Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money
Excellent views (probably)
It wasn't really tricky finding Waterhall, my GPS pretty much led me to the front door, but seeing it was another matter. The mist meant that greens were often hidden until the last minute (which gave me a perfect excuse for my score!). This was a shame though, as from what I could tell there are some excellent holes and wonderful views.
The course plays out in two loops, first returning you to the clubhouse at the 7th, and then you don't see it again until the 18th (in the weather we had today, we almost never saw it at all!). This isn't a flat course, I barely even remember a flat hole, so if you have any issues with climbs then maybe give it a miss.
The holes I remember most are the 9th, 10th, and (I think) the 14th. All of them involves a climb to the green, and I imagine all are very pleasing on the eye good weather.
There's been a lot of wet weather over the previous couple of months, and the expectation might well have been a course that's been struggling to cope. This is especially so given that it rained throughout our round. However, apart from a number of very damp tees, thanks to the chalk base it was pretty much water off a duck's back. The greens, which were frequently small, scarcely look troubled by the rain.
Most of the fairways were very generous, and I imagine that it's a course that people can score well on. The bunkers didn't look especially great though.
The shame is that this course is due to closed by the council at the end of March due to poor numbers. It's one I'd happily travel to to play. My hope is to play it again over the next couple of months and maybe see it on a sunny day. I imagine it's well worth seeing.
Clubhouse/Hospitality
Quality of Course
Practice Facilities
Value for Money
Interesting course with lovely views
I don't intend to say too much, as I know TSG Member Brigitte Lockwood is keen to play this course, and anything i say will pale into insignificance when she puts pen to paper - so to speak!
Suffice it to say, that it is a course I have played on a number of occasions, and I never get bored, because the terrain is so varied, and the hills are so invigorating, that there is never a dull moment.
I was delighted to play with two great guys, Adam Whitney and Tim Culyer, who made the day a special one.
Adam reserved his best golf for the last nine holes, and amassed a stack of points at a time i was struggling to get any at all! Tim and i both got 17 Stableford points going out, and Tim was later 1 up with one hole to play. I managed to do a Justin Rose on the last and sneak ahead by one shot. it was at this point I realised I had forgotten to agree a wager! Shucks!
The course itself starts off with a steep descent into a long valley, followed by a long and gradual climb to the summit. There follows an interesting par 4 on the 6th hole, where a good tee shot can take you close to the front of the green. This slopes down and across towards the clubhouse, making putting difficult. The 7th is behind the clubhouse - a tricky par 3 as the ground slopes down from left to right all the way. The par 3 on the 9th hole traverses a deep valley and is a very challenging 238 yards long. After more valleys are negotiated (with a chance to recover from the 12th to the 15th holes), the last 2 holes are reached following another stamina sapping hill climb from the 16th green.
I've already written far too much so I will leave Brigitte to fill in all the gaps after she has tested the course, and analyse the course hole-by-hole in her own inimitable way!
The course generally was in good condition, but the greens varied from good to indifferent, but you can't really complain when a round of golf here is so cheap and provides superb value for money.
