Woolston Manor Golf Club

Doing work to get rid of the numerous unnecessary bunkers, many more could be removed to attract more people.

First impressions were good, course was ok, bunkers a bit thin for sand, too many GUR’s, buggy’s and paths are under repair/renewal, bridges need attention. Just felt like it was overpriced considering the amount of work that needs to be carried out. Otherwise was a good challenge today but wouldn’t go back.

It looks easy at 1st sight, wrong !! it through the kitchen sink at me as I progressed I look forward to playing it again thanks to Paul??

I think I've found a course to rival toot hill, at least in my eyes. Really interesting layout, quite tricky and tight in places but overall a very nice place. I would rate it up there with the Toot but it loses a few points for the condition of the bunkers, of which there are many. But overall in good condition and another course that i can't wait to play again.

Not quite sure what to say. Course was tatty, tees very poor. I remember it being a lot better. Practice green was very bumpy and only 2 nets (but there is a top golf facility next door). Bar had run out of gas for beer and sandwiches, when they arrived, used stale bread.

I've played this course numerous times and always found it enjoyable and in good condition, but yesterday when we played it, was by far the worst course I've played this year. It didn't get off to a good start, when we had to tee-off on the first with the sprinklers on cos they couldn't turn them off. The greens had loads of bare patches and tramlines as well as being covered with sand. The bunkers had hardly any sand in them and the tee boxes were covered in sand.
After talking to the pro at the end, he did say they had a pro-am tournament coming up in three weeks, and were preparing the course for that, so hopefully after that it will be back to the standard it was before, but I'd say to get it ready in three weeks was optimistic

Club officials were rude and made us feel as if we was not wanted. Had to argue the fact TSG members get the reduced rate of £15 after 12 on a weekend, they wanted to charge £35..anyway they made it as if they had done us all a favour
Club house was messy and after the game i might as well had been in a pub on a football match day... did not bother me to much but i would had left if we had female company.
The course was hard and a decent track, well worth a visit for £15 but never £35.
Practice facilities looked as old as me and to many stones in the bunkers... Greens were in good condition as were fair ways.

Enjoyed my day with great company but won't be returning any time soon

You have to ask yourself why so many bunkers? otherwise an excellent course. Really nice course to walk round and very much enjoyed the whole day.

There's a really good course here close to breaking out. Not the longest, but the holes are designed to make you think your way around with plenty of bunkers to avoid along with water, ditches and the occasional awkward tree. Definitely a course where you want to stay in position.

Greens were in decent nick though slow and I couldn't believe some occasions where the ball didn't deviate along clear breaks - I don't remember this from playing here a few weeks ago and none of the others in the fourball seemed to be suffering so perhaps I was having a really off day....

The bunkers were in poor shape, some under a little water, others pretty crusty and the remainder just heavy, so recovery was a little iffy.

Nice clubhouse and bar, good outside area to sit for drinks/food and a large putting and chipping area in good condition, with a couple of driving nets. There's also a Top Golf nearby on what I think used to be a regular range.

A good course, a little frustrating that it could be really good with a bit of TLC.

Last minute decision to join a TSG game at Woolston Manor, the weather forecast looked ok & previous short reviews did tempt me to venture one more time 50 miles each way on M25....I also wanted to test/try my new winter tyres: solid & grounded, just like my golf posture.

When you arrive to the golf course, you enter through impressive iron gates but as you drive to the car park you encounter lots of potholes, same in the car park itself & one wonders if one is in the right place. My winter tyres did cope very well with this adverse terrain, just like a 4 x 4. Then one looks at the Clubhouse on the left handside and you know you are at Woolston Manor Golf Club.

The Clubhouse is an attractive building, it makes a good impression (better than the car park) & accommodates the Proshop, friendly & nicely stocked, the changing rooms, the restaurant upstairs, various functions rooms, the Spike bar downstairs, pleasant & light overlooking a very large terrace with a very tempting open air pool (for members/guests), and lots of wooden garden furniture, there is a large balcony, all this overlooking the fantastic finishing 18th hole, with pond & slightly elevated/tiered green, difficult to read as some golfers found out, not just TSGers but members doing a Matchplay competition.

There was a friendly marshall at the starter point, he did a good job monitoring the pace of play & looked after the members doing Matchplay, letting them go through etc....but we then did have to wait a little...

The course is only 18 years old, a design from Neil Coles & David Williams, blends in well with the established trees and River Roding that snakes through the course, many bridges have to be crossed (more than 10, maybe more), today the river was showing signs of fast flow & also overflowing.

The course itself was very wet for my liking, muddy in lots of places, the bunkers are numerous, huge, well placed, of an interesting design & height, they certainly add interest & challenge, I particulary liked the one on the 15th that creates a circle around the oak trees that are in the way of one Tee shot (from Yellow Tees). The bunkers were quite full with water and we saw the greenkeepers trying to dig some holes for the water to escape, it must be nicer to play when the course is drier. The red Tee boxes were extremely spongy, nearly needed “relief”, as could not get as grounded as I wanted to for the all important tee shots, making “driving for show” difficult(I must confirm that there are more bunkers at the Buckinghamshire Golf Course Denham). Here at Woolston Manor, the escape from the bunkers although wet, was not too difficult, whilst at Denham, one escapes one bunker to end up in another one.......).

There additional water features, such as ponds & lakes, with very interesting vegetation & habitat, these features provide additional challenges and are best avoided. I believe there is a place to do “bird watching”, near the 1st green & 6th tee. The fairways are wide but have the trees well placed as well as the bunkers described above, so need careful plotting. High handicappers like me needs to play safely, whilst risks may be taken for golfers that have more powerful swings.

The greens were in good conditions & one needed to read them carefully, I did see a lot of 3 putting today....
I suppose I better describe 1 or 2 favourite holes (maybe 3) otherwise I feel my review will not be complete, so here we go:

HOLE 6, PAR 4: A tricky hole as one as to cross the River twice, with bridges that can help you ball bounce out of trouble if you are lucky, after the 2nd bridge there are some ondulations that cannot always be seen unless you have the local knowledge, the green is guarded by a very huge bunker on the left and the green is sloping right....

HOLE 10, PAR 3: I thought I describe this hole as I was the only one (yes, me the high handicapper) to reach the green in one & got a birdie. This is an intimidating par 3, with the river curling right in front of the tee boxes and 3 enormous bunkers protecting the green with red stakes all along the right handside where the river carries on its course.

I did like the 12th, Par 5, index 1, but will describe:

HOLE 13, PAR 4: Very beautiful & lots of water comes into play. The fairway is surrounded by water, the green is a semi island which slopes towards the water. A real pleasure to plan & play.

Some practice facilities: putting green, nets, a chipping area, slightly remote. Pleasant/friendly staff. Good service, good food & good value in the Clubhouse. A very attractive course, but more enjoyable in drier conditions, a little noisy with the M11 in the vicinity. I would certainly return in the Spring or Summer, as very good value for money for TSGers.

THE END......

Thoroughly enjoyed Woolston Manor. I thought the layout was interesting and challenging. Not an easy course by any means, your sand wedge will certainly get a good work out but with the TSG offer of £20 for a round, I defy anyone to find a better value course.

Course in good condition, but a lot of divets missing from the fairways. A tricky course for high handicappers, but worth a visit. Worth the £20 we paid.
May well return, but only when I'm playing to a higher standard.

Probably not the best day to go very windy :(, A very nice course with a lot of bunkers, you have to plot you way around so would recommend Score saver or borrow you friends Garmin ( Thanks Mark :) ) Course was very wet but no problem on the greens ( Keep forgetting its Jan )
Some holes very tough,requiring to play up to water before you can take on the green, the wind might of not helped.Great course cant wait to go back especially for only £15.

Clubhouse is excellent, with friendly staff, and superb amenities. Provides good food and very reasonably priced. Lovely terrace for enjoying a drink overlooking the 18th.
Fairways are very well kept, the grass being quite lush and a pleasure to play off. One word of warning for those golfers not too good at bunker play - get some practice in, as there a loads of them, and very handily placed. The sand however is superb, no hard lies. The greens are very good. They had recently been tined when I played it last, but they are very slick, with lots of subtle borrows...all in all a great challenge. I'd recommend this course to anyone, particularly TSG members as the green fee is only £15....at today's rates, a bargain

good facilities,nice and interesting albeit tougher than it looks.The day was absolutely rammed as everyone was using the groupon vouchers( £15 for golf and lunch)
which my son and his friend had( fantastic value).I had to pay full green fee Usually £30 however a bit of arm twisting and the pro only charged me £25 (good lad).Enjoyed the day and as I am known for saying "well worth a visit"

Played this recently on a Pro-am golf day, was very difficult off the whites but dont think I would have faired much better off the yellows either. Well laid out and maintained with lots of water but pretty too. Friendly clubhouse staff - would play again!