Birld Hill GC is a public course, just over 30 years old, fairly flat & open parkland in a vast expanse of rural Bekshire which used to be a racecourse back in 1881 !!!!!
The 1st nine holes are fairly flat but made interesting by various water hazards, ditches that run across the fairways, and also deep, high lipped bunkers.
The 2nd nine are prettier, more challenging & a little hilly. Water & ditches come into play on a few holes as well.
The fairways were dry which is always nice(probably due to the wind as very open parkland, pretty in the Spring with all the blossoms) well maintained & cut, so was the 1st border.
Greens fairly fast& in good condition, 2 lovely tiered greens @ 11th & 16th.
Bunkers were numerous & deep as said earlier (some being re-built), sand a little compact but manageable, if you know how !...
My favourite was: 9th Par 3, (175/130 yards) short but always testing as a large pond across and slightly around the green and a bunker in wait. Very pretty with weeping willow & spring flowering blossoms on the side of it, near the clubhouse.
Birds Hill suggests there are birds aroud, I did see a see hawks or kites, heard the pheasants, Paul S. said he saw an Eagle (or had an Eagle, not sure).
Large Car Park, well laid out.
An American Golf Shop on the complex.
Practice facilities: putting green & a very large driving range, with mirrors & lighting for night practice. No sure about chipping/sand practice area.
Pleasant & homely Clubhouse with sunny outside seating area. Good food selection @ very reasonable prices. Friendly & welcoming staff all around.
Quite a busy course on a Saturday but did not spoil our round as the groups were moving nicely in front of you, etc.
A pleasant 4 balls comprising of David H. and I against Lee B and Paul T. Very close match, we had nerves of steel, I was given a few shots and I had a "lucky dime" given to me (by the opponent) on the 1st Tee !!!!!
The price of £25 for a Saturday morning is reasonable.
Thank you Paul S. for organising this pleasant Berkshire venue.
Must mention the awful return car journey, stuck on the M4, an Aston Martin bumping my bumper, it took me 2 hours to get home (normally a 30 minutes journey). But it was sunny and warm.
THE END........
Date Monday, 31, March 2014
