Royal Worlington

1890 saw the first golf holes constructed at Worlington, with Colonel E W D Baird and Scottish golfer Alexander Mackenzie Ross laying out a few holes on the land.

A few years later, Tom Dunn was approached to design an 18-hole lay-out, with the Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club being founded in 1893. Nine holes were initially opened for play.

The other nine holes were due to be constructed on peaty soil. However, it was decided that they would not be up to the standard of the first nine. Therefore, the course has remained as a 9-hole lay-out.

Harry Colt (opens in a new tab) visited Royal Worlington & Newmarket in the early 1920s. Following that visit, the 8th was made longer, with a brand new 9th hole being created. The course remains the same to present day, with only new tee boxes being added to lengthen the course in line with technological advances.

The 9-hole set-up at the Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club is a Par 35 measuring more than 3,100 yards. It is not the longest nine holes in the history of the game, but the narrow tree-lined fairways require accuracy over power.

The first is one of two par 5s on the course and a gentle opening to the course considering you won't really have been able to warm up. There are plenty of bunkers dotted down the hole, but if you miss those, then a birdie at the first is not out of the question. A long par 3 of more than 220 yards follows at the 2nd, and it plays to a raised green so make sure to take enough club. The 3rd tee shot is then played back over the 2nd green, and is a slight dog-leg left. Avoid the traps and this is another scoring chance.

The 4th is the last par 5, and again, at less than 500 yards, there is a definite chance of putting a circle on the card. The 5th and 7th are the two remaining short holes, with the former just 150 yards. A ditch to the right of the putting surface could cause trouble. There is no real danger on the 7th unless the pin is on the left side. Avoid the bunker to the left of the putting surface and a par is makeable.

The 6th and 8th are both very testing par 4s. Both measure more than 450 yards, and have plenty of sand traps. Although birdies might not be available on either 6 or 8, if you can come away with a par you will be scoring better than most. The closing hole at Royal Worlington & Newmarket is a short par 4, and one final opportunity. The fairway sits at a diagonal angle from the tee box, with a stream running down the right side of the short stuff. The tee shot is played across that stream to reach the fairway. The 9th green sits across the road, but it is a big enough surface to find with your last approach shot of the day.

Mike Robertson: The greens are as good as I have ever played. Such a quaint, peaceful place to golf

Dan Murphy: You either get the Sacred Nine or you don’t. I find it hard to believe how many architectural flourishes can be found within its modest acreage. There is always something new to discover on a course that plays by its own rules

Sean Arble: My first view of the course from the road raised the possibility of promise. The opening tee shot was somewhat engaging, but by reaching the third tee I was sold on the Sacred Nine

Read more about our panellists here (opens in a new tab).

Where is Royal Worlington & Newmarket located?
Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club is located in Suffolk, just a few miles from the racecourse town of Newmarket. Bury St Edmunds and Cambridge are both within 25 miles of Royal Worlington & Newmarket.
 London Stansted and London Luton Airport are the two nearest airports for international travellers to the region, with both being within 60 miles of Royal Worlington & Newmarket Golf Club.  Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?  
Royal Worlington & Newmarket is somewhat on its own compared to the rest of the NCG Top 100s: England list. Within an hour, there is Luffenham Heath to the north, and both Ipswich (Purdis Heath) and Woodbridge (Heath) to the southeast.
What golf facilities does Royal Worlington & Newmarket offer?  
Along with the 'Sacred Nine', Royal Worlington also has some great practice facilities. There is a full-length hitting area of more than 300 yards, with both turf and matted tees. There are also two short game areas, including one by the 1st tee - next to the practice putting green which is located by the clubhouse. 
 What are the green fees at Royal Worlington & Newmarket?
The price of a green fee at Royal Worlington & Newmarket changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

Due to the nature of the course, only singles, two-balls and foursomes are allowed at Royal Worlington & Newmarket. 3 and 4-balls can played on a Thursday afternoon, but only with the permission of the club secretary. For more information on current green fees at Worlington, visit their website here (opens in a new tab).

Visit Royal Worlington & Newmarket's website here (opens in a new tab). 
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