Back9Bails

This really was an odd course.... so much to like and so much more to dislike, the check in staff and bar staff could not be less helpful........proper mardy ar5e. The course had had some issue in the morning which meant we were running about an hour late, apparently some "amateur " had run a buggy into a lake? the starter was about the only helpful person on site. The layout is "different" and there are some very odd holes 15 and 17 to name but two.
Of all the courses that i have played in the western Algave, this would be the bottom of the list

interesting track
even though it was early Dec, the fairways were still showing the signs of a very dry summer, and were not in particularly great condition....... the greens on the other hand were really superb. Only real gripe is that there are too many holes that are similar in length on the par 4's

A very typical parkland course, nothing that really sticks in the mind... thanks to the two nice members who took me round, not so many thanks for the complete lack of a shout, and a ball hitting me on the shoulder.

Stunning views
great back 9
shame about the facilities

Having played the main Arden course many times, I was led to believe that the Ayslesford was a lowly second choice, without much going for it.
Wrong !
What a nice track, not long, but some interesting holes, certainly enough to test most golfing abilities, happy yo go play here again.

You can pay a fortune to play links golf on the wonderful wild and windy West Coast of Ireland either in Co Mayo or Co Sligo. Enniscrone is a true gem, so much better value than the more illustrious courses in this area.
So many holes where you cant see where you are going, nor for that matter see other holes and other golfers.
Oh to be a member here !!!

my home course has signed a reciprocal golf arrangement with Penn G C, so on a quiet warm (ok very hot) Sunday afternoon, i went for a second round, course was in good nick if a little dry in places. Being very quiet I managed to get round in under 3 hours, it is a fairly easy walk on quite a small overall sized piece of land. The only quirk is that being built on "common land", you do get some quite random people walking over the course.

What an absolutely cracking course ! If you walk you will need your hiking boots, but my lordy is it ever worth it, I cannot think of one single "flat hole" or drive onto a straight fairway. The views over the local area are stunning, the club house is small (with a limited proshop), but modern and the food we ate after golf was excellent.
2 is a great par 5
9 a great par 3 with a huge elevation drop
12 another great par 5
5 and 14 are amongst the toughest par 4's i know
17th is a par 3 where you simply must hit the green or at min go long
18 a final great par 5

somewhat disappointing track, some very nice holes, some pretty forgettable holes, and some pure "mickey mouse" holes.
The biggest problem was the "golf schools" that were touring, people learning (and yes we all have to learn) the game, slow play, poor etiquette etc... but at least the starters recognised that we could "play a bit", and squeezed us in a bit early.
The wind did blow, which made for a far more entertaining test, still hit one of the shots of the year year onto the 180 yrd par 3 6th. 3 wood into an island green, all carry into a 20 mph wind blowing diagonally into your face, shame I lipped out the putt for the 2 !

The genius SEVE designed this course, and a bit like the great mans game it swings from GENIUS to average. It really is a rabbit warren of a course... take a buggy..... the front 9 is more than a bit "dull", but the back 9 is in places sublime!
When driving to the course... be warned.... you dont see anything resembling a golf course, even when you park up on the car park!

Played once here and once only so far....... but I will be back... MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THAT!
a Quality course from start to finish, 1 to 18 and with quality staff and facilities to match

Want a superb course, and what a shame that the club shop staff were so poor.

No weak holes, lots and lots of blind / semi blind tee shots, A1 faiways. Greens were superb, difficult to read, but some off the truest rolls i have ever seen.
It is however a long walk, and there are plenty of elevation changes.
1st is great
2nd is great
3rd is great
etc
etc
5th and 7th are just sublime,,,

ENJOY

a bit dull in places.... some exceptional holes........ and some really dull ones.
Watch out... there is no car park, and you end up parking in the street

Played here a few times, it is relatively local to home, but I never feel at ease here, there are some nice holes, but it always, and I mean always seems to play very wet. This was a bargain Xmas round off golfnow, so cant really complain too much, but in all honesty the course should have been closed. the temp green are a total lottery, some not even near to the regular ones.
I will come back, but in a hurry, and certainly not in the winter!

Played here a few years ago in a disastrous round... ran out of daylight after a 5,30 mins round. So much better starting out early AM this time around. Played with another English guy and two Scots lads. All of similar ability. This really is a lovely track, nice holes, good greens, long and medium length holes add variety.

This was once a really nice track, there are some very interesting holes, and like many shorter courses, it how you get round more often than just a case of hit it hard and hit it straight. The biggest bug bear is the general condition of the course and the noise coming off the 19th as you tee up on the 10th.
14 is a great par 4... all uphill onto a plateau green. Two really good full carry hits to make the green

apart from the holes with water on them....... what a dull course, back and forth, up and down, i thought the tee boxes in the Woods course were bad... but by comparison these were the PITS......
what was bad REALLY bad was the pace... 5 hours 15 mins is just far too long........ there was a society in front of us 2 x 3 ball and a 4 ball, who were just plain hackers........ the four ball in front of them were on individual buggies... and seemed more keen on arsing about than playing. The course Marshall was a decent guy, and did his best to speed things along....
The starter and marshal were the only positive things !!

This course has real potential. so much nicer than the adjoining Lakes course, (which is very up and down), a good layout with lots of elevation changes on the front 9.....
what lets it down is the greens and tee boxes...... really struggled to find a flat tee box, some greens were shocking...in two ways, both pace and condition...in defence of the course like many places of this nature, they have sold out to the golfing "masses", which means greens get abused.

After a long dry summer.... the greens were dry and cracked, and not in great shape. Once this course matures it will be a decent track, but at present you are overly punished for poor shots, and you can certainly " open your shoulders" and go for it without much fear of penalty

Why is this course so badly neglected....?
Not the course, it is spot on, not the members who seem to truly love the course. It is an excellent days golf, with what at the outset appears to be fine facilities, not the course condition itself, it was pristine. I played in an AM/AM with a member, and it was a good day, just a shame there was not a sign of a pre start bacon butty, or enough bodies in the bar on the 19th.
1st is a great start, uphill and a hard to hit green, 3rd is a lovely risk / reward par 3, 13th is one of my favourite par 3's anywhere, and 18th a great finishing hole, crossing water to a classic green in front of the club house