Sandford Springs Golf Club

16 of us stayed this weekend to play golf, on finding the course it looked fine, driving range, practice area and the club house was separate from the hotel.
On meeting my friends and ordering coffee and a bacon roll already we was off to a poor start, machine coffee tasting of powder and stale bread with fatty bacon, oh well.
Driving range was fine, putting area all good and 1st tee from the Parks course, most holes had a range of tee boxes but only 1 was in use and had been in use for a while, hardly any grass on the tee box just dirt, the other tee's not being used where is great condition! The greens had just been hollow tined (badly) with tracks along them making putting a bit of luck, (appreciate they have to be done but we should have been told) the fairways were fine for the time of the year, the second 9 we played (they have 3 9's) the Woods, the greens hadn't been hollow tined but were very patchy and again the tee boxes had seen better days, however the fun was about to start!
After finishing the round of golf and having a beer, something to eat and working out the scores we was told we had to leave the bar as they had a private party, we was asked to go down stairs to another bar (unfortunately this one didn't have a TV so we wasn't able to watch the football but never mind) however after a few minutes we was asked to leave this bar as they had a wedding and sit in a glass conservatory!!! which was freezing to start with until the heating kicked in! problem was we still had to use the same bar and toilets as the wedding party! which wasn't ideal especially for the wedding party!!!!! We was then asked to leave the bar and go to the hotel, but the bar was shut in the hotel!!! we refused to move unless they opened the hotel bar which they did and gave us some free drinks. The food arrived which was cold as they cooked it in the club house and walked it over to the hotel.
Speaking to the member of staff who served us he told us that he had resigned without new employment as the place is nicknamed Fawlty Towers! and has to work the late shift and early shifts as they have no staff.
Breakfast in the morning was greasy and fatty bacon, cheap sausage, baked beans and a fried egg.
Our tee time for the Sunday wasn't until 12pm even thought we couldn't see anyone playing the Lakes course our first 9 for the day, this 9 was very similar to the woods.
The pro shop is empty with very little in it.
Finished the round on Sunday and went in to the clubhouse to have a beer and do the scores, upstairs bar had a retirement party and a table laid out for the juniors and nowhere for us to sit, downstairs was laid out for a conference the next day!!

We would have preferred to be told about the course maintenance, the wedding party, the retirement party and we would have arranged to come another day.

Hotel cleanliness was poor, I'm not expecting 5 starts but I'm not expecting cobwebs either!

Top tips, if you are visiting the hotel to play golf or have a wedding ask what other events are on at the same time!

The chef and barman was very helpful unlike the Manager

Much better courses with staff to look after you are available, AVOID!

Played all 3 nines in a day and i can honestly say it was one of the best parkland course I have ever played, The greens were the best i have played in many years, in this country. The club house was modern and well run. There is a hotel on site so would make a lovely weekend away venue. You must play it can't wait to go back.

Three 9 hole courses provide a mix of play and the names adequately describe their characteristics, The Park, The Woods, and The Lakes. The Park Course is probably the least demanding of the three loops, with the signature 9th hole, being a short, down hill par 4 requiring an accurate long iron off the tee followed by a solid pitch to a green protected by two lakes. The Woods Course is set amongst mature trees creating a natural challenge. The signature hole is a testing downhill dogleg. Your tee shot falls into a chasm in front of you, with the second shot requiring an accurate pitch over water. The Lakes Course has water as the key feature. Five of the nine holes bring the wet stuff into play. The 21st is a long par 3 requiring particular attention and skill. The hole requires an accurate long club to reach a well guarded green surrounded by water. All in all a challenging mix of courses with very fast greens when I played in Spring09. Good clubhouse facilities.