welshjim22
Head Pro
I played the 2010 today on my own, i returned to the sport earlier this year after 4 years and despite probably hitting a few thousand range balls i have only played 3 rounds, 98 100 and 106. I think the experience is certainly better suited to group golf.
I arrived at the front of the club house where i was checked in and clubs and trolley taken to the practice area. I was shown in the direction of the changing rooms and told they were all free to use, i got Jim Furyk's. I picked up a shotsaver which was well worth the £6 even with a skycaddie SG5. The complimentary practice area was really good and quiet. Range staff were friendly and invited me to tee off early so he could spread a few of us out as it was quiet. The range though was a lot windier than the Celtic Manor Academy range i had just come from. 7 Iron was travelling 150ish but at 2010 i wasn't even making 100 yards.
Wind assisted the first two holes were playing a little easier 260 and 240 yard drives, normally about 220. Missed both greens but chipping on and two putting both isn't bad for a 28 handicapper. Against the wind the 3rd and 4th weren't so easy. 4th driver tee shot 170yards straight. Is it always this windy here? Wind assisted i hit my all time longest drive of 280 yards on the 5th and hardest hole, GIR and 2 putt par. After 13 holes of the back and forth with or against the wind things went bad on the 14th with 4 shots to get from under the lip of a bunker. The walk to the 15th though is an up and down nightmare at this point i like to think this aided my pull left shot off the tee and complete balls up of the following holes. 16th tired at this point i mistakenly tried driver off the deck for second shot, i can play this shot well at the range. Worked well only the fairway, beyond the large bunker blocking my view wasn't quite where i thought it was. 17th par 3 is a pig if you go right ground drops away with double stacked bunkers. Bogey and then the final hole. At this point i started to wonder is the negatives of having a golf buggy stuck to the path for the first 14 holes outweighed by the hilly nature of the final holes. I was wrecked. Another short into the wind tee shot, i hit all clubs high. This time driver off the deck was a good straight second which i then hit a fat shank into the rough. Chipped out easy pitch over water and again another slog pushing trolley up a hill before 2 putting for a 104 round. First 9 was 48 so disappointed by back 9 score. A young lady took my bag to the front of the clubhouse whilst i collected my shoe and engraved golf bag tag. All for a whopping £69.
In short the fairways and greens were great bunkers are large, i think the wind got me over a few that were in range and kept me short on opposite holes. Course is a real test or at least i thought so. I have previously many years ago organised a Golf monthly game at the London Golf club, both in my opinion are equal on quality with Celtic making more of a show of a few water hazards. Would i pay the morning tee price of £161 no but at £69 i might make this a once or twice a year treat. I have played both other Celtic manor courses and whilst i prefer the 2010 there isn't much in it.
I arrived at the front of the club house where i was checked in and clubs and trolley taken to the practice area. I was shown in the direction of the changing rooms and told they were all free to use, i got Jim Furyk's. I picked up a shotsaver which was well worth the £6 even with a skycaddie SG5. The complimentary practice area was really good and quiet. Range staff were friendly and invited me to tee off early so he could spread a few of us out as it was quiet. The range though was a lot windier than the Celtic Manor Academy range i had just come from. 7 Iron was travelling 150ish but at 2010 i wasn't even making 100 yards.
Wind assisted the first two holes were playing a little easier 260 and 240 yard drives, normally about 220. Missed both greens but chipping on and two putting both isn't bad for a 28 handicapper. Against the wind the 3rd and 4th weren't so easy. 4th driver tee shot 170yards straight. Is it always this windy here? Wind assisted i hit my all time longest drive of 280 yards on the 5th and hardest hole, GIR and 2 putt par. After 13 holes of the back and forth with or against the wind things went bad on the 14th with 4 shots to get from under the lip of a bunker. The walk to the 15th though is an up and down nightmare at this point i like to think this aided my pull left shot off the tee and complete balls up of the following holes. 16th tired at this point i mistakenly tried driver off the deck for second shot, i can play this shot well at the range. Worked well only the fairway, beyond the large bunker blocking my view wasn't quite where i thought it was. 17th par 3 is a pig if you go right ground drops away with double stacked bunkers. Bogey and then the final hole. At this point i started to wonder is the negatives of having a golf buggy stuck to the path for the first 14 holes outweighed by the hilly nature of the final holes. I was wrecked. Another short into the wind tee shot, i hit all clubs high. This time driver off the deck was a good straight second which i then hit a fat shank into the rough. Chipped out easy pitch over water and again another slog pushing trolley up a hill before 2 putting for a 104 round. First 9 was 48 so disappointed by back 9 score. A young lady took my bag to the front of the clubhouse whilst i collected my shoe and engraved golf bag tag. All for a whopping £69.
In short the fairways and greens were great bunkers are large, i think the wind got me over a few that were in range and kept me short on opposite holes. Course is a real test or at least i thought so. I have previously many years ago organised a Golf monthly game at the London Golf club, both in my opinion are equal on quality with Celtic making more of a show of a few water hazards. Would i pay the morning tee price of £161 no but at £69 i might make this a once or twice a year treat. I have played both other Celtic manor courses and whilst i prefer the 2010 there isn't much in it.
