DelB
Journeyman Pro
My cousing was up from Hertford last weekend for our twice yearly fun golf competition and the two of us, along with Neillbro, decided to give Dodger's track a go, having heard nothing but good things about it.
We arrived at 9.15am for our 10am tee time and were advised in the Pro-Shop that we could just go when we were ready, as there were already a few groups out playing in a Medal and the next batch of players weren't due out till nearer 10.30. Result!
We got ourselves organised and after a few putts on the practice green in front of the clubhouse, we headed over to the first tee. At that point, the heavens opened and it looked like it might never stop!
The first hole if a short Par 4 dogleg right, with a big dip down in elevation as you get near the elbow, although you can't really see this from the tee. We scuttled out from beneath umbrellas to quickly play our shots and then retreated back under shelter and finished with 5's apiece. Second hole is a tight drive diagonally across the river, with trees left and right. None of us found the fairway, but all managed to get on in three and two putt again. The rain was getting heavier and heavier! Third hole is a long Par 3, with a blind drive up over a marker post on the hill. I creamed a 3 wood which subsequently turned out to be just a foot or two shy of the green, whilst Neillbro pushed his right and Martin had a wee argument with several trees, before finding the green with his fourth shot. The fourth is another blind tee shot back down the hill, again over a marker, but a Par 4 this time. All safely down the hill and no dramas. 5th hole is a dogleg left, but only something like a 4 or 5 iron to the elbow, so a hole you really have to think about, in order to get yourself in position. Sixth is similar and then you come to the 7th - a medium length Par 3 with the river literally right in front of the green. Tough, tough hole, especially with the river in spate! Manged to hit a five iron across the river, but played pinball off several trees and ended up with virtually no shot to the green. Ended up with a 5 and was relatively happy at that!
The rest of the course is on a similar theme, but for a couple of Par 5's on the back nine. The rain ceased after 7 or 8 holes and the greens were still putting well despite the rain they had taken overnight and during the course of our game.
None of us really played our best golf, but that was probably more down to the fact that it was our third game in three days than anything else.
The welcome and food in the clubhouse was top notch and very reasonably priced too. The Chef even happily agreed to provide Neillbro with beans to go with his cheeseburger and chips rather than 'rabbit-food'!
We'll definitely visit again later in the summer, just to play it, hopefully, in drier, warmer conditions.
Well worth a visit if you're in the area and looking for a beautifully maintained parkland course where the emphasis is on good course-management and shot-making, rather than outright power off the tee. :thup:
We arrived at 9.15am for our 10am tee time and were advised in the Pro-Shop that we could just go when we were ready, as there were already a few groups out playing in a Medal and the next batch of players weren't due out till nearer 10.30. Result!
We got ourselves organised and after a few putts on the practice green in front of the clubhouse, we headed over to the first tee. At that point, the heavens opened and it looked like it might never stop!
The first hole if a short Par 4 dogleg right, with a big dip down in elevation as you get near the elbow, although you can't really see this from the tee. We scuttled out from beneath umbrellas to quickly play our shots and then retreated back under shelter and finished with 5's apiece. Second hole is a tight drive diagonally across the river, with trees left and right. None of us found the fairway, but all managed to get on in three and two putt again. The rain was getting heavier and heavier! Third hole is a long Par 3, with a blind drive up over a marker post on the hill. I creamed a 3 wood which subsequently turned out to be just a foot or two shy of the green, whilst Neillbro pushed his right and Martin had a wee argument with several trees, before finding the green with his fourth shot. The fourth is another blind tee shot back down the hill, again over a marker, but a Par 4 this time. All safely down the hill and no dramas. 5th hole is a dogleg left, but only something like a 4 or 5 iron to the elbow, so a hole you really have to think about, in order to get yourself in position. Sixth is similar and then you come to the 7th - a medium length Par 3 with the river literally right in front of the green. Tough, tough hole, especially with the river in spate! Manged to hit a five iron across the river, but played pinball off several trees and ended up with virtually no shot to the green. Ended up with a 5 and was relatively happy at that!
The rest of the course is on a similar theme, but for a couple of Par 5's on the back nine. The rain ceased after 7 or 8 holes and the greens were still putting well despite the rain they had taken overnight and during the course of our game.
None of us really played our best golf, but that was probably more down to the fact that it was our third game in three days than anything else.
The welcome and food in the clubhouse was top notch and very reasonably priced too. The Chef even happily agreed to provide Neillbro with beans to go with his cheeseburger and chips rather than 'rabbit-food'!
We'll definitely visit again later in the summer, just to play it, hopefully, in drier, warmer conditions.
Well worth a visit if you're in the area and looking for a beautifully maintained parkland course where the emphasis is on good course-management and shot-making, rather than outright power off the tee. :thup:
