Golf Weekend - Belton Woods!

[mattyb0y]

Just got back today from a sunday / monday society event at Belton Woods grantham

Cracking place played the lakes course sunday in fourball better ball

and the Woodlands today in single..

I personally thought the lakes was much better and a cracking course...

Up till 3 drinking this morning made golf a little ropey! Lovely venue tho recommned to anyone!

Adios Ameigos... Off to Turkey tonight.. hoping to get some golf in Belek!

 

[Aztecs27]

Greens are marvellous, aren't they? The Lakes is definitely the better course of the two. I love it. Nice challenge.

Do yourself a favour though and go play Belton Park next time. 10 times better than either Belton Woods track.

 

[GB72]

Greens are marvellous, aren't they? The Lakes is definitely the better course of the two. I love it. Nice challenge.

Do yourself a favour though and go play Belton Park next time. 10 times better than either Belton Woods track.

Coincidently I am going for a look around Belton Park in a couple of weeks. Thinking of making it my new club.

Have you got any more thoughts on it as a course (though it is the club aspect that is the most important at the moment)

 

[Aztecs27]

Greens are marvellous, aren't they? The Lakes is definitely the better course of the two. I love it. Nice challenge.

Do yourself a favour though and go play Belton Park next time. 10 times better than either Belton Woods track.

Coincidently I am going for a look around Belton Park in a couple of weeks. Thinking of making it my new club.

Have you got any more thoughts on it as a course (though it is the club aspect that is the most important at the moment)

Funnily enough, yes I have! I'm originally from the Grantham/Long Bennington area and I was a member there as a junior from aged 14-18 and would still be a member there if it wasn't for moving away. A load of my friends and ex-teachers are still members there. It's a great club.

It's an "old school" club, having been around since 1896 I think, but it looks like you're a member at Stoke Rochford, so you won't notice much of a change in the atmosphere around the club and the way things are run. Very similar if I recall Stoke the way I remember it. I'm talking about no trainers or hats in the clubhouse, shirt and tie after 6pm etc..etc..It's certainly not as stuffy as some clubs can be and it's alot more relaxed now than it was when I was a member 8 years ago. The new(ish) patio area overlooking all three finishing greens certainly helps with the relaxed atmosphere. But the people that run the place love the club and are constantly striving to make it better.

The practice facilities are minimal and really the only downside, if you can call it that. They have a large putting green and two practice nets for warming up your swing. So they do just enough. But that's absolutely fine with me.

Since I was a member it's had some massive refurbishments/improvements. The changing rooms are unbelievably facilitated now (drying room for bags/clothes, plenty of showers, HUGE amount of lockers (whether you'll be able to get one or not remains to be seen!) and the pro-shop is well equipped and the pro is a sound bloke. It's unrecognisable from when I was there.

The course, well, the course is unbelievable. When they took the plunge to create the irrigation "pond" around 10 years ago, it was the best thing they could have ever done. Every time I play it, it's in fabulous, lush condition and the greens are true and can be very, very, very, very quick (very). The greenkeeping staff do an excellent job.

The 3 nines all offer a very different challenge. The "classic" 18 (1-18) is a great test with some interesting holes and you know you're in for a fun time when you tee up on the 1st and see what you have in front of you - a sharp dogleg left with woods to the left and right of you. You can be aggressive and hit over the trees to cut the corner, or play safe and lay it up. Classic risk/reward. The back 9 is considered the favourite by many and has some excellent holes. The signature Par 3 14th looks like something you'd find at Augusta. The inner 9 is completely different again. Alot shorter (no par 5's) but some great holes with an opportunity to shoot some very low scores.

It's been a while since I've played Stoke Rochford, so I'm reluctant to compare but I can almost guarantee that you definitely won't be disappointed with Belton Park. It's in the top 5 courses I've ever played as it has everything you want in a golf course; a good challenge, good variety of holes, great views, great surroundings and good facilities.

I obviously don't know your reasons for moving from Stoke, but I really wouldn't hesitate to recommend Belton Park. You get the odd member there who has been there since the dawn of time who thinks they rule the course, but the majority of people will be rolling their eyes at them, just like you will, so it's really nothing to worry about. You get them at most, if not all clubs and the majority of members are really great people.

Any other questions, feel free to let me know and I'll try to answer them the best I can. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do every time I get to go back and play (this weekend hopefully! fingers crossed)...I miss being a member there every day, and every time I go back it makes me want to move 200 miles back up to Lincolnshire just so I can play there regularly again!

(sorry for rambling!)

 

[bobmac]

You forgot to mention the 200 or so deer that roam the course and look at you as if to say "are you members?"

 

[Aztecs27]

You forgot to mention the 200 or so deer that roam the course and look at you as if to say "are you members?"

Ah yes.

I played there two weeks ago and I'm sure there were three or four times the number of deer that there was when I was there as a member. They were everywhere. It's OK though because you get a free drop from their poop

I also forgot to mention, they do have two large practice areas for practicing your irons/short game. I don't know how I forgot, I almost hit one guy practicing on one of them the other week

 

[19th]

Well young Aztec, enthusiast you really are!!

I will possibly never be within 100's of miles of the course but I can almost see the it in my mind and feel the membership types from your superb offering.

If I had anything to do with the club I would recommend membership to you at half price for this advert!!

Now GB72 I await hearing about your interview with the committee in early course.

 

[Aztecs27]

Well young Aztec, enthusiast you really are!!

I will possibly never be within 100's of miles of the course but I can almost see the it in my mind and feel the membership types from your superb offering.

If I had anything to do with the club I would recommend membership to you at half price for this advert!!

Now GB72 I await hearing about your interview with the committee in early course.

Haha. Thanks. It really is a great club with some great people. And I never get tired playing the course. They've really done a great job getting the course into a consistently good condition.

I really would urge/recommend anyone who is ever in the area to play it if they're a fan of Parkland courses. It's one of the best I've played.

 

[GB72]

Thanks for the great reply, really looking forward to my trip up there.

As for why I am thinking of leaving Stoke, going through alot of changes and a change of club seemed to fit in with that. With Stoke being on the A1 it is difficult to have a drink after a round and even the night before playing. As such, I have not really got as involved as I would like. Also with every comp being played in own groups then there is not as much of an opportunity to meet new people to play with. Do not get me wrong, the members are all helpful and friendly but tend to have their groups planned in advance so little room to join in. There are no roll ups or such like either so I tend to only get to play if the few people I know there are playing.

Never thought I would say it but I am also getting a little bored with the course. Again, it is a lovely course and a challenge but it is quite straight. Most holes are driver then hybrid and not much in the way of other ways to play the course. It may be that I am just not suited to being anywhere for more than a few years but I am now finding that I have the next club out of my bag without even thinking and that cannot be good. Also, being a loop of 18, it is not ideally suited to a quick 9 holes in the evening so I have not played any after work gold this year. The 3 loops of 9 at Belton would certainly suit me better. So, I have had good times at Stoke Rochford and may still stay on but I just feel that change of scenery would do me some good at the moment and learning another course will be a fun challenge.

 

[Aztecs27]

No problem. I'm sure you'll have a great time. And the 3 loops are great for sneaking in a quick nine after work.

Obviously the commute to get there from where you are (assuming your location is accurate ) is a bit longer, but I think you'll find it's definitely worth the extra. If the straightness of Stoke is getting you down you're going to love Belton Park. There are plenty of straight forward holes, but there are also alot of dog legs (alot!) and some great little par 3s to contend with.

Make sure you report back when you've been. It will be interesting to hear your opinion once you've been there.

 

[GB72]

The commute is not going to be an issue, I am moving to Grantham in 2 weeks time so no commuting issues. Problem with Stoke was having to go on the A1 on a busy Saturday.

Really looking forward to it now.

 

[Aztecs27]

The commute is not going to be an issue, I am moving to Grantham in 2 weeks time so no commuting issues. Problem with Stoke was having to go on the A1 on a busy Saturday.

Really looking forward to it now.

My commiserations

Should be awesome then! You will love it.