South Herts Golf Club

Truly beautiful , so carefully maintained to very high standards

Another course I played some 5 years ago (February 2015) and really enjoyed.

Today I had an invite from a well known member of TSG, the « Tech Man, Racing driver & Football Ref » also a Member of South Herts and I understand why, the course is true delight in all aspects .

We played our annual , traditional Matchplay « Rawlinson vs Lockwood », as we missed last year ´s for some reason , 2020 is a Home and an Away Match to make up the lost 2019.

The Course:

Impeccable Tee boxes
Carpet Fairways
Class Top Greens
Real Bunkers with lovely sand, all renovated during the last 5 years at a very large expense.

The course played much longer today because of the wind but that was welcomed as it kept us cool as temperature was in the high 20c.

I played very well despite being quite intimidated by Steve’s huge, powerful long shots but I kept to my game , taking advantage of the 16 (yes 16) shots I was given, it paid dividends for me as I won the Match 2 & 1.
I supposed my early (7.00am) 9 holes round at my local club set up my confidence and I re-quote Harry Vardon “don’t play too much golf, two rounds a day are plenty”.

For the technical stuff, history etc. please refer to my original Review of the course in March 2015.

Visitors fee £60
Guest £30

Thank you Steve R. for a great round, I thoroughly enjoyed the company. I wish you all the luck in your new venture & good day tomorrow at Brands Hatch !


The END ....


  

Well manicured course well looked after

South Herts is a very well kept course both greens and fairways - not too much trouble and only water if I remember on one hole - the first. Lots of sand traps however to catch the unwary but all in all a very pleasant course for all and not too expensive if guesting with a member.

  

beautiful course, want to play again already

Yes I want to play this course again, but sadly not until the next winter offers as they want £50 for a round midweek!
It's a lovely course, but not £50 worth. There is very nice scenes almost everywhere you look, and this despite being well inside the M25. The owners/workers responsible deserve a lot of credit. The tee boxes are almost all perfectly flat, and again I say pretty much every tee box it's a lovely view.
There are always buts, and there are 2 that I can think of.
Firstly the majority of holes you are on some kind of slope, making good ball striking more difficult. My concern is that perhaps too many times, which may reduce the enjoyment of the round a little.
Secondly, I do love quick greens, and the downhill putts were almost scary fast. The trouble is, that I was told the greens were running rather slow compared to the summer months. So I would suggest that the greens are ever so slightly too sloped. If the greens were 'slow' the day I played, the only way to stop a downhill putt, will be if you hit the hole. If you miss, as many greens are raised as well as fast, you'll be chipping for your next shot.
I only put down a 3 for practice facilities, purely because I arrived late and haven't looked at them. But reliably informed that they are very good indeed.

If you get the chance as I did, to play this course for £20 and you don't, you missed out and you should regret it

  

I was so impressed I joined

It's a beautiful, mature parkland course. The greens are superb. The bunkers are so good it's almost a pity you have to try to avoid them. There's a 9-hole par 3/4 course, two chipping practice areas, and two practice greens.

The staff are really nice & the pro shop very friendly.

Despite being further from where I live than at least 5 other golf courses I decided to join South Herts because the course and facilities are so good.

The Value for Money rating is based on the current £20 per round winter rate. The normal visitor rate is £50 which is frankly too much. I suspect it's designed to put visitors off during the summer months.

  

Harry Vardon stands by the 1st tee........

A lovely golf course with the most wonderful views from wherever you look. The 1st impression is of a very private, exclusive Members club, but Visitors are welcome. Today (Wed 18 Feb 2015) Steve R. got us an excellent deal. Thank you Steve.

South Herts (Vardon Course) is a beautiful, matured, undulating parkland course (not many even lies), extremely well maintained & cared for. The employment of a Course Manager who is also one of the few Master Greenkeepers is a real asset. His work covers many improvements, to name a few: laser levelling of tee boxes, improved draining in bunkers, woodland management, a new short game area etc. etc.

The course opened in 1900, designed originally by Willie Park Jnr but now in his 4th layout with the help of Harry Vardon, James Braid (bunkering) & Ken Moody. Many well known golf personalities have swung their clubs at South Herts :James Braid, Abe Mitchell, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Tony Jacklin, Bernard Gallagher, Peter Alliss, Ross Fisher to name a few and today it was us 4 TSGers. Harry Vardon, who gave his name to the famous grip, was a Pro at South Herts for 35 years, hence his sculpture at the 1st tee.

Every hole has it own technical challenge, some with lateral ditches, some water (the Dollis Brook) and of course the mature trees & the newly planted ones. The fairways are fairly wide but tee shots needs to be well positioned for your approach to narrow greens always well guarded. The scenery is absolutely magnificient, specially so on a warm winter day, even if windy. A tough/technical course, a real pleasure to play for any level even if the scores achieved are not to your normal handicap standard. Yellow SSS is 70 and the Red SSS is 74.... making it a much tougher course for Lady players. I expect the Ladies members must be excellent at those sloping lies and fast greens.

The 1st hole is a downhill short Par 4 reachable in one by the strong hitter, but strategically guarded on all cardinal points with beautiful sanded bunkers. The green is very tricky too as it slopes back to front.

The 18th is a fantastic downhill, slightly dog legged finishing hole which I messed nearly completely if it was not for my last putt "truly fantastic", one to be noted in the little black book.

There is a water fountain at the 10th (?), a wooden Ladies room somewhere half way through the course.

The Clubhouse is fairly traditional, with Spike bar & other bar, with gorgeous views on the course. Sitting on the terrace on a warm day/evening must be delightful.

Ladies changing room are very "posh" with all the luxury goodies for one's after golf.

The practice facilities are of an excellent standard: 2 putting greens, a superb chipping/pitching/bunkers area.

A large Proshop with lots of equipment and a friendly welcome.

The drive to the Club is through a private road, leading to 2 big car parks: members & visitors.

There is also a 9 holes course, the Dai Rees, with a separate membership. A short but challenging test with great bunkers, numerous trees a a super, very testing finishing hole.

If you get the chance to play this course at a discounted rate, do take the opportunity. The normal Visitor's rate is £50 for this truly wonderful course.

I would love to return, but I sahll avoid travelling through North London and instead use the M25 (South Mimms) from Twickenham. Much easier route.


Must finish this review with a quote from the great man himself, Harry Vardon (Mr Golf or The Icon of Golf):
"Dont play too much golf, two rounds a day are plenty"






THE END......








  

great Parkland course

Great course that stood out from the crowd,tough but very enjoyable

  

Fantastic course a must play

Superb parkland course truly immaculate, bunkers the best I have seen anywhere, the greens were the fastest greens I have come across and if you go slightly past the hole your in trouble, 3 putting and even 4 putt was quite easy to do, to get the ball to stop on the greens was really difficult, all in all this is a superbly manicured course

  

A true championship course, fantastic

A true championship course, laid out over undulating parkland, maintained to a consistently high standard, producing a well presented, technically challenging yet playable course for all levels of golfer. Reputed to have the truest and quickest greens in south east England. Host to many prestigious professional and amateur tournaments, including Open Qualifying, the Hudson Trophy and County Championships.