HomerJSimpson
Hall of Famer
There are so many lists and posts this time of year about the best courses in the UK (and Ireland), across the globe and about our dream venues.
However as it is snowing and I'm in a grumpy mood, what about the real goat tracks you've been to. Those that you've paid your money at the start full of high hopes and walked off feeling cheated and robbed.
As a starter there can be only one. Step forward Lydd. I was really looking forward to this. There was a great bunch playing and I'd taken the opportunity to book a long weekend with HID so had even managed to get some brownie points. £25 deal for breakfast and a round. Seemed perfect. Even the weather was decent. Pleasantly mild and no wind with no rain forecast.
I pulled into the car park. 7 cars. Strange I thought for any club on the busiest day of the week. Alarm bells should have sounded when I saw the competitions board saying it was their monthly stableford as well.
We even went to the range which was empty. However you couldn't hit a SW as it flew too high and hit the roof which extended out and over the bays. Both MWJ and I must have scattered 4 or 5 balls each off the underside with our opening warm up wedges. The mats were old and frayed and laid stright onto the concrete. The balls were chipped and old. The range itself had some good targets including several proper sized greens to aim for at 100, 135, 150 and 170 yards
On the plus side the brekfast was top drawer. We played the GM card and were allowed to play off the whites and so set off. I don't think it would have mattered though as there was no-one to tell us not to use the whites anyway. If it hadn't been for the great laugh and close game I'd have been bored rigid after 5 holes. Soulless and desolate. Every hole is bland and lacking in character. To be fair the greens were a good pace but looked terrible although putted better than they should have. We saw four other groups the whole way round (on a Saturday). When we got back in at 3.00pm the kitchen was shut and no hot food (or drinks) available. The clubhouse was quite big but we were the only ones there.
It was like one of those old western towns in the films where tumbleweed blows through. Empty of character on and off the course. I couldn't imagine trying to play a medal in the winter with a wind howling off the salt marshes or with the constant drone of planes in and out of Lydd airport. Even the sheep in the surrounding fields were praying for mint sauce!
Food (we could get) 9/10 (brilliant all English and all the tea you wanted)
Initial impression on entry 4/10
Service 6/10 the waitress and the pro were friendly enough
Clubhouse, pro shop, driving range, locker room 5/10
Course 3/10 (although for putting the greens were 6/10)
Value for money 3/10
Would I go back - No not even on a freebie
However as it is snowing and I'm in a grumpy mood, what about the real goat tracks you've been to. Those that you've paid your money at the start full of high hopes and walked off feeling cheated and robbed.
As a starter there can be only one. Step forward Lydd. I was really looking forward to this. There was a great bunch playing and I'd taken the opportunity to book a long weekend with HID so had even managed to get some brownie points. £25 deal for breakfast and a round. Seemed perfect. Even the weather was decent. Pleasantly mild and no wind with no rain forecast.
I pulled into the car park. 7 cars. Strange I thought for any club on the busiest day of the week. Alarm bells should have sounded when I saw the competitions board saying it was their monthly stableford as well.
We even went to the range which was empty. However you couldn't hit a SW as it flew too high and hit the roof which extended out and over the bays. Both MWJ and I must have scattered 4 or 5 balls each off the underside with our opening warm up wedges. The mats were old and frayed and laid stright onto the concrete. The balls were chipped and old. The range itself had some good targets including several proper sized greens to aim for at 100, 135, 150 and 170 yards
On the plus side the brekfast was top drawer. We played the GM card and were allowed to play off the whites and so set off. I don't think it would have mattered though as there was no-one to tell us not to use the whites anyway. If it hadn't been for the great laugh and close game I'd have been bored rigid after 5 holes. Soulless and desolate. Every hole is bland and lacking in character. To be fair the greens were a good pace but looked terrible although putted better than they should have. We saw four other groups the whole way round (on a Saturday). When we got back in at 3.00pm the kitchen was shut and no hot food (or drinks) available. The clubhouse was quite big but we were the only ones there.
It was like one of those old western towns in the films where tumbleweed blows through. Empty of character on and off the course. I couldn't imagine trying to play a medal in the winter with a wind howling off the salt marshes or with the constant drone of planes in and out of Lydd airport. Even the sheep in the surrounding fields were praying for mint sauce!
Food (we could get) 9/10 (brilliant all English and all the tea you wanted)
Initial impression on entry 4/10
Service 6/10 the waitress and the pro were friendly enough
Clubhouse, pro shop, driving range, locker room 5/10
Course 3/10 (although for putting the greens were 6/10)
Value for money 3/10
Would I go back - No not even on a freebie
