Sunningdale is a very special place. It is one of Britain’s finest private clubs with two magnificent courses, the Old and the New.

The names are somewhat misleading as they were actually only built a couple of decades apart – and the New built in 1923 isn’t so new nowadays. The Scottish architect, Willy Park Junior was responsible for The Old and had a prime piece of Surrey heath land on which to create his masterpiece. The new was designed by Harry Colt, who also laid down Wentworth Old, just 3 miles down the A30 road to London.

Like all the great “private” clubs in the UK. Overseas visitors are welcome with an advance booking, letter of introduction and a modest check.

On arriving by car, or taxi from the train station located nearby, you are greeted by a wonderful old clubhouse and The Tree, which sits majestically overlooking the 18th green of the Old Course. Visitors are permitted to use the upstairs locked room and this affords a magnificent view over the property.

The first tee is situated in front of the putting green and is a reachable par 5 – a gentle start that lulls the player into a false sense of security before the exacting par 4-second hole. This is a real beauty with a demanding tee shot and blind second shot to a green with heather lurking all around. The real par actually feels like 4 and then 5 and not as shown on the card of 5 and then 4.

The front nine is delightful, meandering up and down hills and through old oak trees. The 7th hole is one of the best with a blind tee shot to a sloping fairway and a tricky second shot up to a two tier green perched on a small plateau cut into the side of a hill. Four is a good score, as anything left of the tee will lead to an easy double.

The 9th is a wonderful risk reward tee shot aimed at a severe two tiered green only 290 yards away. Out of bounds lurks right and the hooked tee shot will find you in thick heather. As you walk off the green you are faced with one of the great views in golf from the 10th tee down the valley, the green in the distance and the famous halfway house.

Even on a cold English day I actually think the anticipation of the legendary Sunningdale Sausage Sandwich is greater than the actual sandwich. That said, piled high with HP sauce (Google it!) and a cup of tea it is a damn good respite after 10 holes. Yes, its true the “halfway” house actually comes at the 10th green, not the 9th. After recovering from this British culinary delight, the player is faced with another classic short par 4. A dogleg right with treacherous trees on the right hand side this is no easy tee shot on which to position yourself for the second shot. With the green raised only a couple of feet off the ground a solid wedge is needed to keep the ball on the ground.

The other hole of note is the 13th, a downhill par 3 with the green bordering the 2nd fairway. The hole can play from an 8 iron to a 4 iron if you venture further back up the hill to the back tees.

The finish is no pushover, but is very playable over gently rolling land surrounded by the tough heather. The view from the 18th tee affords a view up a slight incline and back to the imposing clubhouse and yes, the famous Sunningdale tree.

Although a private club, a nice letter a few weeks out should secure a tee time on the Old and the New – a real treat for architecture buffs and those who appreciate classic heath land golf.