Woodhall Spa

[MrC]

I’ll be there next weekend for the first time. I’ll let you know afterwards how I get on. 36 hole scratch medal

Good luck

 

[srixon 1]

I’ll be there next weekend for the first time. I’ll let you know afterwards how I get on. 36 hole scratch medal

Practice round today before the competition starts tomorrow and my first ever look at the golf course. First impressions were very good although the summer heat has not been kind to some of the fairways. No pressure today and hit the ball great for a level par round. We played from the white tees (6869 yards) rather than the very back ones. Fairways are very generous but if you do miss then heather or very deep bunkers are waiting to catch your ball.

I’ll probably play like a chopper tomorrow when the pressure is on

 

[upsidedown]

Practice round today before the competition starts tomorrow and my first ever look at the golf course. First impressions were very good although the summer heat has not been kind to some of the fairways. No pressure today and hit the ball great for a level par round. We played from the white tees (6869 yards) rather than the very back ones. Fairways are very generous but if you do miss then heather or very deep bunkers are waiting to catch your ball.

I’ll probably play like a chopper tomorrow when the pressure is on

Good luck tomorrow

 

[srixon 1]

Hi all

Playing both courses at Woodhall Spa in October. Any tips/recommendations?

Thanks

C

On the Hotchkin, keep out of the bunkers. Easier said than done as there are 142 of them. Admittedly some are not/shouldn’t be in play unless you hit a really awful shot.

 

[srixon 1]

Practice round today before the competition starts tomorrow and my first ever look at the golf course. First impressions were very good although the summer heat has not been kind to some of the fairways. No pressure today and hit the ball great for a level par round. We played from the white tees (6869 yards) rather than the very back ones. Fairways are very generous but if you do miss then heather or very deep bunkers are waiting to catch your ball.

I’ll probably play like a chopper tomorrow when the pressure is on

1st round and I am 5 over which putts me 7 shots back. A tough wind today which was blowing into for the majority of the back 9 holes. Two 3 putts due to being “miles” away from the hole for my approach putts didn't help the cause. Happy with the score and I managed to keep a double of the card. On a plus side I only went into two bunkers. However, one of them was the front right bunker on the par 3 8th and the flag was front right . One of the deepest bunkers I have ever been in. Needless to say I didn’t get up and down. It’s a brilliant heathland golf course, definitely up there with the Bournemouth courses.

 

[Backache]

All the advice seems to be to stay out of bunkers but as a visitor have you really experienced the course if you've stayed out of the bunkers.
Its a long time since I played it but my memory is that the bunkers are part of what makes it special.

 

[richbeech]

The Hotchkin is a decent course but I also think it’s a little overrated. For me it’s just too flat so you can’t really see the hole you’re playing. When you walk down the fairways it’s almost as if the horizon is just at your eye level so you can’t see the shaping of the fairway or green. I would happily play it again if I had the chance but so far as being rated like top 5 courses in the country absolutely no chance in my eyes.

 

[IanM]

There's plenty who'd agree with you. It's very good, but it is often above stuff in ratings, I'd drive to, long before I'd drive there! But that's the ratings for you, and personal preference.

 

[richbeech]

I was fortunate enough to play Woburn this year for our scratch team. I’m far from a scratch golfer but they were short. I would put that miles in front of Woodhall Spa, absolutely stunning course.

 

[Lucifer MorningStar]

I was fortunate enough to play Woburn this year for our scratch team. I’m far from a scratch golfer but they were short. I would put that miles in front of Woodhall Spa, absolutely stunning course.

Agreed. Woodall Spa is decent but for me it’s just a bit “meh” as in I find it very bland, certainly isn’t even top 10 in the country for me. Played it 4 times in competitions and always walked off feeling a bit bored especially after the back 9.

I love Woburn and would play that ahead of Woodhall Spa any day of the week.

 

[srixon 1]

1st round and I am 5 over which putts me 7 shots back. A tough wind today which was blowing into for the majority of the back 9 holes. Two 3 putts due to being “miles” away from the hole for my approach putts didn't help the cause. Happy with the score and I managed to keep a double of the card. On a plus side I only went into two bunkers. However, one of them was the front right bunker on the par 3 8th and the flag was front right . One of the deepest bunkers I have ever been in. Needless to say I didn’t get up and down. It’s a brilliant heathland golf course, definitely up there with the Bournemouth courses.

2 over today for a 7 over total after two rounds. The winner was 3 under. I did get off to a good start with a birdie at the 1st but then made bogey on 3, 4 and 5. I did birdie 3 of the par 5s today but a couple of dodgy tee shots stopped me from going under par. Happy with how I played though and made nothing worse than a bogey all weekend, and didn’t go in any of the fairway bunkers during any of the rounds.

Like others have said, it’s a great course, but it’s probably not in my top 10 that I’ve played. I would rate Alwoodley better.

 

[fenwayrich]

Great effort by Alfie Turner in the Men's Champion of Champions. He's the Staffordshire champion at 14 years of age, and finished 3rd on 3 under for 36 holes round the Hotchkin yesterday. A very promising young player.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Great effort by Alfie Turner in the Men's Champion of Champions. He's the Staffordshire champion at 14 years of age, and finished 3rd on 3 under for 36 holes round the Hotchkin yesterday. A very promising young player.

That's phenomenal.

The senior's comp was won by a player from my town club, not where I play. He's won his own club championship multiple times, must be double figures, still plays regular age county golf, heck of a player. Very unassuming bloke, great win for him.

 

[srixon 1]

That's phenomenal.

The senior's comp was won by a player from my town club, not where I play. He's won his own club championship multiple times, must be double figures, still plays regular age county golf, heck of a player. Very unassuming bloke, great win for him.

That’s what I was playing in. He was the only player to be under par for both rounds

The chap in last place had a mare of a couple of days and was +38 for the two rounds

 

[sunshine]

The Hotchkin is a fantastic course. It got a lot of good press following the renovation a few years ago, this probably resulted in it climbing too high in the rankings. It found its way into the World Top 100 which surprised me. In the latest Top100 ranking it had dropped down a bit. It's now at 13 in England / 33 GB&I

 

[MrC]

We are just back from a couple of days at Woodhall Spa. Absolutely loved the place. Both courses I found interesting, forgiving from the tee and in great condition. Also I am an average hitter and it was nice to play courses where distances was fair (we played from yellows). The Bracken was fun with the greens are challenging. The Hotchkin was a thing of beauty. The bunkers are punishing and are literally everywhere but if you can avoid them then you can score well.

All the staff and other players were very friendly.

A fantastic experience