HotDogAssassin
Tour Rookie
I've just got home after a very enjoyable first outing to Thornbury Golf Centre, north of Bristol (http://www.thornburygc.co.uk/default.asp) with fellow forumers Jon (Aztecs27), Steve (Swinger) and Craig (Brookesy), it was also another first for me being my introduction to a full 18 hole course - The Marlwood. Aztecs is a member of the course and kindly invited us to join him for a friendly fourball.
Jon and I arrived at 9:30 to be well prepared for our tee off time at 10:32 and promptly met up with Craig. First impressions of the course were good, easy to find at 1 mile from the A38 and 10 minutes from the M5 either Jct.14 or Jct.16 depending on your direction of travel. The long drive up to the car park took us past the first 3 holes including the fairly imposing 3rd (SI.6) which showed a drive up and over a fairly steep slope which Jon told me was one of the few steep climbs on the course. A good sized practice green separated the car park from the first tee with a nice looking clubhouse beyond.
Inside I found a very impressive and well stocked pro shop with leading brands including the full range of TaylorMade R11S and RBZ Woods and Irons which attracted us like bees round a honey pot. All the staff were very friendly, helpful and welcoming. The centre also has a nice 25 bay covered range and a full 18 hole par 3 course - The Severn View, named because of its' outlook over the Severn Estuary. The bar was well stocked with a good selection of beers, wines and hot drinks. After a coffee and bacon butty we headed out to the first tee to be joined by Steve at 10.31!
The weather was not kind to us with it being the coldest day of the year so far meaning that the ground was rock solid and unable to take a tee without the help of previous tee holes. But although the temperature was low our spirits were high and we were determined to have a good day. For me as a beginner the majority of holes were very forgiving with wide fairways but with decent challenges including some well placed fairway bunkers, greenside bunkers and a couple lakes that come into play on three holes including the 17th where a good drive will leave you in a narrow gap between both or beyond for the big hitters. A number of previous players had found the water, evidenced by the balls left behind sitting on top of the frozen surface. I have to admit to making a couple of my own donations to the course recycling fund.
The general condition of the course was very good without the need for winter mats or greens, fairways and greens were well kept, one bunker was in a poor state but was signed GUR. Although the frozen ground caused some amusement with solid sand in the bunkers and short pitches seeing the ball bounce 10 feet in the air and mostly running beyond the hole or over the green. The course opens and closes with Par 5s with the 18th proving to be my favourite hole helped by my best drive of the day. Worst hole for me was the 16th where out of bounds posts sat just a few feet to the left of the fairway were passed by two drives.
My only real negatives of the course would be that some of the fairways are very close to adjacent ones and there is no halfway house which would have been very welcome in the cold weather.
The end of the round was followed by a welcome and well deserved beer for each and some lunch from a good menu choice. I can recommend an Omelette and Chunky Chips with a Guinness, whilst watching the Six Nations Rugby on the large TV screen in the bar.
Despite the weather, including snowfall from 15th onwards, this was a good introduction for me into a members club course and if it wasn't for a 40 minute journey each way, it would be very near the top of my selection list for joining. I'm looking forward to my next visit!
Jon and I arrived at 9:30 to be well prepared for our tee off time at 10:32 and promptly met up with Craig. First impressions of the course were good, easy to find at 1 mile from the A38 and 10 minutes from the M5 either Jct.14 or Jct.16 depending on your direction of travel. The long drive up to the car park took us past the first 3 holes including the fairly imposing 3rd (SI.6) which showed a drive up and over a fairly steep slope which Jon told me was one of the few steep climbs on the course. A good sized practice green separated the car park from the first tee with a nice looking clubhouse beyond.
Inside I found a very impressive and well stocked pro shop with leading brands including the full range of TaylorMade R11S and RBZ Woods and Irons which attracted us like bees round a honey pot. All the staff were very friendly, helpful and welcoming. The centre also has a nice 25 bay covered range and a full 18 hole par 3 course - The Severn View, named because of its' outlook over the Severn Estuary. The bar was well stocked with a good selection of beers, wines and hot drinks. After a coffee and bacon butty we headed out to the first tee to be joined by Steve at 10.31!
The weather was not kind to us with it being the coldest day of the year so far meaning that the ground was rock solid and unable to take a tee without the help of previous tee holes. But although the temperature was low our spirits were high and we were determined to have a good day. For me as a beginner the majority of holes were very forgiving with wide fairways but with decent challenges including some well placed fairway bunkers, greenside bunkers and a couple lakes that come into play on three holes including the 17th where a good drive will leave you in a narrow gap between both or beyond for the big hitters. A number of previous players had found the water, evidenced by the balls left behind sitting on top of the frozen surface. I have to admit to making a couple of my own donations to the course recycling fund.
The general condition of the course was very good without the need for winter mats or greens, fairways and greens were well kept, one bunker was in a poor state but was signed GUR. Although the frozen ground caused some amusement with solid sand in the bunkers and short pitches seeing the ball bounce 10 feet in the air and mostly running beyond the hole or over the green. The course opens and closes with Par 5s with the 18th proving to be my favourite hole helped by my best drive of the day. Worst hole for me was the 16th where out of bounds posts sat just a few feet to the left of the fairway were passed by two drives.
My only real negatives of the course would be that some of the fairways are very close to adjacent ones and there is no halfway house which would have been very welcome in the cold weather.
The end of the round was followed by a welcome and well deserved beer for each and some lunch from a good menu choice. I can recommend an Omelette and Chunky Chips with a Guinness, whilst watching the Six Nations Rugby on the large TV screen in the bar.
Despite the weather, including snowfall from 15th onwards, this was a good introduction for me into a members club course and if it wasn't for a 40 minute journey each way, it would be very near the top of my selection list for joining. I'm looking forward to my next visit!
