Epping Golf Club

Greens very quick, recovered from winter damage, signage could be a little better green to tee completed in 3 and a bit hours

Shortish course, but beautifully maintained. Staff always very friendly.

Epping is not a long course, but it features interesting holes. For beginners it is a decent course on which to build confidence and post a reasonable score. The clubhouse is small and unpretentious, but it stops serving around 3pm.

I've played Epping may times. It is a go to winter course (along with Mardyke and Top Meadow) However today it seemed to be suffering. The fairways were understandably wet and muddy, but the mud wasn't clay based, so it didn't stick to the trolley and shoes. But the greens were poor . . imaging walking over a green blancmange. A two tier green (8th) had been re-turfed, and it was like putting over roof tiles. Others were patchy. Disappointing.

It is a course with a bit of history. Winston Churchill was a president, and the course did its bit for the war effort by being dug up and used for food production.

At £17, it is a bit pricy. There are discounts for seniors, juniors, and Police and Fire Service also get cheaper fees. Check the website because the discounts only run on certain days and times.

I have to say, that I was surprised by the green condition. The previous times I played the course, the greens felt like snooker green baize. Play it but give it a few weeks to dry out.

Fairly easy in its design hit it where your meant and you will score..... All staff pleasant and course in great condition.... Bargain at £17

the tees are poor.only two of them are level,the 2nd-9th-17th are on the same mound,which is not good for noise or slow play,the 14th white tee is a stupid place,and not inline with the fairway in any sense,i have been a member here for 4 yrs. but not rejoining,the people there are really nice,the clubhouse ok,but the tees let it down ..

What a sweet clubhouse and such a warm and friendly welcome.

The ladies changing room is just large enough to swing a cat in, but it has been thoughtfully decked out and the membership have made the best of the tiny facilities. There are visitors lockers which was a pleasant surprise

And then there was the course.

Not the best day for my inauguration game, as my experience was trudging through a bog and swamp. If the membership and greenkeepers cared about their course, it would have been closed. Regardless of how much all clubs need their green fees and we golfers love to get out, as soon as I played the first hole I am sorry to report that this course should not have been open under any circumstances.

Much of the course could have served as a rice field.
3 of the greens had serious tracks and heavy footprint damage. All the greens were like sponges.

My comments serve only as constructive feedback as someone who genuinely cares and hope that the greenkeepers will make the right decision for the course and close it until it has recovered from this recent ghastly weather. Lost green fees - yes - but not worth destroying your course for and what is obviously a very popular place to play.

The course planners may also be colour blind, as all the red tees are a significant distance back from the yellows. I checked the score card expecting to see many of the holes marked as par 5s to the mens par 4s but perplexed to find the pars were exactly the same. This did not make sense and a fellow TSGer and frequent visitor to the course suggested a sensible compromise. Next time the guys play from the whites and the ladies play from the yellows.

Anyone reading this may be surprised to hear that I will be back, as I believe this is obviously a quirky course to test the short game, but I will be patient and book my next visit when the course has fully recovered from the winter misery.

People who know me, know that I don't like this course and play it because the society does.
Having said that, the course played quite well, (I still don't like quite a few holes), but the greens were receptive, and played at a decent speed, so cannot fault this.
The staff are friendly and helpful, esp when you have an autistic son with you, but they were fine. There is a bit of a field to hit balls into etc, and if you don't hit the ball far, a pleasant walk and whacking of golf balls. I doubt I will ever like the course, but others do so maybe it is just me. But it has held up well this summer

Fantastic course at flux lane epping,lovley greens ,well worth a visit

Course played well considering the wetness. Should be a very pleasant walk in good weather.

Today, Sat. 28th Sept 2012, I deflected from the South of the M25 & joined the "Epping Bandits" in their homeland and I certainly enjoyed the course & the set up.

Not a very old course (1996), not long either, but mature & challenging enough to make an interesting game. The course has the advantage to be well drained so all year round play, the sand in the bunker is special, more like bits of glass/glitter, drains well & fairly easy to get out, but I dont think I visited many today.

The greens are fast, real fast, lovely ondulations so very interesting putting where one's skills are truly tested. Water come into play as well, so there is everything one needs for a pleasant round. Quite hilly, lovely views across Essex, a long way across Essex, churches/villages even a glimpse of the M25/M11 & some of these enormous electrical pylons. There is re-construction work of some holes going on (4th + 6th), so a promise of even more challenges, you get a reduction in the Green fee because of this. What a nice gesture.

The Club house is an attractive building, of wooden construction, not that old (only about 10 years). The reception desk is manned by "Jim of all trades" as he acts as a receptionist, checks you in, makes the tea/coffee, takes your money, sells chocolate bars & golf gear: all this with a very friendly smile & the only help of a cook. The sitting room is homely with simple wooden furniture & has a wood burning stove, must be quite cosy in the Winter after a round in the wind & snow. It has a plesant & happy feel about it, so has the course. Extremly good practice facilities.

A few favourite holes:

Hole 12, Par 3: Called the "Frying Pan", probably because of a large number of berry bushes cut short and when looking form the Tee box, it does look like a frying pan shape with a large handle. That makes it a bit of a challenge as who would want to end up in the frying pan ? not easy to get out unless your can do some magic with your wedges... The green has it own tricks, and if you are a magician you can do well on this hole.

Hole 17, Par 3: This one looks easy, but the green is tricky and the sand bunker with its glitter may catch you out if not careful.

Hole 18, Par 4: A pleasant finishing hole, Tee box raised, looking down to the Clubhouse on the left, trees in the way of your shot, depending how far you hit your clubs... A large green where you know you are being watched, should there be anyone having their drinks on the terrace.

A very friendly place, excellent standard that is expected from a private members club.

Today, DJ, had posted a game "with a twist" & I think I managed to provide Norman B. a winning number/score. A very enjoyable day with friendly crowd & yes another lady golfer, Suzanne B. so I managed some different chit-chat as well as a decent score. I shall return to "Bandits Land", I do like the bandits, somehow I feel part of them despite being Lady Lockwood (that for DJ.).

The above are my very own views & description of the day. I could describe more holes but it will take too long. One thing I must add, not sure if I would find my way round, if I was to play on my own, I was happily following DJ, Stephen S. & Suzanne B. who all had played course before, so obviously they had an enormous advantage on me but they all shared their knowldege & I am very grateful for their help. Oh! and the weather was absolutely glorious, could not have been better.

THE END.....

Undulating open parkland short course. Slow Greens due to the time of the year. Blind Tee shorts. Very few hazards/bunkers. Has a practise area,putting green & nets. I would pay £14 not £21. Even the high handicapper will break 100

great value, good conditions all year around, really enjoy playing there any time.

Light drizzle was evident through much of the day but event that did not detract from the experience. Course looked good and despite playing from the white tees (just a fair bit longer in places) it was an enjoyable return. Suffice to say that my memory of some holes was did not help as everything appeared new(ish). Greens were damp and sponge-like but played straight enough and fairways were well kept and eminently playable. The light rough was light and fluffy so no reasons for not scoring well... except it was the first round this year. Much better scores than the first time I played here (as a novice a couple of years ago) and depsite the hills it was not too exhausting - good clubhouse facilities made it a pleasant trip all round.

As a couple of novices we were welcomed onto the course and knowing no better we took it for what it was. Some hills (understatement) and tricky in lots of places. It was an interesting round and we found our way around with relatively little drama. I think I lost 1 ball overall and that wasn't too bad for a rank novice.

Some challenging holes - and some interesting names... managed to par more than one hole as well. In all it was in good condition and a pleasant half day out. Don't let the yardage fool you, this is like walking a full 7000yd course.

Loved the short par 3 - downhill with a small green and lots of run offs... true test of nerve methinks...

I'll be revisiting soon, now I have a little more experience, let's see how we go from there.