Alan Haywood

Risebridge has been transformed, thanks mainly to its new(ish) head green keeper Dougie, a Scot who learned his trade at the Royal and Ancient. Greens generally, are the best in Essex at least…although one or two still suffer from years of neglect, but being work in progress, they are improving. Bunkers are not the best in Essex but this is also being addressed., Fairways are very good considering many are undulating and not specially laid, but they are cut regularly and your ball should sit up nicely, anywhere on the fairway. Not a long course, but several very challenging holes and with full width ditches on several holes, ball placement becomes a very serious consideration. Large mounds made from the Olympic stadium spill, separate most fairways, providing a feeling of isolation, but if your ball lands on the top of one, it is usually ball lost, as they have been allowed to grow as a wildlife sanctuary. These are red staked so a ball drop at the base of the mound, is your punishment for a wayward shot. Midweek green fees are very good value for money. An excellent full English breakfast is available and there are buggy’s for hire. A small but excellent putting green and an excellent, refurbed driving range with good quality range balls are also available, as is a small but fully stocked Pro Shop. As a pay and play, with bags of parking, you cannot beat it IMHO.

The course is tucked away somewhat, and on driving through the gates and meandering along the mile long (at least), narrow drive your first impression is that this can best be described as an inland links course, very few trees, but the surrounding countryside is quite hilly and covered in dense woodland, so there are some beautiful vistas throughout the course for those with a camera handy.

The clubhouse is quite unusual, in that it is fairly modern, but retains a certain charm normally associated with older established courses...no traditional oak beams and small stuffy bars here, it is very open plan, with an excellent bar, and adjacent restaurant. Leading from the bar and sitting area is a golf simulator and a pool table. The pro shop is well equipped and the staff very friendly and helpful. There is a large decked area outside with ample seating and close by are two excellent putting greens, one of which is also used for chipping.
On to the course itself..There are 3x9 hole loops and we played the two loops on which the Open will be played, known as the Yellow and Blue courses. Apparently, many, many millions have been ploughed into this course, and judging by previous comments and reviews, they have done a remarkable job.

The first thing you will appreciate is the tee mound on hole No. 1. on the Yellow course. Perfectly straight and flat and fully grassed, a good sign, and as it proved...all are in a similar manner. The outlook on hole 1, gives a perfect indication of what you can expect. A raised tee, in this case, dropping quite considerably to the fairway which slopes from right to left. The photo on the course basic info. page is of this hole. This is a hilly course but not desperately so, nevertheless for us older TSG-er's, an electric cart is advisable.

Electric Buggies are also available, and a number, I am told have been reserved for the TSG, but I suggest you book ahead of time to be sure. All Buggy's are quite new and come with a large SatNav up above the head, ideal for those not familiar with the course. the cost, I believe is £25.

There is water on the course, in the form of small to medium sized ponds, strategically placed. There are at least four, I know because that's how many I found, to my cost, so it's advisable if you don't know the course to invest in a course layout and planner booklet. One of those ponds I mentioned, is located in front of a par 3 green, which is only 140 yards or so, but the tee is at least 100ft above the hole, so don't be fooled...I wager, that pond, although quite small, has gathered more balls than any other on the course, but a beautiful hole it is and is perfect for one of the nearest the pin challenges.

Fairways were all in excellent condition, we had no bads lies at all, but they can be narrow, especially for the higher handicapper, so ball placement is very important on this course as the rough can be very punishing...calf high and dense, so bring plenty of ammunition. This course calls for the 'Slater approach' DO NOT try to hit the skin off the ball, play safe and take your punishment where necessary. It is not an overly long course, and there are no great distances to walk from green to tee.

Bunkers are so immaculate, you feel compelled to rake them, lots of good sand and beautifully trimmed, but the greens is where this course excels, I would say, as good as Wentworth. Hardly a pit mark to be seen, so members treat them with the respect they deserve, beautifully manicured and absolutely true, not a single 'bobble' did we witness. Borrows can be very subtle, there are some undulations but generally flat, and can be wholly trusted. One particular hole I discovered provided a perfect optical illusion, it was cut into a large mound...hardly a hill, and it appeared to slope heavily in one direction. I estimated at least a 6ft break from about 25ft away and stood in stunned silence as the ball went straight ahead...ending up 6ft to the side of the hole.(perhaps those who know my game are muttering..'that sounds about right', or maybe its the 'stunned silence' bit you have trouble with :-)

Anyway, Back at the clubhouse, you'll find a well-stocked bar and gourmet food, none of your 'am egg 'n chips 'ere. But they will rustle it up if that's your desire.
A great selection, not large, which I prefer, as the food is therefore generally fresh, which it proved to be.

Altogether a great course and I did manage one birdie....AND a chip in, errr....bogey. I even sank several putts of 15-20ft, good for me....sad they were bogey putts though :-(

Two final points..Although I gave the practice facilities 3 stars..I did not see or use any except the putting green, secondly, anyone wishing to use the changing facilities and shower, should take their own towels with them, as the club does not have sufficient for the numbers expected.

I contend that this will be a great days outing, and everyone will thoroughly enjoy playing Faileigh. I will certainly be going back!

An awkwardly located course for most people, even using a Satnav. Having finally found it, you'll find a longish driveway to a large enough car park. Good eatery awaits, and pro shop is very accommodating. The course itself was not particularly good IMO. Greens were adequate, but nothing special, uneven and 'fluffy' There were no memorable holes whatsoever, quite uninteresting by and large.
A course where a 2 hour drive...for me, was certainly not rewarded. I'll not bother to play it again.

The entrance is what you would expect from a course with this pedigree, being met by a bronze statue of the man himself, Seve, who designed it. A very nice clubhouse, with friendly and efficient staff.
Excellent practice facilities,so turn up early to take full advantage
The opening hole-a par 3 is reputed to be the hardest opener in Europe. The golf course is on high ground and wind is a constant factor, and on the first ,prevailing wind is against, so a 150ish par 3, from the members tee, with a lake immediately in front, is very daunting. My score, of 7 is a good indication,, and immediately intimidation sets in.
There is a LOT of water on this course, and holes are not short.

Greens, as you would expect are very good, with subtle borrows, so first timers will have all sorts of difficulties. This is a course where you need a fair amount of knowledge.
I found the fairways disappointing. Not what you would expect...dry, and the quality of grass below par with tufts sticking up in places...no manicured fairways here.
Altogether though a good day out, but at £50 a round..there are better courses to visit for the money.

Always good to play the Hardelot courses, and the view of the first and 18th from the Dunes clubhouse is stunning.
An excellent driving range is a short par 3 away from the clubhouse and a small putting green is also available.
The pro dealt with us efficiently in his usual polite but blunt manner and off we set up the 1st..a bit of a climb.
Set in a forest, the course layout is excellent, but at this time of year - late October, it looked a bit scruffy in places, but still a joy to play.
The course has a bit of a Wentworth feel to it, with many beautiful, large houses set back from fairways, partly hidden by large pine trees.
Greens were not as good as they once were, and the impression was gained that not a lot of money has been invested in its' maintenance.
There are a lot of sandy areas bordering the fairways, ...hence the name - Les Dunes, and these can ruin a round if you are too wayward.
Clubhouse staff were very friendly and the food was excellent..very pleasant to sit on the balcony with a beer or Pimms, following your game..overlooking the 1st tee and the glorious view up the fairway.
Always worth a visit, but I hope maintenance improves as a great course could be ruined.

Very fortunate to play the Edinburgh course on a beautifully sunny day, with great company. The course is as expected, beautifully manicured fairways, almost criminal to make a divot, and the greens...well too good and so very tricky with subtle contours and of course, very slick - a real challenge. Only criticism was with the bunkers which were very hard beneath half an inch of sand....and I found a few. A lovely smell of pine pervaded throughout, and a short stay at the halfway house made it a great day. The clubhouse is all I expected with a very understated elegant atmosphere, but not at all stuffy, although, felt a bit inadequate with all the Lambo's and Bentleys in the car park, when I arrived in a 'van' with wing mirror held together with Postman type elastic bands. Memorable day.

First impressions are not too good, with the pot holed and poorly surfaced car park, but the club house is OK, except for the pro shop which is minimalistic to say the least, staffed by an individual who didn't appear to be that affable or too concerned. Nevertheless, an excellent full English can be had from a welcoming staff in pleasant surroundings. Facilities, changing rooms etc., are very good, and it was nice afterwards to sit on the large terrace, watching people trudging up the 18th, discussing the game over a drink.
The course begins with an uninspiring, very short par 4, a 5 iron or rescue club off the tee is more than enough for most...too early to take out the driver, although a driving range is nearby if you get there early enough. There follows an OK par 3, off a mat, as the tee mounds are completely overgrown and clearly have not been in use for years. Then comes a very short, 450yd par 5, and at this stage you begin to wonder if the drive round the M25 followed by winding country roads was worth it. However, from this point, the course improves immensely, with a long, difficult 200 yd par 3, and although the next hole is what appears to be a ridiculously short, 291yd par 4...all four of us managed to double bogey it, so beware.
The course then opens out and some beautiful and interesting holes come into play, with a little elevation in places, providing a lovely vista, enough to bring out the camera.
Many ditches, hazards and a fair amount of water comes into play on this course, so ball placement is key. It is not a course you can blast away at. Unfortunately not a lot has been done in cleaning away winter debris from the many water hazards, as many of them are quite overgrown and in need of a lot of TLC. Nevertheless, the tree lined fairways were excellent, nicely cut, and very lush with good quality grass. The greens were receptive, perfectly acceptable and very tricky indeed with their undulations making for awkward and difficult pin positions.
Altogether a nice little course, which needs to be played a few times perhaps to get to know it, and is not to be taken lightly. I will certainly make the effort to play it again.

First impressions - a very friendly clubhouse serving great coffee - and very reasonably priced, Course was in superb condition. Greens, some of the the best I have played. Fairways were lush and true. Some very interesting and beautiful holes. A 200yd+ par 3, played from an elevated tee and is very inviting, as is the par 3 signature hole, 165yds all downhill. One very quirky par 4 which runs at right angles to the fairway, so club selection for your drive is of paramount importance. My drive went through the fairway, ending in an 8. Altogether, I would love to play this course far more often - loved it. TGS have a two for one deal, so is exceptional value.

Managed to get reduced green Fee via the internet, so it was a steal at £13 apiece. Played 1 & 2 courses, there being 3 nine hole courses, Course 1 was the better of the two IMO...very quirky and quits hilly, but a joy to play with some great holes. Course 2 was a bit flatter, more up and down but very interesting nevertheless. Some really great par three's. I will definitely play here again. Greens were very difficult, mainly because they had not been cut and were very spiky being late afternoon and quite dry. Altogether a must play..you will not be disappointed.

Played the new course, which I found a bit on the short side, but the winter tees tend to be well forward. Would like to play off whites, as that would be a very good test - don't even consider playing off the blues!!. Greens were very good for time of year and fairways excellent - very dry considering all the rain we have had. Generous fairways for the most part. Almost all holes had two greens, one for summer, one for winter - very posh. Well worth a visit, and deals are aval, so ask. Bar has a great restaurant if you are in to Japanese food - authentic.

An excellent course, and a fair test of golf...a real golf course. Excellent fairways, quite generous, and big greens, beautiful to putt on...true and fairly slick, and they hold, which is more than I can say for most courses I play.. Lots of undulations to keep you thinking. I thoroughly enjoyed playing this course, and hope it's not the last time.
Food - a ploughmans lunch was one of the best I have had, and the staff were very friendly and efficient.
One nice touch I wish all courses had...there is a dedicated facility for changing your shoes outside reception, which is also where you can buy water and other drinks.
Altogether a very good experience.

A very well maintained course, with wide fairways and lots of well positioned bunkers. Managed to find 4 of them. No water.
A very pretty course with gorgeous views over Cambs. It's a bit of a hike, lots of hills, not steep, but unrelenting, so if you have an electric trolley - take it.
Several elevated tees, and the wind can play havoc here. Fortunately for us, the wind was not too strong.
Some of the holes have a long trek between green and tee. You will know you have been on a good walk at the end of the round.
Greens are true, but due to the hard winter, are still not at their best and are difficult to read - for me at least, and more than one putt appeared to go 'uphill'.
Thoroughly enjoyable though, but the glorious weather had a lot to do with that. Clubhouse very hospitable with very good facilities you would expect for a top club. Practice facilities also top class, with pitching and chipping areas and acres of space for driving practice.
This is not the course to play in poor conditions i.e. wind and rain.
One small downside is in finding the place. No road signs whatsoever until you are practically on top of the entrance, and the course is well hidden from the road, so you get no indicators.
Very worthwhile, and I will play it again, hopefully.

Not long, but some very good golf holes, one particular par 5 ...happy to walk off with a bogey. Greens are OK to good, depending upon when they are cut, ...the day I played they were quite wooly, and not too true. Fairways very well kept though.
A hidden gem and certainly value for money - £16 includes a full English breakfast. I will definitely play it again.

First time I played this course, and pleasantly surprised. Greens are generally v.good, but a bit hard and do not hold for a medium/high handicapper. Some quite short holes, but the layout keeps your interest, as they cannot be taken for granted. I would like to play the white tees as there is a 100 yard difference on some holes. Generally well maintained, excellent fairways and fluffy rough makes it quite a challenge. Some lovely views over the Thames estuary if you ignore the landfill sites :-) Will definately play here again.

A case of you get what you pay for. Not the most testing of courses, but all too frequently, good shots are not rewarded as a ball could bounce anywhere, fairways undulating, many ruts and banks, uphill and sidehill lies are the norm...even on the tee mounds which is particularly annoying. Quite hilly so powered carts are a must for seniors. Greens are good however, but never expect to hold with an approach shot as they are meadow greens and generally very hard.
Frankly I wasn't inspired and lost interest half way round so posted a poor score for the back nine. It will be a long time before I play it again.