Par 5 – 482 | 478 | 477 | 463 yards
With a gentle start to the game, the first hole seems easy, but don’t be fooled. The green is steeped in history, with random contours that have turned two shots into three for over 100 years. An untidy three putt for 6 is more likely than the expectant score of 5.
Par 3 – 224 | 209 | 171 | 167 yards
The 2nd is a long one-shot hole The pushed-up green is hard enough to hit from thirty yards, let alone over 200 yards. As a player gets closer to the green, they’ll start to appreciate the unique challenges of this hole.
Par 4 – 362 | 344 | 336 | 219 yards
A gem of a hole, the third seems to get more difficult with each attempt. The hog’s back fairway is tough to find, and a slight pull or draw will land the ball in the rough. Finding the fairway is paramount on this hole, as a swale must be carried and a hot running shot out of the rough won’t do. The green provides an ample target, but the front left bunker is a frustrating obstacle.
Par 4 – 489 | 479 | 437 | 328 yards
Lengthened in 1920, the fourth hole shares a broad expanse of fairway with the sixth. The woods on the right are intimidating and the green complex makes this hole a real challenge. The green starts with a slight rise in front and then races away to the back right, causing even the best players to struggle from 40-50 yards out.
Par 3 – 154 | 146 | 140 | 138 yards
The fifth hole is the feature hole of the course. The unadorned hole is a true test of skill with a green that slopes off on either side, leaving a desperately narrow shelf on which a ball might stay. A large hollow awaits to the left; once a water hazard but now simply a grassed area, it remains the start of many a five. Favouring the right hand side with your tee shot could put you in a stream and out of bounds.
“The 5th hole is nearly the best short hole in the world on either inland courses or seaside links, and only the perfectly struck shot has any hope of leaving the ball on the green; the 90 per cent good shot which is usually good enough to get a three at the majority of short holes, is no good at all at the 5th at Worlington.” JSF Morrison, The Bystander, 1936
Par 4 – 467 | 435 | 415 | 304 yards
From the tee, looking across the fifth green, the trees to the right may not hold any fear. While a player senses them, he is more acutely aware of the large bunkers on the left that split the 4th & 6th fairways. Favouring the right side of the fairway avoids the bunkers but partially hides the green. The player, while not bunkered, now must fade a long-iron or wood around the trees. The bold tee shot that challenges the bunkers on the left leaves a straightforward, although long, second. The green, notoriously difficult to read, is slightly raised, sloping off on all sides, ensuring that there are few fours earned with a chip and a putt.
Par 3 – 161 | 149 | 135 | 145 yards
Though not perhaps as challenging as the other two par 3’s, the seventh remains a fine hole. Land it just short and the tee shot will be deadened, land it just beyond and it will run on. A slight pull or push will find one of the two greenside bunkers.
Par 4 – 458 | 442 | 451 | 328 yards
Bunkers await on either side of the fairway at just the distance of a good drive. If the fairway is found, the second is a long one over cross bunkers some 80 yards short of the green. The flagstick is visible but not the putting green, which runs away from the player. A formidable bunker protects the left side, leaving the right the side to favour. Though lengthy, it is nonetheless a ‘feel’ hole as one has to judge just how far short of the green to land an approach based on that day’s playing conditions.
Par 4 – 318 | 293 | 284 | 273 yards
The final hole is a great finish to the course. The play is to drive across the corner of the boundary into the heart of the fairway. This will still leave a testing pitch shot across the road to a pronounced left to right sloping green protected by two bunkers left and right. With the Clubhouse immediately behind the green, this is a great way to finish a round of golf and a four is always a good score.
Par 5 – 482 | 478 | 477 | 463 yards
With a gentle start to the game, the first hole seems easy, but don’t be fooled. The green is steeped in history, with random contours that have turned two shots into three for over 100 years. An untidy three putt for 6 is more likely than the expectant score of 5.
Par 3 – 224 | 209 | 171 | 167 yards
The 2nd is a long one-shot hole The pushed-up green is hard enough to hit from thirty yards, let alone over 200 yards. As a player gets closer to the green, they’ll start to appreciate the unique challenges of this hole.
Par 4 – 362 | 344 | 336 | 219 yards
A gem of a hole, the third seems to get more difficult with each attempt. The hog’s back fairway is tough to find, and a slight pull or draw will land the ball in the rough. Finding the fairway is paramount on this hole, as a swale must be carried and a hot running shot out of the rough won’t do. The green provides an ample target, but the front left bunker is a frustrating obstacle.
Par 4 – 489 | 479 | 437 | 328 yards
Lengthened in 1920, the fourth hole shares a broad expanse of fairway with the sixth. The woods on the right are intimidating and the green complex makes this hole a real challenge. The green starts with a slight rise in front and then races away to the back right, causing even the best players to struggle from 40-50 yards out.
Par 3 – 154 | 146 | 140 | 138 yards
The fifth hole is the feature hole of the course. The unadorned hole is a true test of skill with a green that slopes off on either side, leaving a desperately narrow shelf on which a ball might stay. A large hollow awaits to the left, once a water hazard but now simply a grassed area, it remains the start of many a five. Favouring the right hand side with your tee shot could put you in a stream and out of bounds.
“The 5th hole is nearly the best short hole in the world on either inland courses or seaside links, and only the perfectly struck shot has any hope of leaving the ball on the green; the 90 per cent good shot which is usually good enough to get a three at the majority of short holes, is no good at all at the 5th at Mildenhall.”
Par 4 – 467 | 435 | 415 | 304 yards
From the tee, looking across the fifth green, the trees to the right may not hold any fear. While a player senses them, he is more acutely aware of the large bunkers on the left that split the 4th & 6th fairways. Favouring the right side of the fairway avoids the bunkers but partially hides the green. The player, while not bunkered, now must fade a long-iron or wood around the trees. The bold tee shot that challenges the bunkers on the left leaves a straightforward, although long, second. The green, notoriously difficult to read, is slightly raised, sloping off on all sides, ensuring that there are few fours earned with a chip and a putt.
Par 3 – 161 | 149 | 135 | 145 yards
Though not perhaps as challenging as the other two par 3’s, the seventh remains a fine hole. Land it just short and the tee shot will be deadened, land it just beyond and it will run on. A slight pull or push will find one of the two greenside bunkers.
Par 4 – 458 | 442 | 451 | 328 yards
Bunkers await on either side of the fairway at just the distance of a good drive. If the fairway is found, the second is a long one over cross bunkers some 80 yards short of the green. The flagstick is visible but not the putting green, which runs away from the player. A formidable bunker protects the left side, leaving the right the side to favour. Though lengthy, it is nonetheless a ‘feel’ hole as one has to judge just how far short of the green to land an approach based on that day’s playing conditions.
Par 4 – 318 | 293 | 284 | 273 yards
The final hole is a great finish to the course. For all but the very long hitters who may foolishly take on the green from the tee. The play is to drive across the corner of the boundary into the heart of the fairway. This will still leave a testing pitch shot across the road to a pronounced left to right sloping green protected by two bunkers left and right. But with the Clubhouse immediately behind the green, this is a great way to finish a round of golf and a four is always a good score.
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