Nick & Geraldine - My Golf Courses

This page tells you something about where I play golf.

I am a member of Oakmere Park Golf Club. You can find details of this by following this link. You might also find details of my recent triumphs on the results page.

http://www.oakmerepark.co.uk/

Recently, I have also played

Rufford Park, which is a pleasant and relatively undemanding course.
Mapperley Golf Club. I have played here twice. It superbly presented with fast greens that are difficult to read. I find it a nice course to play and, whilst a stiff walk, not as hard work as its reputation.
Kirby Muxloe Golf club. This season was my first visit there.It was as good a course as most I have played. Again very well presented. Every hole a different challenge and the advantage of a mature course that holes are well separated. It was also outstandingly friendly for a society day.
Blackwell Golf Club is an annual match. This course is not cheap but presents a superb day out. The fairways are almost to the standards of the greens on many courses and again, every hole is memorable. Having visited Blackwell annually for about 15 years, I would not wish to look elsewhere. It was particularly rewarding this year because we won the match for the first time for four years
Coxmoor Golf Club. This is the first time that I have played here. It is known as one of the best clubs in the Nottingham area and lived up to the billing. It was varied, interesting, well presented and very difficult.
Keddleston Park Golf Club. I play here every year on a corporate day. Like all corporate days, it is excellent value for money. I like the course. It is a scenic walk and a challenging course. Nevertheless, you can produce a good score if you hit the ball straight and putt well. (I got 39 points for a third place.)
Rothley Park Golf Club. This was my third or fourth visit here. It is always a pleasure to play. I enjoy established old fashioned golf clubs. Rothley is the epitome of this.Just to show that my liking for a golf club is not too heavily influenced by my performance, here I was 13th of 14 players with 22 points.
Builth Wells golf club. Played here as the first of a four round visit to mid-Wales. The front nine were a bit "up and down". The back nine were much more interesting and varied. Overall a good experience to play.
Llandrindod Wells golf club. An outstanding golf course high above the town. Every hole different and a challenge. The views from the course of the surrounding Brecon Beacons were outstanding. A marvelous course. (But we were there on a good day. It might be less inviting in wind and rain)
Cradoc golf course (Brecon). Mixed. Some good holes and some less good. The course was wet and not particularly well maintained. But we played another nine holes in the afternoon so it was ok.
Minchinhampton. Visited Minchinhampton twice this year and played a different course on each occasion. Played the Avening in winter and it was outstanding. Cherrington was the last stop on our tour. It was good but less exacting than the Avening.
Six Hills Golf Club. A very short, flat pay and play course. It was in good condition but the lay-out was undemanding and badly signed.
Belton Park Golf Course. Played all three nines here in a 36 hole day. The course was in good codintion but a little immature. The C course was a far less interesting 9 holes than the A or B. The society was extremely well looked after by the society coordinator.
Bondhay Golf Club. Played here on a senior's outing. The course was quite interesting if a little immature, with sufficient variety with water and trees. The course was heavily bunkered and the bunkers consistently had insufficient sand to enable a splash shot. Again the society was extremely well looked after.
Rufford Park again.
Radcliffe on Trent Golf Club. I played here on the Members Invitation. It has long been one of my favourite venues and I was not disappointed this time. Indeed, my enjoyment was increased by taking third prize.
Ramsdale Park Golf Course. I have played this several times, it is the course nearest to my home.It has a relatively undemanding front nine (althoug two groups in our match failed the front nine on route finding) followed by a very steep climb and a much more challenging and attracive back nine,
Chiltern Forest Golf Club. My brother used to be secretary here and I have played many times. It is always in good condition and every hole is well separated. The finish is horendouly difficult but it is always a pleasure to play.
Birstall Golf Cub. My first visit for a Senior's open. My view might be affected by the fact that it rained a good part of the way round. I found it an interesting course that was well presented and with a good variety of different holes. However, the greens were in poor condition and, like Bondhay earlier in the year, the bunkers had insufficient sand to allow a splash shot.
Kirby Muxloe. Another visit with our golf society confirmed this as one of my favourite golf courses in the area, although once again my performance was ordinary. In addition, for a variety of reasons our society representation was a feeble five compared with the 24 promised, but the club made us feel very welcome and waved away apologies, expressing hope that we return next year. A good example in customer service as well as a good golf club.
Ashley Wood Golf Club. The first of four clubs visited during this year's tour of Dorset. It was fairly wide open course with a number of interesting holes. It gave the impression of being fairly new, with less than mature trees. It had excellent views over Dorset, which unfortunately meant an uninterrupted path for the gale that was blowing when we played there.However, I feel kindly about the course because, with 37 points, I won the forst round of the tour.
Isle of Purbeck Golf Club. The second club on the 2006 tour.Unfortunately this round was played in gale force winds and heavy rain. This meant that we nearly lost the will to live as well as numerous golf balls. The challenge in those conditions was unfair. With 19 points, I finished 11th of 12, but onlu just. The course itself was superbly positioned overlooking Poole Harbour and each hole was different and challenging. It is unfortunate that the abiding memory will be of the weather. I hope to visit again one day and be able to enjoy it to the full.
Broadstone (Dorset) Golf Club. A fabulous place and the golfing highlight of the tour. It was a difficult heathland course with a lot of heather (including some carries from the tee). Fairways were tight and every hole had a character of its own. The course was superbly presented and, on retiring to the bar for sustenance, we were very well looked after and the members were friendly and genuinely concerned that we had a good time.
Donnington Grove Country Club. The final leg of the tour was at Newbury, on the way home. the course straddles the Newbury by-pass. Once again, the fairways were wide and the penalties for missing quite light. The course was clearly manufactured with most holes being longish with fairway bunkers either side at driving distance and greens well bunkered. There were very long walks (as in nature rambles) between the 8th and 9th holes, 9th and 10th holes and returning from the 18th green. The course was in good condition, apart from the tees, which were amongst the worst that I have ever seen.
Cotgrave Place Golf Club. Played here the latest time in a shotgun start Senior's open in December. The course was a bit wet and it was very windy, and raining hard at the end. All of this is no surprise in December. Other than that, it is a pleasant enough course with lots of water. I quite enjoyed it and played well.
Shirehampton Park Golf Club. Born and bred in Bristol, it is interesting to play the courses that surrounded us before we started to play golf. We played Shirehampton in January so probably did not see it at its best. The front nine, whilst short, were interesting and varied. The back nine were less so. Navigation was difficult for a visitor and, with fairways shared and crossing, I felt it both unfair and dangerous. Nevertheless, I played quite well and beat my brother. The reception by both staff and members was very friendly.
Moor Park Golf Club. We played here as part of big brother's 60th birthday celebrations. We played the West Corse because the High Course was closed following the big storm of the previous week that had damaged a number of trees. The course was well presented and quite interesting, althogh short. In an erratic round, I accumulated three birdies. The most memorable part of the club will always be the clubhouse. It must be the only golf club in the world with classical paintings on walls and ceilings in the dining room.
St Pierre (old Course). We played here early in February but all the greens and tees were in play. The course was in good condition except for a couple of really boggy bits - the best way round these was marked out. The welcome in the pro's shop, starters hut and bar were exceptional, particularly as we were Englishmen in Wales.The course was varied, interesting and difficult but fair. The early holes over the highr ground had great views and the later holes round the lake were spectacular to look at. One of the best. Yes, I played well too, hitting some of the best iron shots of my life, and I won 5 & 4.
Rufford Park again. This time it was a charity day assiciated with walking for children. Although I have played Rufford many times, this was the first time in winter. The course is quite a lot different in winter but the winter greens and tees are all in excellent condition and therefore the course remains a leasure to play, without being too challenging, and a pleasure to walk round.
Woodhall Spa (Hodgkin Course) again. This has become something of an annual pilgrimage for my brothers and me. This time was beautiful weather and the course again lived up to expectations. Any golfer who has never played the Hodgkin is missing out on lifes pleasures.
Rufford Park agan. This time a society day. Back to the summer course, which was in excellent condition early in the year. Shame about the poor way I played it.
Trent Lock. I played heare in a Senior's match.It was the first time that I have played the course in its current layout. I found it a boring course with little variety and the greens were very poor
Springwater Golf Club. Another Seniors match and another first. This course was well presented and varied and the greens were true. You hear stories about a muddy, hilly course. I was fortunate perhaps to play in a dry spell but I found it in good condition. Yes it was undulating but not unbearably hilly. I enjoyed it and will look for the match there next year.
Carholme. I played here in their Senior's open. We did not set the world alight. It was quite a pleasant course although the greens were in poor condition and they felt the need for elephant length rough.
Cosby Golf Club. My second visit, the first ten years ago or so. Course was even better than my fond memories an was in superb condition. The occasion was the Jubilee Meeting of John Player Golf Society. I came second and won the second division.
Whittlebury Park Country Club. Played here with Tim in the June monsoon. The course clearly has a drainage problem. There was a lot of standing water and soggy lies. Having said that, the course was well laid out and interestin and we are tempted to return during a dry spell.
Blackwell Golf Club. This was the annual Bristol vs Nottingham match for Imperial Tobacco. I have been playing this match at this course for over 15 years and it remains a highlight of the golfing year. The course, food and reception are outstanding. It is not cheap but gives excellent value for money. This year was very wet, not for the first time, but does not diminish the desire to return..
Maywood Golf Club. Played here in the Seniors Open. The course was very wet as a result of this soggy summer but was actually quite interesting and well kept. It clearly is harder than it looks in that our better ball score of 37 points was amnongst the prises.
Monmouth Golf Club.Played here with brother Jeremy on one of our days out together. It was very wet, a victim of this soggy summer. However it was a superb course with great views around and every hole different. It was jolly hilly but as a one-off this is ok. The welcome by the secretary and in the bar was great. The only downside was that I lost 2 & 1. And there is a scary narrow road leading to the club from the A40!
Bowood Golf & Country Club. Played here with brother Jeremy. Course was in very good condition but 12 of the holes were totally interchangable, with mounds both sides of the fairway with bunkers at the base and a large cross-bunker in front of the green. I lost the match but I don't think that this had much effect on my opinion of the course.
Stoke Rochford Golf Club. Played here again on a society day. It was again an impressive course only let down by the fact that the semi-rough was too long on blind tee shots so that we visitors had to spend significant time looking for balls
Cotgrave Place Golf Club. Another visit here. to the Senior's Open. The course was in better condition than on my more recent visits. We did reasonably well with 37 points. They have refurbished the club house in very reasonable way, although they sell no beer that is worth drinking.
Ogbourne Downs Golf Club. Played here with brothers Simon & Jeremy. It was a well maintained, interesting and varied corse with lovely views throughot. Many holes were side hill and the greens were tricky, but then, golf was never meant to be easy. Super course. By the way, I scored 31 points to get the best score by eight!
St Mellion Golf & Country Club The first of four courses visited on this year's goilf tour. It was the second tme that I have played it as well as watching the professionals play it. I played reasonably well to get 20 points. The best score of the twelve was 26 points. It is clearly a very difficult golf course and one that I would like to play at my best. I still think that it is the best golf course that I have ever played and also the hardest. Highly recommended, but probably not too often.
Churston Golf course - Brixham. The second leg of the golf tour. A very well presented and scenic cliff top course. I played my best golf of the week here and won with 38 points (off of a handicap reduced by 2 shots from my club handicap.
Woodbury Park Golf & country Club. Day three of the golf tour took us to Woodbury Park. It was a varied parkland course with huge slow greens. It was in super condition with very nice views. Overall, it was a championship course that can be played reasonably well by a handicap golfer (compared perhaps to St Mellion). However, to me it was a little manufactured - there are probably 50-100 similar golf courses in the country. In the afternoon we played a greensome on the Acorns course, which was a tidy nine hole course, although it could do with more signposting.
Oake Manor Golf Course. The final leg of the 2007 Golf Tour. My views might be coloured by the fact thjat I came last of 12 golfers. The course was quite pleasant and well presented with a great deal of water. It was an excellent chice for tour giving us four very different courses. Again it was perhaps too American for me - I prefer golf courses such as St Mekllion andWoodhall Spa that play the land as God made it.
Oundle Golf Club. Played here with Tim on a 2 for 1. Very frienly welcome by both pro shop and secretary. Course was in good condition and played at a good speed. Was a good members course with a good variety of different holes leading to a very enjoyable days golf. I would happily return any time. You need to be in decent form off the tee. There were several holes where the drive was accross a river valley to a fairway opposite and a consistent 100 yard carry was vital. We had only one failure between us but it is no place for a novice. A couple of niggles. there were several internal out of bounds. Golf is a game played on a field bounded by fences. Out of bounds is beyond these, not on the wrong fairway, etc. Finally, the course was a bit tight. The lowlight of this was the 11th and 14th sharing a fairway in opposite directions. This is vary scary to the visitor and appears highly dangerous.
Stinchcombe Hill. Played here with brother Jeremy on a foggy day in November. We followed the Seniors playing a Texas Scramble so the omens were bad. Nevertheless, we both played well and came away thinking what a nice golf course it was. We would like to return on a clear day to get the benefits of the views. I recommend the course to anyone and commend the good reception both in the pro's shop and the clubhouse. By the way, I won 2-up.
Kibworth golf club. Played here with Tim. Very well received. Good well kept pleasant and very flat course, but interesting enough. We had a close game, I won 2 up. The highlight was the professional telling us that most of the tees were in play. They were not. We played 16 temporary tees. Why did he say anything?
Woodhall Spa. We played the Hodgkin course again this March. It was a super day and the course was as memorable as ever. I don't think it is a course of which you can tire. We won by 4 points. My score of 29 was the highest individual.
Cotgrave Place (again). Played here in a poorly attended senior's open. It was still off of purpose built winter tees, most of which were behind the medal tees. This made the course cruelly long when it is cold and the ball neither flies well nor runs on landing. The greens were awful, very patchy growth and uneven. We did not see the course at its best this time.
Renishaw Park golf club.This was the John Player golf society spring meeting. It was memorable because it was the best attended meeting for two years. The course was very wet and soft. Havong said that, every hole was different, I walked off with 28 points and felt that I had left at least 10 out there. I then found that mine was the fourth best score, with three people scoring fewer than 20 points. The course, then, was the winner. The meal was very tasty roast beef. It was the first time that I have seen one waitress trying to serve a three course meal to 18 golfers. Under the circumstances, she did very well.
Worlebury Golf Club. Played here with brother Jeremy on one of our periodic "two for one" matches. It was a lovely course with good views on every hole either of the Bristol Channel, the Somerset levels or the Mendip Hills. The course itself was in superb condition and very well presented. There were a lot of short par 4s and you feel that it is a course that you should be able to score well on. I got 29 points and won by two holes. Neither of us thought that we played well, but who really knows? Well worth a visit if you are in the area.
Maywood Golf Club. My second visit here was in a seniors match. The course played much better than my visit last year except that the fairways were cut longer than I have seen on any course before. The greens were quite fast and difficult to read. The clubhouse was disappointing. Maywood insisted on collar and tie for dinner (of which I approve as a rule) however, with 24 golfers wishing to use two weak showers in a cupboard that comfortably seats four people is hopeless.
Newark Golf club. Played with Alan in the seniors open. Course was superbly presented and welcome good. It is a dead flat but very ineresting and varied course. And it is sneaky long. Played pretty well, we got 38 points and I got half a dozen pars; pretty good for a strange course.
Longcliffe Golf Club. Played here on the Jubilee meeting of John Player golf society. Never one of my favourite courses, it was very well prepared and welcoming and the greens were the best I have seen in some 20 years of golf. The course overall was horrendously difficult, with the ball boucing off of narrow sloping fairways into deep rough. Like so many courses, they think that adding deep rough is a macho thing when in fact all it does is generate slow play and frustration. It is not necessary on a difficult tree lined course. The course can look after itself! By the way, I won the Jubilee cup this year so have no reason otherwise to complain.
Harewood Downs Golf Club. This is brother Simon's golf club in Buckinghamshire. I played here in an invitation day as the guest of the secretary, playing with the captain and his guest. The course is not particularly long but interesting and well kept. The club is a vibrant social affair with nice, mainly wealthy members. Once again the criticism is of thick rough, leading to lengthy sodjourns looking for golf balls, interrupting the flow of the game and the concentration and leading to very long rounds. Harewood, like Longcliffe, is difficult enough on its own and doesn't need these defences. Unlike Longcliffe, I played fairly badly but still had an enjoyable day.
Rufford Park. This year's visit to Rufford was as a late stand-in for a society day. Rufford was as ever well presented, a pleasant walk and none too demanding as a golf course. I always enjoy Rufford and today was no exception. We would have been amongst the top scores.
Doncaster Golf Club. Played here in a senior's open on a glorious day in July. The course was a good old fashioned tree lined course of moderate difficulty. There was no hay like rough so we were able to get round at reasonable speed. The match result was all square on 35 points, so we did not set the place alight. Overall a pleasant experience.
Ruddington Grange Golf Club. Played here with Alan in a seniors open. Course well presented. Front nine has no memorable holes but there is a strong finish over the last few holes, most of which have water that needs to be carefully negotiated. We played reasonably well with 38 points (2 behind Jack & Tony). One major complaint. There was a 25 minute wait at the 10th. This was probably caused by somebody sheltering from the rain. It destroyed our rhythm, cost us several shots on the next two holes and reduced our enjoyment of the day. Better marshalling please if you have a two tee start.
Birstall Golf Club. Played here for the second year in their Senior's open competition.The course was again well presented and very enjoyable. The fact that Alan & I beat Jack and Tony and only just missed out on the prizes makes even more plus points.
Wheatley Golf Club. (course number 121 that I have played) Played here in the Seniors open. This time Jack and Tony beat Alan and me, despite our playing well. The difficulty of the course is illustrated in the fact that we played well for 36 points and they were well in the prizes with 41. The course looks unpromising, sitting on an industrial estate in Doncaster. However, it is a lovely course. Every hole is different and the course was in superb condition. It was unusual in that it had only three par 4s on the front nine. I think that we will return next year.
Erewash Valley Golf Club. This was the autumn meeting of John Player golf society, played on a wet day in September. The course was superb although damp with preferred lies. The greens true and surprisingly fast considering the wet. I thought that I had cracked it after pars on the first two holes, both par fives, but returned to reality and finished third with 31 points.
Southwell Golf Course. Played here in a seniors match. It was pouring with rain so we played only the less interesting nine holes in what is at best a very ordinary golf course. We lost our match, the team scores were level.
Torquay Golf Club. Played here with brothers Simon & Jeremy during a weekend in Devon visiting Jeremy. The course was empty at 10:30 on a Saturday morning, with nobody in sight behind us for the whole round. The course was scenic with a good variety of holes. The views from the top were outstanding. The eight and ninth holes were especially memorable. I played well, getting at least two points on each of 17 holes and finishing with a birdie in the eighteenth to give me 39 points, a comfortable winner. Shame that the greens were slow and bumpy.
Woodhall Spa - Bracken. Our second visit here was the first day of the 2008 golf tour. We played on the Sunday afternoon after travelling to the venue. The course was in fairly good condition considering the amount of rain we had suffered earlier in the day. I remembered very little from the previous visit although it was a nice enough course. My 25 points left me the best in our three ball but seventh of the eleven players on tour.
Woodhall Spa - Hodgkin course. The second day of the golf tour was our second visit here this year. It remains one of the best and hardest courses that we have played. The scary bunkers and heather are the lasting impression. I am beginning to get the skills to get out of some of the bunkers/ My 29 points, sharpened by 7 points in two holes at the 14th and 15th won the day on tour and moved me up to the top half of the field.
Spalding Golf Club. Day three of the tour at Spalding arrived with a hang over from excessive wine the day before.The corse was nice, well presented and surprisingly difficult, although not as difficult as we made it. After 9 points on the front nine, I recovered a little as the hang over lifted to finish with 25 points, towards the middle of the field.
Lincoln Golf Club, Torksey. The final day of the tour after an altogether more sensible evening. Torskey was well worth the visit and worth a return. Every hole was different and there were a variety of different challenges from water, length, accuracy and strategically placed bunkers. I started like a house on fire with 17 points after seven holes. This turned into 18 after 9 to 30 overall, into fourth place on the day and fourth place on tour. Most importanly it moved me comfortably ahead of brother and room-mate Simon
Woodhall Spa. Hodgkin course again, this time our regular early spring visit with brthers Jeremy & Simon and Berni making up the four ball. This was the first time we have been in February. We were blessed with a mild dry day. The course was much less crowded than our previous visits, adding a little to the enjoyment. The only downside, I did not play well and Jeremy & I lost by one point.
Ladybank golf club. Played here as a warm up to St Andrews. It was a superb wooded course. Very flat & in very good condition. The downside was the greens. They were extremely slow and a little bumpy. I imagine this was the result of their preparation for the summer season. The welcome was good. I won the day with 31 points and we all enjoyed the course overall.
St Andrews - The Old Course.Playing here was the fulfillment of a long held ambition. We did it as my 60th birthday treat. The day was very windy with the wind off the left into your face on the front nine, accompanied by rain from holes 2 to 5. It was much more favourable on the back nine, of course. The course was in superb condition with the huge greens slick and true even at the end of March. The atmosphere of the place and the welcome were superb. The situation, seen so often on TV was outstanding. I think that we were priviliged to play the course on a difficult day to give greater appreciation of its problems. The overall experience exceeded our extremely high expectations.
Springwater golf club. My second visit here and I think there has been improvement. The course, though hilly, is interesting and well presented. The clubhouse continues to leave a lot to be desired. The game was a seniors match. Our game was halved and we won the match.
Radcliffe on Trent Golf Club. This has always been one of my favourite clubs in the area. The JPS Golf Society spring meeting was my first visit for a couple of years. The course and clubhouse have been further improved in the mean time and it remains a lovely place to play golf. There is little rough. There is no need for any. The course holds its own. The only disappointment on this visit was the variability and general slowness of the normally superb fast greens. But we had a very friendly welcome and a good game. The meal and service in the evening were superb. Particularly so because there was another party of 45 as well as our 16. By the way, my 35 points was the highest of the society, winning the spring bowl.
Maywood golf club. My third visit here was in a seniors match. In as much as I can remember most holes from previous visits, it is an interesting layout. There are a number of tees where club selection is important, giving members a big advantage. Previous visits have found the course wet and heavy. This visit was in a dry spring and the course was in good condition and was interesting. Much fonder memories than previous visits despite losing 3 and 2.
Coxmoor Golf Club. My second visit to one of the premier courses in Nottinghamshire. This was the Jubilee meeting of the John Player golf society. I played one of the best rounds of my life, winning the competition with 39 points from a handicap of 15, four shots reduced because of two recent wins. I hit the ball better than ever and holed puts from all over Nottinghamshire. Unsurprisingly, I really enjoyed the course which has a couple of memorable par 3s and was in excellent condition. I like the fact that all holes were separate; you see only the hole that you are playing at any time. Everybody associated with Coxmoor was very nice and helpful.
Norwood Park Golf Club. My second visit here was for a seniors open. I played much better than the first visit but still find nothing to recommend the course. The front nine is unfair to visitors, In particular the fourt and fifth holes. Ther fourth is a completely blind drive towards water with no such thing as a marker post. On the fifth I played the first two good shots without any idea of direction or distance. I was stopped playing to the wrong green by a playing partner. (I finished with a net par, so it is not sour grapes). The back nine contains two good holes, but the remainder is immature and featureless. We finished third in an Am/Am.
Isle of Purbeck Golf Club. Played here with brother Jeremy while on holiday in Dorset. We had previously played the course on the October 2006 golf tour but the weather had been horrible, with horizontal rain and a strong enough wind to blow electric trolleys over. The contarst this time could not have been greater, with hot sunsine and little wind. The course was fast and difficult, to miss the fairway was usually a lost ball and at least two shots. However we both played well and deserved more than the 29 points with which we halved the match. The views out over Poole harbour were out of this world on every hole. It will remain with us for a long time as an outstanding golfing experience.
Blackwell Golf Club. Returned here for the annual works Bristol vs Nottingham match after missing a year. The course and welcome were as good as ever. The course is quiet and in superb condition and every hole is memorable. The meal after is also great. I played reasonably well this time but unfortunately we lost our match on the 18th and our team lost 4 matches to 3. Must be one of the worst omissions from the top 100 golf courses.
Cosby Golf Club. My fourth visit here was with Alan to play in the senior's open. The course and the welcome remain as good as ever and I would continue to recommend the course highly. We did not set the world on fire with our 34 points but it was Alan's first visit and he is keen to return next year.
Birstall Golf Club. My third visit here was once again in the seniors open on a very hot August day. As ever the course is interesting with the holes well defined. The greens this year were lightning fast and took a bit of getting used to. Overall, a good positive experience and a club recommended for a visit.
Painswick Golf Club. Played here with brother Jeremy on a 2 for 1 day. Course is short but interesting with a lot of blind holes. Generally the outward nine were very enjoyable where we had the course to ourselves. Playing the back nine we encountered the problems that we had anticipated on the front of using shared fairways played in opposite directions. The 11th hole was hopeless. An unmarked drive effectively over the 6th green and a high hill to an unseen fairway. I creamed a drive and never saw the ball again.. This is the sort of hole that can ruin a days golf. The 13th brought a unique experience with a green with no hole. The views throughout the round were superb and the welcome by the few members we saw was good. It was disappointing that the bar in the clubhouse was closed when we finished our round at about 2:00. Overall, the course is well worth a visit. Once. Incidentally, Jeremy played some excellent golf, particularly on the front nine, and won the match comfortably.
Rufford Park Golf Club. Played here again in the autumn meeting of the John Player Golf Society. As ever, the course was in excellent condition and the welcome and food very well done. The course played harder than usual with the greens very difficult. My initially disappointing 30 points got me into third place.
Ashburnham Golf Club. This was the first course of the 2009 golf tour in the Swansea area. We played it in a reasonable breeze and, initially, a drizzle. The first and last two holes connect the club house to the dunes and are relatively undistinguished. The remainder were a classic out and back links. The greens were disappointing, having recently been hollow tyned and treated. They were slow and bumpy.It was possible to score well provided that you kept your ball in play as I proved with a winning 33 points off of 17 handicap (two below the club handicap) Overall, a very pleasant start to four days golf.
Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club. Day two of the golf tour and a classic links course. We played the back nine first and these were undoubtedly the best. The course wound its way through the dunes. There were blind shots but, unlike the horrors of Perranporth, you could always see where you were playing and more or less where the ball landed. The second half was less in the dunes and as much parkland as links. The greens were superb throughout. This course will live in our memory for some time. I was down to 27 points, but this time off of 14 shots (now five below the club handicap).
Pennard. Probably the best of four great courses on tour this year. It beats P & K through the sheer friendliness of the members. It was a lovely links like course with some outstanding holes and outstanding views. Once again the greens were great. There was the added difficulty of cattle grazing on the course but this caused us no difficulty with either the cows themselves or their deposits. The highlight for me was the fifth hole, where I won the nearest the pin, leaving myself a six inch putt for the birdie. Another 26 points, now off of 13 handicap (six below the club handicap)
Rolls of Monmouth. The last and least of the four excellent courses on this years tour. The setting was superb about the mansion and there were good holes. However, the overall impression was of a rather bland open course which rewarded those big hitters who are not necessarily straight. The contrast in the few members we saw with those at Pennard could not have been greater. Here the members seemed to be shaven headed yobs in buggies who hit golf balls at their guests rather than welcome them. None of this is affected by the fact that I came joint last with 23 points off of 13 handicap. (Still six below the club handicap) although it had a serious negative impact on my enjoyment if the course.
Kingsthorpe Golf Club. Played here with Tim on an autumn day out. The approach to Kingsthorpe does not bode well. It sits in one of the less posh areas of Northampton. The high spiked fences separating the club from the main road add to the poor initial impression. The small car park was full and the unsurfaced overflow car park is in the green keepers' bay. The whole feeling is of cluttered claustraphobia. Then you begin to play the course. We started at the 10th, where the poor initial opinion is harder to dispel. Balls were difficult to find from apparently good but blind shots. Then suddenly the course grows on you. It is a fairly short course but the holes are well defined, different from each other and offering difficult challenges. The greens were slow but challenging. The fairways narrow but fair. It is a very enjoyable course and the natives were very friendly. A commendable day out. I beat Tim by one hole. We both played well in an enjoyable day out.
Mapperley Golf Club. Played here in the Spondon Trophy, a first visit for five or so years. It was also the first visit at this time of year. The course is nice, although very hilly. But it was very wet and the greens were multi-paced after top dressing. Overall the course was a long way from the immaculately presented version with perfect fast greens that I remember.
Woodhall Spa. Back to Woodhall for what has become an annual spring pilgrimage with brothers Simon & Jeremy and friend Berni. It was probably the best weather we have ever had there and the course was once again superb. We all played some reasonable golf. Alas Simon & Berni won by one point. I had the consolation of the highest individual score of 31 points, highly respectable on this course.
Ormonde Fields Golf Club. This was the spring meeting of the John Player Golf Society. It was my second visit to the course, some 20 years after the first. The course is quite nice and varied. It could be radically improved with graphics on each tee illustrating the hole, as most are blind and there are a lot of concealed water hazards, both ponds and ditches; and posts marking the ideal line off of the tee. The first hole is the best. it looks scary from the tee, with a large pond between tee & green. We were well received by both the professional and the caterers. Overall a pretty good day despite my scoring the lowest with 21 points. (I parred the difficult first!)
Maywood Golf Club. This was I think my fourth visit to Maywood, this time for a seniors match. The course was in the best condition that I have seen. One of its disadvantages is drainage and we were there after a dry spell. They had made the most of it and both the greens and fairways were excellent. My feelings might be affected by the fact that I played well and Bob & I won 3 and 2, although the team lost.
Newark Golf Club. Played here in the seniors open for the third year running. We had advance notice that the course was in less good condition than usual. That notice was rubbish. As ever the fairways and greens were excellent, as was the welcome and the organisation of the event. Newark always seems a fair test with very few ordinary holes. One thing was different this year; Alan and I played well. We came third with 44 points, winning a Cleveland lob wedge. The source might well be mentioned every time the wedge is used!
Stoke Rochford Golf Club. Played here in the Jubilee meeting of John Player Golf Society on a lovely day. The course was in the best condition I have seen an four visits. The greens were difficult but superb. The welcome by both the professional and the catering staff was great and a good day was had by all. I personally did pretty well with 35 points on what is a tough course, missing out on the cup but winning the first division.
Droitwich Golf & Country Club. Played here in tha annual match against Bristol after Blackwell let us down. Very pleasant golf course with some interesting holes. Quite short and much less demanding than Blackwell but a really good society course. We were well looked after at all stages of the day. The catering was superb. The best compliment to the course was that the members want to go back next year. By the way, I won my match 2 and 1 although the team lost overall.
Cosby Golf Club. Played here in the Seniors Open for the second year. It remains one of the nicest and friendliest course in the area. The only down side is that it seems to attract damp weather. The course is not long but not easy despite this. It is always in great condition and a good variety of holes. Once again we were paired with members who were good company and welcoming. We did ok with 39 points.
Wheatley Golf Club. Another day, another seniors open, played in light rain when all around had heavy rain. The course was ok although nowhere near as well presented as our previous visit two years ago. And it is a bit pompous: no prizes unless you fill in an apologies card. No indication of how you might get one of these. Our 39 points was not good enough for prizes but probably not far away. A good day but not a great one.
Rushcliffe Golf Club. This was the autumn meeting of the John Player Golf Society and an unusual opportunity to play a course in the Nottingham area that is new to me. I found the course pretty good, with fairways in immaculate condition and greens scarily fast but true. Once used to them I actually prefer to putt on fast greens. The highlights of the course are the outstanding par threes and the good views at all times. Yes I know that some of the views are of the gypsum factory but what hey. There are those who complain that it hilly but they must have led a sheltered existence. I played fairly well to take third place with 31 points.
Kings Lynn golf club. The first stop on the 2010 golf tour. We started in the rain, although the weather improved and we finished in shirt sleeves. The course was tight and tree lined. The areas under the tres had short grass so that the ball was always findable and play was reasonably fast. The presence of trees was punishment enough. The course was good but short on memorable holes. All holes were dog leg left and tree lined. I played well and won with 32 points from a handicap of 17. Would be quite happy to return.
Shreringham golf club. Superb cliff top course. The views from the high point were outstanding even on a misty day. The cliffs and the Nort Nofolk railway framed the course superbly. I started like a train with 19 points on the front nine from a handicap of 15. The back nine was a different story with nine points. Perhaps getting tired after the excitement of the Ryder Cup.Nevertheless, 28 points from a handicap of 15 makes a respectable 31 from my club handicap. Superb course, worth going out of your way to visit.
Hunstanton Golf club. The home course of the tour. We stayed in Old Hunstanton. Also the best course of the tour, a proper championship links. The welcome was good, The club house was a proper old fashioned place (as had been Sheringham) and the course was excellent. I went out first with Iain in a two ball. We did not play great but though that 22 points each was middle of the pack (still off of 15). It turned out that we were joint last. The winner, Tim, had an unlikely 33 points.

Thetford Golf club. The final stop on tour and back to a trree lined course, part parkland, part heathland. It was faily pleasant but gave a little the impression of being in need of a little tlc. The fairways were cut too short with many bald patches. The greens were pretty good and the course was tough. My 24 points, now from a 17 handicap, put me in the top half. A good course but far from a great one.
The Players Golf Club (Codrington Course). A new club in home town of Bristol played with brothers Jerry & Simon and Berni. We played it on a damp day in early November but thankfully the rain held off. The course played short because of the winter season and was damp, particularly the tees. It is an American type course with lots of water, clearly designed, apparently succesfully, to attract championships. There are a mixture of memorable water holes and some fairly ordinary inland holes. The course needs time to develop, it feels new. However, we had an enjoyable day, Jerry & I winning the match with something to spare. My 36 points was the best individual, testament to a good round of golf, although there were, as usual these days, three bad holes of zero points. Worth a visit and would be prepared to return in high summer. We had buggies that were quite necessary with several long hikes between holes.
Woodhall Spa Golf Club. A return for our annual visit, this time unfortunately without Jeremy, therefore a 3 ball. The course was outstanding as usual but in great condition for April. I played it the best ever, amassing 39 points , the highest score by some distance. Simply one of the best courses I have ever played.
Bulwell Forest Golf Club. The first time that I have played the course nearest to my home. It has never looked particularly attractive but turned out to be an interesting short course with some memorable par 3s. We played and won a match. I beat a local 5 handicapper 2 up in a great game. Overall a pleasant surprise but you would not want to play there every week because the non-golfing residents of Bulwell use it as common land and wander all over the course.

Keddleston Park Golf club. This is a favourite of mine. Every previous visit has been on a corporate day with Acordis and I was not infrequently amongst the prizes. However these stopped when I retired and I was pleased to return with John Player Golf Society. The course was as good as I remember and I played it as well as ever, winning the Jubilee cup with 39 points, four points higher than the next man. Perhaps I should ask for membership. A great course.
Rufford Park golf club. Played here again with Tim, when we wanted to get out of the house just after Geraldine died. A nice course in good condition with all holes different, but I knew that already after several previous visits. Perhaps surprisingly under the circumstances, we both played very well. I won the match with 44 points.
Gloucester Golf Club. Played here with brother Jeremy in early August. We followed a junior open but it was not a problem. The first part of the course was a bit ordinary but after climbing the twelfth ("Cardiac Hill") there were some memorable holes. Not least of these was the eighteenth, 384 yards from the yellow tees, straight down hill, parallel with the ski slope. My drive finished about six inches short of the green. The club was very friendly. The only negative of the whole day was that Jeremy won by one hole.
Cosby Golf Club. Another personal favourite whose seniors open has now become a regular for Alan and me. We have yet to threaten the prizes bit it is always a good day on a proper old fashioned golf club. This year it was harder than ever because of the dry summer. The course was rock hard and provided a lot of uneven bounces and the greens were lightening fast. But it was like that for everybody and does not excuse our better ball score of 33.
Bondhay Golf Club. Played here on the Seniors' away day from Oakmere. I won the competition with 28 points from a 3/4 handicap. One of my playing partners scored 8 points. This illustrates the difficulty of the course which, in my opinion, makes it unsuitable for societies. This was my second visit to Bondhay and it confirmed that it is not my favourite course. It is a long, American style course with a lot of bunkers. The 10th and 11th are good holes but none of the others are memorable, apart from the 18th which is just silly. The course was in excellent condition and we were well looked after but I do not care if I never play there again. Unusually for a course on which I won.
Caversham Heath Golf Club.This is the club that Tim has just joined. It is a fairly new club and the course is in places a little immature but it is quite long, quite difficult and a pleasure to play. Every hole is a bit different and there are rarely places where you see people playing other holes. A trolley is necessary because it is a long walk. There are fabulous views over Reading from several holes. By the way, I won by a dog license.
Southwell Golf Course. This was my third or fourth visit to this tight course at Southwell Racecourse. It is not my favourite course. It is tight and featureless on the front nine to fit within the boundaries of the racecourse. But it is a friendly enough place and the clubhouse does you proud. The bar was odd. I ordered drinks but the barman served two members in the time he was pouring mine!
Rothley Park Golf Club. Another visit here for the autumn meeting of the John Player Golf society. It is a lovely old fashioned course. It is not excessively long and does not seem to be striving for championship length. Nevertheless, it is not easy. Every hole is different and there are rarely more than two holes in sight. The welcome was great and everybody was very helpful. A great day out. I scored 33 points from a handicap of 16, reduced for a win at the previous meeting. 37 points was the best of the day.
Melton Mowbray Golf Club. Visited here with Tim. Most I spoke to before visiting gave rave reviews, which lead to a disappointment. It is a very acceptable flat course. Fairways are reasonably wide and most par fours are about 350 yards. It would be ideal for a society. However it is mostly flat 350 yard par 4s with no real features. There were no memorable holes. I won 6 and 5 and felt that I played fairly poorly not to play to handicap.
Harewood Downs golf club. This is brother Simon's club. This was my third or fourth time playing. It is one of those nice old fashioned members clubs, which does not aspire to the huge length of "championship course" or the society friendly "resort course" status. It is an interesting course with a number of memorable holes. I have yet to play this course well, yesterday's London Shoe an Leather golf society meeting being no exception. The greens were very slow and I could not really come to terms with them. Given the pathetic performance on and around the greens, thirty points was quite an achievement.
Oulton Hall. First venue and residence for 2011 golf tour. Not the greatest course in the world. We played the third nine followed by the second nine. There was one memorable hole in what must have been one of the longest rounds of golf in history. The course was ok but vastly overplayed. I finished fourth with 34 points which is quite respectable.
Alwoodley. Second venue on 2011 golf tour and the best. Fabulous heathland/inland links golf course. Not easy. Lots of heather. Just a beautiful place to play golf. Nobody there. Good reception. Pleasant staff. No code on locker room and fantastic course. 27 points was quite respectable and left me reasonably placed to challenge.
Fulford Heath. Day 3 of the 2011 golf tour. Heath is a bit misleading. It is a long, mature tree lined parkland course. It was a very nice course but few distinguishing holes. It grew on me as we played. I won the day with 35 points to move into overall second on tour. A good course but not a great one.
Lindrick. Final venue on 2011 tour. We played this in a gale and quite frankly, it was too difficult for us. After five points from seven holes my concerns were more with the wooden spoon than the trophy. I set myself a target of 20 points. I achieved this with two points on the last taking me to the giddy heights of 21. This took me past the overnight leader but unfortunately behind the overnight third, so I remained in second place. The course was a pleasure to play. The greens were the fastest I have ever played, which added to the general unplayability of the course in the conditions. Every hole was different and the welcome was good. I would love to return under more benign conditions.
Saltford golf club. Played here in December in a pre-Christmas meet with brothers Simon & Jerry. The course was in great condition for December and the greens surprisingly fast and true. The front nine were ok, but short on memorable holes. The back, however was very much better although hilly. Would very happily return. a good course and there was nobody there. In addition, I played well and won the day comfortably with 37 points.

In the days before starting this web site, I have been a member of first Elderslie Golf Club in Paisley and then Mendip Spring Golf Club near Bristol.

Over my 20 odd years of golf, I have played quite a lot of courses. These include:

Alfreton Golf Club
Alice Springs Golf Club
Alwoodly golf club
Ashburnham Golf Club
Ashley Wood Golf Club
Auchterarder Golf Club (several times)
Aylesbury Golf Centre
Belmont Hills Golf Club, Bermuda
Belton Park Golf Course
Belton Woods Golf Course (Lakes course)
Belton Woods Golf Course (Woodside course)
Biggar Golf Course
Birstall Golf Club
Bondhay Golf Club
Blackwell Golf Club(several times)
Blairbeth Golf Club
Bowood Golf Course (Calne)
Bowood Park Golf Course (Cornwall)
Breadsall Priory Hotel & Country Club (several times)
Broadstone (Dorset) Golf Club
Builth Wells Golf Club
Bulwell Forest Golf Course
Canwick Park Golf Club, Lincoln
Carholme Golf Club
Caversham Heath Golf Club
Cawder Golf Club
Chiltern Forest Golf Club (several times)
Chilwell Manor Golf Club (several times)
Churston Golf Club
Clober Golf Club
College Pines Golf Club
Collingtree Park Golf Club
Cosby Golf Club
Cotgrave Place Golf & Country Club (Masters Course)
Cotgrave Place Golf and Country Club (Open Course)
Coxmoor Golf Club
Cradoc Golf Club
Doncaster Golf Club
Donnington Grove Golf Club
Downes Crediton Golf Club (several times)
Droitwich Golf and Country Club
Edwalton Golf Club
Elderslie Golf Club (member)
Elfrather Muhle Golf Club, Germany
Erewash Valley Golf Club
Fingle Glen Golf Club
Fulford Heath golf club
Gloucester Golf Club
Golf de Rigenee, Belgium
Harewood Downs Golf Club
Heaton Park Golf Course
High Bullen Golf Course
Hinkley Golf Club
Hunstanton golf club
Isle of Purbeck Golf Club
Ipswich Golf Club
Ivinghoe Golf Club
Kibworth Golf Club
Kingsthorpe Golf Club
Kirby Muxloe Golf Club
Knowle Golf Club (several times)
Keddleston Park Golf Club
Kings Lynn golf club
Ladybank Golf Club
Launceston Golf Club
Lincoln Golf Club (Torksey)
Lindrick Golf Club
Llandrindod Wells Golf Club
Long Ashton Golf Club
Longcliffe Golf Club (several times)
Lyshott Heath Golf Club
Mapperly Golf Club
Maywood Golf Club
Mendip Spring Golf Club (member)
Meltom Mowbray Golf Club
Mid Ocean Golf Club, Bermuda
Minchinhampton Golf Club (Avening course)
Minchinhampton Golf Club (Cherington course)
Monmouth Golf Club
Moor Park Golf Club
Morley Hayes Golf Club (several times)
Mount Ellen Golf Club
Muckhart Golf Club
Newark Golf Club
Norwood Park Golf Club
Notts Golf Club, Hollinwell
Oake Manor Golf Club
Oakmere Park Golf Club (Admiral's Course) (member)
Oakmere Park Golf Club (Commander's course)
Ocean View Golf Course, Bermuda (several times)
Ogbournr Downs Golf Club
Olivar de La Hinojosa Golf Course, Madrid
Ormonde Fields Golf and Country Club
Oulton Hall Golf Club
Oundle Golf Club
Overstone Park Golf Club
Painswick golf club
Pennard Golf Club
Perranporth Golf Club
Port Royal Golf Course, Bermuda (several times)
Pyle & Kenfig Golf Club
Radcliffe on Trent Golf Club (several times)
Ramsdale Park Golf Centre (several times)
Renishaw Park Golf Club
Rolls of Monmouth Golf Club
Rothley Park Golf Club (several times)
Ruddington Grange Golf Club
Rufford Park Golf and Country Club (several times)
Rushcliffe Golf Club
Saltford Golf Club
Sheringham golf club
Shirehampton Park Golf Club
Shirland Golf Club
Six Hills Golf Club
Sleaford Golf Club
Southampton Princess Golf Club, Bermuda
Southwell Golf Club
Spalding Golf Club
Springwater Golf Club
St Andrews - Old Course
St Georges Golf Club, Bermuda (several times)
St Mellion International Golf Club (Nicklaus Course)
St Pierre Golf Course (Old Course)
Stanton on the Wolds Golf Club
Staverton Park Golf Club
Stinchcombe Hill Golf Club
Stockwood Vale Golf Club
Stoke Rochford Golf Club
Tall Pines Golf Club
Teign Valley Golf Club
The Belfry (Brabazon Corse)
The Players Club (Codrington course)
The Warwickshire Golf Club
Thetford golf club
Thornbury Golf Centre
Thorpeness Golf Club
Torquay Golf Club
Trent Lock Golf Club
Trevose Golf Club
Wells Golf Club
Weston-Super-Mare Golf Club
Wheatley Golf Club
Whittlebury Park Country Club
Windwhistle Golf Club
Woburn Golf and Country Club (Duchess Course)
Woburn Golf and Country Club (Duke's Course)
Wollaton Park Golf Club (several times)
Woodbridge Golf Club
Woodbury Park Golf Club (Acorn course)
Woodbury Park Golf Course (Oaks Course)
Woodhall Spa Golf Club (Bracken course)
Woodhall Spa Golf Club (Hodgkin course)
Woodspring Golf and Country Club
Worlebury Golf Club