Crondon Park Golf & Country Club

An expensive venue and I was expecting a lot. I was disappointed. The course condition was, generally, very poor. Grass on the semi rough was too long and the fairways could have done with a mowing. Some bunkers were unmaintained and covered in weeds and grass. The pandemic is a good excuse, I suppose, but then reduce the green fees somewhat. Will think twice before booking again ...

We had a twilight which at £20 as we found out for the course is a bit expensive.its a £15 course at best.
We got a very warm welcome in the pro shop.
We have seen the excellent hole ball retriever's at Toot and other courses use pipe insulation which works fine but spray foam pipe insulation is awful.one flag could stay in.
not a bad layout but the course is tired and lacks investment.

Tough course if you stray too far from the fairway, but hit the fairways in summer and you'll find long drives and greens that are watered well, so that they still allow you to hit the greens and hold the greens!
Clubhouse is nice, staff v friendly
The practice putting green is a bit of a farce, as it is quite a steep slope, unlike the course greens
played in a 4 ball in lovely sunshine and not much of a breeze.
give it a go, and you'll probably love it

The staff at Crondon are so friendly and couldn't be more helpful. The course is a tough test and one that will only get tougher later in the spring/summer as the shrub and trees fill out. Looking forward to a good year playng here quite frequently.
The club very much put their focus on the members, as it should be!

We played the first 9 holes only as the rain was getting persistent, we were getting wet and very cold. Crondon Golf course has what I like about golf: Beauty, Character, Challenge, Space, Natural Habitat...

So, it is my sort of course,: my eyes shine with joy, my heart beats fast, a little like love at first sight.
I cannot wait to return & write a full review, so for now it will be half a review but could be long as there is a lot to describe.

Friendly reception by a "non golfer" but she did not know if the course was hilly when I enquired over the phone to book a tee time.(By the way the course planner is not worth the £3, it is one of the worst one I ever encountered). During my short life with TSG, I have never seen a game posted at this course and I am not sure why. This course was recommended to me by the Little Burstead top Pro, and I have no regret in having organised a game there apart from the weather, the cost of the round but it is worth it!

Extremely attentive & pleasant Bar staff, Ken S. enjoying all the attention from the pretty Lady behind the bar. Good food & excellent service, "relation qualite/prix 10/10", that is a bit of French for Jack S. I dread what you are going to tell me when I next play golf with you, but I am sure we'll have a good laugh! Terrace with pretty artificial flower baskets (look just like the real thing), nice garden furniture and a magnificient view over the 18th, long Par 5, with a very large lake by the green, lake full of water lillies & full of fish jumping for joy after the rainfall, it was a little bit like a synchronised version that would have scored a Gold medal at the 2012 Olympics. So now a bit about the course or of what I have seen as the rain rudely interrupted play.....

The road (or lane) leading to the golf club/course is long, there are farmed fields on both sides. I felt I was back at home in France driving through the vast family estate, my father teaching me to drive his 2CV when I was only about 15years of age. A large house on the left which does B & B, before you enter the Car Park. An atractive wooden barn type building accommodating a Hall for Wedding receptions or the like & the Clubhouse. The views are exquisite as you walk down to the 1st tee, this is not a flat course. It is set in a valley. The trees starting to display their Autumn colours are beautiful to look at by their shape & form but can also be a bit of a nuisance with the fallen leaves when looking for one's ball but that is part of the game, one is dependant on nature & today after a nice sunny start, the wind got up and brought the rain that had us stop play at the 9th.

I suggested we use the buggy to invetigate the last 9s but my driver did not easily find the way round, so my wish was not fulfilled, instead we had a nice warming "cuppa" & a sandwich in the Clubhouse. As we left, the rain had stopped & the sun made its appearance once more, so a last look from the terrace down to the lake by the 18th: the fish were still jumping for joy, we admired their artistic display before going home.

The favourite of the 9 holes I played, well I could describe them all, as they are very different, very challenging & a pleasure to plot & today Jack S. had the local knowledge to help me, a novice and Ken S. who could not remember much about any hole since he last played the course. I enjoyed watching Jack S. playing as he is a great golfer and an inspiration. Jack was walking te course nearly as fast as Ken & I sharing a rather sluggish diesel buggy. We crossed some lovely woodlands going from hole to hole.

Hole 1: Par 4 - Tee box raised, fairway fairly wide & going down, a ditch across & a stream, lots of attractive trees either side, slight dog leg to Left (?) & going up to the lovely green.

Hole 4: Par 3 - A semi island green, raised Tee going down & up to the green sloping at the back & well guarded by water. The small pond on the left is full of big red/orange fish & pink lillies. A beauty of a hole to look at and to play, & once more Jack's knowledge was most appreciated.

Most holes have a water element. The greens are superb & have the most interesting ondulations & knowing the course is certainly an advantage. I shall have to stop here for now but as said in the begining, I cannot wait to return, play the full 18 holes & write a complete review, but I know I shall enjoy finishing my discovery.

I shall hope that TSGers will try the course & rate it.

THE END..... of a half review.