South Winchester Golf Club \ Crown Golf

[surefire]

Just wondering if anyone here has experience of South Winchester Golf Club or crown golf generally.

This place is very close to where I work, so I am considering getting a 5 day membership, so I can try to get in some sneaky lunchtime rounds, and hopefully some evening ones too, come the summer. For weekends I would just stick to my current place.

I'm hoping to get a chance to check things out myself when conditions improve, however I would be interested in what people have to say.

I am also sure I have heard things said about crown golf before, although I cannot remember if they were positive or negative, so any input greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Crown Golf do have a pretty big portfolio of clubs (their HQ is at Blue Mountain which is 5 minutes from me) although I seem to remember something about 6 weeks ago saying they were looking to sell 8 clubs (ideally as a group although I think they were taking individual offers) including Traditions and Pyrford. Not sure South Winchester was on the list

 

[ScienceBoy]

I am a member there, fancy a test round soon?

Lovely course, best membership base in the area. I have had only friendly experiences and the walk on tee time system at weekends is fantastic as is the booking system.

I have made many many friends since joining in March.

I'm planning to do a walk-on on saturday, if you fancy it, it will be an early ish round as they do fill up fairly quickly but as long as one member arrives before 7.30 you can get on with little problem

 

[Oddsocks]

All of the crown courses I have played have been pay and play, and in typical fashion are normally ram-packed, but on a 5 day membership shouldn't be such an issue.

From crown I've played falcon wood, addington court, cray valley, ruxley & chelsfield lakes. Most are over used and under maintained, but without sounding up my own ****, most of their courses are let down by the people that play there.

Bunkers not raked
Pitchmarks not repaired
Divots not replaced
Rubbish an issue(beer cans thrown on fairways)
Bad dress codes

I'm in no way a snob, but things like beer cans and bottles thrown on courses makes my blood boil. I'm a member of addington court at the moment but not a 5 or 7 day member as I couldn't bare to pay 700 to join there for a 7 day membership based on my above issues. Like anything it's always a minority that kill it fir the majority

 

[HomerJSimpson]

All of the crown courses I have played have been pay and play, and in typical fashion are normally ram-packed, but on a 5 day membership shouldn't be such an issue.

From crown I've played falcon wood, addington court, cray valley, ruxley & chelsfield lakes. Most are over used and under maintained, but without sounding up my own ****, most of their courses are let down by the people that play there.

Bunkers not raked
Pitchmarks not repaired
Divots not replaced
Rubbish an issue(beer cans thrown on fairways)
Bad dress codes

I'm in no way a snob, but things like beer cans and bottles thrown on courses makes my blood boil. I'm a member of addington court at the moment but not a 5 or 7 day member as I couldn't bare to pay 700 to join there for a 7 day membership based on my above issues. Like anything it's always a minority that kill it fir the majority

To be fair, Blue Mountain doesn't fall into that category. OK it is open all year even when it is under water or frozen and should clearly be closed but it is a decent pay and play and never a problem with litter. OK there are times when bunkers aren't raked but I've been to some very expensive private clubs where members are just as bad

 

[ScienceBoy]

South Winchester is based on chalk so it is playable all year round (except for snow cover). It is a very open course, the tee times and opening holes do mean that is is sometimes a little jam packed over holes 1-3 but things do often spread out as you hit the back 9.

It is a very friendly and welcoming club without being messy, the dress code is well observed and there is little or no litter!

I have not yet a frumpy member, I have been welcomed into every group I have joined and I would welcome anyone into mine!

The greens are not perfect but in the summer it is a very good course to play and great value for money.

 

[sawtooth]

I played South Winchester at the end of October. I have corporate membership at Crown courses so decided to give it a go as I did hear good things about it. I wasnt disappointed its a very nice track with lots of very nice looking holes. A well kept course and a good test of golf....definitely going back.

The only downside for me, and we might have been unlucky, but on the Saturday when we teed off in the afternoon it was busy and the round was slow going. It felt like it took an hour to do the first 3 holes. Maybe not helped by having a par 3 as a second hole, where groups were queueing.

Crown Golf are selling 8 or 9 courses but they are said to be focussing on quality rather than quantity. South Winchester and Blue Mountain are not included in the sale.

I play at BM as well, as Homer said its fairly well maintained, and comps are well run but as a spectacle is pretty unspectacular to be fair.

 

[ScienceBoy]

It felt like it took an hour to do the first 3 holes. Maybe not helped by having a par 3 as a second hole, where groups were queueing.

From a member... you get used to it

We try and call groups up when we can but it is not always possible. Hopefully you agree that the back nine is better.

 

[surefire]

I am a member there, fancy a test round soon?



I'm planning to do a walk-on on saturday, if you fancy it, it will be an early ish round as they do fill up fairly quickly but as long as one member arrives before 7.30 you can get on with little problem

I will be up for a round, but I'm not sure how soon will be possible.

The course is very near to where I work, but about 50 miles from where I live, so at weekends, I will most likely be sticking to my current club.

As the days get lighter, I would definitely be up for an evening round, and depending on my work schedule could possibly do some afternoons also.

 

[sawtooth]

After the sticky start yes it started to move much better. I like the course a lot its great looking with lots of very nice holes.

Will definitely go back, perhaps we could arrange a knock there in the new year.

 

[ScienceBoy]

PM me when the clocks change. The Memberships are from 1st April to 1st Aril. I joined in March and got that month for free!