Review's of Redbourn Golf Club
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money
Top of the Class, 5 stars
I revisited Redbourn GC on Tuesday 7 July 2020 taking advantage of one of its famous Member ‘s invite (just as famous on TSG), Mr Jong B. or John B. if you prefer.
Such a beautiful course that oozes class, perfect condition from Tee boxes, fairways , bunkers and the famous super Greens, excellent signage , varied holes, quite long , lots of dog legs and the longest finishing hole, a Par 5 over 600 yards from White Tees. The 18th Green has an interesting story which I told 8 years ago In my previous review (in 2012) !
Excellent measures in place due to COVID-19, throughout , Proshop, Restrooms, Clubhouse & Terrace .
Thé Proshop has a vast amount of attractive clothing etc.
Driving Range has had a huge investment of cash and it shows . I understand Club’s finance is quite healthy and well managed by the Burhill Group. Lots of irrigation work has taken place, the water has returned in the Par 3s stream hazards, a new bore hole is providing the water when necessary. No temporary Greens nor Tee boxes in Winter.
A super course with a big membership .
If you get the chance to join one of Jong’s game, please do. The Guest rate is a bargain for a top quality course .
Thank you Jong , you were a great host , we all had a great afternoon.
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Really enjoyable course
Having never played it, I had read some reviews and was hoping to find a decent course. It was all that and more.
The course was in really good condition, whether you are on the tees, fairways, or greens. The rough is very rough, but generally the fairways and first cut are very generous, so it takes a very wayward drive to find a huge amount of trouble.
The course is just nicely laid out, with some lovely looking holes to be played. There are five par 4's over 400 yards, plus a par 5 that's over 600 yards, so not easy.
The clubhouse is lovely, there are ample practise facilities, and I can't think of anything that I felt was even slightly disappointing. I really enjoyed my round here, and look forward to a return trip hopefully in the near future!
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
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Value for Money
Return to the scene
On a day when it rained - until we got to the first tee - this was a good day out. Fairways were a delight to walk upon (light rough was enough to keep you away). Greens were well kept (by and large) looked challenging, sometimes straight, sometimes undulating and all with unexpected snakes...
My first memory of this course included the difficultiies and fun to be had where water filled ditches and little ponds encroached - alas (or hurrah) the ditches are as dry as the empty ponds...
Good wide inviting fairways, interesting par 3s, well matured trees tended to get in the way. There appeared to be a fair amount of bunkers just perfectly positioned for me... I found a lot, escaped most (no light whispy sand here though).
Take the time to enjoy the scenery, especially as Autumn brings the variation in colours, good layout I think it makes best use of the space.
Take care when driving there, the turn off is easily missed and the approach road is twisty country track.
Staff were charming, food was excellently prepared and delivered... Car parking, get there early to be closer to the First Tee otherwise it's a short walk.
Course is not flat, buggies are available. We received a good TSG rate for midweek.
Good day had by all...
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money
Redbourn re-visited... a great TSG preferred course & certainly value for money
I have already written a fairly long review on Redbourn, so this one will be a little shorter.
I posted a game for Monday 1st October, hoping that a new TSGer, fairly local to Redbourn, would join me together with his wife but unforunately the date was not convenient, so we ended up with 5 players but we managed a quick round & a nice social chat over drinks & food. I personally made a speedy entry into the Golf Club car park, a bit like Rory on the last day at Medinah, I got stuck on the M25 coming from Brentwood & only had 20 minutes to spare & no practice swing!!! But then everything went smoothly & the round was very enjoyable. Met the Manager, Ian McD. in the reception and he personally thanked me for my very 1st review on Redbourn which he appreciated, so I was over the moon that he had read it & I know he realises what powerful tool TSG.com is or can be.
The course was in good condition, very lush & inviting. It had rained all night, but the rain literally stopped as I drove into the car park. So it was a dry round, no need for waterproofs, but the ball was not running as much as one would have hoped. The bunkers were a little compacted, some had standing water but some other had lots of sand making the escape easier. Some of us spent quite a lot of time testing the sand!!! The greens were excellent and the various ondulations made putting a stern challenge or a pleasure when the putts went in.
The autumn colours getting stronger & stronger, it was very attractive all around, the hedge on the right hand side of the 13th hole is worth mentioning as it looks like a tapestry, with dark green pine trees in the background and a row of short reddish bushes in front, for a length of approximately 150 yds. Every hole has its cachet & challenge.
You will get a warm welcome in the well stocked Proshop. Lots of colourful new winter golf clothings for Men/Women. The food sampled was good, the Specials looked even better but only appeared on the blackboard after I had placed my order. So next time, I shall make sure I ask about the Specials...Monday is a busy day at Redbourn Golf Club, but John B. (TSGer & also Member of the Club), managed to get me 2 Tee times before a large group of "Monday Ladies". Thanks John & also for the re-assurance that my lateness was not a problem.
So a great round on a great course that TSGers should try as it it such a bargain, at half price and very easy to get to, but allows enough time on a Monday morning.....I shall re-visit very soon, please come & join.
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"They" truly know how to pick the best......REDBOURN is a TSG preferred course...
Short review, NO, it wont be as there is so much to tell. So make sure you have your reading glasses and your cuppa ready.
REDBOURN is the latest addition to the TSG preferred courses list and what an excellent choice. I shall try to paint the picture to hopefully tempt you to join one of the future posting at Redbourn.From the moment you drive in the well laid out large car park you know that everything is going to be a pleasing and enjoyable experience. Easily accessible from all sides of London, a few miles from M25 (J21) and M1 (J9), Redbourn lies on the outskirt of St Albans, Harpenden in the delights of the Hertfordshire countryside.
In our 3 ball, we had John B. (a Member of this course)who shared useful tips and information with us "newies". Redbourn has an 18 holes, The Ver course which we plaid, and a 9 holes where a relaxed golf attire is allowed. The course is some 40 years old, parkland, well designed, making use of the wide open spaces, the surrounding trees & clumps of little forests, hills which create a natural backdrop & give every hole its uniqueness. All bordering trees/bushes/shrubs are o.o.b. so watch out if using the Driver.
Large cultivated fields can be seen on the horizon as well as some spectacular old local buildings: a wooden renovated barn by the 9th, a distinguished red brick building (apparently used as offices) by the 13th. Easy to walk course, a few climbs but nothing streneous:
the 2nd, 7th, 9th. I may have forgotten some. All Tee boxes well presented, sand box & cup for broken tees on each one. Some Tee are raised giving you a chance to admire Redbourn village on one side & Harpenden/St Ablans somewhere in the distance. Good signage & paths leading to the next hole, some paths a little nuddy but that is to be expected due to the recent rainfall, the highest on records since 1910.
FAIRWAYS: wide, well kept fairways (not many apparent divots), 1st cut very short, 2nd cut short & rough is for wildlife habitat (some rare butterflies, insects) hence ball searching/finding is practically impossible, so better to keep to the fairways. Well drained & cared for.
BUNKERS: nicely filled but some can retain water when excessive rain. "Posh" rakes provided.
GREENS: some tiered and undulated, in very good condition, 1 or 2 were being hollowed & sanded. 15th Green has a story: there used to be a large bunker, the whole width of the Green, but due to the strong voice of the Ladies members, it has been changed to 2 bunkers instead. I personally think it is a shame as the hole has lost its personality & challenge, the Index has remained the same though!!! 18th GREEN's undulations are not by design but by accident when during its construction, a big lorry drove over it & sunk there, it was decided to use the "damage" done as part of the green.Good variety of holes: some long Par 3s (178yrds),some short Par 4s (316yds), one very long Par 5 (608 yds), the great finishing hole.
The course has a romantic side to it, created by the attractive wooden, curved bridges over what was once flowing streams but now dry due to the "excessive" demands from the local water board & as a result the 3 ponds (somewhere on the course) are also dry but full of large wild plants. What a pity: not only nature has been interfered with but the challenge/strategy of the holes in question has been lost. One of the highlight of the day was meeting the General Manager, Ian McD, who happened to happily land a hand to the busy Bar staff. Ian was very pleased to talk to us & he truly thinks the TSG concept is brilliant & he will be very supportive, wants to join us on the next game posted for Redbourn which I shall only be too happy to organise, he has also already signed up as a Pro Member.
There is a busy active membership at this Club: Seniors, Juniors, Ladies, Mens alike. Car Park: large, well laid out. Buggies for hire, tidely parked before the Pro Shop. Pro Shop: large stock offering the latest fashion of golf clothing for Men & Women. Variety of golf equipment & accessories. Practice: excellent driving range, chipping area and bunker practice (with a good quality rake as on the course). Bar/Restaurant: friendly staff, lovely food at very reasonable prices, best coffee around. Attractive terrace, by putting green and overlooking 18th and 1st at the same time. By the way there is a smart, big CLOCK by the 1st Tee.
A great course presenting a challenge for all levels of golfers where a good score is possible by all. Despite a few intermittent brief showers and humid atmosphere an enjoyable day out as a 3 ball with John B. our guide & anecdote teller, Gary our unstoppable entertainer and I the "Leftie", nature lover & poet I suppose. A truly lovely discovery to add to the list of "WILL RETURN", not that far from Surrey/Essex, excellent value for us TSGers (works as a 2 for 1). It would make a brilliant venue for the next year's TSG Championship.......
If you have not played there, please go and sample: you wont be disappointed.
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Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money
Welcoming atmoshere for all TSGers
One of the benefits of TSG membership is the opportunity to play courses you may not have heard of, so when I saw this game posted by a TSGer who's also a member of this club, I joined the game.
Conveniently located a few minutes from J9 of the M1, Redbourn is an excellent golf venue. Practice facilities include a covered driving range, chipping green with bunker and a putting green in front of the busy clubhouse, which has a large pro shop, a friendly bar with large screen TVs and good food. Overall a very welcoming atmosphere.
A challenging golf course which seems spacious, with some very good driving holes - particularly the 10th, which can be seen from the car park and the downhill 608yd 18th. Read the 'Local Rules' relating to internal OB posts, as they do come into play if you hit the ball left.....and I wouldn't suggest using a driver on the par-5 2nd - unless you can hit a very strong 'draw'! (r/h player)
Well maintained and must be well drained as, despite recent heavy rainfall, the course was not wet at all. Apparently, temporary greens or tees are never necessary. It would be hard to fault anything, but perhaps the 'stray' balls from the driving range could be contained.....it can take a while to find your own if you're amongst them!
Highly recommended and has now joined the list of 'TSG Preferred' Courses.....so should now be on everyone's 'must play' list. At £17 (Mon-Fri) for TSG members, surely this is the best value in Hertfordshire?