Results tagged “Golf” from Cordinc Blog

I'm just back from a fortnight's holiday to Scotland. While there I played at Scotland's most north westerly golf course, as Durness Golf Course is advertised. It is in Balnakeil just next to Durness. We visited on a sunny day and had to visit the nearby Balnakeil beach after our game.

The course is 9 holes, but each hole has four different tees for a bit of variety. On the men's white tees it is a 2762 yard par 35 course. The course has a few hills and on most holes you are hitting up, down or around them. The flag is obscured from many tees and you have to drive towards the marker posts and use the layout diagrams on the scorecard. Luckily, considering my play, the rough is not very rough. Also, there are few trees, thus players have a good view of the Scottish coast (which is very beautiful). Apart from its location, the course is probably best known for its 9th hole - a short 100 or so yards, enlivened by a good 80 of those yards being over an inlet to the Atlantic! I (unintentionally) donated my ball to the ocean. The photo below is from the tee.

It cost £15 for nine holes and £5 to hire a half set of clubs - they let me choose the clubs. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The club house is not much more than a lounge and changing rooms, although there are self service chocolates and drinks. The course was nearly empty with great views. If you are travelling through the area, I recommend going for a round.

On the weekend I played another local(ish) 9-hole golf course, the Leeds Castle Golf Course. As its name suggests it is on the grounds of Leeds castle in Kent. I had hoped that after the round we would be able to walk around the castle grounds, but unfortunately the course is in a physically separate section of the grounds so that wasn't possible. There are two separate entrances, one for the castle and one for golf. In any case with the scenery of a renovated moated medieval castle visible from most holes, I can say this is easily the prettiest golf course I've played. It is a good thing it has good views, because I played the worst golf of my life on this course. I lost about 8 balls. I'm not sure if it was just a bad day or the course layout. However, there are a good collection of water hazards and bunkers. Also, the rough is really rough - shin high grass that easily hides a wayward ball.

It is a par 33, 2681 yard, 9 hole course. Three par 3s and the rest par 4. It cost 19.50 for a weekend round plus hiring a decent set of clubs. Less on weekdays. The website states that booking is essential on weekends, but phoning a few days in advance I got the tee time of my choice and the course didn't seem too packed. There are few facilities other than a pro shop, but there is a nice pub right outside the entrance. I'd play again, but maybe after a few lessons.

On Saturday I played a round of golf at the Central London Golf Centre. The allure of this place is that it is the nearest golf course to me in South London. They also have a driving range, but I didn't use this. Parking is available and there were quite a few spaces empty on the weekend I went. Nearest train station is Earlsfield, about 15-20 minutes walk away. Booking is required for weekends, but tee time was fairly flexible. We arrived late but still started when ready. It cost £20 for 9 holes and club hire (cheaper on weekdays) - very reasonable. The hired clubs were only a random half-set, but between the two of us we had everything except a 3 wood, so we shared. If you need to hire and can't share clubs with your group, then check what you are given carefully.

It is a par 31, 9-hole course totalling 2,332 yards. Much of the detail I saw online spoke of an 18-hole course, but this involves playing each hole twice. There are four par 4's and the rest are par 3. It is a very straight course, the flag is clearly visible from the tee on all holes. Only on the 9th is there any impediment to a straight driver - a small lake. The holes are fairly tightly packed and we often encountered players on other holes playing across ours (and did the same a few times ourselves). It is a friendly course, good for beginners or a quick no stress round. If I lived nearer I'd definitely consider a membership, but my friend pointed out that it might get a little boring after regular play.

One caveat though, the food at the clubhouse is awful. Walk into Earlsfield if you want something to eat.

Back in May I decided it was time to learn to play golf. Since then I have been to a golf school, 2 golf courses, a driving range and an indoor video golf centre. I thought I would write briefly about them.

The James Andrews School Of Golf

I signed up for a 3 day residential training course with The James Andrews School Of Golf as a holiday. I greatly enjoyed the break. Although I can't claim to be a good golfer at the moment, I can say that I am a better golfer as a result of the course as I saw my swing improve over the 3 days (considering I consistently missed the ball entirely at the start). Indeed most of the course focussed on the swing. The general format was swing practice, putting/pitching practice, and then the swing again before lunch and having the afternoon to ourselves. Nice course, good teacher, highly recommended (although the food could have been better considering the cost). I certainly left feeling prepared to tackle a proper course.

World Of Golf

Unfortunately it took a while before I managed to get myself onto a proper golf course, so in the interim I kept up my driving skills with a couple of visits to World Of Golf, a local driving range. I never had to queue for a bay, itis £7 for 100 balls and you can hire clubs, not much more to say. I still go regularly.

Hobbs Cross Golf Course

My first proper game of golf was at Hobbs Cross. in Essex. It seemed like a friendly course, geared towards beginners. There was a 9-hole par-3 and another more normal 9-hole. For the record I was 57-over for the full 18. There was a driving range, but the café was closed - take your own food just in case. A good course and I'll go back eventually (it's a good distance away from where I live).

Beckenham Place Park Golf Course

Beckenham Place Park is probably the nearest course to my current abode. It is a cheap public course (£50 for 2 and club hire), and is a bit harder than Hobbs Cross. Aside from the golf, I was not greatly impressed: the hire clubs seemed poor to me; the café was disappointing (salad in sandwiches is apparently not often requested); there were many groups of kids wandering around and the toilets were closed. On the golf side, quite a few of the holes are uphill which causes me some problems. I'm in no rush to return.

City Golf

I was given a voucher for a complimentary session at City Golf, where you play golf inside, hitting your balls towards a video screen. While this was ok for driving practice, nothing else played as I would expect it. Putting was hopeless and so was trying to get out of the rough - there was just no feel. Although it was free to me, the costs seemed quite high. I doubt I am their target market. I can't imagine I'll be going back anytime soon.