrity pro-ams (some under new names) and nine of them were hosted by Moor Park Golf Club and what a list of players; Tour players, stars of stage and screen, world champions and even someone by the name of Mr. President – can’t see it happening now – different times!
Moor Park Mansion
The West is strong in its own right but is certainly not the full test that the High course gives – as a guide the West could be seen as the warm-up course but in places has holes that are stronger than some on the High.
The 5th hole is first of note for me – 394 yards, turning left and moving uphill is really strong; the collection of four bunkers 60 yards short of the green really should not be in play but do make you think on your approach. The par-3 6th at 162 yards is similar to the High course 3rd hole, not quite as downhill but plenty of dead ground between tee and green.
West course - 6th green left, 5th approach right.
The good run of holes continues at the next; the 7th is stroke index 1 and 449 yards. Drive over the brow of the hill and favour the left slightly – six bunkers protect the hole for the last 150 yards and for most players it is a big ask to hit the green in regulation. The front-nine ends with a par-3 that from the back tee, stretches to 244 yards which really should only be used by elite golfers.
The next three holes play in a triangle shape and all three are very scoreable with par-4’s of 258 and 340 yards, followed by a good-looking par-5 at under 500 yards that plays downhill and uphill to a well-protected green.
West course - behind the par-5 12th green
The final third of the course is my favourite part – 150-yard par-3 at the 13th that plays along side the mansion house wall is great fun and tricky too as there is a big drop off on the left of the green, so missing either side is not great.
West course - par-3 13th green
The 14th is my favourite hole across both courses at Moor Park. From a low tee-site driving a little uphill for a good position on this 515-yard par-5 is pretty testing, best tip is to be slightly left of centre. The hole develops to the right and continues uphill to a raised green – great strategic hole. Holes 15 and 16, both par-4’s (covering 830 yards) run alongside each other giving perfect views of the back of the mansion and playing these two are the last big test, I think. The 17th is a shortish par-4 at 267 yards – tee shot out of a shoot of trees, you can get close to the green but with three bunkers protecting the front, the big drive is not the sensible play.
The final tee is a on high and gives a fantastic vista looking back to Moor Park mansion – the hole is another short par-4 at 316 yards but plays shorter from the elevated tee turning a touch to the left. There is temptation to take the drive on but be careful not to get the line too far up the left side – a wayward shot this way, could easily scatter players on the club tennis courts.
West course - behind the final green
Moor Park has always been a classy affair on and off of the courses and always will be with the West well worth a round or two - a firm favourite at Golf Today.
