Sandown Park Golf Club

[r0wly86]

Has anyone played there recently. I know it's only a 9-holer and looks pretty flat, but the membership is incredibly cheap for Greater London, and though may not be a massive challenge for me but the par 3 course and pitch and putt may be perfect for my wife and sister-in-law who are new to golf.Just wondered if anyone had any first hand experience.

 

[road2ruin]

Just down the road from me although not a member there.

Coming from HCGC you'll be incredibly underwhelmed with the course. Like you said it's very flat and the holes all run parallel to one another (being in the middle of the racecourse) so you can generally hit the ball anywhere you like and still have a shot in....bar the race course obviously!

The Par 3 is a good little course which I do tend to use for my short irons as a bit of practice, prefer doing that then whacking wedges on the range. I haven't used the pitch & putt but is always seems popular especially if you're trying to introduce new golfs to the game.

There is also the new(ish) American Golf store and a decent enough driving range.

All that said, for £299 for unlimited golf etc it's difficult to beat on purely financial terms. It's really how much you think you'll get out of the course, I'd imagine it'd get pretty boring after a number of rounds....apologies to any members on here.

 

[IanM]

I've been away from the area for 25 years, so way out of date... but wondered how Thames Ditton and Esher is these days. Back then this was one of my "next progressions" after learning on Hoebridge's Par 3. I remember the 9 holes being interesting and proper holes without intimidating beginners.

 

[road2ruin]

I've been away from the area for 25 years, so way out of date... but wondered how Thames Ditton and Esher is these days. Back then this was one of my "next progressions" after learning on Hoebridge's Par 3. I remember the 9 holes being interesting and proper holes without intimidating beginners.

Still a good little course. I don't know the exact in's and out's however they had a new owner who pumped a load of money into the place, refit the clubhouse, improved the course but then had to walk away. Members took over the club and it was in a much better position than it had been.

The major negatives of the course for me were the 2 holes over the road (6 & 7) being very, very wet after any rain and the major issue of being the one of the main access routes for Esher College students and commuters getting the train from Esher. The amount of time spent waiting for people ambling up and down the fairways was always a complete nightmare.

 

[Pathetic Shark]

Thames Ditton and Esher is a waste of your money. Very tight in places, dog walkers everywhere. Tees in appalling condition.

Then again, Sandown Park is rubbish as well - three par 5s each nine just running straight up and down. Now if they put some of the greens amongst the jump fences .....

 

[r0wly86]

Just down the road from me although not a member there.

Coming from HCGC you'll be incredibly underwhelmed with the course. Like you said it's very flat and the holes all run parallel to one another (being in the middle of the racecourse) so you can generally hit the ball anywhere you like and still have a shot in....bar the race course obviously!

The Par 3 is a good little course which I do tend to use for my short irons as a bit of practice, prefer doing that then whacking wedges on the range. I haven't used the pitch & putt but is always seems popular especially if you're trying to introduce new golfs to the game.

There is also the new(ish) American Golf store and a decent enough driving range.

All that said, for £299 for unlimited golf etc it's difficult to beat on purely financial terms. It's really how much you think you'll get out of the course, I'd imagine it'd get pretty boring after a number of rounds....apologies to any members on here.

Thanks for the reply, kind of what I imagined. I've only been a member of hcp for a year because they did a really good hub/academy membership for my wife.

Obviously she won't be able to get that again meaning our renewal will be significantly higher. Financially as you say it can't be beaten, it'd be over £2000 cheaper than Hampton Court for me and the wife.

Was also looking at Stokley Park and Silvermere as they are a fair bit cheaper but look like decent courses. Been to Silvermere's practice facilities and was very impressed but not played the course.

 

[road2ruin]

Thanks for the reply, kind of what I imagined. I've only been a member of hcp for a year because they did a really good hub/academy membership for my wife.

Obviously she won't be able to get that again meaning our renewal will be significantly higher. Financially as you say it can't be beaten, it'd be over £2000 cheaper than Hampton Court for me and the wife.

Was also looking at Stokley Park and Silvermere as they are a fair bit cheaper but look like decent courses. Been to Silvermere's practice facilities and was very impressed but not played the course.

Silvermere have put a huge amount of money into the place and have some of the best facilities in Surrey. The course gets very wet in winter (but a lot do) and can be very, very slow in the summer as they seem intent on getting as many on the course as possible. Well worth a play though.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Silvermere is very slow at weekends. Hoebridge is a little further down the road with good practice facilities. Not quite as slow in my experience. Sandown is not great and very mundane and does have a lot of new golfers. That's fine and the course is and ideal place for them to get into golf but there are issues with slow play, etiquette and the conditioning