Piece
Tour Winner
Managed to get on this track on Mon as part of a company golf day. Played 36 holes in really hot and dry conditions.
Entrance: very small and inconspicuous driveway just off the main drag. High bush-lined drive to a smallish car park and an old school white clubhouse. Nice
Clubhouse: largish and very traditional, with decent showers and changing sheds that cater for a small number of members. There is a visitors area and members areas. Lockers are dark, wood style effect with names of previous owners on them (inc Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). They have a casual bar and a dining room that insists on jacket and tie for lunch, including have jacket ON whilst eating (even in 90 deg heat and just played 18!). Welcome was good as they have an official starter who tells you what time and where and about the course itself. Ignore him though when he says that any putt on the course is no more than 3 inches break...no it ain't!
Practice areas: tiny, to non-existent. Small putting green by the first, just outside the secretary's window. One hitting net behind the first tee and the driving range, is in fact a temp mat between the 1st and 18th. Note also there's no pro shop (that I could find), so have all your stuff in place before arrival.
Course: it's flat, very flat. It's tight, super tight. Heather lines almost all holes and safe to say, don't go in there... It's a par 68, with only one par 5 and an assortment of par 3s (my fav par 3 was the 7th: 220y downhill, next to the 'halfway hut' who serves anything from nuts, to a shot of any short you need!). These are the course's best features as the par fours are a little bit samey. Fairways and greens are well presented and run true. Love the fact that each hole is independent from others, giving privacy. Advice is to take your straightest longest club off the tee at all times. It is very old school and lovely to play.
Food: very decent nosh here; no complaints. I didn't eat too much as it was very, very hot. Shame that you need full uniform on to eat.
Summary: it is very old school and charming. Love the look and feel of the place and the course itself is very good, but tight as tight can be. Only criticism is that the flatness of the course lends itself to having too many similar holes. If you can get on here (visitors fees are about £115) then you will have a good time...but do turn up on a dry and still day, otherwise you will get a severe dose of the Paul McCartneys: sick of the heather.
Entrance: very small and inconspicuous driveway just off the main drag. High bush-lined drive to a smallish car park and an old school white clubhouse. Nice
Clubhouse: largish and very traditional, with decent showers and changing sheds that cater for a small number of members. There is a visitors area and members areas. Lockers are dark, wood style effect with names of previous owners on them (inc Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). They have a casual bar and a dining room that insists on jacket and tie for lunch, including have jacket ON whilst eating (even in 90 deg heat and just played 18!). Welcome was good as they have an official starter who tells you what time and where and about the course itself. Ignore him though when he says that any putt on the course is no more than 3 inches break...no it ain't!
Practice areas: tiny, to non-existent. Small putting green by the first, just outside the secretary's window. One hitting net behind the first tee and the driving range, is in fact a temp mat between the 1st and 18th. Note also there's no pro shop (that I could find), so have all your stuff in place before arrival.
Course: it's flat, very flat. It's tight, super tight. Heather lines almost all holes and safe to say, don't go in there... It's a par 68, with only one par 5 and an assortment of par 3s (my fav par 3 was the 7th: 220y downhill, next to the 'halfway hut' who serves anything from nuts, to a shot of any short you need!). These are the course's best features as the par fours are a little bit samey. Fairways and greens are well presented and run true. Love the fact that each hole is independent from others, giving privacy. Advice is to take your straightest longest club off the tee at all times. It is very old school and lovely to play.
Food: very decent nosh here; no complaints. I didn't eat too much as it was very, very hot. Shame that you need full uniform on to eat.
Summary: it is very old school and charming. Love the look and feel of the place and the course itself is very good, but tight as tight can be. Only criticism is that the flatness of the course lends itself to having too many similar holes. If you can get on here (visitors fees are about £115) then you will have a good time...but do turn up on a dry and still day, otherwise you will get a severe dose of the Paul McCartneys: sick of the heather.
