Criteria to consider when joining a club?

[shagster]

one other point is, how wet are they in winter. parkland courses on clay can be a bog, so there may be a lot of temporaries.
good luck, some good tracks to choose from
shagster

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Good point well made. No good if the course is shut for weeks on end. My club is on clay soil but it is the one big thing they focussed on with the deigners was making sure it drained. There are a couple of holes on the back 9, 14 and 15 (and the landing area on 16) that do struggle but other than that it does pretty well

 

[Bratty]

Will do. Just FYI, here's the list of courses that I'd say are within reasonable distance of me (by that, I mean I know that if they were any further away I'd probably not go as often because of motivation in getting there!):

Tandridge
Godstone
Edenbridge (Kent and Surrey)
Hever castle
Westerham
Park Wood
Woldingham
Chartham Park
Bletchingley
Lingfield Park

If anyone has any comments on them (in addition to the really useful comments other have posted) it would be great to hear.

Barry,

I've found Bletchingley to be a lovely course, but really rather stuffy and little atmosphere in the clubhouse. I'd avoid it for that reason.

Tandridge is a good course, but rather "proper" as is Hever. I love Hever in the summmer, but it gets very wet in the winter months, as does Edenbridge.

Lingfield is a good coure, but they've just had a hotel built there and the clubhouse is part of it, which gives it a bit of a formal feel. Also race-days are busy round that way, and it's popular with societies. Very popular.

Chartham is a great course and really nice members - as I said in my earlier post, I'd consider joining there if it was nearer me.

Westerham - I'm biased so will leave to others to review! But it's great (apart from the mats in winter)! Happy to host you should you wish.

Park Wood - terrible and boring; don't bother!

 

[sev112]

In decreasing order or importance

Playable every day unless actually under water or covered with snow
"Prettyness"/views
Barmaid quality
No Snobs rule
Price/fees
Food
Beer