Golf Clubs in Northampton

[leonneab]

Help,

I live in Northampton and have just finished my membership with my current public pay and play course. Although this course was ok it lacked the feel of a club and did little in the way of competitions.

As a single golfer it was hard to meet other members and play regulary with others.

My question to you is does anyone know of a golf course is the northampton area which offers a truely golf club enviroment which has weekly medals, regluar faces and social activities?

Your help is very welcome.

regards from one lonely golfer

 

[fundy]

Hi

Im in Milton Keynes but have played at several Northampton courses this summer so have some opinion.

Northampton county is the best (and oldest and toughest course) imo - a very decent course, decent practise facilities and definitely a club atmosphere, though did get the feeling it may be a bit old fashioned, especially in the clubhouse.

Kingsthorpe is a very quirky course, short as it is sited on one of the smallest acreages of any full course in this country. This leads to every hole being on top of each other and not sure Id feel safe playing there on a Saturday morning, a nice course to play once but wouldnt be a members option for me.

Collingtree Park - a lovely championship length course and a real brute off the back tees. Have had a few problems condition wise in the last few years but if in decent condition would be a very good option for me. Seems very much a members club despite allowing visitors readily.

Overstone Park - Sited with a hotel and gym and other leisure facilities, a newish course and the place seems pretty souless, golfers dont seem to be their first concern (hotel/gym do).

Theres another course at Brampton but not played it so cant comment.

Depending on which side of Northampton you are there are a couple of options outside the city on the south side:

Whittlebury Park - 3 separate 9s, 2 stand out as better than the 3rd which runs down towards Silverstone race track. The huge downside of WP is the noise that comes from Silverstone, would have been a likely choice of club for myself if not for that as I found the Red and Yellow 9s a very good test of golf in a lovely setting.

Silverstone - a decent parkland course which whilst also on top of Silverstone seems to suffer far less from the noise (though the 2 times I played it may have been fortunate on wind direction). They are currently spending decent money in improving the course and trying to get it to championship standard.

Which public course have you been at and what do you play off?

 

[full_throttle]

Hellidon Lakes costs around the £700 mark, and for that you get millionaires golf.

played there the other week, talking to a senior and I was told they have about 300 members of which onloy about 70 play in the weekly competitions.

only down side is that the course does get very wet.

 

[Cobra_Nut]

Brampton Heath is a good value for money club & it was one of my daughters favorite courses, it's excellent in winter, also they have a nice Par 3 9 hole course.

Northampton GC (Harlestone) is quite nice aswell.

Agree with Northants County being the best but quite expensive.

We didn't play Kingsthorpe as we had heard a few horror stories about houses very close to the course & cars being hit by balls in the carpark, but we will give it a whirl this year.

 

[fundy]

Cobra

the first tee at Kingsthorpe is comical, all you can see is a row of houses down the left edge and a fairway that looks about 4 yards wide (it gets much wider after 150yds or so). The houses on the left must get hit daily despite a net being up there. Its certainly a bit different but try and play it on a quiet day.

will add Brampton Heath and Harlestone to my list of courses to play around here

 

[leonneab]

thanks Fundy, full throttle and cobra nut for your info. Been playing at Delapre Golf for 2 years now and have a handicap of 21.

Going to go over to Brampton Heath GC this afternoon to take a look. Collingtree park GC appeals as is only 5 mins from me but whenever i been over there ( weekdays as i work weekends ) is seems very quite and almost imo aimed at the corporate end of golf. is this correct?

Are there any Collingtree GC members on the forum who could give me an insite into this club and its acivities.

thanks again

 

[Cobra_Nut]

No probs, just remember to ask for the code in the pro shop before driving out as you'll get stuck at the gate with no code at Brampton, they have a nice driving range aswell. Northampton GC is just round the corner if your round that way & Northants County is next door.

 

[keef]

Agree with the comments about Whittlebury park. The reds and yellow 9,s are excellent, as is the range, but not sure about the membership side. Suspect what members they do have keep themselves to themselves. Not sure where you are but Borne on Cambs border has a strong membership and "feel" to it.

 

[fundy]

Hope you enjoyed Brampton. If youre looking to try any of them midweek and want some company give me a shout, Im usually able to make it midweek and will happily come over to any of these (seems Collingtree is available at £15 on tee off times currently)

A friend used to be a member at Collingtree and it had quite a strong members side to it, I know they introduced a fair bit of corporate membership, not sure if the normal members club suffered from that

 

[leonneab]

cheers Fundy, thanks for the offer. Wll let you know when the misses will let me out for a game next.

 

[Billysboots]

I'm surprised Wellingborough hasn't warranted a mention - lovely track.