Gaudet Luce Golf & Leisure Complex

Gaudet Luce is a golf club located near Droitwich, Worcestershire. Road access to the course is along a narrow country road/lane With limited passing areas. My satnav took me in and out the same route.

The Course is a par 70 parkland; with SSS's of 69 and 68 respectively for the yellow and white tees. There are 5 par 3s, 10 par 4s and 3 par 5s. There are numerous elevation changes to the course but most of the significant changes are downhill whilst the uphiller's are more gradual. The course is not long, with 9 of the 10 par 4s under 400 yards from the yellow tees. One exception was 421 yards, difficult more by the uphill elevation rather than the pure yardage.

The course was in excellent condition, especially the greens, despite the recent spell of rainy weather. Fairways were kept slightly long in places but not penally so!

The course looked spectacular in places due to the high/low vistas but there were many challenges off the tee, ie the usual bunkers, trees, doglegs, ditches, ponds etc.

Two of the medium/long par 3s became particular challenges to the very windy conditions at times.

I played the course by entering the club's Seniors Open Competition; which I found from the Golf Empire website. There was a large entry of over 120 competitors, on a 2 tee start, teeing off from about 08.30am to 13.45pm.my tee time was at 12.45pm from the 1st tee.

Unfortunately the afternoon starters were severely affected by the weather, initially by a very heavy downpour during holes 5 & 6, and later by further heavy showers, hail and thunder/lightning as we played hole 14. The competition was suspended at that point and our group did not finish. Whilst very disappointed at not being able to finish the round, there were 3 shot holes (including 2 of the par 5s), and an index 17 hole remaining; I was able to get sufficient feel about the holes played to conclude that it was sufficiently challenging and enjoyable to want to play it again if opportunity arose. It would be good for inclusion in a stay and play itinary in the West Midlands area.

Normal midweek/weekend visitor green fees are £25/£30 respectively. The golf only competition entry fee was only £15. However, if you add the cost of breakfast and lunch the total costs, excluding travel costs was about £30. A great vfm way to get to play a course that would otherwise not be on ones radar.

A bi-product of the way that the club organised the competition is that there was little chance to meet other competitors post game; as there was no formal lunch or presentation; most golfers had a quick drink and bite to eat then didn't hang around. Unlike in the London/South East area where almost all senior open competitions involves a formal post match 2 course meal and prize giving, speeches etc.

I didn't use any of the club practice facilities so cannt comment on those. The club pro-shop also operates as a small American Golf store.

The club organisers, pro-shop and catering staff were wonderful hosts. The club complex appears to be former stables/farm building that had been modified. The clubhouse interior was modern/reasonably 'intimate', though I suspect that there were function rooms there also. Their small English breakfast (ie sausage, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms, beans, black pudding and eggs (choice of fried, poached or scrambled) plus toast), was of excellent quality, quantity and reasonably priced. Additionally my post match ham (divine), eggs and chips was also of high quality and reasonably priced.