Marriott St Pierre Hotel & Country Club

An excellently challenging 'championship' course

St Pierre GC is located in Chepstow, Wales, Monmouthshire. It is one of the Marriott Hotel chain of courses.

There are two courses at St Pierre, ie (1) the Old Course, their championship course, and the newer Mathern Course.

I played the Old Course. This famously hosted over a dozen European tour championships; where past winners include Seve Ballesteros, Greg Norman and Bernhard Langer.

The Old Course comprises 4 par 3s, 10 par 4s and 4 par 5s, ie a conventional par 72. It is 6,739 yards from the white tees.

Visitor green fees at peak times are £55 but it is a hotel resort so stay and play deals are available. personally I paid a £20 'golf only' entry fee into the clubs annual Seniors Open Stableford Competition.

The course is designed around an 11 acre lake though in reality only the 15th, 17th and 18th is the water materially in play.

The course is heavily tree lined parkland course, wtih severe doglegs and some changes in elevation, with deep fairway and greenside bunkers.

I persdonally played well on 15 of the 18 holes.

The club hospitality was excellent; though food and drink is at expensive hotel prices; eg like at Silvermere and Selsdon Park to name but two.

This is a highly enjoyable challenge and a prime candidate for a stay and play weekend, though the nearby Celtic Manor resort probably is the better quality draw in this regard.

I first played the course about 30 years ago as a golfing beginner, whilst on a club cricket tour. The only hole I remembered was the signature par 3 18th. I got a par then but a triple bogey 6 this time. An I'm a better player now!







  

An absolute must - if you get the chance

The Marriott St Pierre Old Course is a must if you get the opportunity. I cheated and took the wife away for a long weekend (3 nighter) but sneaked my clubs in the car (just in case). On the Sunday she asked if I wanted to play (silly question) early Monday morn - well - only if you dont mind dear. - Booked the first tee time of 07.24 Monday Morn (resident cost of £47.00). Got to the tee in good time where I was met by the Marshall who invited me to play with their group of 5 and make up two 3 balls (brilliant). The course is set in beautiful park land - every hole different from the last. Thankfully I was guided by my playing partners on the best route to take for each hole giving me a good score after the 18. All I can say is - a bit pricy but did not want to lose the chance. Every hole is well laid out and offers differing challenges. A must if you get the chance.

  

Mathern a very English course.

St Pierre Mathern course
The whole Open mature parkland course was in good condition. The green are true/quick. With lateral ditches and undulating fairways on some of the holes, so course management comes into play. Suites people of all abilities. We paid £25 as part of a golfing weekend. I found the course very testing because of the design. Definitely recommended.
25 Oct 2011


  

"Old Course” is walking in history.

St Pierre Old Course
The green are true/undulating & quick, with undulating fairways, the whole mature parkland course was in great condition. Course management comes into play on a lot of holes. Suites people of all abilities. We paid £35 as part of a golfing weekend. I found the course very testing because of the undulating ground and the design. “Old Course” is walking in history. Definitely recommended. I birdie the 14th.
24 Oct 2011

  

Return on the cards

Played St Pierre Old course on a sunny but chilly Monday 8th 2010 for the Challenge Match. TSG V The Gloucester Golf Society. Course was in excellent condition for time of year, sadly most of the greens had not long been "hollow tined" and were still awaiting dressing which made short dead wait putts difficult. Great Parkland course, with a good mixture of long and short holes, fairways were fairly generous, but plenty of large mature trees and very well placed bunkers means its worth taking a bit of time to think your way around. Greens a good size with plenty of slopes/break to them, ran true with a good speed. will certainly try to return in the warmer summer months.

  

Lovely course, well worth a visit

Played here on March 8th as part of the TSG North v South event. Weather was cold but blue skies made it a lovely day for golf.
Course is a lovely mature parkland affair with wide fairways but they're lined with mature trees. So being off the fairway meant you were generally okay but maybe blocked out from a direct shot at the green. Water in play on several holes made for a good mix. Aside from the 8th & 9th I can't remember any two holes feeling the same so a great mix.
Most of the greens had been hollow tined which was a disappointment because they were generally big and rolling but the course in general was in good condition considering it's so early in the season.
We got to play for £40 (including a bacon roll & light meal afterwards) so it was a great deal (probably because of the early season and the tined greens). Definitely one to come back to in the summer. Well recommended.