Facilities
Hotel. Large clubhouse with excellent catering facilities. Large, fully stocked, professional shop. Golf practice area.
Description
The Channels Complex is set in 300 acres of beautiful mature Essex parkland. Founded in 1974 and starting life as a nine hole course on flat farm land. Over the years the course has expanded onto reclaimed gravel workings. On 1st April, 1994 27 holes were complete and the Little Channels Course was opened. In years to come more holes will be added and eventually there will be two eighteen hole courses. Channels is our main eighteen hole course and mixes some of the old holes with some of the new. A magnificent course, boasting some of the finest greens in the county, superbly managed and kept in peak condition. Being mainly on restored land, it is quite unique to Essex with its numerous lakes and undulating fairways. There are places where the lower handicapper may wish to test his prowess and "go for the carry" over the lakes, or mere mortals can take the safe route down the fairway. Watch out for the 17th, it's a real card wrecker!! Belsteads is our nine hole course which has two different tees for both men and Ladies, so you can in fact play it as a full 18 holes. Although it is not that long at 4779 yards it has three holes where water has to be negotiated and whilst it is an ideal course for golfers new to the game, it is still a good challenge for the more accomplished player. The combination of the excellence of the golf courses and the superb hospitality ensure Channels is an excellent venue to host both private and corporate golfing events. please note as from august 2013 the course has lost 5 holes on the channels and has been replaced by 5 from the belstead so the new holes are 1,2,6,7,8 this has been done as they have sold off the land to built houses
These reviews represent the personal view of the individual and are not those of the TheSocialGolfer.
Average Rating 
Number of Reviews: 12
19 Jul 2016, 15:53
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Nice course - redesign cofusing
Not played Channels for many years. Now very different. No course planner/guide available. Golf GPS very confused, as was I. Greens excellent, fairways etc good. All in all nice, but they must sort out course mapping etc.
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29 Jul 2015, 09:04
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Was once an Essex Gem
Yesterday was my first visit to Channels since its rebirth. The course lost 5 holes to land sold off for development. The first six hole are much of a muchness all par fours all flanked with trees. The greens were fast but receptive to a pitch. The holes were poorly cut some the sides had collapsed a little, between the four ball we had 10 rim/lip outs I had four.
Only three par threes and one par 5 makes it tough for those that don't hit it a country mile. Hole two and 15 are huge par 4's 450ish 15 is up hill, I bogeyed it but its tough to par. Channels has loads of water so bring plenty of balls. I enjoyed the new par 5 had a birdie chance but a par in that wind I'd take. I used to really like Channels but feel it is way behind where it was a few years ago, its still a descent track but I only paid £27, I would not pay more.
We were unlucky with the weather which was very windy perhaps that and that I did not play very well have made my comments more negative than they should be?
Three out of five from me.
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27 Jul 2014, 07:03
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Its a £20 course
The greens are good but its an old boys course.
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19 Aug 2013, 17:31
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New course layout as August 2013
As August 2013 Channels has lost 5 of its main holes number 1,2,6,7,8 due to them selling land for houses, its been replaced with 5 holes from the Belstead tranfered to Channels I prefered it before the change but this wont stop me playing there again
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05 Nov 2012, 20:43
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A welcome return
Beautifully laid out to make best use of the copious number of water hazards. Nicely undulating, a stiff test of ability - both golf and walking, on the day played, ball spotting was difficult if the ball was off the fairway. Wind and chill conspired to make this very challenging. Care required on most holes, but do take the time to enjoy the panorama.
Sat Nav send me down a long country path, good parking and a nice stroll through the bar/restuarant area.
Staff more than welcoming, cuisine (before and after golf) was of commendable quality.
This would be a favourite club if it were closer to me, But well worth the trip, and though the course is not excessively long - it is long enough to challenge.
A good course to think your way around, not easy by any means (lots of tee shots over water).
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