Upchurch River Valley Golf Course

I finally managed to add this course to my list of played courses at one of Mark C.'s well organised golf day, the value for money was excellent, with a great attendance too, including a famous actor... Lots of prizes to be won and good food too.

The course is about 25 years old , very picturesque & mature, the trees are all very varied. Lovely views of nearby town and countryside. Many holes have blind spots so better to play with someone with the "local knowledge".

Some very tough dog legs , quite long Par 3s & 4s. The back 9 IS far more difficult to negotiate due to the presence of water. A course planner was available but not up to date to show the new 14th (Par 5) re-designed. A very tough hole when playing for the 1st time so is the 17h (Par 4 for the Ladies) and nearly 400 yards !!!!!!

Some elevated Tees giving you lovely views of the course & surroundings. Quite well sign posted & good condition but I can imagine that heavy rain would make the course a lot tougher as the drainage needs improving. Water damage can be seen in a few places.
One Red Tee box was very bare of grass, very muddy.
The greens were good but again some signs of sponginess... But very good overall & the Topography makes the holes very interesting, nothing too flat.

The is a 9 hole course and also a shorter 9 for practice. A chip & putt area, driving range a a further practice green by the 1st tee.

Bunkers were fine, only visited 2, may be a little water in the bunker at the 14th... and I am pretty sure that if you are unlucky to land you ball there, there is a penalty if you decide to take a drop .... Worth checking the Rules, and good to know for the future !!!!

Favourite holes are the 12th, the tough 17th and the 18th a truly lovely finishing hole with a green sloping sharply to a water hazard, so quite tricky with the approaching shot, but a Birdie can be had if the tee shot lands on the right gradient on the sloping fairway....

Fairly big Pro shop and friendly reception.
Clubhouse is very busy too as the food is good & wholesome at very reasonable price. 2 large seating areas outside, one is covered I believe and nicely decorated with plants and a pond with a little bridge. Big reception room upstairs.

Changing rooms have been updated and are of a very modern and clean appearance.

Large Car Park.

I would love to return to play this course but would probably prefer a Summer or Spring time as we finished quite late with the dinner & presentation, it was very dark finding my way home but Noel L was my guide... till I turn left and took a different route home.

Thank you Mark for an enjoyable golf day, with such good value and tasty food from full English breakfast to the 3 course meal & coffee & the lovely prizes.

If you can attend one of Mark's day, please do it, you will enjoy it. There were lots of Taxi drivers.....(I wonder why ?????) and quite a few TSG attending too.


This is my version of the day and sadly



THE END........

My first course in England. Well maintained and interesting. Greens were quick with a lot of them sloping front to back, making for difficult approach shots.

An enjoyable day.

First time I played the course. In very good condition. Fairways a bit lush. Played at 3.30 and at £13 exceptional value. Very enjoyable and would recommend the course and definitely would like to play again.

Played here on Mark Crane's Charity Golf Day and thoroughly enjoy it!

The course is a parkland by design with undulations all around. It was a damp Nov day when we played and I expect the course would be much more playable in the summer.

There are some great holes, including some tough par 3's and a number of the tees are elevated giving both great views and some testing drives. I played very well on the front nine but struggled to hold my game on the back half.

The greens were wet but playable but you can tell they would be very quick in the dry. There was one stand out hole, the 17th. A 400+ yard par 4 into a very tight green protected by heather on one side and water on the other - it almost had a touch of Augusta about it - really!

If I had one complaint, it would be there are no directional signs between holes and no boards telling you which tee you are on - not very fair on the visitor and such a simple thing to correct.

The clubhouse is looking a little tired inside (at bit 70's) but the staff were uber friendly and the breakfast very good. The food post game was average but this didn't spoil what was a fun day!

Mark put on a great day with plenty of prizes and I would have no hesitation in returning to this course!

Hilly,looks open but its not. Penal if you miss the fairway. Undulating greens with tricky pin positions. Good test.

Would love to come back and try this course when playing better. Clubhouse & food nice. Course in good condition even with all the rain. Greens played well.