SugarPenguin
Challenge Tour Pro
So for about 6 weeks now I have been a member at Gainsborough which is where the UK PING factory is based.
I know there's a GM society that go annually and many people have visited Gainsborough
The clubhouse is fairly large and quite modern and the views from the bar are very impressive over a number of greens. Standard locker room and a good selection of food and bar drinks at reasonable prices if you are a member
Simple practice facilities and driving range
The courses
Thonock Park
The more popular course out of the two amongst the members. It's the easier and shorter course which is why it's favoured and off the yellow tees it's a modest 6223 yard par 72.
very much a parkland course that is more hilly than it looks over the first few holes. The front 9 all play very different and there are many holes where laying up with an iron is the wiser choice to have better angles into the greens and to ensure you are not blocked out by the huge old trees that are prevalent on most holes. Position is key on this course.
My Highlight holes:
4th - not the longest at around but my favourite hole . 350 yards par4 but the entire fairway slopes from right to left and then there is a massive downward slope from 140yard to the pin to about 60 before a huge upslope to an elevated green that looks very secluded because of all the think old trees. It looks a very intimating approach shot. Best to take a long iron or hybrid from the tee and aim down the right to leave yourself 150 in. Much easier than hitting driver and being blocked out and hitting to an elevated green.
7th - just under 300 yard par4 and an inviting hole to drive. Left is dead in thick rough and right isn't much better as there are quite a few trees. 2 large bunkers are around 200 yards from the tee so you have to go for the green or hit mid iron and lay up. Some lovely views from the tee box too.
9th - teeing off back to the club house and plays fairly long nearing 400 yard dog leg left. Left off the tee is blocked out but right is fine but far back. The green is absolutely tiny and can't be more than about 8 yards wide at the front and middle. Large ditch before the green and a nasty green side bunker left.
14th - short par 3 of around 135 yards. Pretty cliche but it's over water and you need to carry it to the green from the tee box. Hit your shot poorly and it's in the water. Surrounded by wildlife
15th - much harder from the white tees but from the yellow it's 355 yards. There are 2 massive trees about 230 yards from the tee and rough / path that intersects the hole. If you cannot drive it past the trees this hole is very difficult as you will be blocked out unless you hit it straight. Rough also covers about a 20yard area each side of the path. There is a run off left of the green too so it's imperative your second shot is right. Long is dead. Great hole.
If you want a challenge play from the whites as some par 5s become par 4s
karsten lakes
my favourite out of the two and it has hosted the solheim cup I believe. Definitely a lot more exposed and much more demanding. By far much more difficult in pretty much every aspect. Not too many trees but a hell of a lot more bunkers dog legs and the greens are much tougher. Every hole is completely different and as the name suggest, water hazards are a plenty. Also a lot longer at 6721 par 72 off the yellow tees. The rough is very thick in most places and it's easy to lose balls if you hit a poor teeshot as the holes don't really run parallel to one another. Great course and I highly recommend it. The only issues I have is that it isn't as well maintained as the parks course which is infuriating!
Highlight holes
6th -ugh.... Tough doesn't describe it. Par 4 over 400 yards even from the yellows and usually into wind. One of the toughest holes I have ever seen. The fairway is left off the tee box and the green is to the right. 170 yards from the tee box is a lake that splits the too and it's huge. The fairway is narrow and to the left is horrendous rough. To the right it's the lake. Probably one of the hardest teeshots a golfer can face. You have to basically go over a massive lake with your second shot. Best bet is to hit a 7 iron so you don't reach the lake or fairway and take a 3 wood or hybrid to the green. If you went directly right off the tee then you may find your ball but there is semi rough and large bunkers to ensure that if you go on line with the green you will be punished, even if by some miracle you don't end up in the drink. A strategic nightmare of a hole and if you get a apar you will be over the moon.
9th - par 4 almost 400 yards. water all down the left and the fairway runs out of room at about 280 yards as the lake cuts across. Once positioned the second shot will be mainly over the lake to a guarded green with bunkers. Difficult hole because the more left you are the more open the green becomes.
10th - a 530 yard par 5 that has a pond the the right about 240 yards away. Only the large hitters can manage in 2 as the hole turns slightly left but 60 yards from the green there is a 15 yard wide stream. You must be certain that you can carry it or else you will pay the price. The stream is in a very awkward yardage.
15th - my favourite hole on the entire set up. A long par 4 that doglegs to the right. About 200yardd to the left the fairway has numerous bunkers. Down the right there are some moderate trees. Large hitters can aim over them and hit a drive which will then start To role down the hole. A 250 yard carry is required at least. Anything right is dead. The second shot after is slightly downhill to a longe thing green with bunkers dotted down the left. Make sure you hit the right club or you will have a lengthy Putt.
17th - about 150 yards over a lake again. With a strategic large bunker at the back of the green. A wide but short in depth green that requires to know your yardage or else you will punished.
The only issue is the competitive tees on both courses. They add lots of length by change the par on some holes but they don't really have separate tee boxes for strategic play.
Hope hope you enjoyed my review. Longer than I intended but I could go on for even longer
I know there's a GM society that go annually and many people have visited Gainsborough
The clubhouse is fairly large and quite modern and the views from the bar are very impressive over a number of greens. Standard locker room and a good selection of food and bar drinks at reasonable prices if you are a member
Simple practice facilities and driving range
The courses
Thonock Park
The more popular course out of the two amongst the members. It's the easier and shorter course which is why it's favoured and off the yellow tees it's a modest 6223 yard par 72.
very much a parkland course that is more hilly than it looks over the first few holes. The front 9 all play very different and there are many holes where laying up with an iron is the wiser choice to have better angles into the greens and to ensure you are not blocked out by the huge old trees that are prevalent on most holes. Position is key on this course.
My Highlight holes:
4th - not the longest at around but my favourite hole . 350 yards par4 but the entire fairway slopes from right to left and then there is a massive downward slope from 140yard to the pin to about 60 before a huge upslope to an elevated green that looks very secluded because of all the think old trees. It looks a very intimating approach shot. Best to take a long iron or hybrid from the tee and aim down the right to leave yourself 150 in. Much easier than hitting driver and being blocked out and hitting to an elevated green.
7th - just under 300 yard par4 and an inviting hole to drive. Left is dead in thick rough and right isn't much better as there are quite a few trees. 2 large bunkers are around 200 yards from the tee so you have to go for the green or hit mid iron and lay up. Some lovely views from the tee box too.
9th - teeing off back to the club house and plays fairly long nearing 400 yard dog leg left. Left off the tee is blocked out but right is fine but far back. The green is absolutely tiny and can't be more than about 8 yards wide at the front and middle. Large ditch before the green and a nasty green side bunker left.
14th - short par 3 of around 135 yards. Pretty cliche but it's over water and you need to carry it to the green from the tee box. Hit your shot poorly and it's in the water. Surrounded by wildlife
15th - much harder from the white tees but from the yellow it's 355 yards. There are 2 massive trees about 230 yards from the tee and rough / path that intersects the hole. If you cannot drive it past the trees this hole is very difficult as you will be blocked out unless you hit it straight. Rough also covers about a 20yard area each side of the path. There is a run off left of the green too so it's imperative your second shot is right. Long is dead. Great hole.
If you want a challenge play from the whites as some par 5s become par 4s
karsten lakes
my favourite out of the two and it has hosted the solheim cup I believe. Definitely a lot more exposed and much more demanding. By far much more difficult in pretty much every aspect. Not too many trees but a hell of a lot more bunkers dog legs and the greens are much tougher. Every hole is completely different and as the name suggest, water hazards are a plenty. Also a lot longer at 6721 par 72 off the yellow tees. The rough is very thick in most places and it's easy to lose balls if you hit a poor teeshot as the holes don't really run parallel to one another. Great course and I highly recommend it. The only issues I have is that it isn't as well maintained as the parks course which is infuriating!
Highlight holes
6th -ugh.... Tough doesn't describe it. Par 4 over 400 yards even from the yellows and usually into wind. One of the toughest holes I have ever seen. The fairway is left off the tee box and the green is to the right. 170 yards from the tee box is a lake that splits the too and it's huge. The fairway is narrow and to the left is horrendous rough. To the right it's the lake. Probably one of the hardest teeshots a golfer can face. You have to basically go over a massive lake with your second shot. Best bet is to hit a 7 iron so you don't reach the lake or fairway and take a 3 wood or hybrid to the green. If you went directly right off the tee then you may find your ball but there is semi rough and large bunkers to ensure that if you go on line with the green you will be punished, even if by some miracle you don't end up in the drink. A strategic nightmare of a hole and if you get a apar you will be over the moon.
9th - par 4 almost 400 yards. water all down the left and the fairway runs out of room at about 280 yards as the lake cuts across. Once positioned the second shot will be mainly over the lake to a guarded green with bunkers. Difficult hole because the more left you are the more open the green becomes.
10th - a 530 yard par 5 that has a pond the the right about 240 yards away. Only the large hitters can manage in 2 as the hole turns slightly left but 60 yards from the green there is a 15 yard wide stream. You must be certain that you can carry it or else you will pay the price. The stream is in a very awkward yardage.
15th - my favourite hole on the entire set up. A long par 4 that doglegs to the right. About 200yardd to the left the fairway has numerous bunkers. Down the right there are some moderate trees. Large hitters can aim over them and hit a drive which will then start To role down the hole. A 250 yard carry is required at least. Anything right is dead. The second shot after is slightly downhill to a longe thing green with bunkers dotted down the left. Make sure you hit the right club or you will have a lengthy Putt.
17th - about 150 yards over a lake again. With a strategic large bunker at the back of the green. A wide but short in depth green that requires to know your yardage or else you will punished.
The only issue is the competitive tees on both courses. They add lots of length by change the par on some holes but they don't really have separate tee boxes for strategic play.
Hope hope you enjoyed my review. Longer than I intended but I could go on for even longer
