Members course in Surrey (Woking)

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pienaaj

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I am looking at joining a members course in the Woking area. I'm going to look at Woking, west hill and worplesdon. They are all very similar in price and this is therefore not a factor. My concern is whether any of these clubs are potentially stuffy and packed with older gofers (i am 33).

Apart from that, I was wondering whether anyone had input into the actual courses themselves - members aside.

I've also discovered a possible dark horse - west byfleet. This club is significantly cheaper than the other but still expensive enough to keep the general public out to keep the course quiet enough.

Another question - does anyone have any input into how busy these courses are. I would often want to play during the week and would like to be able to just pitch up and play without having hundreds of people in the way - one of the reasons I am not considering fox hill.

Any other course in the area to consider?

Thanks
 
These courses are definitely at the top end but definitely worth the money. I can't speak for the membership as I've only played a couple of them as a visitor. Similarly I don't know how much traffic they get via societies but I guess these are questions you should ask the secretary. Of course I'd also be pressing to have a courtesy round as well
 
pienaaj said:
Thanks. Playing west hill saturday and Woking Sunday - will at least be a good weekend.
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you will get the feel of these clubs very quickly if you keep your eyes open when visiting.

I like West Byfleet, and have played it a fair amount. It's not in the same league as Worpleston or West Hill IMO, but these things are subjective :)

All these courses will have Society events but with the odd exception these will be on certain days of the week. There will also be a heavy club schedule as well at all of them. to a degree 'stuffy' and 'keeping the general public out' rather go together - but you will have to work this all out as you visit/discuss.

I had thought that there was some membership waiting elements at some of these clubs (still) but I may be out of date on that.

Either way you are spoilt for choice in that area really, and I'm sure you will find something to suit!
 
[QUOTE My concern is whether any of these clubs are potentially stuffy and packed with older gofers (i am 33).



expensive enough to keep the general public out to keep the course quiet enough.


would like to be able to just pitch up and play without having hundreds of people in the way[/QUOTE]


First of all, welcome to the forum.

And I trust you will be able to find somewhere to play that will suit your needs.

I think you might find it hard to fulfill your requirements as quoted above. :whistle:
 
If you ever want to go down market you are always welcome to wander down to my gaff for a game and a nose round. Decent enough course although not a patch on your hit list but friendly enough club, minimal societies and no pre-booked tee times
 
Thanks. Ideally just want to meet as many of these requirements as possible. The main thing will really be that if I pay my fees I am treated like any other member and that I can play when I want to. I had previously been a member of Hoebridge. The course is very playable but not the best ever. However, the course is overrun by non-golfers. I'm not against them playing - but I'd prefer to play a members course where people take the game seriously.

As for membership entry - I don't think this is straight forward. However, if you have golfing ability, not socially inept and able to pay your fees then you will most likely get in. Woking and worplesdon both offer temporary memberships which I like the idea of - I shudder at the thought of forking out £4500 in joining fees and then fudging out 6 months later that the course is not a good fit.
 
pienaaj said:
Thanks. Ideally just want to meet as many of these requirements as possible. The main thing will really be that if I pay my fees I am treated like any other member and that I can play when I want to. I had previously been a member of Hoebridge. The course is very playable but not the best ever. However, the course is overrun by non-golfers. I'm not against them playing - but I'd prefer to play a members course where people take the game seriously.

As for membership entry - I don't think this is straight forward. However, if you have golfing ability, not socially inept and able to pay your fees then you will most likely get in. Woking and worplesdon both offer temporary memberships which I like the idea of - I shudder at the thought of forking out £4500 in joining fees and then fudging out 6 months later that the course is not a good fit.
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Hawkeye on here was a member at Hoebridge and joined me at Ascot for exactly the reasons you quoted. Far cheaper and with a range of options to pay. Not a top 100 course (or indeed ever going to be in the top 200-300) but a friendly challenging course hat is a private members club so we don't have "non-golfers" although I do a very good impression in monthly medals from time to time
 
Na i wouldnt join around there you wana be trying a bit further south then you will find some nice courses mate..
 
If you have the means, these are some great courses, and will offer some great golf. They are often discussed on a website called Golf Club Atlas, which is mainly about architecture and design.

I am sure there are a few Kummel-drinking ex-Squadron Leader types around, but for the quality of the golf you would get, I would tolerate them and they may not be that bad when you get to know them.

Alternatively, if you have the connections, you could also look at The Berkshire, or if you have an aristocratic lineage and a title, say Baronet or above, Swinley Forest too.

I have always had the view that you should join the best club you can get into (and afford).
 
West Hill is one of my favourite courses (think I may have mentioned it before !) Personally never found it stuffy, in fact very friendly. They also provided a fourball for the Help for Heroes day, when the other two W's, Worplesdon and Woking didn't even reply to me.:(

Of the three courses it is my favourite, and should be stunning at this time of the year. They did have a problem with the greens earlier in the year, when it was very wet, but I am sure they are good now. West Byfleet is not in the same league, but still a nice course. We have a reciprocal arrangement there.

I think you can only play as a two ball before 12 at West Hill, fourballs after that. Be interesting to hear what you think of West Hill and Woking once you have played them.
 
You are spoilt for choice in the area you are looking at. I've played all 3 of the W's and my order of preference is West Hill, Worplesdon then Woking but it is a very close thing between them. Some of the other possibilities if you don't mind a bit of a drive are West Byfleet (not bad but not as good as the 3 previously mentioned courses), East Berkshire is pleasant, New Zealand is nice but very 'old school', North Hants is lovely with a good crowd of younger members (all Justin Rose's mates) then there is Hankley if you don't mind a bit of a drive. The best out of all of the accessible courses, you'll struggle to get in to the Berkshires, Swinley or Sunningdale.
 
I am sure my opion will be formed come the end of the weekend (and I will be sure to let you all know). I guess it will be about which of the 3 w's I think is the best all round fit and whether these courses are worth the additional £2000 joining fee and £500 in subs compared to West Byfleet.

Although the courses mentioned above would be amazing, being a young family man I would like to stay within Woking/West Byfleet as I live in Old Woking.
 
HomerJSimpson said:
Isn't there a course at Chobham? That would be local and I reckon cheaper than most of the others although I can't say how it plays
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Nowhere near the same class as any of the candidates. 'A step down from Royal Ascot' has been mentioned to me!

At OP. Perhaps Camberley Heath should also be worth considering. Cracking course and people and apparently doing great deals at the mo (though there's also something about transition of ownership currently I believe). Not all that far from Old Woking (though my geography is rubbish). Pyrford might be a good step up from Hoebridge too. Though a Crown course, and open to anyone, it's several steps up from Traditions and a step up from the masses at Hoebridge.

I've not played Woking, but liked Worplesdon better than West Hill (just). West Byfleet fine, but not as good at the single 'W's.
 
TXL said:
Not true, just a deal going on with the bank to sort out the loan that was taken out when a group of 80+ members bought the club off the Japanese 10 or so years ago.
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Good to here. So transitional was 'correct' but not related to (change of) ownership then.

Is it costing new members anything extra (such as an forced 'loan' as well)? Always worth knowing that sort of thing may be going on if there is a joining fee as well, as any imminent future cash requirements could add an nacceptable burden. Not the sort of thing that's likely to happen at any of the 3 'W's though.
 
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