Northampton

[dotty001]

So it looks likely I will be moving to Northampton in the new year

Any tips on courses ,clubs to join!? Ideally looking for interesting course and decent completions where I can join in as I won't know anyone in the area

 

[Stuey01]

My dad is a member of Northampton Golf Club. I really like it and if I lived in the area that is where I would be playing my golf. Not sure how easy it is to get in, and I think they still have a joining fee, so you'll have to think about how long you are sticking around.

I haven't got a lot of experience of other courses in the area, except Staverton Park as a junior. They are a De Vere venue now, so the memberships are quite flexible. It's about 13miles from Northampton.

 

[AmandaJR]

Collingtree is a very nice course and decent membership/comps I think.

Northants and County is very nice too - probably pricey.

There are cheaper options such as Delapre which is a dedent course but lots of pay and play...

 

[drawboy]

Played Collingtree a few years ago, nice set up but watch out for the goose poo, it's flipping everywhere.

 

[Scadge]

I grew up in Northamptonshire and so I know some of the local tracks and it depends which side of Northampton you end up living. I would say Northants County at Church Brampton is a good old track with decent soil conditions so drains quite well, Collingtree is a decent course which held a tour event with atrocious greens, Wellingborough and Kettering are good members clubs and Staverton Park is poor.

 

[Fish]

I played Staverton Park a couple of months back and it was an excellent course, large well kept bunkers, fast greens and very presentable throughout.

Played mid-week so clubhouse was quiet so can't speak for membership but the course is very good indeed and it was friendly in the pro shop and at the bar.

 

[fundy]

Northants County probably the best golf course (but very stuffy and may even have a wait list and almost certainly a joining fee). Collingwood a decent track, long, and theyve had probs with the greens the last few years but was in excellent condition last time I played it. Staverton is a devere and a bit further out, nice enough layout but gets far too much traffic and condition suffers because of it. Kingsthorpe is a pleasant enough members club but the course is on a tiny piece of land and hence a lot of holes cross over or feel on top of each, ok for a quiet midweek game but would want a tin hat on a saturday morning. Northampton itself is pleasant enough without being a world beating track and some say Brampton is ok (tends to be drier in winter than most so survives better in the bad weather). Delapre has always been in poor condition and gets a lot of traffic

 

[AmandaJR]

Northants & County also long socks with shorts

 

[fundy]

Northants & County also long socks with shorts

Its also the only golf course Ive spoken to this year who offer zero concession on their green fee to visitors. We asked to use 2for1, county card, a twilight rate, an off peak rate but the green fee was full stop non negotiable (ie we dont want or need visitors full stop). As I said nice track and I want to go back and play it again but probably wont bother trying with the barriers they put up to visitors.

 

[fundy]

If you are on the south side of Northamton a couple other that may be worth considering; Whittlebury Park, 3 loops of 9 gives a decent variety albeit if the wind is in the wrong direction you get a lot of noise from Silverstone race track on the blue 9. Pleasant track and never seems too busy and Silverstone golf club which is much improved and they are spending a fair bit of money improving it further. Other side of the race track yet never seems to get the track noise

 

[AmandaJR]

Its also the only golf course Ive spoken to this year who offer zero concession on their green fee to visitors. We asked to use 2for1, county card, a twilight rate, an off peak rate but the green fee was full stop non negotiable (ie we dont want or need visitors full stop). As I said nice track and I want to go back and play it again but probably wont bother trying with the barriers they put up to visitors.

We played there in the Volvo Matchplay and the guys were very nice and not happy about the way the committee ran the place. There was a "referendum" about the long socks and vast majority wanted it changed but dismissed out of hand by the committee. They didn't get a concession for us so had to share the cost.