Courses around Winchester

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Digging a hole for myself

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Hi guys

Getting serious thoughts about joining a club very soon. Feeling that my game is improving now to a sufficient level (shot two nine hole rounds over the weekend at 50 and 53) that membership somewhere would give me a lot more opportunities to practice on the course than I'm currently getting.

So, need some thoughts on courses. Had a quick visit to the Royal Winchester over the weekend. Looked nice, rather formal (no issue with that, but probably won't be doing much on the social side anyway) but not played the course. Also visited Hockley - club house isn't much, but decent shop and good reports about the course (although an "older style" of course). Then finally, have played South Winchester a couple of times (enjoyable, but pricey and a bit "corporate").

I'm looking for a course to play, rather than somewhere to socialise (barring naturally a few drinks after a game). I would also like somewhere where I can nip in for a quick 9 after work without worrying about booking a tee time.

All 3 are pretty close by, so nothing to choose between them that way. Bit concerned about the costs of South Winchester (£1400 pa) but then the Royal wants a joining fee of one year's membership spread over 5 years (or up front). Hockley seems comparatively cheap by comparison, but not sure whether it would be too much of a challenge for me (or maybe that's a good thing). Certainly I'd expect to loose more balls at Hockley than I have at South Winchester, from what I've seen!

I've already drawn a few conclusions of my own, but any comments on these three?

Cheers.
 
Have played Royal Winchester, and whilst I enjoyed the course, I would not want to be a member there. Too may hills and very open, even for me. I have a friend who is a member at Hockley, though not played it. He likes it and have heard good reports, although it sounds like you need to be a good wind player. Science Boy used to/is a member at South Winchester so you could send him a pm. Not sure how far from you it is, but Stoneham is worth looking out. Proper members club, very friendly, and a good course to boot.
 
Hockley is a top course. I've played there a lot over the last 4-5 years. The club house is functional, the pro shop well stocked and friendly. The course itself is alway in good nick, even in the winter, It can play really tough in the summer, when the greens are quick & the rough is up. As rich says you have to be a good wind player (it's always windy) and not mind uphill/downhil/sidehill lies. It used to be about £1k with no joining fee

I've not played the other 2 but heard good things, I don't think you can go far wrong with any of them
 
I know all 3 courses pretty well and I was a member at Hockley for about 6 years. The only 2 courses I would consider are Hockley and Stoneham. The Royal isn't all that great and S Winchester is a proprietary course that gets lots of company and society days plus you get no say in the running of the club.

Bottom line is..... Stoneham is the best course but prone to getting wet and a few closures in the winter, Hockley isn't quite as good but it's built on a chalk hill and open all year round. Good bunch of lads at Hockley as well.

Hope this helps, ping me a PM if you want any more info :thup:
 
I'm a member at Royal Winchester and it's a good course. Only been a member for a year but people are friendly. Pro shop is top notch.

South Winchester is an average course just carved out of a field. Only good thing about it are the par 3's.

Haven't played Hockley yet, but think it's on our reciprical list so will give a bash at some point.
 
After being a member at South Winch I can say its not as bad as expected. Yes there is the corporate overtone but once you are a member you find the "meat" under the skin is just what you would want for being a member. Tee times are easy to book either online or in the pro shop up to 12 days in advance, competitions are frequent and have a good turnouts (Fri, Sat, Sun each week as a minimum).

The members are VERY friendly and welcoming, the prices are a little steep but in my opinion you do get your monies worth over the course of a whole season. The course itself is fun, challenging and playable all year.

As for busy periods, yes Saturday from 9am is SLOW! But the bar serves food from 7am so getting there early and teeing off before 9 usually results in a quick round ( I used to tee off around 6-8am).

Practice areas are also good and not too busy either, the putting green is massive and great for your short game. The pitching area and bunker are always available and not too busy if not empty! The range is frequently full but its great for working on your game!

In other words its a little more expensive but you get a fair bit for your money, including a great course that is good for 5-9 holes after work or 18 early or late on weekends. In addition you soon forget its a Crown owned course...

EDIT:
Paperboy said:
South Winchester is an average course just carved out of a field. Only good thing about it are the par 3's.
Click to expand...
Typical unbiased Royal members view ;) and in my opinion the par 3s are nothing special, its the 4th, 9th and 15th par 4s that make the course great as well as having a good fun set of par 5s. The only poor holes are the 13th and 14th, they feel a bit wedged in. Other than that I cannot fault it apart from the overall cost of the place, its not the cheapest and that's one of the reasons I am not a member there at the moment! As soon as things turn around I will be reapplying!
 
Last edited:
Paperboy said:
Not biased just my opinion, as you have yours. Thats what makes the world go around. Just because I don't like the course doesn't mean others don't.
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Spot on, I myself am quite biased to South Winch of course. I have never played Royal but I do want to, heard many good things.

One of the reasons I don't see anything in the par 3s is because I have Grimsby to compare them against, every singe par 3 at Grimsby Golf Club is a work of art and nothing comes close!
 
therod said:
Hockley is a top course. I've played there a lot over the last 4-5 years. The club house is functional, the pro shop well stocked and friendly. The course itself is alway in good nick, even in the winter, It can play really tough in the summer, when the greens are quick & the rough is up. As rich says you have to be a good wind player (it's always windy) and not mind uphill/downhil/sidehill lies. It used to be about £1k with no joining fee

I've not played the other 2 but heard good things, I don't think you can go far wrong with any of them
Click to expand...

I'm a member of Hockley albeit for 2 months and completely agree with everything therod has mentioned. Great all year course and I have found it to be a very friendly club.

I have never played the Stoneham course but I get my lessons from one of the pros there. He is an absolutely fantastic pro and has helped me so much. It may also help by the fact he is also a Barnsley supporter! ;)
 
Thanks for all lthe comments so far guys. I can see the merits in each club, so am continuing to mull it over.

Stoneham requires (I believe) a handicap of 18 from new members, so I'm a bit stuffed on that front! Maybe next year...
 
To be honest, if you are considering courses outside of Winchester then the obvious (and I would say only) choice is Stoneham. Also close to Winchester but not mentioned are Alresford and Corhampton. Not familiar with Corhampton but Alresford is a very pleasant members course.

Wouldn't touch Dummer with a barge pole, even after 20 odd years it still looks and feels like a brand new course that hasn't settled in yet.
 
Justman said:
I have never played the Stoneham course but I get my lessons from one of the pros there. He is an absolutely fantastic pro and has helped me so much. It may also help by the fact he is also a Barnsley supporter! ;)
Click to expand...

Say hello to little Ben for me :thup:
 
Haha! I will, do you have lessons from him too? I thought it was unbelievable finding a pro where I live who has also got a screw loose! ;) It was a bit surreal at the first lesson.
 
No, I used to play with him in his amateur days at Dibden. Used to hit it a piggin' long way for a little fella! A genuinely nice guy :thup:
 
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