Close House or Slaley Hall

[Philbleasy]

Hi guys looking at booking a 1 night golf break and Close House and Slaley Hall are both £99 which one would people recommend. If anyone has been to both?

 

[rulefan]

Not played Close House but Slayley was closed for a while last week. Very wet and claggy. Played both courses over last few years this time of year and found it tiring to walk. You need to show your driving licence for a buggy now.
The hotel has changed hands twice in the last few years and IMO not for the better.

Close House hotel comes out well on Trip Advisor (if you trust it )

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Close House every time. Two smashing courses, lovely modern clubhouse, drains well. Accommodation I'm told is very nice although I haven't stayed in it.

No need for a buggy on The Filly course, you may want to consider one on The Colt.

I've played at both incidentally, all 4 courses, so I'm not basing this on only having been to Close House.

 

[ManinBlack]

I've played them all. Slaley Hunting course is good but very hard & can be wet. The Slaley Priestman is easier with great views, can be wet too. Close House Colt I hate. That's a personal opinion but it's very hard, very hilly & I wouldn't want to play it again. The Close House Filly is a lovely course. Thoughtfully bunkered, short, but not too short & I played it last year after a lot of heavy rain & it was remarkably dry. The Filly would be my choice.

 

[moogie]

We've had some real poor weather up here lately, very wet, so neither will be brilliant.
But if you're coming soon, I'd opt for close house.

Id still say the 2 courses at slaley hall, are possibly 2 of the best layouts in the entire county, though as bill has said slaley hunting can get wet and is a long long course already.
I really rate the Priestman course at slaley, I'd happily play that on a regular basis.

The Colt at close house, will be the best conditioned course in the area, as its money no object at this venue, but it's a marmite course, and I don't rate the layout anywhere as good as the 2 slaley hall courses.
No real stand out holes, could have done a lot more design wise with the land, but most just seem to remember it's condition, being immaculate, as opposed to the course layout itself., defenitely not worth the £150 green fee, that's if anybody ever pays that full price, most are on stay and play deals which are great value.

But i do really enjoy the filly course at close house, short, but not easy to conquer, and the filly drains well too.
USGA spec greens rebuilt several years ago.

The accommodation at close house, is top class, been inside courtyard rooms, excellent.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Close House, no question about it.

 

[Philbleasy]

Looking to probably play April next year as I have a voucher that needs to be used by 30/4 so thinking of leaving it as late as possible so the courses are in better condition. Although on YGT can book anything at Close House later than mid March.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Apart from the fact that I would suggest Close House anyway Slaley can get soggy from now until May at least. You may get lucky and it is dry but it is more of a risk. If you were playing in summer it would be a closer call, the main course at Slaley in particular is very nice, but if you have to play before 30.04 then Close House streaks ahead.

They have spent a lot of money on Close House, you have no worries about conditioning there.

 

[Philbleasy]

Great thanks guys for the information looking like Close House would be the choice. Unless people have any other good suggestions you can book through YGT that aren’t to expensive but the courses will be ok in April

 

[SammmeBee]

Neither.....

 

[Philbleasy]

Neither.....

Thanks really helpful that

 

[SammmeBee]

Thanks really helpful that

No problem but both will be damp in April with little growth and it will be cold. Go to the coast for somewhere that’s at least dry!

 

[Philbleasy]

Suggestions then?

 

[SammmeBee]

Turnberry, St Andrews or Fife in general, right of Edinburgh or go south.....

 

[Philbleasy]

None of them are cheap on YGT though

 

[SammmeBee]

None of them are cheap on YGT though

There’s a reason why they are cheap.....

 

[Deleted member 16999]

None of them are cheap on YGT though

Take no notice mate, none of us know what the weather will be in April, I’ve played Close House in Mar/Apr a few times and the weather has varied.
2016 we had an early spring and were wearing shorts and polos in the last weeks of March as the temp was mid 20C’s.
2018 we had a very wet spring.
Course condition though has always been top notch.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

There’s a reason why they are cheap.....

What’s the point of posting those courses when it’s clear the poster is looking at courses at a certain budget , posting a list of expensive links courses further away isn’t what the OP appears to be looking for.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Take notice of the last sentence in Paul's post, that is crucial. Even if it has rained CH will still be fine to play. Don't get hung up on it being inland.

I've done Turnberry in April, bloomin brilliant but 2-3 times the price.

 

[SammmeBee]

What’s the point of posting those courses when it’s clear the poster is looking at courses at a certain budget , posting a list of expensive links courses further away isn’t what the OP appears to be looking for.

He never mentioned budget or geography to that matter.....