Batchwood Hall Golf Club

Oldest Municipal Course in the country !

Batchwood Hall GC is situated in a lovely area of Hertforshire, in St Albans. An easy location to find from the M25 (J21A). Apparently it is the oldest municipal course in England, acquired by the Council in 1935. A pleasant parkland, fairly well maintained, the Tee boxes could be more level, but the fairways, bunkers and greens were good. There are some elevated Tees.

It was designed by the famous JH Taylor, apparently Sam Ryder had a certain influence in that. Fairly easy walk, some elevations, a pleasant surrounding, nature everywhere, we saw a lot of red kites flying above and heard the many pheasant.

The most memorable holes for me were the 4th downhill, Par 4 and the 7th, Par 5 from Red, down and up again, with a huge crater where 3 of our 4 balls landed. I manage my escape onto the green very well, a beautiful pitch "a la Brigitte" et voila, golf is so simple. I did like the Par 3, 16th hole where my drive landed exactly where I planned it, and got my Par.

A friendly welcome in the Reception, with very limited facilities open due to Covid.

The Green fee was surprising excellent, thank you John B. for organising the game, I am sure I shall return as it is half way between Twickenham & Brentwood where there is a lovely & lively household I visit regurarly.

Plenty of parking even with the main car park being used for people attending their vaccination again COVID-19.


THE END....

  

well maintained council golf course

Interesting parkland coarse with a good variety of holes. Greens had been sanded and were a little uneven in places. The teeing area for the nineth was a mat with little chance of getting a tee into but bunkers were well filled and the fairways excellent. Overall worth a visit.

  

Very welcoming

The staff in the clubhouse for very polite The fairways could have done withBeing watered they had cracks all over them 1st time I played on a course and I dog Takes my golf ball off the tee Just as all about to heat it

  

OK for a municipal

Not a bad course. Better than some, but lagging behind most of the courses in the area.

BUT for the money, this is almost a little gem! Played at noon on a weekday for just a tenner - yes only £10 - and with good company, it's well worth it.

The greens are a little slow in places (but not when the ball is flying onto them!), they are not perfect. The fairways are a little in need of a shave (not overly so) and the tee boxes are in relatively good condition. There may be a need of a few more rakes for the bunkers, and people may need to remember (like most clubs) how to use the rake!

The clubhouse is quite tiny, but there are snacks and drinks available.

Yes, I'm sure that I will visit again - especially if the £10 lunchtime rate is going to be available.

It may be an idea if they get the online booking working properly, as I booked had it shown on my phone but the guy on reception could only find a booking for 'Jim' as a single player....technolgy SHOULD be a wonderful thing!

  

Cleverly laid out - Tree-lined Parkland

Easily found on the outskirts of St. Albans, Parking myay be restricted on more popular days. A stroll to the Golf Club and reception, so advice is to take your bags and shoes when you leave your car. limited catering available (so if you want breakfast it is best to make alternative arrangements).

The course itself is an interesting layout - clevely intersprered with established trees on subtle elevation changes. Greens were in need of some attention, but once corrected they will prove challenging - lots of undulations on most greens).

A good walking course - and not very busy for a weekend. Staff were welcoming and good fun, locals were friendly as well.

Worth another visit - perhaps later in the season - especially if the grass is cut and the greens are treated.



  

Bit scruffy but would certainly play again

Interesting course, few long par 4's a good test but some greens,fairways and tee boxes in poor condition .
A pay and play course, which the day we played, had a special at £20 which was good value.
Will certainly keep it on our rota and hopefully next time will be in better condition
Extremely friendly staff added to the enjoyment

  

worth a visit

it was my 1st time at batchwood,i thought the course had a good variety of holes,short,medium and long par 4"s and 3"s.I would like to play the course again when the large greens have been cut and rolled properly after the treatment has taken,as they look like they could be very interesting.At £20 for a weekend it was very good value

  

Interesting course!

The greens need work but its an interesting and challenging course, especially considering it is a public course.

  

Not bad at all, much potential

The good: Nice variety of holes, with par 3's from under 130 yards to around 190, and a similar mix of 4's from just over 300 to over 440. The three par 5's are all nice holes, potentially reachable in 2. Greens are generally large and interestingly undulating. Fairways were cut (or not cut) a fraction long but in pretty nice condition considering it's not been the easiest winter and early spring.

The bad: The tees and greens were hugely variable - the bad tees were all grassy but scruffy (not many flat areas) and the poor greens were very bobbly. Oddly the good ones were bordering on excellent - perhaps drainage at some parts of the course is way better than at others. The other oddity was the fact that most of the poorer-condition holes came at the start, then there was a run of properly great holes, and later a run of fairly repetitive short par 4's before you finish with two par 5's.

Overall: I'm guessing that, as a public course, the course has been kept open when it might have helped some of the poorer parts to close and protect it, and budgets haven't run to repairing the damaged tees and greens. The setting is fabulous - really tranquil and very pretty - and with some decent weather I feel there's a really good, interesting, course trying to break out.

There's a members clubhouse that visitors don't get to use, guests using the sports centre reception, changing rooms and lockers instead, which is functional but not much else. There are a couple of nets in OK condition and a massive putting and chipping area that would be great if the grass was cut closer than fairway height. I'll definitely return and hope to find more consistent tees and greens making this a really good track.

  

Good Value public course

Batchwood Hall did provide some club house and bar facilities but suffered from a fire about 18 months ago. This doesn't impact the golf course itself but there are currently no bar facilites.