rickg
Money List Winner
Walked it on the final Sunday with Tiger and been a huge fan ever since.....played it about 6 times and never get bored of it.......
Brabazon or The Grove?
- Thread starter Warbur
- Start date
Walked it on the final Sunday with Tiger and been a huge fan ever since.....played it about 6 times and never get bored of it.......
fundy
Ryder Cup Winner
Ah watching Tiger destroy it explains all
maybe you should invite me for a game so i can make a final decision as to whether I rate it or not
M
MetalMickie
Guest
Luffenham is terrific course and IMO many times superior to Stapleford. As for Nottingham area there is nothing really until you get to Mansfield area where you have Hollinwell, Sherwood Forest & Coxmoor.
East Midlands is generally pretty bare of anything special outside those three + Luffenham, Woodhall & Chapel Brampton.
Warbur
Assistant Pro
Sorry all, been working so I hadn't seen all of the responses.
I'll have a look at Beau Desert as well. Think I might let the guests make the decision as they all work for the same company and can have a chat around the Kettle. I think I'll offer them Beau, The Grove and Stoke Park.
They're big customers of both mine (I'm a freelance QS) and the company I'll be representing (brickwork subcontractor) so more than happy to push the boat out a bit and take them somewhere they'll see as being a bit special. Wouldn't normally pay this much for a round but on this occasion it'll be money well spent.
I'll have a look at Beau Desert as well. Think I might let the guests make the decision as they all work for the same company and can have a chat around the Kettle. I think I'll offer them Beau, The Grove and Stoke Park.
They're big customers of both mine (I'm a freelance QS) and the company I'll be representing (brickwork subcontractor) so more than happy to push the boat out a bit and take them somewhere they'll see as being a bit special. Wouldn't normally pay this much for a round but on this occasion it'll be money well spent.
JustOne
Ryder Cup Winner
Would love to play The Grove but as a corporate thing I'd rather take 'em to the Brabazon as they can't complain at all, it's a Ryder Cup course that everyone wants to play, if it's not great you really have no-one to answer to.
S
Snelly
Guest
The Belfry isn't great. The hotel is tired and the course is vastly overrated. Flat as a pancake with little to remember.
I have only played The Grove once and I thought it was pretty good. The downside was the cost of everything though. The bar prices are just ridiculous. It lacks a sense of occasion for me too. Just another posh course in my view with no history or tradition. It's the Loch Lomond of Watford! Not that I don't like new courses per se. Bearwood Lakes is new and has a great feeling about the place. You could try and get on there if possible?
For what it's worth, I agree with therod and would suggest you take your guests to one of the better courses in Surrey or Berkshire. If you want to go somewhere that has a real sense of special occasion with a lovely course and a great lunch then you cannot do much better than St George's Hill or The Berkshire. Both are superb on all fronts and in a different class to the Belfry and a far more enriching experience than The Grove.
I have only played The Grove once and I thought it was pretty good. The downside was the cost of everything though. The bar prices are just ridiculous. It lacks a sense of occasion for me too. Just another posh course in my view with no history or tradition. It's the Loch Lomond of Watford! Not that I don't like new courses per se. Bearwood Lakes is new and has a great feeling about the place. You could try and get on there if possible?
For what it's worth, I agree with therod and would suggest you take your guests to one of the better courses in Surrey or Berkshire. If you want to go somewhere that has a real sense of special occasion with a lovely course and a great lunch then you cannot do much better than St George's Hill or The Berkshire. Both are superb on all fronts and in a different class to the Belfry and a far more enriching experience than The Grove.
hovis
Tour Winner
i have played alot of top courses and have yet to see greens, fairways and bunkers that rival the brabazon. to say the course is well kept it an understatement.
has it got a few borring holes? yes! is it worth £160? no!
has it got a few borring holes? yes! is it worth £160? no!
ArnoldArmChewer
Tour Winner
The Grove is immaculate and is sure to impress even the most critical, very high end American in its approach. The Brabazon is more shabby chic but does possess the history that the Grove doesn't. They are both a good day out so no one is likely to leave disappointed.
hovis
Tour Winner
a guy on my watch is a member at beu. i play it about 3 times a month. it is a great course but not the type of place that will WOW your customers. beu seem to have above average amount of moaning narking idiots. i was once moaned at by a member for my shoe's being dirty! ( they where clean when i started but i tend to play my golf from the deep rough)
scratch
Q-School Graduate
As an alternative, how about heading 90 mins east to Hunstanton for a bit of links golf? They used to be a 2ball/foursomes course but believe they have relaxed that now.
Warbur
Assistant Pro
Well we had a day at The Grove last week and what a place it is. Okay the course may not be the greatest of layouts but it was in excellent condition. The thing that made it though was that we were all made to feel important and my customers had a great time.
Started off we were met at the valet parking area where our clubs were taken from us and put onto the buggies. The car was whisked away and parked for us.
After a quick coffee we headed off to the range where we were met by a representative who gave the clubs a quick clean whilst we duffed our way through a pile of shiney Nike balls. We didn't do the short game practice area but headed straight off to the putting green for a while (Greens were running at 10 according to the sign).
We were called to the tee and were given course guides, tees, markers, pitch forks etc and told we could choose which tees we wanted to go off (we went for the golds).
Buggies had full GPS so the course guides were't used but it was a fair test as long as you stayed out of the deep rough. Course condition was great with the only gripe being that many other golfers had no respect for the greens so I was repairing quite a few pitchmarks on each.
During the round a drinks cart came out several times as did another representative to make sure we were all okay. He was also conscious that he wanted to get us out onto the back 9 in good time ahead of a society (Zurich) that was booked in with a 2-tee start. He couldn't do enough for us to make sure we were having a good day.
After the round (and a shower - boy it was a hot day) we had a bite to eat in The Stables bar and we were given our engraved bag tags (part of the package).
I can't recommend the place enough for taking key customers. It's by no means a cheap day but one they'll remember.
Started off we were met at the valet parking area where our clubs were taken from us and put onto the buggies. The car was whisked away and parked for us.
After a quick coffee we headed off to the range where we were met by a representative who gave the clubs a quick clean whilst we duffed our way through a pile of shiney Nike balls. We didn't do the short game practice area but headed straight off to the putting green for a while (Greens were running at 10 according to the sign).
We were called to the tee and were given course guides, tees, markers, pitch forks etc and told we could choose which tees we wanted to go off (we went for the golds).
Buggies had full GPS so the course guides were't used but it was a fair test as long as you stayed out of the deep rough. Course condition was great with the only gripe being that many other golfers had no respect for the greens so I was repairing quite a few pitchmarks on each.
During the round a drinks cart came out several times as did another representative to make sure we were all okay. He was also conscious that he wanted to get us out onto the back 9 in good time ahead of a society (Zurich) that was booked in with a 2-tee start. He couldn't do enough for us to make sure we were having a good day.
After the round (and a shower - boy it was a hot day) we had a bite to eat in The Stables bar and we were given our engraved bag tags (part of the package).
I can't recommend the place enough for taking key customers. It's by no means a cheap day but one they'll remember.
