Review's of Farleigh Golf Club
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money
Good course and venue but not for me unless!
Farleigh (fka Farleigh Court); is well known to many TSGers; as stated is a 27 hole venue with 3 x 9 hole loops, Blue, Yellow & Red; which comprise the Green, Orange and Purple 18s respectively.
I have played all 27 holes in the various combinations several times in the past; however, on this occasion we played the Blue & Yellow (Green) course; on the Cherry Lodge Vet's Captain's Awayday. At a cost of £30 for coffee/bacon roll and a post match meal this was great VFM as a society day. However, on this occasion the club's catering service let us down to the extent that they placed all 50+ players ham, eggs and bubble & squeak (not a very nice version) on the dining tables at the same time even though there were still about 16 players still on the course. Apparently the timing needs of catering for a wedding group and a funeral wake took priority over us golfers.
The golf course is very challenging and was in very good condition. Many of the greens were lightning fast. Each of the holes is excellent in its own right, as other TSG members have stated; and the Foxhills Group spent a lot of money renovating each of the three 9 hole loops, before turning their attention to the clubhouse renovations/modifications. However, the very undulating nature of the course meandering through the valleys makes this a very difficult for those with dodgy knees etc. Because of that I accepted the invite of a playing partner to share a buggy. The best £12.50 spent. I would have suffered if I had walked the course. There are too many steep climbs from tees to greens and vice versa. The course is devoid of trees on the playing areas of the course; it it therefore highly subject to the winds and rain.
It is a well used course for societies and I would gladly play it again on that basis but only with a buggy and in good weather, otherwise there is only pain not enjoyment.
The clubhouse facilities are excellent.
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money
Scenic and challenging
farleigh is atypical hillside mounted course, surrounded by trees although exposed to the breeze, which the locaks tell me is regular if not constant. nice views and clever use of topography. there are some feature holes here but by far and away the slickest quickest and fairest i have played. breaks and borrows need careful attention... best advice is to chip in wherever possible...
lots of elevation changes and walking could be a bit of a struggle although it doesnt seem over long blue and yellow loops can be tiring.
there are some clever hazards, including water which i managed to avoid, and ditches which i found a couple of times...
best feature is that there are few hidden holes and signage is adequate.
my satnav took me down lots of country lanes, plenty of horses to watch out for.
an impressive long drive up to the clubhouse gives a preview of a well manicured course, fairways are perfect, semi rough light and whispy...
super practice putting green, almost the same as on course, nice chipping green, good driving range.
open plan clubhouse, very friendly staff and locals... catering is good, service with a smile...
it is a course tucked away, and windy... even after a brief downpour, greens and fairways were still hard... bunkers had enough sand... i cannot comment about the rough though.. for obvious reasons...
The layout and general feel does remind me of the first 9 at shendish manor, and a loop at laingdon hills.
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money
Superb course; A MUST visit....
The course is tucked away somewhat, and on driving through the gates and meandering along the mile long (at least), narrow drive your first impression is that this can best be described as an inland links course, very few trees, but the surrounding countryside is quite hilly and covered in dense woodland, so there are some beautiful vistas throughout the course for those with a camera handy.
The clubhouse is quite unusual, in that it is fairly modern, but retains a certain charm normally associated with older established courses...no traditional oak beams and small stuffy bars here, it is very open plan, with an excellent bar, and adjacent restaurant. Leading from the bar and sitting area is a golf simulator and a pool table. The pro shop is well equipped and the staff very friendly and helpful. There is a large decked area outside with ample seating and close by are two excellent putting greens, one of which is also used for chipping.
On to the course itself..There are 3x9 hole loops and we played the two loops on which the Open will be played, known as the Yellow and Blue courses. Apparently, many, many millions have been ploughed into this course, and judging by previous comments and reviews, they have done a remarkable job.
The first thing you will appreciate is the tee mound on hole No. 1. on the Yellow course. Perfectly straight and flat and fully grassed, a good sign, and as it proved...all are in a similar manner. The outlook on hole 1, gives a perfect indication of what you can expect. A raised tee, in this case, dropping quite considerably to the fairway which slopes from right to left. The photo on the course basic info. page is of this hole. This is a hilly course but not desperately so, nevertheless for us older TSG-er's, an electric cart is advisable.
Electric Buggies are also available, and a number, I am told have been reserved for the TSG, but I suggest you book ahead of time to be sure. All Buggy's are quite new and come with a large SatNav up above the head, ideal for those not familiar with the course. the cost, I believe is £25.
There is water on the course, in the form of small to medium sized ponds, strategically placed. There are at least four, I know because that's how many I found, to my cost, so it's advisable if you don't know the course to invest in a course layout and planner booklet. One of those ponds I mentioned, is located in front of a par 3 green, which is only 140 yards or so, but the tee is at least 100ft above the hole, so don't be fooled...I wager, that pond, although quite small, has gathered more balls than any other on the course, but a beautiful hole it is and is perfect for one of the nearest the pin challenges.
Fairways were all in excellent condition, we had no bads lies at all, but they can be narrow, especially for the higher handicapper, so ball placement is very important on this course as the rough can be very punishing...calf high and dense, so bring plenty of ammunition. This course calls for the 'Slater approach' DO NOT try to hit the skin off the ball, play safe and take your punishment where necessary. It is not an overly long course, and there are no great distances to walk from green to tee.
Bunkers are so immaculate, you feel compelled to rake them, lots of good sand and beautifully trimmed, but the greens is where this course excels, I would say, as good as Wentworth. Hardly a pit mark to be seen, so members treat them with the respect they deserve, beautifully manicured and absolutely true, not a single 'bobble' did we witness. Borrows can be very subtle, there are some undulations but generally flat, and can be wholly trusted. One particular hole I discovered provided a perfect optical illusion, it was cut into a large mound...hardly a hill, and it appeared to slope heavily in one direction. I estimated at least a 6ft break from about 25ft away and stood in stunned silence as the ball went straight ahead...ending up 6ft to the side of the hole.(perhaps those who know my game are muttering..'that sounds about right', or maybe its the 'stunned silence' bit you have trouble with :-)
Anyway, Back at the clubhouse, you'll find a well-stocked bar and gourmet food, none of your 'am egg 'n chips 'ere. But they will rustle it up if that's your desire.
A great selection, not large, which I prefer, as the food is therefore generally fresh, which it proved to be.
Altogether a great course and I did manage one birdie....AND a chip in, errr....bogey. I even sank several putts of 15-20ft, good for me....sad they were bogey putts though :-(
Two final points..Although I gave the practice facilities 3 stars..I did not see or use any except the putting green, secondly, anyone wishing to use the changing facilities and shower, should take their own towels with them, as the club does not have sufficient for the numbers expected.
I contend that this will be a great days outing, and everyone will thoroughly enjoy playing Faileigh. I will certainly be going back!