Course Profile: Sunningdale [Thompson Course] - London, Ontario

Full name: Sunningdale Golf and Country Club - The 'Thompson Course'

Location: London, Ontario, Canada

Year Built: 1934

Course Designer: Stanley Thompson

Distance: 6,611 yards (men); 5,141 yards (ladies)

Distance from St. Marys, Ontario: approx. 40 km

The first profile in our list of 'Must Play' local Ontario golf courses is the well-known 'Thompson Course' at the Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in London, Ontario. First built in 1934, the course has undergone a number of changes since inception, but remains true to its heritage throughout the 18 holes of beautiful golf located in a country setting.

It was an unseasonally beautiful day in London, Ontario when I played the Thompson Course last week. The golf course, due to recent rains and plenty of sunshine over the past two months, is in excellent shape for this time of the year, and the greens were already starting to roll true. Admittedly, I did not notice any brown patches, nor did I witness any unplayable areas; extremely rare for the month of May on any golf course in Southwestern Ontario. At Sunningdale Golf Club, I was most impressed by not only the great conditions, but also the 'maturity' that this course has developed over the past 76 years; tall trees and lucious grass surround the green fairways. The golf course is complemented with a (somewhat) newly built, prominent club house that is surrounded by a large practise facility and 36 holes of prestigous private golf (the Stanley course is the better of the two 18s).

There were several holes that impressed me on the Thompson Course at the Sunningdale Golf Club; the most impressive however being the Par 3's. These holes presented a different challenge on each tee, demanding the 10-15-handicapper (like myself) to pull out many different clubs throughout the round, from a Pitching Wedge on one tee, to a four-iron on another. Three of the Par 3's, the most impressive being the 3rd hole, are set on elevated tee blocks, providing nice scenery for a now, more difficult tee shot. The Par 3, in particular, that stood as the most 'unique' on the Thompson Course was the 16th, which reminded me in some ways of the Par 3 16th at the St. Marys Golf and Country Club. Though St. Marys' #16 provides a more difficult, uphill challenge, the 16th on the Thompson Course also presents a difficult green to hit off the tee. What separates these two holes, however, are the lasting memories that you will get from a hole like #16 at the St. Marys Golf Club, and which you may not get from the majority of the golf holes at Sunningdale.

There were a couple of other things that Sunningdale did not present to the golfer that you can get at some other golf courses in Ontario. First were the views. Other than a couple of the Par 3's already discussed, the Sunningdale Golf Club does not provide the picturesque views that you would expect from a golf course of its stature. [Although, there are very few views that can replace the scenery from #3 at the St. Marys Golf and Country Club, which overlooks the town of St. Marys, Ontario and the Thames River winding through the valley]. Nor did the Thompson Course provide as many memorable golf shots that you may get at other well-distinguished golf courses of similar length and difficulty. These negatives can be easily forgotten, however, when one is playing the course and sees the newly replaced, white-sand bunkers, which are set up in fantastic positions throughout the course, making them applicable on almost every shot. These well-designed, and plentiful golf bunkers are what may have impressed me the most at Sunningdale. And one cannot forget the complimentary golf ball finders located at each water location - something that amazed even me; though it does not take much at times.

Overall, the 'Thompson Course' at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club in London, Ontario provides a fun, relaxing, and well-paced golf round. The conditions on the course are near perfect for the majority of the golf season, the fairways are easily hittable, and the greens are full of twists and turns, making it a fun challenge for any golfer. Though the Par 5's are positioned too close together (3 out of 4 holes are Par 5's in the middle of the round) and the views do not provide a 'wow' factor, the golf course's maturity and design make it a great golf course all around. I would recommend a private membership, though steep in price, to anyone who is looking for the many benefits that a private golf course, like Sunningdale Golf and Country Club, can provide to its exclusive members. To close out, I look forward to joining Sunningdale Golf's newest member, my friend Matt, at the course once again; hopefully in the very near future!