Gog Magog (Old)

Gog Magog was one of the first clubs to be founded in England in the 20th Century, with the club officially opening in 1901 following the design and construction of the Old Course.

With the likes of Willie Park Jr, James Braid and Martin Hawtree having all put their hand to the course, you know it will be of a very high level.

The club, which takes its name from the Gog Magog hills, will throw up a range of challenges. The Old Course – despite having been around for more than 120 years – cannot be taken lightly.

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Although nine holes had been laid out in 1899, it was not until 1901 that the Gog Magog Golf Club was founded, after the original layout had been extended to 18 holes.

That came courtesy of a local professional, W Duncan. Over the years, Willie Park Jr, James Braid and Martin Hawtree have all made changes to the layout.

It became known as the Old Course in the late 1990s, after Hawtree came back to Gog Magog to design the brand new Wandlebury Course.

Every year, the club hosts the Lagonda Trophy – a world-famous amateur event played over 72 holes. The likes of Andy Sullivan, Oliver Fisher, Gary Wolstenholme, Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and Peter McEvoy have all been victorious in the tournament.

The Old Course features a steady climb up into the Gog Magog hills early on with very quick greens that make par uncertain even when you reach them in regulation. Those who can hit a straight ball should fare well here, while those with muscle but little finesse will struggle to score. It is long for a course of its age, and following work over the years from some of the best, it now runs out to more than 6,500 yards off the very tips. With a par of 70, the Old Course at Gog Magog will provide a true test.

A trio of par 4s get you underway on the Old Course, and it is a tricky opening stretch. The first is just shy of 400 yards from the tips, and anything pushed too far right might find either the trees, or the OOB. Three fairway bunkers, along with two sitting greenside, add to the difficulty. The 2nd is 30 yards shorter, and offers up a generous fairway. Aim for the left side to give yourself the best angle into the green. 3 is the longest of the opening run, at almost 405 yards, and it plays as a slight dog-leg right. Carry the bunker on the inside corner, if you can, and you’ll have a much easier shot into this green. The surface itself is long, and guarded by three traps. The first of five par 3s comes at the 4th, though it isn’t what you would necessarily call short. The 4th is more than 210 yards in length, and there is a total of five bunkers guarding the green, including two on either side for anything slightly awry.

At just 340 yards, the 5th is a good scoring opportunity, providing you can avoid the three fairway bunkers that occupy the right side of the fairway. Another par 3 comes at the 6th, and again, at 190 yards, it might still require more than an iron. Three bunkers sit around the green, including one right in front so you cannot run anything up onto this putting surface. Back-to-back par 5s follow, with 7 being the longer of the two. It is more than 530 yards from the tips, and with four fairway bunkers to avoid off the tee, it is a tricky prospect. The longer hitters might be tempted to take it on in two, but for most, this is a three-shotter. Lay up short of the bunkers that are on the run to the green to give yourself the best shot to the putting surface. At 485 yards, the 8th might be shorter, but it is no less difficult. Thanks to its split fairway, the tee shot has to be thought about – not just grip and rip. Three bunkers down by the green might put some off from going for it in two, along with the thick trees to the right of the putting surface.

The final hole on the front nine is also the shortest hole on the Old Course. At just 145 yards, it doesn’t sound difficult, but with three large bunkers in front of the green, it is all carry so make sure you get the right club out of your bag. Like the front side, it is a trio of par 4s to begin the back nine. 10 has a wide fairway, playing as a slight dog-leg right, with the ideal drive getting past the bunker on the inside corner. The tee shot on 11 is somewhat similar, but the fairway is narrower thanks to the trees encroaching on both sides. Four bunkers by the green will be in your eyeline as you hit your approach. The 12th is the longest of the three holes, but make sure you keep your drive short of the two large bunkers sitting in the middle of the fairway. If you do so, then you will have a clear shot to the green.

The 13th is the first of two par 3s on the back nine, and it is another on the Old Course at Gog Magog that stands at more than 200 yards from the tips. Just the one bunker guards the green – sitting to the front right of the surface – with plenty of space around the green for those mishit shots. 14 is the longest hole on the course, pushing past 550 yards. It is also the last of the trio of par 5s on the Old, and the ideal drive will fly over the first of the fairway bunkers on the right. There is plenty of space for those laying up to do so, before knocking a wedge into this large putting surface. The 15th is the first of two long par 4s, but there is plenty of space on the fairway if you can clear the left fairway bunker. From there, the approach is to a rectangular green that is guarded by more traps.

At 481 yards, the 16th is the longest of the par 4s on the Old Course. It is a great view from the elevated tee box, but don’t let that distract you. There are five bunkers to avoid with the tee shot, including two large cross bunkers that sit in the centre of the fairway. It will be a lengthy approach shot from there, but if you can clear the two bunkers that sit around 20 yards short of the green, you’ll be in good position. The penultimate hole is the last of the par 3s, and though it is only 160 yards, it continues the tricky run for home. It is not the largest of putting surfaces, and there are three bunkers guarding it as well. The final hole on the Old Course at Gog Magog is a 445-yard par 4 that features a total of seven bunkers. Two of those are in play off the tee, with a further three running across the fairway some 100 yards from the hole. They may well block your view to the green, which sits in front of the clubhouse.

Where is Gog Magog located?

The Gog Magog Golf Club is situated in the south of the county of Cambridgeshire. The club itself is just three miles from the city of Cambridge and is located just off the A1307. The M11, which runs from Cambridge to just inside the M25, is also close by. The city of London is under 60 miles by road from the venue.

Shelford and Cambridge are the two nearest train stations, with the former sitting less than two miles from the entrance to the golf club. Cambridge is the larger of the two, with trains operating towards Norwich and Ipswich, Birmingham and London King’s Cross. Thanks to its location, London Stansted and London Luton are the two closest airports. The former is 25 miles to the south, while London Luton is just over 40 miles by road to the southwest. London Heathrow – the country’s biggest and busiest airport, is 70 miles away, sitting on the west of England’s capital.

Are there any NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?

There are not too many venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list that are close to Gog Magog. The nearest is Royal Worlington & Newmarket, which is 25 miles from Gog Magog to the northeast. Luffenham Heath, Ipswich (Purdis Heath), Woodbridge (Heath), and the quartet of Ashridge, Berkhamsted, The Grove and the Centurion Club are all within 70 miles.

What golf facilities does Gog Magog offer?

Along with the Old Course and the Wandlebury Course, Gog Magog Golf Club also has some incredible practice facilities. The club has its own driving range, with both matted and grass tees to hit from. There is also a short game area with a chipping green and practice bunkers, along with a putting green by the 1st tee box of both courses.

What are the green fees at Gog Magog?

The price of a green fee at Gog Magog changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Gog Magog, visit their website here.