danblyth

Excellent condition, great layout, appreciate that they offer reduced green fees early morning as well as late afternoon. Great set up!

To start off with and get the negative point out of the way: the members could be a little more forthcoming in letting a solo player through. During my round today I was unfortunate enough to book a time in the middle of a members pairs knock out comp - luckily I paired up with two members for the first 10 holes which helped, but on a number of holes during the back 9 I was waiting on tee boxes while members were still playing from the same tee, following which I was not acknowledged or offered the opportunity to play through. I’d hope it be a minority of golfers but I found this totally unacceptable.

Positives: There are many interesting holes, and the attempt to grow fescue in the rough has helped with framing and brings definition to many of the holes. Particularly on the back 9 where a number of tee shots are played from an elevated position. The par 3s require accurate approaches but are on the shorter side. The course features only 2, par 5s - which are both relatively short also, both play to elevated greens and require solid, strategic shots to avoid bringing the false fronts into play.

The stand out feature of the course are the greens - they are subtlety contoured, feature run offs, and offer a variety of pin placements, they also allow the use of slopes on approaches and require strategy to get the ball close. Often playing away from the pin and using the slopes is the percentage play. The condition was “ok” contrast others I’ve played recently but I imagine they get slippery and could roll very pure with the right mix of conditions.

Overall, a great test and for a £25 twilight, it’s among the best value I’ve found.

Firstly - I have to commend the young gent in the pro shop who gratefully allowed us to play, despite having accidentally booked the tee time for the day prior!

The course for the most part is not particularly challenging, an opening short par 4 kind of sets the scene, a nice driving hole plays to an undulating fairway, the up to a generous, largely unguarded green. The second, a par 3 down the hill features an interesting green which I guess pretty much always plays to a flag set in a bowl back left. The third is one of a couple of drivable short par 4s on the outward half, I wouldn’t describe them as ‘risk or reward’ as there isn’t a great deal of risk off the tee - in keeping with the rest of the layout. The par 5, 4th is again a generous and aesthetic driving hole, and encourages an ‘opening of the shoulders’, plays downhill to the green, and should be a birdie hole for the longer hitters. The most interesting stretch of the course is the third between 7-12, the second of the drivable par 4s (7th) followed by a sharp right to left dogleg par 5, and the 240+ yard par 3 round out the front side, before getting into two strong, but again generous off the tee, par 4s as we get into the back 9. Hole 12, another short par 4, plays down the hill and slightly to the right - it’s no more than a 5 iron from the tee, leaving a half wedge in, to a green that you will likely play into from a downhill lie. The holes into the clubhouse are in keeping with the rest of the course, more short par 4s, and a pretty par 3. I do think an improvement could be made on 18, where the tee is moved back as far as possible to make it a mid length par 4.

The course condition was very good, the greens were “ok” and would benefit from being cut tighter. The pace of play was good - just under 3hrs for a 2 ball of cat 1 golfers with no hold ups despite groups in front and behind. As alluded above, perhaps I played it from the wrong tees or something but I saw virtually no risk or danger from any tee, more or better positioned hazards would improved the difficulty of the course, I lost shots on and around the greens from being short sided a couple of times.

I do believe the full rate is ambitious at £35pp - there is certainly better value to be had for £35, but on a hot deal for £26 I would recommend a round at Grimsby Golf Club.