Annual subscription 2026

[Arthur Wedge]

The question is though what's the course like, is it in decent nick, does it get overly wet and boggy, can you easily get a tee time, would you be happy playing there regularly and would you be happy having to get new golfing friends. Ok that is more than one question but all would need to factor and cheap golf doesn't always equate to VFM or enjoyment

It’s a modern course , was a field but trees are maturing , some decent holes , club house isn’t much, can get a little wet , greens need drainage

 

[simsini]

Other questions rather than simply if it gets wet in the winter are...

Do you use artificial teeing surfaces in the winter? How much shorter is the course in the winter months? Are there temporary greens? If so, under what circumstances are they used? Do you enforce winter mats off fairways? For how many days was the course closed last year?

 

[Orikoru]

Other questions rather than simply if it gets wet in the winter are...

Do you use artificial teeing surfaces in the winter? How much shorter is the course in the winter months? Are there temporary greens? If so, under what circumstances are they used? Do you enforce winter mats off fairways? For how many days was the course closed last year?

We went to teeing mats, but they don't make the course very much shorter, they're mostly positioned on or alongside the normal tees with only 4 or 5 holes notably shorter. We had zero temporary greens for the wet weather this winter - only had them on a couple of holes when it was frozen, because the normal greens would've seen you bouncing into the next tee or a road that goes past the course. Have never played fairway mats in my life, don't think it's really a thing down here. In the wet winter we just had I think we were only closed for 2 or 3 weekend days which isn't too bad.

 

[AndrewK]

I havent read the full thread but i wondered if many courses have academy memberships like my local. I have found it amazing value, to the point where it has almost (99.9999%) convinced me to pay the double whammy full membership next year when my academy runs out.

For £400 i got
12 months/7 days per week off peak membership (The times suit me perfectly as i work full time)
10% clubhouse discount
Fairway mat
Pitchmark
6 x 30 mins lessons

I joined in December (Just started playing) and have played 15x18 holes and 5x9 holes. About to get a time adjusted April starts of 3pm onwards on weekends but thats fine with me. Its had a few rained off days, icy weather etc but in the main if i wanted to play, the course was open. I love it tbh as its 10 mins down the road and will be a joy if and when i get a summers day to go.

In comparison a 12mth full membership will cost me about £875 PLUS a £875 joining fee. This will be a little painful as the other course locally is £875 all in with no joining fee or waiting list. But the point of the post is to highlight how good the academy deal is and how successful its been in convincing me it might just be worth paying that extra one off to stay with this club. Without it, i am certain i would have joined the other club.

 

[Neilds]

Aylesbury Vale he is at.

Just be careful, that is Fragger territory around there

 

[sunshine]

I actually don't know what this year's full membership cost is, I only have an email telling me my own subscription. Historically though it has been roughly £200-225 higher than the under 40s rate I was on. So I'd expect it to be £1925 odd. The increase to our rate has been between £65 and £105 every year since we joined.

I guess I'm just unlucky enough to live in an expensive golf area. Wife wants to move house for something bigger, and we would definitely have to do that if we have a second child - until now I've resisted moving too far north because I do love my club and didn't want to leave. But if I find myself on a £2000 membership, that'll make it much easier to say goodbye. I just checked my Uncle's club in Aylesbury and it's only £1284 full membership which is far more palatable.

On the Grims Dyke website full membership is shown as £1950. That's the same ballpark as Stanmore which is £1900 and Pinner at £1990. Both are better courses than Grims Dyke. Drainage / playability year round will be similar, so Grims Dyke must be offering something else to compete with these two. Maybe Grims Dyke has fewer members so easier to get a peak tee time?

If I lived your way I would probably be heading to Sandy Lodge. The sandy turf means it's playable year round and it has great practice facilities. I'm sure it's quite a bit more expensive but you're probably spending £500+ a year at the driving range which you would save at Sandy Lodge.

 

[IanM]

I played Sandy Lodge early season a few years ago, it wasnt that sandy and was mucky in places.

Decent course though, worth a thought it you're local.

 

[Orikoru]

On the Grims Dyke website full membership is shown as £1950. That's the same ballpark as Stanmore which is £1900 and Pinner at £1990. Both are better courses than Grims Dyke. Drainage / playability year round will be similar, so Grims Dyke must be offering something else to compete with these two. Maybe Grims Dyke has fewer members so easier to get a peak tee time?

If I lived your way I would probably be heading to Sandy Lodge. The sandy turf means it's playable year round and it has great practice facilities. I'm sure it's quite a bit more expensive but you're probably spending £500+ a year at the driving range which you would save at Sandy Lodge.

I don't think I'd be joining another local course unless it was a lot cheaper, I do like my course and I like all the people I've got to know there. I've never liked Pinner and don't agree it's a better course. I do like Stanmore but don't think it's much better either. Yes, it's certainly true that I rarely struggle to get on the course which is a plus.