Little Hay Golf Complex

eg: Fantasic course, well worth the visit

A nice course, par 72, 6500 yards off yellows. Fairways are quite wide, bunkers are well placed. As it is a public course, sometimes the greens have a few unrepaired pitch marks. A good mix of par 3's,4's and 5's that can be long or short and tricky.

  

Established parkland Pay and Play

Easy enough to find but bit of a trek for me across country. Ongoing roadworks make the access and egress potentially time consuming (it took 20 minutes to get 1 mile to a main road).

Friendly enough clubhouse staff. Reasonably priced for golf and food. Curious use of topography would benefit from a return trip. Greens wet but slick, fairways in good condition, tee boxes a bit tatty. Some interesting holes but nothing truly memorable. All Par 3s are long. A fair amount of elevation changes so a good stiff walk. Take the time to enjoy the views at the high points of the course.

Car parking adequate, clubhouse to first tee is a short walk. Buggies are available (limited supply though).

An enjoyable round of golf, seemed never to be rushed and finished in under 4 hours.

If this is local to you - and you haven't ever taken the opportunity to try it.. it's recommended and a fair test of golfing skills. Thinking man's course.


  

Better than it used to be!

Definitely improved since I last played here some years ago. New clubhouse after a fire a few years back.

Greens were slower than I expected them to be, but probably for the best with the strong winds up on the hill today. A few needed a little TLC, but not bad at all.

  

First impressions can be deceiving

After the first couple of holes you could perhaps be forgiven for thinking that you're not going to enjoy Little Hay. You've played your first two holes around the driving range, and the fairways have a fair few yellow range balls on them. However, it does get better, and you will enjoy a lot of what the course has to offer.

The downhill par 3 fourth is very scenic, but as you make your way down to the green, be aware that there is a stiff climb back up the hill to the 5th. Apart from those two holes the course is generally easy walking, although far from flat.

The fairways are pretty wide, and the course is probably best suited for mid to high handicap players, but with 4 sets of tees it can suit most everyone. The greens were good, and if I lived nearer than I do then I'd certainly go back for another go.





  

Little Hay review

Pay and Play Course located close to Bovingdon, Herts. Average test from the yellows, tougher from the whites for the once-a-week golfer. Makeable par 5 to start, best early holes are 3 and 4 followed by 'Cardiac Hill' at 5. Tough finish from 15 onwards.

Conditions can differ quite drastically, play is allowed regardless of work being carried out on the course or greens, can also get quite wet.

Can get busy (it is a Public facility) so rounds of 3.5/4Hrs are not that unusual.

Great for beginners and weekend players, would'nt recommend to players used to more higher status golf courses.