Short review, NO, it wont be as there is so much to tell. So make sure you have your reading glasses and your cuppa ready.
REDBOURN is the latest addition to the TSG preferred courses list and what an excellent choice. I shall try to paint the picture to hopefully tempt you to join one of the future posting at Redbourn.From the moment you drive in the well laid out large car park you know that everything is going to be a pleasing and enjoyable experience. Easily accessible from all sides of London, a few miles from M25 (J21) and M1 (J9), Redbourn lies on the outskirt of St Albans, Harpenden in the delights of the Hertfordshire countryside.
In our 3 ball, we had John B. (a Member of this course)who shared useful tips and information with us "newies". Redbourn has an 18 holes, The Ver course which we plaid, and a 9 holes where a relaxed golf attire is allowed. The course is some 40 years old, parkland, well designed, making use of the wide open spaces, the surrounding trees & clumps of little forests, hills which create a natural backdrop & give every hole its uniqueness. All bordering trees/bushes/shrubs are o.o.b. so watch out if using the Driver.
Large cultivated fields can be seen on the horizon as well as some spectacular old local buildings: a wooden renovated barn by the 9th, a distinguished red brick building (apparently used as offices) by the 13th. Easy to walk course, a few climbs but nothing streneous:
the 2nd, 7th, 9th. I may have forgotten some. All Tee boxes well presented, sand box & cup for broken tees on each one. Some Tee are raised giving you a chance to admire Redbourn village on one side & Harpenden/St Ablans somewhere in the distance. Good signage & paths leading to the next hole, some paths a little nuddy but that is to be expected due to the recent rainfall, the highest on records since 1910.
FAIRWAYS: wide, well kept fairways (not many apparent divots), 1st cut very short, 2nd cut short & rough is for wildlife habitat (some rare butterflies, insects) hence ball searching/finding is practically impossible, so better to keep to the fairways. Well drained & cared for.
BUNKERS: nicely filled but some can retain water when excessive rain. "Posh" rakes provided.
GREENS: some tiered and undulated, in very good condition, 1 or 2 were being hollowed & sanded. 15th Green has a story: there used to be a large bunker, the whole width of the Green, but due to the strong voice of the Ladies members, it has been changed to 2 bunkers instead. I personally think it is a shame as the hole has lost its personality & challenge, the Index has remained the same though!!! 18th GREEN's undulations are not by design but by accident when during its construction, a big lorry drove over it & sunk there, it was decided to use the "damage" done as part of the green.Good variety of holes: some long Par 3s (178yrds),some short Par 4s (316yds), one very long Par 5 (608 yds), the great finishing hole.
The course has a romantic side to it, created by the attractive wooden, curved bridges over what was once flowing streams but now dry due to the "excessive" demands from the local water board & as a result the 3 ponds (somewhere on the course) are also dry but full of large wild plants. What a pity: not only nature has been interfered with but the challenge/strategy of the holes in question has been lost. One of the highlight of the day was meeting the General Manager, Ian McD, who happened to happily land a hand to the busy Bar staff. Ian was very pleased to talk to us & he truly thinks the TSG concept is brilliant & he will be very supportive, wants to join us on the next game posted for Redbourn which I shall only be too happy to organise, he has also already signed up as a Pro Member.
There is a busy active membership at this Club: Seniors, Juniors, Ladies, Mens alike. Car Park: large, well laid out. Buggies for hire, tidely parked before the Pro Shop. Pro Shop: large stock offering the latest fashion of golf clothing for Men & Women. Variety of golf equipment & accessories. Practice: excellent driving range, chipping area and bunker practice (with a good quality rake as on the course). Bar/Restaurant: friendly staff, lovely food at very reasonable prices, best coffee around. Attractive terrace, by putting green and overlooking 18th and 1st at the same time. By the way there is a smart, big CLOCK by the 1st Tee.
A great course presenting a challenge for all levels of golfers where a good score is possible by all. Despite a few intermittent brief showers and humid atmosphere an enjoyable day out as a 3 ball with John B. our guide & anecdote teller, Gary our unstoppable entertainer and I the "Leftie", nature lover & poet I suppose. A truly lovely discovery to add to the list of "WILL RETURN", not that far from Surrey/Essex, excellent value for us TSGers (works as a 2 for 1). It would make a brilliant venue for the next year's TSG Championship.......
If you have not played there, please go and sample: you wont be disappointed.
THE END... if you got that far
Date Wednesday, 04, July 2012
