Golf that's as cheap as chips!
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The first golf I played was over 30 years ago on a pitch and putt course behind the main street in West Runton, Norfolk. It’s probably a car park or a supermarket now – but to me it was Turnberry, St Andrews and Royal St Georges rolled into one. The tees were little more than doormats, the greens undulating carpets of hard-packed meadow grass, but with a hickory wedge and an alloy centre-shafted putter in my hand, I felt I was the equal of Palmer, Nicklaus and Trevino, when I completed nine holes in 31 shots. On later visits, I even took my own clubs but couldn’t improve on my best-ever score. As I recall it cost about ‘five shillings’ for two circuits (equivalent to 25p) and it strikes me that rounds of golf today are still extremely good value. Indeed for less than £15 a round you can play terrific courses in the UK with none more breathtaking that The club’s website reveals that visitors who make the effort to reach this golfing outpost are welcome seven days a week, and golf clubs can be hired at the clubhouse. It also sells golf balls, clothing with green fees at £14 a day or if you want to hang around to admire the scenery, £50 for a weekly ticket. Here’s some more courses we’ve selected that are as cheap as chips… If you know some more – especially hidden gems of outstanding value-tell us on the Forum. SOUTH MIDLANDS Mowsbury, Ravensden, Beds 01234 771041 Municipal Parkland course in rural surroundings, long and testing par 72 with 14 bay range.
Easy walking with well-bunkered greens with water on three holes. Exposed to the elements and plays longer than its 6,400 yards. Wyboston Lakes, St Neots 01480 407330 Easy access from the A1, a parkland course with narrow fairways, small greens and water hazards.
Island green at the final hole (9th) is the feature of this interesting course just off the A14 South of Huntingdon. Dog leg, par-5 fourth is also challenging.
Ramsey Old Nene, Ramsey, Cambs
Exposed Fenland course but flat and well-drained. Challenging nine-holer with fast greens and bordering dykes.
One of the first courses designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas in the 1975 and still one of the longest in the region. Undulating parkland with huge greens which runs beside the Nene river. Stiff test from the back tees, excellent greens.
Pretty course of dissimilar halves. The first half is as long as you’ll get anywhere including a 600 yards, 3rd round a lake. The back nine gives a chance to recover with some short, easy par-4s.
Malkins Bank, Sandbach, Cheshire 01270 765931 Parkland courses designed by Hawtrees with a stream running through the tight 13th hole.
Municipal course on the Walton Hall Estate in quiet, wooded area. Testing over 6,600 yards.
Recently upgraded parkland and fell course with stunning views over the Pennines.
Links course with views over the Cumbrian mountains and Morecombe Bay. Signature hole 6th plays up to Dunnerholme Rock outcrop in the estuary.
James Braid-design built into fenced fells. Demands tough climbs to the third and 11th holes. Silecroft, Cumbria
Seaside links which runs along the coast of the Irish Sea. Windy but easy walking; great views.
Bakewell, Derbyshire 01629 812307 Hill parkland with plenty of natural hazards. Magnificent views across the Wye Valley Grassmore Golf Centre, North Wingfield, Chesterfield
An 18-hole heathland course over 5,700 yards with challenging holes and water features.
Hilly, moorland, 9-hole course exposed to the winds with tricky short holes and narrow fairways. Views over four counties.
Municipal tree-line course. Flat and suitable for golfers of all ages.
Short tree-lined course in well maintained parkland with good greens.
Undulating fairways with big greens in Sandwell Valley conservation area. Good test, interesting layout, designed by Hawtrees.
Muni parkland course, recently tightened with bunkers and tree-planting.
Epping, Essex
Rolling tree-lined parkland with ponds and panoramic views – a course with a driveable fourth hole that’s rarely birdied and a closing hole that’s tough to par. Southern Valley, Shorne, Gravesend, Kent
All-year course landscaped with bracken and thorn with views across Thames Estuary. Undulating fairways, large greens rolling fairways.
Undulating, 18-hole parkland course with water hazards.
Worldham Park, Alton, Hants
Picturesque woodland setting with challenging dogleg holes and water hazards. Andover GC, Hants
Undulating downland course combining breathtaking views of Hampshire countryside. Par-3 ninth features a tee perched 100 feet above the green.
Testing links course overlooking Solent with gorse and rough. Wind-affected.
01730 267732 Nine-hole parkland layout in Sussex Road. Easy walking, with numerous trees and water features. SOUTH WEST Merlin, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall
Heathland course recently lengthened over 6,000 yards to par 72. The 12th hole is the most challenging of par-5s.
Picturesque 18 holes with outward nine in parkland and the back nine with outstanding views over St Austell Bay.
Parkland course weaves its way around the castle walls overlooking St Ives Bay.
Hall Garth Hotel, Darlington, Co.Durham
Mature trees and Victorian deer folly set in this challenging parkland course with River Swale running through it.
Picturesque municipal parkland course – long and wide and suitable for all golfers. Nearly 100 bunkers and a par-3 played over a river.
Nine-hole seaside course with coastal views. HOME COUNTIES Iver, Buckingham
Flat pay-and-play course with challenging par-5 holes in parkland setting. Strong crosswinds, water hazards and ditches.
Testing par-4 ninth hole demanding a good drive to the waters edge, is the signature of this 9-hole parkland course to suit all abilities.
Nice setting for a 6,000 yard 18-hole parkland course, designed by Hawtree.
Set in parkland with mature oak and lime trees. Easy walking with small lakes and water hazards. |
