Review's of Bramshaw Golf Club
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money
Forest Course
First thing to say is if you're playing the Forest course, don't take you clubs out of the car when you get to the Bramshaw clubhouse/pro shop. The Forest course is actually about half a mile away, and when you get there there's nothing there apart from the 1st tee and a car park.
I say this not having played the Manor course yet, but the Forest course does clearly appear to be the lesser of the two courses. We were told that the club are only allowed to do work to the greens and the tees, so the fairways are left to nature and the numerous cows and horses that wander around. Hoof marks are everywhere, along with other substances best found on rose beds. The greens and tees are very decent though.
I think I only saw two or three 150 yard markers out on the course, so be prepared for a few waits while golfers shuffle clubs until they pick one that might be right. If you were playing behind me today then I apologise for doing that!
The fairways are wide. Very wide! I think the first hole that really feels anything close to tight is the 9th, and after that it opens up again. I only saw a few holes that had any bunkers on, and most of the course's protection comes from streams in front or behind the greens, and a number of raised greens that make sure only accurate approach shots remain on the putting surface.
There are some lovely holes on the course and its certainly worth giving a go, but I imagine that it's probably suited best to mid to high handicappers.
The welcome in the (well stocked) pro shop was everything you'd hope for, and as for the clubhouse, it's just really lovely. There's a wonderful balcony for sitting out and watching the world go by. Or the Bramshaw GC bit of the world anyway.
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money
Bramshaw - The Manor Course....
"The Manor" course is a total contrast to "The Forest" course. Yes Bramshaw offes 2 totally different courses, so always a choice depending on one's taste. The adventurous will play The Forest and the conservatives will play The Manor course.
Today (14.09.2012), we played The Manor with the Silvermere Ladies on Tour.
A landscape parkland course set in the New Forest.
Well kept fairways, everything seems manicured from Tee boxes to greens, to bunkers, to paths, to way findings. There seem to be a hight standard of maintenance creating a very pleasing look, quite "posh", the scenery is spectacular as we are on the edge of the New Forest. There is a better than ordinary "Porta Loo" before the 10th, saves yo going into the bushes.
The greens were superb but very treacherous & today I could not get on with my putting, a little bit like USA team on the last day of the recent Ryder Cup. A big shame as I would have won the 3 day-competition, but I came runner-up, so very pleased indeed.
Some very well placed hazards such as ponds, ditches, sand bunkers all in the right place to catch the non-thinker. A very good test for any golfer.
Lots of interesting holes, but today I shall only describe one:
Hole 18, Par 4,Yelllow 333yds,Red 314 yds:
Sharp dog leg, 90 degrees to the Left, the Tee shot takes you downhill with a fairway sloping left to a ditch which extend across the fairway to an uphill green, only seeable from a 2nd shot or 3rd in my case. OBB on the left by the sloping fairway. A very thick & large hedge on the right hand side on the approach to the green. A lots of 2nd shots (or possibly drives) seem to end up there, as there were lots of balls resting there. Not mine though as I played this hole quite well.
The Clubhouse was described in my previous review when depicting the "wild/natural" Bramshaw gof course.
By the way, I had one of the tastied "Lasagna" before heading back home after our 3-days of golf (well actually 4 days for me, as I added an extra day, I could not resist). My golfing Ladies partners had appetising sandwiches with generous portions of chips & salad stuff ! Very good coffee.
Attractive wooden beams & lots of skylights give a lovely light & warm atmosphere to this room.
Balcony with a terrace, tables & chairs overlooking 18th & practice green & a large bed of wild flowers.
An interesting manicured course that should be sampled as well.
Practice facilities: very good.
THE END.......
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money
The Forest - another unique golf experience...
This is another "New Forest" golf course, Bramshaw having 2 courses: The Forest & The Manor.
The Forest is situated 200 yrds ffrom the main Clubhouse, a little walk up a picturesque small road with a car park. I played this course on 12 Sept 2912.
A rugged, wild terrain, with invisible ravines, some having water, some heather & goarse & some with just vegetation and a few creatures but nevertheless if your ball ends up in the ravine, you wont find it easily or if found, most likely to be unplayable unlesS you had the skills of Seve!!!
Some blind tee shots, not knowing what terrain to expect when playin for a 1st time, so it adds to the fun or to the scorecard!.
A lot more animal droppings (dont forget the latex glove for retrieval). Should your ball end up in the black sutff,, it either stops dead or it could be a big splatter, but one get a free drop !!!
Again the experience & scenery are unique, a different kind of golf, really in tune with nature (not Chicago's)
and it may not suit everyone's taste of golf. I personally relish the different challenge and the eauty surrounding the course.
On a 1st visit, the score reached may not be to one's hdcp but what experience you'll have.
Some greens have fencing around to stop the ponies/cattle walking onto the greens, so special local rules apply should your ball hit the fence/posts: no penalty and a free drop, I think.
The greens were superb, runing fast & true (am I getting techinical ?), I must read too many of other TSGers' reviews & pick up their vocabulary), not a bad thing.
We had a pleasant weather for 17 holes but with menacing dark clouds in the horizon & on the 18th Tee box, the heavens opened and we got drenched, making this superb finishing hole an even more challenging one, but I scored well on this one.
Just as we had finished putting, the rain stopped & we had a dry walk back to the pleasant Clubhouse.
Friendly, well stocked Proshop.
Very modern changing rooms, light & airy, with very classy fittings.
Clubhouse/bar upstairs: very pleasant with a balcony & a view over the 18th hole and the practice putting green.
Food was superb and very reasonably priced (the best Lasagna I ever had). The sandwiches looked appetising but my party wished they had ordered the Lasagna...
Large Car Park (better not park at the far end by the 18th!!! as you never know what a stray ball might do to your cherished 4-wheels).
Bramshaw Golf Club is adjacent to the Bell Inn (3 or 4 Stars country hotel) where special golfing deals can be had, I may even book one myself as you then have the choice of 2 golf courses totally different in character & play. The other course being The Manor which I shall review very soon as I also played the course.
Bramshaw Gold Club is quite vibrant with all different sections, you can understand the attraction and it has reciprocical arrangements with numerous golf clubs, local & not so local.
A very good experience that I certainly enjoyed, I had the best score of the party... I thought I should mention that as it is a pleasing feeling, some of my party did not have the same experience, but everyone was good company (Silvermere Ladies).
If in the Hampshire/New Forest area, I think one should try both courses.
THE END......