DeVere Courses - which are the best?

[BretbyBlue]

Hello all. My wife has won a four ball voucher to play any of these 11 DeVere courses (including their Championship courses. We have only played a couple of these, hence I am looking for your feedback to help us make our choice. We are unconcerned where they are, as we would probably include this into a mini-tour for ourselves. For the record we are both single figure golfers, and we have until next March to use this. The courses are:
Mottram Hall, Manchester
Carden Park, Chester
The Carrick, Loch Lomond
Oulton Hall, Leeds
Staverton Park, Daventry
Belton Woods, Grantham
Slayley Hall, Newcastle
Dunston Hall, Norwich
Wokefield Park, Reading
Herons' Reach, Blackpool
Wychwood Park, Crewe

Looking forward to your comments, warts and all!

 

[DappaDonDave]

Herons reach, because its round the corner

 

[chrisg]

Only played Oulton Hall, it was Ok, but nothing special and I wouldn't pay normal green fees to play it...

 

[hovis]

Put it this way, as a belfry member I can play any of the above courses for free with the exeption of "the carrick". The management market the carrick as the jewel in their crown. Only played staverton park and carden park. Both where below average

 

[RobRob]

the lakes course at belton woods is pretty good and wychwood park is ok just a really long walk!

 

[Spark.]

Slaley hall was nice, i particularly liked the Priestman course. We stayed the weekend and didn't rate the accommodation much for what it was meant to be but the course was lovely.

 

[BretbyBlue]

Thanks for the replies so far. Slayley and Belton looking good so far. Disappointed Carden Park was not reviewed well, I have played their 2nd course (The Cheshire) quite a few times, but never the Nicklaus course. Please any more reviews would be most helpful.
RobRob - your handicap is looking interesting, looks like you have had another good season but have now hit a plateau, don't worry, it should start again to go down again.

 

[noble78]

Playing slaley hall tomorrow so will give you my opinion on that after the weekend

 

[beggsy]

I live 5 mins from oulton hall and can highly recommend staying well clear no different from the council course it was a few year ago

 

[jimbob.someroo]

Herons reach, because its round the corner

Not Heron's Reach, for the same reason

In all seriousness, IMHO it's not a great course and the condition is so-so depending on when you're playing. The hotel's alright though and there's a massive park opposite to wander around if you don't fancy the delights of Blackpool city centre ...

Personally, if you're going for the enjoyment of the golf alone, it wouldn't be at the top of my list.

 

[jimbob.someroo]

Not Heron's Reach, for the same reason

In all seriousness, IMHO it's not a great course and the condition is so-so depending on when you're playing. The hotel's alright though and there's a massive park opposite to wander around if you don't fancy the delights of Blackpool city centre ...

Personally, if you're going for the enjoyment of the golf alone, it wouldn't be at the top of my list.

That said (just re-reading your original post) if you're going to do a few day break, basing yourself at Heron's Reach you'd have;

Royal Lytham
St Annes Old Links
Fairhaven
Royal Birkdale
Royal Liverpool
Hillside
Southport & Ainsdale
Formby

as well as some very good (but maybe not as prestigious) courses all within an hour or so's drive.

 

[Fish]

That said (just re-reading your original post) if you're going to do a few day break, basing yourself at Heron's Reach you'd have;

Royal Lytham
St Annes Old Links
Fairhaven
Royal Birkdale
Royal Liverpool
Hillside
Southport & Ainsdale
Formby

as well as some very good (but maybe not as prestigious) courses all within an hour or so's drive.

Impressive list but should have West Lancs and especially Wallasey added to it

 

[Liverbirdie]

Hello all. My wife has won a four ball voucher to play any of these 11 DeVere courses (including their Championship courses. We have only played a couple of these, hence I am looking for your feedback to help us make our choice. We are unconcerned where they are, as we would probably include this into a mini-tour for ourselves. For the record we are both single figure golfers, and we have until next March to use this. The courses are:
Mottram Hall, Manchester
Carden Park, Chester
The Carrick, Loch Lomond
Oulton Hall, Leeds
Staverton Park, Daventry
Belton Woods, Grantham
Slayley Hall, Newcastle
Dunston Hall, Norwich
Wokefield Park, Reading
Herons' Reach, Blackpool
Wychwood Park, Crewe

Looking forward to your comments, warts and all!

Out of the ones I've played I would put them in this order:-

The Carrick, Loch Lomond
Belton Woods, Grantham
Mottram Hall, Manchester
Carden Park, Chester (cheshire course I find is better than the Nicklaus course)
Oulton Hall, Leeds
Slayley Hall, Newcastle
Wychwood Park, Crewe
Herons' Reach, Blackpool

 

[Andr3w]

Played the carrick in spring 2011 and aside from the greens which were being treated it's a great course with fantastic setting and scenery.

 

[BretbyBlue]

Thanks all for your replies.

Any final comments regarding a few of the other courses from anyone?

 

[Moorzee10]

The Nicklaus course at Carden Park is very good and always in good nic!

 

[noble78]

I can recommend slayley hall, played it Saturday and the hunting course was a great one

 

[m9wst]

I've played Dunston Hall albeit back in my junior days, and i wasnt that impressed, by the sounds of it there are far better courses on your list.

 

[Marshy77]

Playing Oulton next week, heard very mixed reports. Expecting a 5 hour game but not too bothered as it didn't cost too much.

Played Carden couple of weeks ago and thought both courses were good, good condition but very busy - 5+ hour games. I thought the Cheshire course was the best of the 2 but half the group was split between each course. All in all we had a great weekend, hotel was nice, food was ok, prices on the high normal hotel prices.

 

[Marshy77]

Played Oulton today - its ok but nothing more than that really. Course was in good condition, greens ok no movement and sandy in places. No real holes that are memorable apart from the 18th and maybe the 200+ par3 on the back 9. I wouldn't play again without getting a deal or reduced green fee's.

The prices are a joke - £2 for a bottle of water, clothing/clubs so much more than AG or my local course, £4.95 for a pint of lager and £14 for a burger. Really don't understand why the need for charging so much in the clubhouse, if they reduced or priced drinks/food more sensibly we'd have had another drink and had a meal.