John Day

I have recently joined Purdis Heath and was blown away.
It is February and the course is in fabulous condition. Greens are wonderful, fairway turf is second to none and the very few temp tees are sympathetically integrated into the tee boxes.
The standards of hospitality from the pro shop to club house are exemplary. Of the highest standard. The food is excellent but they cook everything fresh so you need to allow time for that. This is no hardship sitting in the fabulous lounge overlooking the course.
Tip:
Take your bag and your golf shoes to the pro shop.
Pay your green fees and leave your bag
Go to the changing room and leave golf shoes there
Go to the lounge and enjoy the excellent hospitality
When done go and change your shoes and get ready for golf
I know this sounds simple but most golf clubs are not designed for this.
Ipswich is completely focused on you having an enjoyable experience from the moment you arrive.

I have been very harsh about the practice facilities in giving them 4/5. In the real world this is where we all should be practising our short game with dedicated pitching area, chipping green and two putting greens. (one near the first tee) The chipping and putting greens are maintained to the same level as the Purdis greens.
But some people want to bash balls on the driving range. Not much use for most people but that feature is not present and no great shame from my point of view.
I have rated this as VFM, especially true if you are a members guest, but even as a visitor this is an extraordinary place to play golf.

Played here on Monday 19 July 2021 as part of an typically excellent David Jacob event. Scorching hot 30 deg C and (as I found out later 75% humidity). Tees, fairways in good condition and greens in excellent condition. Plenty of water abounds (ah, the humidity) but it is a fair test with a slope of 127 off the yellow tees. It was very hot, very humid and a great touch from the club was sending a buggy out with complimentary iced water. I had 2 litres of water when I went out and 2.5 with the iced water. Not nearly enough, needed 5 litres. Stopped playing after 14. Stood in the shade while the mad dogs and Englishmen went at it. (Oh I was born in South Africa) Looking forward to returning.

We paid £20 for a round at 10:00 on Sunday. When I booked the tee-time, only fours day ahead, I could have had any time I wanted. This was a warning sign.

Having played Blakes before we knew about the quirky club house that seems to be designed for the restaurant rather than golfers with the changing rooms and pro shop in the basement. It seems that Blakes now do a Sunday carvery, which looked very good and popular with the locals, but unusual for a golf club?

Anyway, from past experience, Blakes is quick draining and stands up well to the winter weather, we made our way to the first tee, stopping off at the practise green. The putting green was in poor condition. It had been vandalized by someone pouring petrol or weed killer leaving patches of blackened grass.

The tees at Blakes are excellent, large, very flat and well maintained. After a few holes it became clear that the vandals had not stopped at the practise green, many of the greens had severe damage, all from something like liquid weed killer.

The course at Blakes has always been a quixotic attempt to recreate an authentic links course in Essex. The use of exotic (to Essex anyway) grasses was always going to be a tilt at a greenkeeping windmill when the course is surrounded by fields containing native grasses.

Said grasses are reclaiming Blakes and that is not the end of the world. The more immediate concern is the vandalism of the greens. They do not detract much from the putting in winter conditions but are not pleasant to look at! It will be a different story in summer.

I have always enjoyed the course at Blakes. Where else can you find a Sawgrass 17th Island green replica hole on on inland links?

I wish the greekeepers every success in returning this course to the condition it deserves.

The practice facilities are very good with a chipping green with practice bunker as well as a range.
I have given Blakes a 4/5 for VFM as even in current condition, £20 for a teetime on Sunday at 10:00, is good value.