Looking for a golf break..recommendations please.

[Deleted member 17920]

You are in grave danger of annoying senior GM staff - quote from one of them on another current thread:

"But the most irritating is perhaps Stapleford... it's Stableford not Stapleford; it's Stableford not Stapleford; it's Stableford not Stapleford... see, doesn't really annoy me...much!"

Yawn

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Could be a pretty low number with offical handicaps. Could this be a problem?

I wouldn't have thought so depending on venue. Most are happy to take a group booking without any handicap certificates.

 

[GB72]

Stableford park isn't too bad. Nice easy course and in June will be in good nick. The clubhouse is just OK with no atmosphere at all, I have stayed at the hotel twice and its expensive and the food is just OK, Nothing special but they like to think it is. The course gets very wet in the winter.

You can play the course via tee off times for £20.

Wod certainly recommend a cab into Oakham for food and beer if you play Stapleford

 

[GB72]

Just to add one to the mix, you could try Greetham Valley. 2 reasonable courses, decent hotel on site and if youvtravel the 2 miles into the village and book a table at the Wheatsheaf you will have a great meal in a very nice pub.

 

[gripitripit]

Abbotsley is on your doorstep. 32 of us recently had 2 nights DBB and 3 rounds for £175 and I was very impressed by the Abbotsley course - not so much the Cromwell.

Played both courses a lot of times. The Abbotsley is decent. The Cromwell not so. The 3rd and 12th sharing a green....!!!

 

[Deleted member 17920]

Just to add one to the mix, you could try Greetham Valley. 2 reasonable courses, decent hotel on site and if youvtravel the 2 miles into the village and book a table at the Wheatsheaf you will have a great meal in a very nice pub.

Good suggestion that one and the courses keep on improving.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Could be a pretty low number with offical handicaps. Could this be a problem?

I wouldn't have thought so depending on venue. Most are happy to take a group booking without any handicap certificates.

Just a word of caution.....There's a big difference between not having a handicap and being an absolute beginner. If there are a few of the latter then most of these type of courses do have marshals and you may have problems.....you would have to, let's say, "manage" them a bit.....split them up and make sure they knew when to pick up etc. Otherwise, not been asked for a h/c cert anywhere in this country.

 

[dufferman]

Maybe think about Heythrop Park, Oxfordshire. It's a good course, quite long but well laid out and some nice looking holes. We've been there 2 years on the trot (not going this year as they were fully booked the weekend we wanted to go!) and the restaurant is beautiful, as is the location. They have 2 hotels, a 'golf' hotel and a Crown Plaza. The CP hotel is much nicer, big twin rooms with double beds whereas the golf hotel is smaller and older with single beds.

Never too busy either - they have 10 minute slots between tee times. Worth a look.

 

[gripitripit]

Just to add one to the mix, you could try Greetham Valley. 2 reasonable courses, decent hotel on site and if youvtravel the 2 miles into the village and book a table at the Wheatsheaf you will have a great meal in a very nice pub.

Looks very nice. Cheers for that. Great price too.

 

[gripitripit]

Just a word of caution.....There's a big difference between not having a handicap and being an absolute beginner. If there are a few of the latter then most of these type of courses do have marshals and you may have problems.....you would have to, let's say, "manage" them a bit.....split them up and make sure they knew when to pick up etc. Otherwise, not been asked for a h/c cert anywhere in this country.

Nobody in the group will be a beginner or someone who will carve up the course....Just not members of a club or maintained handicaps.

 

[GB72]

Looks very nice. Cheers for that. Great price too.

If you go down that route, the pub/food recomendation is worth following up. If you want more options then get a cab into Stamford for loads of food and pub options. If you want a third round, look at Rutland Water for stunning views

 

[rosecott]

Kenwick Park at Louth is worth a look.

 

[Marshy77]

We went to Carden Park and really enjoyed it last plus they've spent some money on the course recently. Portal is pretty decent too, 2 decent 18's and a not so impressive 9 when we were there. Again the prices aren't cheap but thats hotels for you.

 

[SocketRocket]

Dartmouth G&CC is a nice place as is St Mellion. Not sure if they are within your driving times though?

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

How about Thorpeness on the Suffolk coast? It's a really decent track and I think there is an adjacent hotel that does stay and play packages. Also gives you the option of playing Aldeburgh which is a belter but unfortunately it's a 2ball/foursomes course.

Just some food for thought

 

[ColchesterFC]

What about over Norfolk way ?

Sheringham
Cromer
Kings Lynn
Barnham
Sprowston

The biggest problem might be getting a weekend tee time at this sort of course. Members/guests only weekends? Resort type course might be easier to get tee times.

But having said that, if you can get on them Cromer and Sheringham are both excellent courses. Also Hunstanton out to the west of the county is meant to be good.

 

[fundy]

Fundy, if you are looking to play Stapleford Park let me know. My brother and all my old playing partners from Stoje Rochford have just joined there so can get us a guest rate.

Cheers for that Greg, may well take you up on that

There again hotel not as good as Id been led to believe according to LQ so may just head there for a game rather than a few days as was sort of planned

 

[Blue in Munich]

How about Thorpeness on the Suffolk coast? It's a really decent track and I think there is an adjacent hotel that does stay and play packages. Also gives you the option of playing Aldeburgh which is a belter but unfortunately it's a 2ball/foursomes course.

Just some food for thought

Beat me to it, Thorpeness is well suited to a wide range of handicaps as it can challenge the lower handicappers without killing the higher handicappers, and some absolutely belting holes, well underrated in my opinion. The food was excellent as well when I was last there and that is a great time of year to visit.

 

[gripitripit]

After looking at a few options I think we are going to go for Barnham Broom in Norwich. Best suited for mixed handicaps and I like the idea of course marshalls to speed up the play.

 

[Laka]

What about over Norfolk way ?

Sheringham
Cromer
Kings Lynn
Barnham
Sprowston

Anyone got any feedback on these?

We did play Sheringham 3 times and Cromer 2 times and Hunstanton one time in sep last year. Sheringham and cromer is really near each other and we rented a little self catering cottage in Cromer, there was a lot of good local ale. Cromer was rather hilly and up and downs to walk, but really well maintained and very pleasent members and staff. Sheringham was easier to walk and staff and members also very pleasent. I Guess Kings Lynna and Woodhall spa is more of a challenge for you low handicappers,,,,anyway hope you will have a great weekend