Help please - Millride or Royal Ascot?

chrisd

chrisd

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A mate of mine is moving to Sunninghill the week after Xmas. His membership in Kent will last until June but he is considering his local options and appears to have narrowed them down to these two, mainly on quality and cost

I know HJS is a member at Ascot and would be pleased to hear from him and any other members of their views, and I would also appreciate any comments from anyone who has played both courses as a guest and have anything to add so that I can pass back your advice to him

Thanks guys!
 
I am naturally biased but I think RA will give your mate a significant test all year round. Even in the really heavy rain we have been open and the club have done a lot of work on drainage in the last few years. The greens did suffer a couple of years ago with moss but we appointed a new greenkeeper in 2011 and he is doing a brilliant job at getting them back to their peak. We have regular club competitions, no tee bookings (apart from matches and a 2 hour slot for comps at weekends).

Hawkeye is also a member on here and I'm more than happy to take you and your mate for a round in 2013 to give him a guided tour. The clubhouse has a great atmosphere and the new caterers are producing some superb food. It is a friendly place with a course that will test. A fair few on here have played it so no doubt they will have their own (perhaps not so positive) views to give you a balanced picture. PM me after Christmas and we can sort something out. Meanwhile here is a link to the membership fees

http://www.royalascotgolfclub.co.uk/page/subscriptions

I know Mill Ride very well but there are others on here who are members so I don't think it is fair for me to comment on their set up
 
Many Thanks HJS.

I would love to take you up on your offer and my friend will, when I tell him, for sure. I posted openly as I knew you and Hawkeye were members of RA and would definitelysee this thread and I told him that I would find out what I could. He is a 12 handicapper and a guy with a good sense of humour so will, I know, fit in any club well and I personally will miss my games with him when he finally leaves

Cheers HJS
 
Chris, harveyfourbanger from here is a member, I've played there and I've got to say I really liked the place, lots of elevation changes, tight tree lined fairways Nd lots of water...... I loved it.

I've heard a few comments about RA being a bit bland as its not a mature course, but I also know mill ride is a pretty big stump in regards to membership costs when comparing the two. I'm sure Harvey would sign me you and you pal in for a game if I be fancies it, let me know.
 
Mill Ride a decent course, long & tough. It does get really wet in winter especially the front 9, and the greens this year have been rubbish, but pretty good in previous years

I've played there a lot. I have a mate who is a member.

It's a very corporate set up, not my cup of tea. I'd be looking for more of a club set up. I've not played Royal Ascot, but heard lots about it :D and it may be that it is a worse course but a better club.

I'd drive past them both to get to West Hill :o
 
Oddsocks said:
Chris, harveyfourbanger from here is a member, I've played there and I've got to say I really liked the place, lots of elevation changes, tight tree lined fairways Nd lots of water...... I loved it.

.
Click to expand...

I take it that your talking Mill Ride Baz?
 
Yup, played there around April ish this year, was a lovely track and their half way hut does a mean bacon bitty and home made Victoria sponge.

I seem to recal subs being around the 2k mark, but its the royal country of Berkshire don't you know

Was a nice track Chris, I'd be happy playing my golf there..... But not as nice as camberley ;)

If I was within 30 mins drive I'd be writing the check every year without doubt.... Love that track.
 
Oddsocks said:
Yup, played there around April ish this year, was a lovely track and their half way hut does a mean bacon bitty and home made Victoria sponge.

I seem to recal subs being around the 2k mark, but its the royal country of Berkshire don't you know

Was a nice track Chris, I'd be happy playing my golf there..... But not as nice as camberley ;)

If I was within 30 mins drive I'd be writing the check every year without doubt.... Love that track.
Click to expand...




Cheers Baz - always value your opinion, especially on bacon butties and cake, both of which I bow to your expert knowledge!
 
therod said:
Mill Ride a decent course, long & tough. It does get really wet in winter especially the front 9, and the greens this year have been rubbish, but pretty good in previous years

I've played there a lot. I have a mate who is a member.

It's a very corporate set up, not my cup of tea. I'd be looking for more of a club set up. I've not played Royal Ascot, but heard lots about it :D and it may be that it is a worse course but a better club.

I'd drive past them both to get to West Hill :o
Click to expand...


Cheers Rod - so it lacks the member feeling that RA has?
 
I'm not gonna comment on Mill Ride having only played there a couple of times and not for a few years but as HJS says, if you and your mate want a round at RAGC just let us know. I've been a member at RAGC for coming up to two years and while it isn't the best course in the area it is maturing nicely, we have a new course manager and assistant manager who are making rapid and good improvements to the course and have a new general manager starting at the beginning of feb and things are looking up. It is a very good test of golf and you don't hit the buffer unless you've played well. (When the trees have matured in 10\15 years it will be one hell of a difficult place to place golf)

I was told before I joined that the membership is a bit cliquey but I have never noticed any of that. The atmosphere in the clubhouse is friendly and relaxed and we have the added bonus of not having to book tee times.

At the end of the day, your mate will find better courses in the area with RAGC being so new, but whether he will find a better club is another question.
 
chrisd said:
Cheers Rod - so it lacks the member feeling that RA has?
Click to expand...

I've not played Royal Ascot so this maybe unfair, but I get the impression from the guys on here that it is a proper members club. I don't get that impression from Mill Ride. It feels a bit like a hotel course to me, a decent hotel course but it does lack a certain atmosphere when I've been there.

That said they guy I play with hasn't really immersed himself in the club, he plays in the occasional medal, but no role ups.
 
HawkeyeMS said:
I'm not gonna comment on Mill Ride having only played there a couple of times and not for a few years but as HJS says, if you and your mate want a round at RAGC just let us know. I've been a member at RAGC for coming up to two years and while it isn't the best course in the area it is maturing nicely, we have a new course manager and assistant manager who are making rapid and good improvements to the course and have a new general manager starting at the beginning of feb and things are looking up. It is a very good test of golf and you don't hit the buffer unless you've played well. (When the trees have matured in 10\15 years it will be one hell of a difficult place to place golf)

I was told before I joined that the membership is a bit cliquey but I have never noticed any of that. The atmosphere in the clubhouse is friendly and relaxed and we have the added bonus of not having to book tee times.

At the end of the day, your mate will find better courses in the area with RAGC being so new, but whether he will find a better club is another question.
Click to expand...


As always on here Hawkeye you and the other people on here are really generous and I have already text my mate with the offer of a game from HJS and he is keen to take that up. It would be great if it were you, HJS, me and my pal - thanks also for your appraisel
 
I've played both....
For a Club I'd choose RA
For a Course I'd choose MR...

RA is far from the best course but in the same breath it's ar from the worst...
When I've played there the atmosphere was good. I found Mill Ride a bit sterile, if you know what I mean - although it was a few years ago so may have changed since.
 
chrisd said:
As always on here Hawkeye you and the other people on here are really generous and I have already text my mate with the offer of a game from HJS and he is keen to take that up. It would be great if it were you, HJS, me and my pal - thanks also for your appraisel
Click to expand...

Anytime Chris, first sign of mild weather in the new year we'll sort something out
 
as a former member or mill ride i would advise your friend to play a round there over the next couple of weeks you will get a better of idea of the course as it has a drainage problem on the mid part of the course and can get very boggy.
as for the summer t attracts a lot of corporate golf society days this can make the the course busy.
as for the membership cost do not take the first price offered haggle you will get a better deal
 
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