SyR
Challenge Tour Pro
I played with Scienceboy at South Winchester Golf Club. Despite the recent weather the course is lovely condition and I can recommend the pre-round bacon roll! The round was well worth the £26 (members guest) greenfee.
The practice facilities are close the club house and are very good, particularly the putting green, which was a good size and importantly in the same condition as the greens on the course. It also has a decent slope to part of it which is good preparation to what faces you on the course.
The course starts with a par 4 that is straight up the hill. It's a tough opener as there are bunkers to keep you honest from the tee and bunkers in front of the green to collect any shots that fall short of the green. The greens have plenty of lumps and bumps to make putting interesting and I imagine when summer comes they offer plenty testing downhill putts.
My favourite hole on the course was the 9th. Unless your are able to carry the lake with your drive (290 yards!), you have to lay up short of the lake leaving you a 170+ 2nd shot uphill. Everything kicks from left to right towards the lake so club selection is very important. The second shot over the lake and up the hill is brutal. The green is raised with mounds and hollows to guard it. This hole deserves is si 1 as it's a tough par 4 and requires precision from tee to green.
There were several holes that offered risk/reward opportunites. The par five 18th was a fine example. A dog-leg left down the hill, with ob on the left. The sensible shot is a 5 wood down the fairway. The riskier shot is to cut the corner with a driver over the ob but you have to carry it about 250 (downhill) to find the fairway. If this pays off then you are left with a 180-ish yard shot downhill to the green. The lake front right is well place to collect any balls kicking off the left to right sloping fairway. A second lake back right waits to collect anyone who overclubs. The two-tier green adds a little extra challenge.
The greens were very receptive which suits my style of high approach shots. This is however an inland-links style course and for sure in a few months chip and run shots will be the only way to get it close as the greens firm up. Most courses in the area get easier in the summer months but in true links style, this course will get harder as the ball starts to run and bounce off the many slopes and mounds.
Finally the members we played with and the members I spoke to in the clubhouse were very nice and welcoming. They all seem to enjoy their golf and are happy and proud that people are visiting the course. It was a great atmosphere and is now at the top of my list for a club to join.
The practice facilities are close the club house and are very good, particularly the putting green, which was a good size and importantly in the same condition as the greens on the course. It also has a decent slope to part of it which is good preparation to what faces you on the course.
The course starts with a par 4 that is straight up the hill. It's a tough opener as there are bunkers to keep you honest from the tee and bunkers in front of the green to collect any shots that fall short of the green. The greens have plenty of lumps and bumps to make putting interesting and I imagine when summer comes they offer plenty testing downhill putts.
My favourite hole on the course was the 9th. Unless your are able to carry the lake with your drive (290 yards!), you have to lay up short of the lake leaving you a 170+ 2nd shot uphill. Everything kicks from left to right towards the lake so club selection is very important. The second shot over the lake and up the hill is brutal. The green is raised with mounds and hollows to guard it. This hole deserves is si 1 as it's a tough par 4 and requires precision from tee to green.
There were several holes that offered risk/reward opportunites. The par five 18th was a fine example. A dog-leg left down the hill, with ob on the left. The sensible shot is a 5 wood down the fairway. The riskier shot is to cut the corner with a driver over the ob but you have to carry it about 250 (downhill) to find the fairway. If this pays off then you are left with a 180-ish yard shot downhill to the green. The lake front right is well place to collect any balls kicking off the left to right sloping fairway. A second lake back right waits to collect anyone who overclubs. The two-tier green adds a little extra challenge.
The greens were very receptive which suits my style of high approach shots. This is however an inland-links style course and for sure in a few months chip and run shots will be the only way to get it close as the greens firm up. Most courses in the area get easier in the summer months but in true links style, this course will get harder as the ball starts to run and bounce off the many slopes and mounds.
Finally the members we played with and the members I spoke to in the clubhouse were very nice and welcoming. They all seem to enjoy their golf and are happy and proud that people are visiting the course. It was a great atmosphere and is now at the top of my list for a club to join.
