Hamilton GC, Lanarkshire

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gdunc79

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Hi there

Recently got back into golf in a big way and want to join a club as sick of long, painful rounds at local municipal courses. Nearest club to me (within walking distance) is Hamilton Golf Club which I have only played once but loved the course.

Are there any members or ex members of the Club who would be willing to answer a few questions that my help me to decide to part with my hard earned cash for a membership? I.e is Club quite welcoming? Is it family friendly? Etc

I know it gets quite boggy in the winter months so finding it difficult to justify the £850+ annual fee if no chance of a decent game Oct-March.

All thoughts greatly appreciated. Look forward to posting my input to the very interesting discussions you have on here!

Cheers
 
Hamilton used to be the best track in Lanarkshire but its not a patch on that now, Bothwell Castle a far better option for similar money or a drive over the Clyde Valley to Lanark for the best part of 12 mnths of golf, or up head up to Strathaven.

Not dissing Hamilton but its not worth that money any more. Most parkland courses will be 6 months of decent golf and 6 months of wet heavy stuff.
 
Hamilton lost there greens a few years ago, its nowhere near the course it used to be. Bothwell is a better course in this area.
 
Bothwell is a good track but rather short, not in great condition at the moment and the greens are mega slow.

Very nice setting and first class clubhouse but over priced in relation to the course.
 
gdunc79 said:
Hi there

Recently got back into golf in a big way and want to join a club as sick of long, painful rounds at local municipal courses. Nearest club to me (within walking distance) is Hamilton Golf Club which I have only played once but loved the course.

Are there any members or ex members of the Club who would be willing to answer a few questions that my help me to decide to part with my hard earned cash for a membership? I.e is Club quite welcoming? Is it family friendly? Etc

I know it gets quite boggy in the winter months so finding it difficult to justify the £850+ annual fee if no chance of a decent game Oct-March.

All thoughts greatly appreciated. Look forward to posting my input to the very interesting discussions you have on here!

Cheers
Click to expand...

There are quite a few other courses around this area for a lot less money too. Depends where you stay I suppose as to what is closer and easier for you ?
 
Thanks for all your comments guys. Does anybody have anything good to say about the Hamilton GC at all to balance out the comments already received?? Comments in relation to atmosphere/stuffiness of club, additional social activites etc would be really helpful and most welcome.

I guess I realise that it is overpriced for what you are getting but the fact I would be able to walk across the road from my house with a couple of clubs on a summer evening, hassle-free is making it hard for me to look elsewhere. Being playing local 9 holers over the past few months and cannot bear the 2.5 hours it takes to get round and the awful customer service you get (you get what you pay for, I know!!).

Played Bothwell Castle a couple of times at the start of the year, albeit both times they had all 18 winter greens on (the joys of Lanarkshire golf!!), and although the facilities and clubhouse were superior I didn't think the course was streets ahead of Hamilton to be honest. It is even more expensive to join as well plus you then have the travel costs, additional time commitment to get there and back etc.

Thanks again everybody.
 
It sounds like you've made your decision. Hamilton as a club will be no different to most, if you are happy with the course then it's your call but there are better within a short drive.

Both Bothwell Castle and Hamilton GC have their rates as they are based on where they are in terms of being upmarket areas to live but neither are any better as courses to many parkland courses in Lanarkshire for less money.
 
Doon frae Troon said:
Good choice OP .........for the reasons you state.
You must also be able to walk home after celebrating your big wins!
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Ha ha - I'm sure that won't be happening. Not initially anyway ;)

Not completely made my mind up - hence why I came on here looking for some thoughts - but just can't get over the thought of getting in a car to drive somewhere else when a fairly decent 18 hole golf club is 300yrds across the road from me. 25 minute drive to Lanark (50 min round journey) and 20 mins (40 min round) to Strathaven are a lot of minutes that I could instead be spending on the course on in the clubhouse. Every minute is precious when you have 2 wee ones and a worn out wife waiting for your assistance back at the ranch!! Plus travel costs etc

Will let you know what I decide to do.....
 
I would suggest you have 3 choices in Hamilton, Bothwell or Strathaven. Having played them all within the last month and knowing roughly where you live i'll give you my thoughts.

Hamilton is clearly the closest but is without doubt the worst conditioned course. They have had a multitude of problems with drainage and losing their greens in the past so will take a good few years and a whole lot of money to put right.

Strathaven is the best conditioned course, fantastic fast greens, pretty good drainage and a greenkeeper worth his weight in gold. Facilities and club are more modern than Hamilton but it is a 15 minute drive away.

Bothwell was looking good when I played it, however the course falls somewhere between Hamilton and Strathaven in terms of both condition and a test of golf in my opinion. The facilities are second to none and it is pretty close to you, 5 minute drive at the most.
 
lobthewedge said:
I would suggest you have 3 choices in Hamilton, Bothwell or Strathaven. Having played them all within the last month and knowing roughly where you live i'll give you my thoughts.

Hamilton is clearly the closest but is without doubt the worst conditioned course. They have had a multitude of problems with drainage and losing their greens in the past so will take a good few years and a whole lot of money to put right.

Strathaven is the best conditioned course, fantastic fast greens, pretty good drainage and a greenkeeper worth his weight in gold. Facilities and club are more modern than Hamilton but it is a 15 minute drive away.

Bothwell was looking good when I played it, however the course falls somewhere between Hamilton and Strathaven in terms of both condition and a test of golf in my opinion. The facilities are second to none and it is pretty close to you, 5 minute drive at the most.
Click to expand...

Fair assesment of a man in the know. Not surprised you had Strathaven at the top though :whistle:
 
Valentino said:
Fair assesment of a man in the know. Not surprised you had Strathaven at the top though :whistle:
Click to expand...

Now now Val, how dare you suggest a bias towards Strathaven. I thought I gave a fair and balanced judgement.

Did I also mention that Strathaven are the newly crowned Division 1 Champions of Lanarkshire, defeating Hamilton in the deciding match and relegating Bothwell in the process?

Take from that what you will :)
 
Well a year on from my initial post and I have finally bitten the bullet and joined Hamilton Golf Club as an Ordinary member. Having managed to get my first handicap (14) at a 9 hole pay and play earlier this year just can't wait to get started on the big boys course. Leaving work early to play medal on Wed afternoon/evening.

Only problem is the three rounds I had for my handicap appear to be wonder rounds compared to how I am playing at the moment but at least I will be raising a few eyebrows for having too low a handicap rather than the other way round!!
 
Based on geography alone you've made a good decision. Hamilton is a good course although nut does suffer a bit in the wet weather. I have a mate who's a member there and he likes it as it's basically 2 mins from his house. My only concern about Hamilton is that the clubhouse is getting a bit old and I wonder how they're going to deal with the repairs and maintenance of it in the years to come. They proposed a one off levy (£200 I believe) on the members a couple of yrs ago when making changes to the drainage on the course - this was veto'd by the members and no charge was made. If you've got a hcap of 14 at a local pay and play 9 hole course you'll struggle to play to that at Hamilton as most if the par 4s are reasonably long.

in terms of what people have said about straven, I would agree that it's a great course in great condition although some greens are like upturned bowls so can be a bit tricky in the height of summer!

Overall I don't reckon you'll regret your decision to join and from what I've heard you won't have paid a joining fee(? Can you confirm?) so you won't be tied to the course if you don't like it.

QUOTE=gdunc79;1122408]Well a year on from my initial post and I have finally bitten the bullet and joined Hamilton Golf Club as an Ordinary member. Having managed to get my first handicap (14) at a 9 hole pay and play earlier this year just can't wait to get started on the big boys course. Leaving work early to play medal on Wed afternoon/evening.

Only problem is the three rounds I had for my handicap appear to be wonder rounds compared to how I am playing at the moment but at least I will be raising a few eyebrows for having too low a handicap rather than the other way round!![/QUOTE]
 
Strathaven is the best of the three , but having played Hamilton twice recently i can tell you its in better condition now than its been in over 20 years .
 
I don't disagree with anything said in the previous two posts. £350 got me into the club and my subs for the remainder of the season so as MC72 says, I am not tied in too badly. Having played it a few times I love the layout and challenges of the course (some very good bunker placements) and proximity to my house is brilliant. Walked over to practice range last week and 90 mins went by before I knew where I was..... Guaranteed that I will be having a lot of 0.1s added over the remainder of the year but all part of the fun (I think.....)
 
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