Must Play - De Vere Wychwood Park: Stunning, Spectacular & Challenging

Feature article from Golfshake.com guest writer Adam Smith

The De Vere Wychwood Park golf course truly is a stunning spectacle and a challenging round of golf.

The Golf Course

The course looks great as you drive through. Even after two days of rain, the course was in great condition. The bunkers obviously a bit wet but no standing water on the fairways and the greens were receptive and fast.

Opened in 2002 Wychwood Park is already hosting championships. Next August will see the ABC Solutions Championships, part of the EuroPro Tour return for the third year running.

My Experience

At 6320 yards from the yellow tee’s Wychwood isn’t a long course by any means, but you have to have good course management. It is the only course I have played that the position of your second shot or GIR shot is key to your score. The greens are contoured beautifully and there are some tricky placements to be found on your way round. Get on the wrong level or the wrong side of the pin however and you’re looking at a three putt like quite a few times I did today!

The course is looked after very well, plenty of yardage markers on sprinkler heads on all fairways which I like to see. You get quite an easy start through the first 5 holes then you hit the stunning par 3, 6th. From there to the 9th expect to see water, long carries and tight fairways.

You have a slight reprieve at the short par 4, 10th and the par 3, 11th but from the 12th inwards you really have to be on top of your game. Very tight tee shots needed, but not necessarily long ones though. If you can get off the tee then you should be okay, but again hit the wrong side of the pin’s and you’re in three putt territory.

I have to say that if you are a high handicapper then you may find Wychwood a step too far, but if you like a challenge and low handicappers want to test themselves around a championship style golf course then Wychwood is a must.

Ask the Pro

A new feature on golfshake is to ask the pro 5 questions, this time around Wychwood Park Pro Jon Farmer.

1, In your opinion, and not going by stroke index what is the hardest hole out there?
A: 7th (Stroke Index 3) long narrow par 5 with water and plenty of bunkers.

2, What is your favourite hole?
A: All of them

3, Are there going to be any new developments to Wychwood?
A: Not at the time being, I feel it is long enough already and I don’t think anything needs to be done at this point.

4, Sum up Wychwood in three words for a first time player?
A: Fair test of Golf (That’s four but I’ll let him off)

Check out the Inside Track from Jon Farmer on how to play the Wychwood Park golf course .

Additional Information

Located just off the M6, Wychwood is in a great central location. Putting green and driving range facilities are available as well as buggy and trolley hire.

Wychwood has a great winter offer both weekdays and at weekends. Included in this offer are a round of golf, bacon roll and a cup of coffee with weekdays from £19 and weekend from £24

Full feature review of Wychwood Park