John Donaldson

Played here with the Army and I was here a few years ago. Great course. Open enough to allow for errors and easy to correct. Some lovely holes across lakes on par 3s. Some very challenging holes. This course is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. Nice clubhouse and friendly staff made for an enjoyable 2 days.

Played here today in one of their Open events. Was first off at 0800 so arrived at 0715 expecting to be allowed into the clubhouse to get a cup of tea and a breakfast bap . . . Place was all closed up and was not opening until at least 0800!! That was a bit of a poor show . . .especially when they were trying to advertise the club on its Open Week.

However, set off on time and the course is a real gem and definitely worth a visit. Nice greens and wide open fairways in some places. You need to plot your way round as there are some blind holes which can catch you out. I think you need to play it at least 2 or 3 times to get a feeling for where to try and put your ball.

Over all the place was great and the course was in good condition . . .even though we played half the round in the pissing rain!!

Definitely be back to play it again . . .when it’s sunny and I can get a cup of tea prior to heading out on the course.

Played here today with members from my military unit. Therefore we were given a “Blue Light” green fee - £15.00!! Can’t get any better than that.

The course was in decent shape - some of the tee boxes need attention and the greens were a bit bobbly, but otherwise the lads enjoyed it.

Nice friendly staff in the hotel which doubles up as the clubhouse.

Food was okay . . .

Overall a very good value you for money course which we will be back to play before the year is out.

Pinhal has really upped its game in terms of course management and service. The greens where some of the best we have played on and the remainder of the course was in superb condition. Friendly staff in a nice clubhouse. Enjoyed the beers afterwards. You have to manage your way round the course and not just hit a driver on every long hole. Lads really enjoyed playing this course and some said it was even better than the Old course which we played 2 days earlier.

However the cost of golf in Vilamoura is going through the roof in terms of green fees. It is expensive and when you add on 30 euros per person for a buggy you are talking near 180 euros per person a round.

But again with a tour company you get a better ate added in as part of the package.

Will definitely be back to play here again.

Was looking forward to playing this course as never been on it before. So drove 40 minutes to get there which was fine. Parked up and went into the pro shop. This golf club is attached to a large hotel so many non playing guests are around. Paid my 55 euros for the round which was fairly cheap as I was playing with a society I am part of here on the Algarve. Went up stairs to get some breakfast and a coffee . . . .the clubhouse was closed . . This was at 1000 in the morning . . .not a good start. I had to sneak down into the hotel restaurant and pinch 2 coffees! Thinking back I should have fronted it out and grabbed a full breakfast instead and gave them some made up room number!!

So headed out on the course. It is not in the best condition. Very tired looking and a bit of a mess to be honest. The fairways were scorched and even the aprons in front of the greens were in bad order with that type of grass which is not compact but very spongy . . Your clubs just go right underneath your ball into the grass so a lot of duffed shots with no distance whatsoever. The greens were good as they were very receptive and your ball was getting plenty of check and stopping well.

It was in the high 30s as far as temperature went but we didn’t see a refreshment buggy once in the whole 4 and a bit hours we were out there.

The clubhouse was open when we got in for a much needed drink.


Overall I would not recommend this course at this present moment in time until it gets. The fairways sorted out and a good tidy up. There are far better courses on the Algarve that are in pristine condition compared to this one. Give it a miss.

Played in an individual stableford golf day hosted by this golf club. They where having a week long festival of golf and this day was part of it so the green fee was only £36.00 which included tea / coffee and breakfast bap before the round and the 18 holes of golf. I believe it is normally around £50/60 per round on its own.

A great course and a pleasure to play. Would love to go back and play it again as I think you need to play it twice to get the best out of it. Some cracking par 3 holes which are a real test.

I highly recommend playing this course if you get the chance.

I played here twice as they have 2 different courses - The Faldo and the O’Connor courses. Both are a real test of golf. Buggies included in the package and you really need them as some of the tees are a fair distance from the last green! Some great holes to play on both courses and some great views.
the clubhouse is great offering all sorts of food and drinks to cater for your groups.
Practice facilities are great with a driving range and numerous putting greens.
All in all a great place to spend a couple of days golfing. Plus the weather helps even though it was a tad windy which reflected the high gross scores!!

Returned to play at Foxhills after my initial round was rained off a few months ago. Managed to join 3 lads and make up a 4 ball. Course had just had the fairways sanded which meant some shots were being played with a large amount of sand under your ball. Made it a bit Micky Mouse at times. Otherwise the course we played - The Longcross - was great. Challenging holes and a bit tighter course than the other Bernard Hunt one. Had a good game with only a few mishaps on the way round.

Great practice facilities and a nice atmosphere in the clubhouse. It caters for the tennis club and also the health and fitness club. Busy place.

Maybe a bit pricey but I was using the voucher I won from The Social Golfer so I was quids in!!

May go back . . . . .if I can get a deal!!

Played Morgado whilst on a golfing week with my military lads.

It took us an hour to get there from our hotel and to be honest the course and its sister course, Alamos, are very remote indeed. They seem characterless and a funny atmosphere at them. Some nice views, and the clubhouse was okay but nothing spectacular.

The fairways were dry as a bone and completely scorched in places. I think they have no watering system in place and only water the greens and tee boxes to keep them green.

If this was not part of the golf package then I would not be rushing back here to play. Better courses in the area for similar money.

I played 3 rounds around Westport GC which is located just outside the town of Westport in County Mayo in the west of Ireland.
A superb course which is very demanding indeed. Lots of long holes which are a severe test . . .a par 5 stroke index 18 is a bit of a beast!!
Superb views out to sea on the back 9 and a refreshing few drinks in the clubhouse that overlooks the course again with some stunning views. The scene out to Croagh Patrick is a great sight to be scene as you play up the par 3 15th.
So well looked after by all the staff and a course that I can thoroughly recommend to play if you ever end up in that area.

I played the Edinburgh course at Wentworth recently. The clubhouse was as expected . . Immaculate. Had a nice lunch in there before hitting the driving range to warm up. All free practice balls and with latest technology to allow you to assess your ball striking.

Course was in tip top condition and a really enjoyable round.

Got it for nothing which was brilliant.

Played the Addington today. Nice character clubhouse and friendly staff. used a free voucher to play a course which is usually about £60/70 a round. A lot of work is happening at the course so a lot of plant around doing some work. However it didn’t put us off. Great course and some very challenging holes. Loads of run and bounce off the fairways at this time of year. A bit of undulation to deal with and a few blind holes when driving off the tee box. Great views of London from high vantage points.

Definitely one to play in this area . . .even better when you get to play it for nothing!!

We played La Cala America which was a real challenge. Great course with an opening par 5 downhill which set the scene for a most enjoyable round. Tough track but the 18th is a great hole for you to test your nerve with a great drop to the final green.

Great clubhouse and atmosphere was good. Would definitely play this course again.

What a pleasure it was to play this course. I had heard a lot about it but was keeping an open mind. Well I need not have worried as it was a cracking course. Wide open fairways . . .but a lot of long holes to test the best of drives. Definitely a must play course if in that area.

Friendly staff serving great food and beers. Will definitely be back to play this course when we come back to the Costa del Sol.

Played here for the infantry in a match against the Royal Engineers. A great little course but a very challenging one. Definitely you need to think your way round this course and not just use the driver on every par 4 and 5. Nice clubhouse no friendly staff. Well looked after by all.

Definitely worth a visit if you are in that area.

Played a match here yesterday and it was just superb. This is one of the most prestigious courses in the area. It has 2 courses the red and the blue. I played the blue with an opening par 3 of 210 yards!! In front of the clubhouse!! Landed the ball 20 ft from the hole!! pressure was off!! A fantastic course which is really challenging with some extremely long par 4s!! So well manicured around the course. great little halfway hut for refreshments and then a nice bar to have a post match drink.

Overall I would recommend playing this course and have it up near the top of your must play list. Will definitely be back to play it again.

I have played Surbiton a few times now and it is always a tough track. There is a lot of work taking place at present and a number of trees are being uprooted and moved. However this does not detract from a great course that catches you out in many places. The greens had been sanded but were still very quick.

Once it dries out and the work has been finished this will be a great course and one I would fully recommend.

Cost me £25 green fee with a member.

Nice course . . .played here today in a Mizuno Matchplay event. Was expecting to have courtesy or at least a reduced green fee . . .but got stung for £36 at members guest rate. The pro in the shop is a bit miserable . . .and even all the members know that!!

Course was in great condition and many challenging holes. A pleasure to play. Definitely worth a go.

Had a few pints in the clubhouse afterwards with our opponents which was great.

Will be back for another round over the summer.

Just spent the last 2 days on a golf break at Prince’s GC.
All 3 x 9 hole courses were in superb condition with well cut fairways and superb greens.
We stayed at the Lodge which is adjacent to one of the holes and a short drive to the clubhouse.
Friendly staff who served great food and also in the pro shop where we were given free yardage books as part of the green fee.
We paid £170 for 2 rounds of golf, dinner bed and breakfast which I thought was a superb bargain.
Definitely go back there for the same deal.
A must try break as you will enjoy all 3 courses.

I have played this course many times and it is one of if not my favourite course on the Algarve. Everything about it oozes class and age. The clubhouse is old school and adds to the ambience of the course.

Some excellent views over the course and some daunting Par 3 shots looking down onto the greens. The layout and condition of the whole course is superb. It is one of the most enjoyable courses to play on the Algarve. No need for a buggy if you can walk it.

Nice to unwind with a beer in the clubhouse after your round knowing that it is only 5 minutes back to your hotel in Vilamoura.

A definite must play course when you are on the Algarve.

Played at Royal Ascot today for the first time. Nice clubhouse and a good atmosphere all round. A fairly flat course but quite challenging especially into a prevailing wind on a lot of the holes. A lot of out of bounds on some of the holes so you need to accurate off the tee box. A big difference between the white tee boxes and the yellows on some holes which makes a huge difference to your scorecard.

I would love to come back and play it again now that I have been round it once. An easy walk as it is so flat. Nice food and a drink in the clubhouse afterwards. All in all a nice day on the course . . . Just wish I could have played better!!! Always next time.

Played in the final of the TSG Matchplay today at Farleigh. Have to say that I was well impressed with the quality of the course. Good vibe in the clubhouse and well looked after.

Greens were in excellent condition and overall it was a pleasure to play there today. Will definitely go back for another round sometime soon.

Got a free round on the Ryder Cup course here at Gleneagles this morning. Played off the yellow tees which were challenging enough!! Weather as you would expect up here was not the best and it got considerably worse on the back nine!! The Gleneagles Hotel complex is just superb. 5 star all the way. Practice facilities with free balls to warm up with, then free course guides, tees, markers and pitch repair tools. The course just oozes quality the whole way round and to be honest whenever I stood on the yellow tees I always looked back to see where the pros played from in 2014!! Unreal the difference.

Shame the weather dampened the round but overall it was a pleasure to be given the opportunity to play this magnificent course. If you ever get the chance you have to play here.

Be warned a buggy costs £55, electric trolley is £27.50. An the average polo shirt in the pro shop is about £90!!

Not cheap but worth it.

Nice atmosphere in the clubhouse and very friendly staff. As for the course . . Great layout and a number of very challenging holes. Very windy today which made you think before each shot. Firm greens which ran true. You can really open up the shoulders and go for serious long drives off the tee.

As for value for money . . .superb as the manager is a very good friend of mine!!!

Will be back to play it again when hopefully the wind will have subsided a bit.

Definitely worth the trip to play there.

I have played Westerham GC many times since I joined it last September. As you arrive you can tell that you are in for a treat as the views coming down the 9th and 18th holes with the water features and fountains make it look special.

The practice facilities are great with a driving range, and a short game area , plus if you feel the need there is a short Par 3 course that you can go and establish your short game on a course.

As for the main course. . . It is a gem. I would say that you need to manage your round well around the course and you do not always need the driver for the par 4s and par 5s. Very testing in parts and you have to navigate a few water features on the way round. Some really tight drives so straightness off the tee box is essential on some holes. Two cracking par 3s at 11 and 13 will test your accuracy and distance as they both measure around 175 yards each. Coming down the 18th fairway towards the clubhouse is a view to behold and makes for a very exciting finishing hole over the lake to a difficult pin position.

The clubhouse provides excellent food and beverages and sitting out on the terrace on a sunny day watching others finish their round is a pleasant way to spend an hour or so after your round.

If anyone would like to play I should be able to get a discount rate for guests using some of my vouchers. let me check and if anyone fancies it then let me know. You will not be disappointed.

Regards

John

Played here twice over the weekend on a Your Golf Travel deal. Only £69 for 2 rounds , dinner bed and breakfast. Great craic and the course was okay to be honest. Tricky enough in places and a good test of golf. Greens a wee bit woolly but may not have had the green staff to keep cutting them. Friendly staff all round and a nice dinner and beers in the evening. Rooms were big with 2 x double beds in each one. Hotel a wee bit dated and in need of some TLC but for that money you cannot complain. Had an issue with tee times but it was all sorted out and staff in the pro shop were great. Nice way to have a friendly rounds or two with my mates.

A pleasant round of golf here yesterday. Nice undulating course with some great views looking over the holes. Would need to play it again as some blind holes where you only need a short iron to keep you in play instead of a driver etc. Nice facilities and welcoming staff. Would play it again.

Played here last night and thoroughly enjoyed the Course. Some really tough holes with no space for error!!. Greens were immaculate. Best I’ve played on recently. I was a guest of Golf Travel Centre so FOC on the green fee. So well looked after. Nice beer to finish off the round. Great setting and a very jovial and friendly club. Will definately be bac.

Played here last week and I was lucky as they had set the course up for the Pro Am the following day so it was immaculate. Even got to chat to Colin Montgomerie for 5 minutes before he teed off!! Nothing bad to say about the course as it was perfect. Even had a beer in the Pro shop afterwards as it was a scorching hot day!! A beautiful course that I have played many times. A must play course if you are in the area.

An average course to be honest. Decent enough layout but some of the holes seem pointless to the average golfer. The 8th hole in my opinion is a joke hole. A nice drive is rewarded with either a large wedge over 5 extremely tall oak trees or try and punch under. Just seemed pointless. A lot of the holes on the front 9 have large run offs to the left due to the very sloping fairways being on a hill. There is so much long grass just off the fairways that you spend half the round looking for balls! Even if you just run into the grass you can more or less say goodbye to your ball! Saying that I found more than I lost.
Will play it again as my mate is a member but I won’t rush back. Better courses charging a bit less in the area to play.

Played here last Wednesday and I have played this course many times. Very quick to get round as no hold ups or waiting on the players in front . . . .2 hours 45 mins . .well happy!! In good condition although fairways are a bit scorched and bunkers are unplayable!! But definately worth a look.

Played Gatton Manor last week with TSG and to be honest I was expecting a lot better than it actually was. The grass had been cut but all the cuttings had been left on the course so if your ball rolled off the fairway then it took forever trying to find as nearly every time it was hidden under a clump of cut grass. Also some of the tee boxes where a shambles. There just seemed to be a bit of a “couldn’t care less” attitude towards the upkeep of the course which is a shame as I think it could be a great little track if more care was taken over its maintenance. Was it worth the money? Sadly not this time.