Richard Adinolfi

Royal Epping has not received a review in a while so I thought I would give an updated opinion. There has been some changes here which have improved the overall experience of playing the course. I will come onto that shortly. As most people may know, this is a public course that is shared with two private clubs. One being Royal Epping and one being Chingford. It is also played on public land so one has to be attentive to walkers and dogs although they tend to stay out of the way most of the time. Practice facilities are pretty much non-existent except for a poor quality putting green next to the first tee. The green staff have changed in the last 18 months and the course is looking in much better condition. Tee boxes are not bad, fairways are pretty decent and the majority of the greens are running fast and true. The course is a mixture of tricky par 3s, shortish par 4s and 3 longish par 5s. You have to know your way around as there are no markers. Its under strict instructions to keep it as natural as possible. The cafe by the Pro Shop is new and not bad and after the round, the members of Royal Epping are usually friendly enough to sign you in so you can have a drink their bar, if you should ask them. It's one of those courses where you have to accept the pitfalls as it is shared with the public whom have right of way, but I certainly do not think it is a bad course on which to play golf... Good value for money as well.

Ashridge rates right up there for me alongside Woburn and is infinitely better than the Brabazon at The Belfry and other more famous courses. The practice facilities are good with a decent driving range, chipping green and putting area. The course itself plays like a woodland/heathland mix. Lovely fairways and true greens. Many interesting holes. The clubhouse is modern but inviting and the food is half decent. If I lived within 30 minutes of this place, I would join in a heartbeat....

I think we all know that this course has had a few issues over the past few years but you can certainly see the investment being thrown at it. The new clubhouse is nice and airy, bacon sarnie tasty and hospitality warm. No complaints so far...

With reference to the course, I think it has always been considered that Brentwood's strength was the layout and I would agree with this. The track is very enjoyable with only 1 or 2 weak(ish) holes. The quality of the course is better than I expected considering past reviews and I reckon it is going to be a scorcher of a course next summer. Greens were decent and fairways were tidy. Bunkers not too bad.

All in all it is a good course that is only going to get better and I can't wait to return next year when all the improvements have had a chance to bed in...

Nazeing has good facilities. A nice clubhouse with friendly staff, a good Pro Shop and practice areas. There is a putting green and a driving range. The course itself is not bad. The tee boxes could do with some TLC and the fairways were not bad. Greens were decent and fairly true. The worst part of the course is definetly the bunkers. Some were GUI and the others that were not should have been. Why is it so hard to get a decent bunker nowadays?!!!! All in all I enjoyed the round and would go back.

There is a lot to admire about North Weald Golf Club. There is a driving range, chipping green and practice green. The clubhouse is modern, the staff friendly and the breakfast decent. Unfortunately the course does not live up to the first impression. Don't get me wrong. It is a nice layout with several interesting holes. It is the condition that lets it down. It is quite scruffy in places and some of the bunkers are like concrete. The greens definitely need more attention which is a shame because the shapes and contours of the greens are generally very good and interesting. It is however, good value and I would return. If only those greens were like at other places, I would even consider joining as a member....

Taken as a whole, Hainult is good. There are 2 courses, a driving range, putting green and a cafe that serves up decent breakfast. However, taking the lower course as an individual entity, then I would have to say that it is an average course. The tee boxes were shoddy, the fairways not bad and the greens deathly slow. The standout hole is the 12th, which is nice but that is pretty much it. Certainly not the best pay & play but by no means the worst either....

What a gem?!!! A warm welcome from the Pro Shop and a TSG preferred rate of £20 for the round. Tee boxes were all in very good shape, the fairways were lovely underfoot and the greens were immaculate, fast and true. Some of the holes are quite similar to each other but that is just a small criticism of a place I very much look forward to returning.

Only other gripe is that the kitchen does not opne before 10am so don't expect a breakfast if you are teeing off early. A bit silly of them as there were in excess of 25 players in total teeing off before 10 and they could have made some money...Anyway, had a nice tuna sandwich after the game instead....

Despite enjoying my round of golf at Cambridge Meridian, I did feel that there could be further improvements. The fairways needed a cut and the greens were poor in some areas. The layout of the track is not bad but there are only 2 or 3 holes that stand out. I think the 1st is probably the nicest hole on the course. The bunkers that I did visit were awful. Was like playing off tightly packed gravel. however, the deal was so good that I would probably return, if only for the great breakfast....

Pedham has a huge car park and a decent enough club house. The breakfast was good and well priced. There is also a driving range. The main course is an aquired taste due to numerous dog legs and blind shots. Although I do not agree in principle with the title "inland links", I do find Pedham very good fun to go around. The fairways are generally in good nick and the greens true, although a little slow. The course was in fine condition. Couldn't tell you about the bunkers as I disn't find myself in one. It is a little pricey at the weekends but if you manage to play here when there is sunshine and little wind, you will not be disappointed and you should post a half decent score. I look forward to going back.