Risebridge Golf Centre

Risebridge has been transformed, thanks mainly to its new(ish) head green keeper Dougie, a Scot who learned his trade at the Royal and Ancient. Greens generally, are the best in Essex at least…although one or two still suffer from years of neglect, but being work in progress, they are improving. Bunkers are not the best in Essex but this is also being addressed., Fairways are very good considering many are undulating and not specially laid, but they are cut regularly and your ball should sit up nicely, anywhere on the fairway. Not a long course, but several very challenging holes and with full width ditches on several holes, ball placement becomes a very serious consideration. Large mounds made from the Olympic stadium spill, separate most fairways, providing a feeling of isolation, but if your ball lands on the top of one, it is usually ball lost, as they have been allowed to grow as a wildlife sanctuary. These are red staked so a ball drop at the base of the mound, is your punishment for a wayward shot. Midweek green fees are very good value for money. An excellent full English breakfast is available and there are buggy’s for hire. A small but excellent putting green and an excellent, refurbed driving range with good quality range balls are also available, as is a small but fully stocked Pro Shop. As a pay and play, with bags of parking, you cannot beat it IMHO.

The fairways with one exception (10th) were in very good condition. Bunkers were very hard and lacked sand. Greens with the exception of one that had what looked like it recently had extra drainage laid were in very good condition.

My experience is limited, however the course seems good to me, well laid out & maintained to a good standard. Facilities are good & staff appear friendly etc. No Complaints

Improving every year the greens & fairways. Sadly the bunkers are in a poor shape
Lots of ground work, drainage & buggy paths has been done over the pass 10 years.

Risebridge is a reasonable course, that always gives good value for money. The price this time was good with a sandwich thrown in. However. It had rained considerably overnight, but this course was in dreadful condition. Pools of water everywhere, very very wet and very muddy. Iron shots were a complete joke. But, the worst was the greens. Absolutley saturated. Putting was just hit and hope. I played not too far away the next day, with another night of rain in between. That wasn't good, but was vastly better than Risebridge. The course should have been closed. I have played on dry days and it's a reasonable course in reasonable condition. But at this time of year with rain ??? Well the sandwich was excellent, and the price ok.

The course presented well, however it was let down by the poor standard of the teeing areas. They were very bare.

To be frank the course is pretty rough around the edges, the tee boxes are in a state and the greens bounce the ball around at random. It's good value because it's cheap. Cheap, that is, unless you visit the driving range.

The distance between the tee on the mat (which is fixed in place) and the iron girder behind the golfer holding the roof up (also fixed) is not big enough to allow the driver to follow-through without striking it.

This is unfortunate for two reasons. The first is that everyone on the range at the time suffers a heart attack because that girder makes a fucking loud fuss about being hit with a golf club. The other is that one of the cardiac patients also has a non-working driver to replace.

Apart from 1 green, all in decent condition and good fun to play - lots of ditches - went in most of them!

I understand that the members have just bought this course,it's still a work in progress,perhaps another year,as it can't happen overnight,the bunkers are full of stones,the greens were fine and getting there,the fairways were scrapie and need tyneing or what ever else they do to areas of bare grass.
Give it time but not this year..

Under new management by the looks of it, and consequently the clubhouse has benefitted from a facelift and a refurb. There are some other tweaks and changes around the course but nothing that detracts from the challenge.

This is still a good course to play, even after a days worth of torrential downpour - the investment in drainage seems to have worked well... On the day there was a drizzle, but course remained very playable throughout. Greens rolled true and not a lot of surface water got in the way..

OK Bunkers were a bit water affected and not at all fluffy... Good mix of holes, rather a lot of par 5s for this pay and play course.

Car parking on a full day would be an issue, but when it is lightly loaded this is a good test of golf and a course that rewards straight hitters without penalising the odd errant shot too much.

Clubhouse is small and ideally placed, food is reasonable selection, and staff and locals are welcoming. Buggies are available (always worth negotiating a price though as deals are there to be made.

Not much by way of scenic views - but it is a nice walking course, some cleverly designed feature holes and a nice mix. Par3s are challenging... good scores can be had...

PROS - Much improved course from when I last played (2004) Has been revamped, with the previous (arguably) championship long par 4's (2nd and 12th) now upgraded to par 5's and the 8th hole changed from an easy 5 to a (long) par 4. The fairways were well manicured and generous with the rough cut back sensibly. Mounds have been introduced lining many fairways which is a desirable feature. The greens were lush. CONS - lack of rakes and adequate sand in many bunkers and the holes on the greens were cut leaving the hole on a slight raised bevel. This is where the green keeper has not taken sufficient care when removing the soil plug and not ensuring that the level immediately around the hole is flat (hence only 4 balls for quality of course) This can make putting difficult and in my view is not acceptable. However it is a good value course and the layout is well designed and relatively roomy. All in all I have always liked this course and I am pleased to see that the new owners have largely improved it. Look forward to playing again.

Quite a nice little course ! Considering it's run by local council . Plus's nice Greens ,not too hilly,bunkers good But No rakes( bring your own) Club house is on the smallish side I didnt notice any putting practise green l ! No breakfasts ( bring your own )just bacon ,sausage ,or egg baps rolls or sandwiches .staff very friendly and I would definitely visit again.great value for money thanks to mr Ed ! ( long live Mr Ed )...

First of all I think I should make it clear this is by no means the best course youre ever going to play on! However, if your looking for a round of golf at very cheap rates (£9 on a sunday afternoon) this is the place for you. The course is a bit scruffy in places and the greens are a bit fluffy but what do you expect for under a tenner. All the staff in the clubhouse/cafe were very friendly and whilst I wont be playing there every week, I would play there again!

I read the reviews of the course before I went, so wasn't expecting much.How wrong What a great course greens where ok ,have seen a lot worse :( Bunkers where stoney but for £9 what do you expect. Will be back thats for sure. And went around in under 3 1/4 hrs.

A decent enough track - especially for £15, but very slow play let it down. Over a five hour round, waiting on all 18 tees.

Well worth a visit, the course itself is parkland and interesting, the greens defiantley let the course down pitted and not good grass, also bunkers are like builders sharp sand and no rakes great shame as this would not take much to fix, all in all very good value as golf goes

it was wet so the bunkers were bad but the course was holding up quite well and at £12 for 18 holes and a bacon roll what can i say!!