Camberley Heath Golf Club

Interesting mix of holes

Really enjoyed this course, as it has a good mix of holes, and you had to plot your way around. Decent practice facilities, and a very nice clubhouse and halfway hut.
It was showing signs of recovery after the recent bout of very hot weather. Greens were a bit tricky to get the pace on though, as they lacked consistency. My only negative comment would be that I went in five bunkers (my fault I know), but three of them barely had sand in, so ended up thinning two bunker shots.
It cost us £40.00 for an afternoon deal, which was OK, but I certainly don't think it's worth anything near the usual £85.00 green fee.
I'd definitely play it again if the £40.00 or less deal became available, but wouldn't be prepared to pay more than that.

  

A wonderful 'must play' golf course

Camberley Heath GC is a par 71 Harry Colt designed heathland style course in Camberley/Frimley, Surrey. The course was established in 1913. Whilst formerly a private members club it is now a corporately owned club.

There are four mens tees operating at the course, ie blue, white, yellow and black. I/we played off the 5,972 yards yellow tees. There are 4 par 3s, 11 par 4s and 3 par 5s. The is framed by towering pine trees; has semi elevated tees; though the changes in elevation of the course are reasonable; and gorse areas (to be avoided).

The course is in magnificent condition. Greens were generally large, undulating and tricky.

The only disappointment at the course is that the majority of green side bunkers; whilst looking magnificent; had been modernised with some sort of black honeycomb style underlay material; the effect of which was to prevent the sand-wedge clubhead from striking the sand behind the ball and allowing the clubhead to slide through the sand under the ball to effect proper splashout. Also balls landing directly in the bunkers seemed to bounce unpredictably instead of simply sliding down to hte shallow part of the bunker.

There are numerous blind shots required, especially of the shorter hitters, but also off the tee; but were adequately signposted. A number of holes required strategic thinking or risk reward challenges.

The visitor green fees are £85 (summer) and £50 (winter). I entered the club's annual Seniors Open Stableford Competition. The entry fee of £49 included pregame coffee, 18 holes and a two course carvery style lunch; with a glass of wine and coffee. The food was excellent quality. A truly excellent vfm way to play the course.

The competition was a shotgun start, with a host member partnering three visitors.

All in all this is a wonderful course which I heartily recommend as a 'must play' category course; however, not at the published visitor green fee. There is a halfway house on the course.






  

Very attractive, very challenging, a beauty of a course.....

Camberley Heath GC is over 100 years old, a Harry Colt design in a beautiful setting of heathland and pines. The sandy soil offers a very good drainage, one did not think there had been so much rain in the last few months. Certain parts remind me of Burhill GC, probably due to the heathers, and the up and downhill.

This is a private members club and you realise it as you drive up a private road with lovely houses either sides. The car park is large and well laid out, The Clubhouse is big, a little bit of Art Deco style, as the lines are very clean and symetric from the front of the building. Lovely spring flower/shrub display and of course lots of heathers in front the clubhouse makes it very attractive and also one can see the 1st hole, downhill, slightly dog legged to the right with heathers to carry.

A very warm welcome in the Proshop, which is large and has all the stylish makes of clothing (men and ladies) and good stock of golf clubs etc..

An equal warm welcome in the bar, a very big room overlooking the splendid 18th hole (signature hole), a large & pleasant terrace, lots of natural light from all sides of the room. The entrance hall is large, it gives a lovely feel as you walk to changing rooms, pro shop or bar and can glance at all the names of winners displayed on Perspex boards.

The setting is perfect for a challenging & enjoyable game where accuracy and lots of thinking need to e deployed.

The fairways are pleasant and firm, not manicured (but this is not a type of course to expect manicured fairways), the bunkers are fierce, deep and always in very strategic places.

The greens very interesting, fast, ondulations & tiers, need a lot of care but a real pleasure to get the ball in the hole with a nice little "plop" sound.

3 of my favourites holes:

Hole 2, Par 3 (140/128 yards), a short hole but very tough, very uphill, heathers in places, a huge/deep bunker in the front and a 3 tiered fast green.

Hole 16, Par 4 (292/284 yards), I think it is the only hole with water which is in front of the whole width of the green, very picturesque hole, uphill from the tee, then flatter. Managed to par this one...

Hole 18, Par 4 (309/276 yards) the signature hole and you know why as you see it from the clubhouse or the Tee box, but when you are on the Tee box you start to think hard, a large hill covered in heathers has to be carried, sloping to the left where a cleverly placed bunker awaits, then uphill to a sloping fast green well guarded by 6 bunkers as you approach. probably one of the best hole I ever seen. I played it well too.

A tough course, despite my low score I had a great game, I think I got a little flustered at the start of the game as my friend (not a TSGer) was late and in a not too pleasant mood..... and the course was quite busy.

We had a very good deal with coffee/ 18 holes /homemade soup + roll for £45. Well worth it.

There are practice facilities. The putting green is by the 1st hole and the starter hut.

The members were very friendly too and seem to enjoy their delightful course.

Would like to go back for another round, so will look out for more offers. Thank you to David S (who played very well) and Brain H who always keeps calm under any situation. A pleasure to be in a 4 balls with both of you.

The above are my own version of events, the way I see the course and the golf day.



THE END.......

  

Camberley heath

Very slow due to numbers on course. Great course and in reasonable condition after the weather we've had. £45 on the winter deal with food.