Mendip Spring Golf Club

Mendip Spring GC is a modern parkland style course located in Congnesbury, Bristol, Somerset.

It is described as a golf and country club. From the golfing perspective it is a proprietary club with a membership!

There is an 18 hole 'championship' course, ie the Brinsea, plus a 9 hole course!

The Brinsea course is a par 71 off the white & yellow tees, but a par 75 of the ladies red tees. The SSS's are 71 & 75 respectively!

The course yardages are 6,369, 6,193 7 5,796 respectively off the white/yellow/red tees!

I played the off the white tees in a Seniors Open Stableford competition. Given the heavy overnight rains had softened up the course, many of the bunkers were waterlogged and therefore GUR, and there was light rains and strong winds throughout the competition, most of the views expressed by my fellow competitors, was that it should have been played off the yellows!The extent of bunkers GUR meant that the competition was downgraded to a Non Qualifier for handicap purposes!

The course comprised 5 par 3s, 9 par 4s and 4 par 5s.

The course is a moderately undulating walk! Water hazards, in the form of lakes, ponds and water filled ditches are in play on many of the holes.The strong winds made club selection difficult and a couple of misjudgements resulted in finding the water.

The par 3s were very challenging with carries over water on all of the holes. Indeed on the 1st par 3 we played (2nd hole), a course marshall was in use with his green and red paddles to signify success or failure in either making the carry over the water or going OOB through the back of the green!

The fairways are generally spacious though a few of the tee shots were blind!

No paper course booklets were available but all tee boxes had hole layout maps to assist!

The course, because of the water hazards, and in conjunction with strong winds, is/was a generally difficult challenge.

The greens are fast, large and undulating. Some of the best greens I've ever played. Stunning for a course of this nature/status!

The general 18 hole weekday green fee is £30 (£40 weekends), or £20/£25 respectively with a County Card!Very reeasonable! Howeever, mt entry fee for the competition was £24 including coffee on arrival, 18 holes and a hot post match meal (steak pie). Stunning vfm!

There is a good practice range (not used), a good sized proshop. Staff and members were very welcoming! There are also 15 dormy rooms of various sizes available for stay and play golf! About £59 for two persons sharing but charges vary!

The club house was very nice.

All in all this was an impressive course and facility. The only spoiler was the weather on the day!