Steve Duffy

Visited on a hot sunny, mid 2018 heatwave Thursday, with only a light wind. Probably the best weather we could ask for, even though the heatwave had burnt all the fairways. The greens were still green and receptive, and the burnt and brown fairways were surprisingly easy to play from. I assume that the land is generally fairly soft and was managing to stay so. This meant that you could still attack the ball and not fear for your arms, like a lot of dry courses at the time.

Clubhouse is beautiful and relaxed, with some good food and a nice range of beers (very important).

The course itself meanders through the dunes with some nice holes, which if you haven't played there before can be a little hard to navigate. Get a course planner, just to keep you on track. Some blind tee shots make for additional interest and there are some very nicely laid out holes. All very pleasant.

The bad bit! All those lovely blind shots and dunes! I bet in bad weather it wouldn't be so pleasant. We spent a fair amount of time plotting our way around looking for balls, knowing roughly where they were. High winds and rain, would take that away. I can imagine a lot of time looking and re-taking shots. Not so much fun.

My advice. Go on a nice day and have a great round on a great course.....don't go there if the weather doesn't look good.

A new course and no doubt different views and opinions.

Course itself is based around the cricket ground and the Marriot hotel, so no problems with facilities as such, the hotel coming with the required bar, terrace and food. The "clubhouse" is still to be finalised and at present everything is run by the small american golf store on site, however everyone was welcoming and friendly. The Pro being especially happy to chat about the course.

Practise facilities at present are a little lacking, with just one net and a practice green but they are just waiting for the final elements to be put in place before opening a dedicated range, so that should change.

The course itself is where opinions will divide. The course is fairly short (not always a bad thing) and there are plans already to extend two holes which will reduce the number of par 3's and increase the course length. To make up for this, there is a lot of walking between holes. A lot. Exceptionally a lot, which more than makes up for the the course length and should keep those fit-bitters happy. However it's also a little too convoluted, with pathways criss crossing over each other and long walks to tees and back again from the greens. This is unfortunate and possibly a throw back to being a 9 hole course previously. To be honest it didn't ruin my visit because most, if not all, of the holes are very nice, bordering on great. Lot's of variety stops things getting boring, with from memory no two holes feeling the same. There are a lot of blind shots and unseen problems but I would think a couple of visits would sort that out and make the holes a pleasure to play. There is plenty of water but it can be avoided on most holes if you think your way around. Basically very enjoyable.

The course is new. It needs to bed in. Accept that and you will enjoy and it might be best to do so sooner rather than later as the prices will probably rise next year (step forward Mr TSG to go hunting for a good deal).

All in all, definitely worth a visit.......and against what may come in later reviews :o) the greens are perfectly good. They ran true both in direction and pace and even the hollow tining didn't make any marked difference.

Some people say that bunkers are required to make things interesting, well when you grow heather in all the right places, you really don't need sand.
A really nice course, great layout and very demanding if you do go in that heather.
I would love to play it again.
Greens had just been hollo tined but I would guess in a few weeks would be in great condition and demand respect

Nice course with plenty of interesting holes. On the lake and river, other than the abundant use of doglegs, the holes are all pretty varied, so no boredom.
Enjoyable course.

It's beautiful. It's a little forgiving. It's fun to play, and has some nice holes. All wrapped up in lovely surroundings. It's nice, play it! Say no more!

....just wish I was a 10 handicap who always hits his shots straight!

Beautiful course in great surroundings but right from the first hugely elevated tee box, with trees to the left and dangerous hills to the right just waiting to gobble up stray shots, you pretty much know what to expect. Deep ravines of the fairways with no long rough to stop those balls, and plenty of blind holes make for a tiresome round if you not on your "A" game.

Take a full set of clubs. Play with the straightest you have at all time and buy a course card, and you will love it! Don't, and you will walk away frustrated.

What a lovely course. Great holes and layout. Big sand filled bunkers. An enjoyable test for all players.

Only thing letting it down is some parts looked a little tired, maybe due to lack of people playing the course, and therefore the amount of money being spent on it.

That said generally the holes and greens were in good condition, and even the greens that looked like they needed work ran true and proper.

All in all a great course in a great location, and very worth the effort to play.

Nice course, plenty of tight holes, and trees to cause problems, but wide enough to be enjoyable.

Couldn't express pleasure more. What a beautiful course. Not the longest or hardest course but some lovely signature holes. You need to think your way around a little bit.

Whatever you do, when you're in Essex, play this course.

Absolutely lovely. Set in glorious countyside, with three courses. If all as good as the Edinburgh, then they must all be great.
Edinburgh is a long course, the whites are somewhere just over 7km, but interesting and challenging. Plenty of variation and in superb condition.
Practice facilities looked good, but didn't use them.
Haven't commented on value for money. At seemingly £180-360 for a round, can't see too many playing. If however, you get a chance to play at a sensible rate, then I suggest you really do.

Managed to arrange a four ball for £100 on a Sunday morning. Can't complain about that.

Course is reasonably short but with a nice selection of parkland style holes. Something for everyone, and they look to be doing quite a lot of work on the course at present to adjust holes and bunkers.

Definitely worth a go.

With lot's of hills to not just walk up and down, but play along the side of, this course can be a testing but worthwhile experience. A good variety of holes, only tempered by the fact that at the time of playing the greens had had some work done to them so were more sand than grass. In a few weeks I would expect that to be very different.

Wasn't sure what to expect as there are different rumours/stories. Cowdrey Park golf is now leasing the club, and would appear to be spending time and money on bringing back a course hat had been left to rack and ruin. It's a work in progress, and if treated as such only big hitter will be disappointed here.

A pleasant course, that while being relatively short, doesn't feel like it. Definitely need to put a little thought into club selection, as the best result is not always the driver, even on the longer holes.
Course in great condition at present, and clubhouse nice. Look out for the little crapper trophy!