Golf course recommendations, between Soton, Winchester and Bournemouth

[woody69]

I'm looking for a pay and play course to play next Sunday around 12 noon with myself and 2 friends who live in Bournemouth (I live in Wiltshire) around the Winchester / Southampton / New Forest area. Anyone have any recommendations for around £25 a green fee?

We thought about South Winchester, but they want £50 before 1pm and we're not paying that when there is a chance me may not even finish before it's dark. Not interested in South Muni or Paultons as I have played there before, or indeed Donnington Park near Newbury as that's a little too far for my friends.

One of my friends is a member of The Ashley Wood so that is our fall back, but we're ideally looking for something a little more central to us all.

Any ideas?

 

[SVB]

At that time of day could you bring some 2-fore-1 vouchers into play - may be a better track for a good price - even Remedy Oak were accepting them at one point.

Meon Valley (although not played there in a good while)
Bramshaw ?

S

 

[woody69]

At that time of day could you bring some 2-fore-1 vouchers into play - may be a better track for a good price - even Remedy Oak were accepting them at one point.

Meon Valley (although not played there in a good while)
Bramshaw ?

S

Don't have any 2-fore-1 vouchers unfortunately.

Bramshaw looks very nice. Might try there. Which course would you recommend between the two. I'll ask the pro when I call to see if I can get a tee time, but any idea on their policy around winter greens / tees?

 

[SVB]

Woody,

I'm not sure, I'm up in Glos now so have not played either in a while - hopefully someone more local can reply and give you a more current view.

(btw - 2-fore-1 vouchers can be bought for a quid or two and last 12 mths I think so if you do play some pay/play venues worth having a couple in your back pocket. If you ordered now, you may even have them for next w/end).

 

[woody69]

Any idea what the policy on non tee booking is about? Quite a risk for us to turn up find out there are loads of members and not get a tee time. Quite a strange policy, but I assume it's aimed to keep the members happier rather than the visitors!

 

[SVB]

Worth a call to the pro. Some clubs operate a 'ball chute' waiting system so I guess you'd have the same standing as any other group of members (after all, the more enlightened clubs see a visitor green fee as payment to be a 'member for the day' rather than second class citizen). However, clearly if there is a big comp you'd want to know that before travelling.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Are you sure Remedy have accepted 2fore1 in the past? I very much doubt it as they don't really want many visitors.

It's also closed until the spring as they have relaid the greens.

 

[SVB]

Are you sure Remedy have accepted 2fore1 in the past? I very much doubt it as they don't really want many visitors.

It's also closed until the spring as they have relaid the greens.

I may be wrong but pretty sure they did: a couple of yrs ago admitidly and on restricted times.

 

[JCW]

Hi , Bramshaw is good , 2 courses there but it be wet this time of the year , My place to play be Barton On Sea , 27 holes and won`t be wet , may be windy , others worth looking at Moors Valley , Came Down , Ashley wood is ok , 4 holes in the woods are up down up down and wet , Meyrick Park is always playable , another course that drains well is Test Valley near Michdever , good luck

 

[User20205]

The best course in the forest is brokenhurst, by a country mile. I'm not around next sun or I could sign you in. It can get a bit wet, but this week is forecast dry. You get get on for £40 in the winter.......But we're off mats until end of feb. So I'd give it a miss if I'm perfectly honest.

If you come down again, give me a shout and I'll get you on for guest rates. It's definitely worth a trip after feb 28th

 

[SaintHacker]

A lot of courses round here are suffering at the moment. My own place has been on mats/temps for weeks, Dibden only had 9 holes open last week, Soton City had 18 temps yesterday. Romsey might be worth a try, I think it drains pretty well.

 

[Tongo]

A lot of courses round here are suffering at the moment. My own place has been on mats/temps for weeks, Dibden only had 9 holes open last week, Soton City had 18 temps yesterday. Romsey might be worth a try, I think it drains pretty well.

Indeed. You'll need to take into account Woody that a number of the courses in and around Southampton sit on clay soil so they dont drain at all well. You'll be better off heading either towards either Bournemouth or Winchester.

Moors Valley is quite a nice course and wont cost that much to play. Not sure what Meyrick Park in Bournemouth is like drainage wise. I'll have a little think about some others.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Burley in the New Forest is an interesting and enjoyable track, 9 holes but 18 tees.

 

[woody69]

Hi , Bramshaw is good , 2 courses there but it be wet this time of the year , My place to play be Barton On Sea , 27 holes and won`t be wet , may be windy , others worth looking at Moors Valley , Came Down , Ashley wood is ok , 4 holes in the woods are up down up down and wet , Meyrick Park is always playable , another course that drains well is Test Valley near Michdever , good luck

Decided on Bramshaw, phoned up and was able to book a tee however he said the fee was only a tenner as nearly all of the greens had cattle damage on and are top dressed to repair. Did a bit of research and discovered the Forest course is a bit of an oldy stype field not manicured, no fairways as such... Perhaps I'm a snob, but I much more prefer the pristine manicured fairway courses over the traditional rough and ready type courses so have decided to cancel.


Played MOors quite a few times and like it. Just after something a little more central between all of us. Aware of the 4 holes (10-13) in the woods that are up and down and often wet . As I said, my mate is a member there. Meyrick is OK although the dog walkers annoy me. Will take a look into Test though so thanks.

The best course in the forest is brokenhurst, by a country mile. I'm not around next sun or I could sign you in. It can get a bit wet, but this week is forecast dry. You get get on for £40 in the winter.......But we're off mats until end of feb. So I'd give it a miss if I'm perfectly honest.


If you come down again, give me a shout and I'll get you on for guest rates. It's definitely worth a trip after feb 28th

Yeah, not interested in playing off mats. To me a course that insists on mats and/or temps can often indicates drainage issue etc. Thanks for the invite though, will definitely take you up on that at some point. Love playing new courses.

Indeed. You'll need to take into account Woody that a number of the courses in and around Southampton sit on clay soil so they dont drain at all well. You'll be better off heading either towards either Bournemouth or Winchester.


Moors Valley is quite a nice course and wont cost that much to play. Not sure what Meyrick Park in Bournemouth is like drainage wise. I'll have a little think about some others.

Cheers if you think of any others let me know. TBH that is why we were so interested in Winchester as I imagine it would drain quite well. At the moment it is looking like we're going to opt for South Winchester.

Burley in the New Forest is an interesting and enjoyable track, 9 holes but 18 tees.

Dont know why, but courses like that don't interest me. Always feel I am being short changed!

 

[User20205]

Decided on Bramshaw, phoned up and was able to book a tee however he said the fee was only a tenner as nearly all of the greens had cattle damage on and are top dressed to repair. Did a bit of research and discovered the Forest course is a bit of an oldy stype field not manicured, no fairways as such... Perhaps I'm a snob, but I much more prefer the pristine manicured fairway courses over the traditional rough and ready type courses so have decided to cancel.


Played MOors quite a few times and like it. Just after something a little more central between all of us. Aware of the 4 holes (10-13) in the woods that are up and down and often wet . As I said, my mate is a member there. Meyrick is OK although the dog walkers annoy me. Will take a look into Test though so thanks.





Yeah, not interested in playing off mats. To me a course that insists on mats and/or temps can often indicates drainage issue etc. Thanks for the invite though, will definitely take you up on that at some point. Love playing new courses.





Cheers if you think of any others let me know. TBH that is why we were so interested in Winchester as I imagine it would drain quite well. At the moment it is looking like we're going to opt for South Winchester.





Dont know why, but courses like that don't interest me. Always feel I am being short changed!

If you play bramshaw play the main course not the forest. It will be a bog. If you can't get on there burley is a much better option. It's worth a trip.

 

[Midnight]

I haven't played it yet but i have heard very good reports about Weybrook it is near Basingstoke.

I played Test valley a few weeks ago and in my opinion the course was nice but ruined by some really boring par 3s however i will play it again.

 

[Tongo]

Decided on Bramshaw, phoned up and was able to book a tee however he said the fee was only a tenner as nearly all of the greens had cattle damage on and are top dressed to repair. Did a bit of research and discovered the Forest course is a bit of an oldy stype field not manicured, no fairways as such... Perhaps I'm a snob, but I much more prefer the pristine manicured fairway courses over the traditional rough and ready type courses so have decided to cancel.



Played MOors quite a few times and like it. Just after something a little more central between all of us. Aware of the 4 holes (10-13) in the woods that are up and down and often wet . As I said, my mate is a member there. Meyrick is OK although the dog walkers annoy me. Will take a look into Test though so thanks.





Yeah, not interested in playing off mats. To me a course that insists on mats and/or temps can often indicates drainage issue etc. Thanks for the invite though, will definitely take you up on that at some point. Love playing new courses.





Cheers if you think of any others let me know. TBH that is why we were so interested in Winchester as I imagine it would drain quite well. At the moment it is looking like we're going to opt for South Winchester.





Dont know why, but courses like that don't interest me. Always feel I am being short changed!

I played the Forest course at Bramshaw a few times a few years ago and loved it. As you say, its not a pristine fairways course but it is different and really enjoyable to play. (teeing off on the 18th with a game of cricket being played on the pitch adjacent to the fairway is an interesting experience!) Not sure what condition it would be in at the mo and i wouldnt fancy playing it if there's cattle damage on the greens.

 

[MendieGK]

How about Hockley? Drains well and it a proper test of golf. Easy access as it is about 100m off the M3

 

[woody69]

How about Hockley? Drains well and it a proper test of golf. Easy access as it is about 100m off the M3

Hockley looks nice. No idea on Winter green fee though as it is saying prices from April 2014 and they want £60. Will give them a call, thanks for the tip.

 

[MendieGK]

Hockley looks nice. No idea on Winter green fee though as it is saying prices from April 2014 and they want £60. Will give them a call, thanks for the tip.

I'd be suprised if you didnt get a good deal.