Golf Opens 2025 (for us amateurs)

How much was Brancepeth and what was the format?
How would you rate it - value for money?
Brancepeth was £25, 4BBB. Pretty much all NE of England Opens are 4BBB in format style.

I think that is crazy value for the quality of course. Brancepeth is probably the best parkland course in Co Durham, it is an excellent layout and a very good test of golf. They could charge double that and we probably still play it without too much of a thought.

If it is on your radar, I'd be happy to recommend it.
 
I did the following opens this year

Bideford Foursomes (Saunton East & RND)
Minchinhampton
Wicklow
Woodenbridge
Bunclody

Will look to do some more next year with the other half. We just have to find the ones that are weekends.
 
I have played 20 opens in 2025 (so far...), the list is below and those in bold were new courses for me this year.
I don't have any more booked at present, but I do have some annual leave to use up so might have a look for some weekday opens.
The most I paid was £40 and the cheapest was £15. Average was just over £25.
Burton, Worksop and Erewash Valley were the highlights, all lovely courses.
  1. Burstwick, East Yorkshire
  2. Holme Hall, Lincolnshire
  3. Breadsall Priory, Derbyshire
  4. Kenwick Park, Lincolnshire
    Won this but was fairly excluded from the prizes because one of my team had a dodgy handicap! He won't be invited again until he sorts it out.
    Played a second open at Kenwick later in the year
  5. Chevin, Derbyshire
  6. Phoenix, South Yorkshire
  7. Burton on Trent, Derbyshire
  8. Sleaford, Lincolnshire
  9. Worksop, Nottinghamshire
    £90 prize for third place in my division, paid for half a new trolley :)
  10. Springwater, Nottinghamshire
  11. Bondhay, Nottinghamshire
  12. Ruddington Grange, Nottinghamshire
  13. Erewash Valley, Nottinghamshire
  14. South Chesterfield, Derbyshire
    £40 prize for second place
  15. Catterick, North Yorkshire
  16. Richmond, North Yorkshire
  17. Bedale, North Yorkshire
  18. Cosby, Leicestershire
  19. Horsley Lodge, Derbyshire
 
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Played a few opens this year:
Oakmere Park
Kings Norton
Sutton Coldfield
Bloxwich
Shirley
Burnham & Berrow
Robin Hood
Birstall
Edgbaston
Chesterfield
Thorpe Wood
Collingtree Park
Brocton Hall
Silloth on Solway
Ferndown
Olton
Blankney (only time in the prizes, betterball 2nd place)
Kenilworth
Wollaton Park

Got a final one at Wellingborough in a couple of weeks.
 
Lindrick did ok
Ormskirk did ok
Sandi way was doing ok till the rain came down and washed us off the course.

Not played many as we had three free ones to get in, and still haven't managed that !!!! Hoping to get the last one done next week as the weather forecast is good.
 
Not played as many open's as I would of liked to, although I have played at a couple of new courses paying green fees.

New courses played this year;

Ellesmere, Reddish Vale & Pike Fold are the Opens.

Rochdale, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, Akebar Park & Seahouses played paying green fees.
 
Not played as many open's as I would of liked to, although I have played at a couple of new courses paying green fees.

New courses played this year;

Ellesmere, Reddish Vale & Pike Fold are the Opens.

Rochdale, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, Akebar Park & Seahouses played paying green fees.
What did you think of Seahouses ?
 
What did you think of Seahouses ?
I thought it was ok, no where near the same quality as some of the other courses in the area but then again it only cost me £20 to play.

Some good holes (liked the par three over the sea), then some I couldn't work out, the ones across the road that cross over, why? and the 9th and 18th sharing a fairway.
 
Played a few opens this year:
Oakmere Park
Kings Norton
Sutton Coldfield
Bloxwich
Shirley
Burnham & Berrow
Robin Hood
Birstall
Edgbaston
Chesterfield
Thorpe Wood
Collingtree Park
Brocton Hall
Silloth on Solway
Ferndown
Olton
Blankney (only time in the prizes, betterball 2nd place)
Kenilworth
Wollaton Park

Got a final one at Wellingborough in a couple of weeks.
Some nice courses near Birmingham in this list - Sutton Coldfiels would be my favourite. Played it last winter when mine and surrounding courses were all closed. It was completely dry
 
I thought it was ok, no where near the same quality as some of the other courses in the area but then again it only cost me £20 to play.

Some good holes (liked the par three over the sea), then some I couldn't work out, the ones across the road that cross over, why? and the 9th and 18th sharing a fairway.
Ha ha exactly what I thought . I also like the par 3 over the lake . I have tended to use it for a quick round when the Mrs wants to read her book when we holiday up in Northumberland.
 
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