Sweetwoods Park Golf Club
4.4
327 reviews
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Price Guide: £££££ | HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Course Information
Sweetwoods Park Golf Club, Kent is an 18 hole, par 71 (6515 yard), private parkland golf course established in 1994.
18 holes | Par 71 | 6515 yards | Private | Parkland
View more golf courses in Kent
Address: Colestock Road, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7AY United Kingdom
Tel: 01342 850729
Golf Pro: Matt Tyler | Tel: 01342 850729 ext 1
Website: http://www.sweetwoodspark.com
Golf Club Facilities
Range
Club Hire
Buggy Hire
Golf Shop
Changing
Clubhouse
Bar
Dining
Function Room
Discounted green fee days on Monday and Wednesday of £22.00 - £25.00 per person depending on time of the year. Buggies available and Pro-Shop, Range and Restaurant facilities.
Midweek Guide: £35.00 per round *
Weekend Guide: £40.00 per round *
- Societies Accepted to Play
- Society Deals Available
- Voucher Deals Available
- 7 Day Membership Available
- 5 Day Membership Available
* Any prices shown are guide prices, please confirm with the course prior to booking.
Tee Time Information
Midweek Guide: £35.00 per round *
Weekend Guide: £40.00 per round *
* Any prices shown are guide prices, please confirm with the course prior to booking.
Review Information
GOLFSHAKE RATING
4.35
AVERAGE RATING 4.3
(based on 327 reviews)
5 star
146
4 star
144
3 star
27
2 star
6
1 star
5
HIGHLY RATED
100%
would play again or recommend
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Reviews for Sweetwoods Park Golf Club
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The golf courses reviews are the personal opinions of members of Golfshake who completed a review after playing the course. These opinions do not necessarily represent the views of Golfshake.com
JJ, London rated 1 out of 5
Reviewed Feb 19 2020
Mid-Kent mediocracy
There’s not much to be expected when stepping away from the coastal areas of Kent - Sweetwoods doesn’t sound inspiring and it isn’t. Wet, clay-based soil and poor drainage. Best to save your cash for somewhere better.Reviewer Rating
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Maidstone rated 1 out of 5
Reviewed Sep 20 2018
Dirty carpet in the club house, toilets not working, dirty glasses, car park huge pile of debris as you enter the car park with unkempt areas on verges. Areas of course not well maintained, damaged hole on the 8th due to vehicle damage on green. Slow play, with poor signage on course. Food good.
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Drbeng rated 1 out of 5
Reviewed Nov 11 2011
Oh and ignore the other planted reviews here - clearly written by the course staff. They don't even show the imagination to come up with original names - all having the surname "B".
Desperate
Desperate
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Drbeng rated 1 out of 5
Reviewed Nov 11 2011
The notion that this is a lovely course to play etc is only noteworthy if you don't happen to hit it on one of the more common days when it is clogged up with slow, hopeless players - members and visitors - with no marshalling of the course whatsoever to discipline sometimes shocking displays of slow play and time wasting.
The management here are only interested in making money, not delivering a memorable golfing experience. They vastly over spent on the recent course refurbishment, and immediately resorted to pre-bankruptcy measures of trying to charge a laughable £50 to visitors to play a course that is eclipsed by other courses in the area charging such a premium. And so they lowered the fee, and take a no limits policy on numbers - and player quality - resulting in 6 hour rounds as the norm.
I had to give up after just 3 holes in my most recent, and final, visit; when we hit the 4th hole there were no fewer than 7 groups on the hole. To add insult to injury, the manager was only interested in reacting defensively rather than with contrition; 'there are plenty more mugs where you come from', was the clear message.
Do yourself a favour - there are plenty of great courses in this part of the world. This one is comprehensively ruined by its short sighted management
The management here are only interested in making money, not delivering a memorable golfing experience. They vastly over spent on the recent course refurbishment, and immediately resorted to pre-bankruptcy measures of trying to charge a laughable £50 to visitors to play a course that is eclipsed by other courses in the area charging such a premium. And so they lowered the fee, and take a no limits policy on numbers - and player quality - resulting in 6 hour rounds as the norm.
I had to give up after just 3 holes in my most recent, and final, visit; when we hit the 4th hole there were no fewer than 7 groups on the hole. To add insult to injury, the manager was only interested in reacting defensively rather than with contrition; 'there are plenty more mugs where you come from', was the clear message.
Do yourself a favour - there are plenty of great courses in this part of the world. This one is comprehensively ruined by its short sighted management
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Ben Everitt, Surrey rated 1 out of 5
Reviewed Oct 16 2011
This place is a lottery - you might get lucky and play on a day when they haven't managed to pack the course out with as many groups as they can with no regard for pace of play or customer enjoyment. Or you might well end up with a 7 hour round on the cards, with no interest from management in alleviating the situation.
Today, it was the latter.
It was monthly medal Sunday, which in Sweetwoods parlance means jamming up the course with a hoard of inept members, all playing off the back tees, but most of whom cutting a convincing image of individuals who have never taken a golf lesson in their lives. Characteristic of this sort of course, the members can't play golf for love nor money, but they love to wield the singular bylaw of "we don't have to let anyone play through because we're members playing in a competition" as evidence of their right to inflict misery on all other paying players on the course.
When we'd arrived, we paid for our scheduled tee time, with no mention of anything untoward on the course. It hadn't occurred to anyone in the pro-shop to notify us that our slot had been pushed back a full half hour due to a fog delay, and an ominously interminable pace of progress from the members playing in their competition. This was only revealed to us when we stepped up to the first tee, to find 4 other groups waiting to tee off at the time we were supposed to be heading out.
We managed to play just 3 holes, before we hit a log jam on the 4th where there were no fewer than 3 groups playing the hole, and a further 4 groups waiting on the tee (soon joined by the several groups rapidly descending on this tee behind us). These groups had already been reliably informed by a self-righteous lady member that she would have no intention of letting anyone play through. Nice attitude. Let's just adhere to the "rules" and ignore common sense. Judging by how seriously these people were taking themselves, they seemed to be entertaining the illusion they were playing in the Masters, and that we were all their admiring spectators.
Clearly the round was untenable - this was never going to finish. So my group, and most of the other groups we encountered, were obliged to walk off the course after just a handful of holes played.
Indignantly, we returned to the clubhouse to air our rightful frustration. We, like others we spoke to, had had a choice of where to play on this, one of the few remaining pleasant Sunday's in 2011. But we had come here, because we had been reassured the course was running clear, and we should encounter no problems enjoying a round of golf at a leisurely pace. As we walked into the pro-shop, we observed many groups still walking up to the first tee - the course managers seemed to think it was acceptable to continue to profit from any unsuspecting customers, who had no idea what they were letting themselves in for. This was shameless profiteering, with no hint of professionalism about it. This clearly isn't a golf course - just a factory line.
I asked to speak to the manager when I came into the pro-shop, who was unforthcoming, so was obliged to express my frustrations to the two assistants in the pro-shop - specifically, that they have no business allowing visitors to come to the course, and part with their money for a full 18 holes, knowing that the course was going to be rendered unplayable by the obvious litany of useless members turning the course into an interminable traffic jam. If you want to give the course over to your members for their medal - fine. But then tell any visitors that the course is closed. Don't try and have your cake and eat it. Eventually, an arrogant, pugnacious gentleman emerged from the office, to take issue with me expressing dissatisfaction with the state of affairs. He thought it was politic to respond with aggression rather than conciliation, and issued a string of irrelevant non-sequiturs to try and excuse their shoddy management.
I have encountered this situation once or twice before in the past, and when been obliged to complain, the course managers have duly apologised, issued a refund, and offered a free round in an attempt to preserve my custom. This course's attitude is clearly "take your money and hang the consequences".
Having shared this tale with various other friends, I have learned this is not unusual. The phrase "I will never play Sweetwoods again" is frequently uttered it seems - and the management of the course clearly couldn't care less.
Today, it was the latter.
It was monthly medal Sunday, which in Sweetwoods parlance means jamming up the course with a hoard of inept members, all playing off the back tees, but most of whom cutting a convincing image of individuals who have never taken a golf lesson in their lives. Characteristic of this sort of course, the members can't play golf for love nor money, but they love to wield the singular bylaw of "we don't have to let anyone play through because we're members playing in a competition" as evidence of their right to inflict misery on all other paying players on the course.
When we'd arrived, we paid for our scheduled tee time, with no mention of anything untoward on the course. It hadn't occurred to anyone in the pro-shop to notify us that our slot had been pushed back a full half hour due to a fog delay, and an ominously interminable pace of progress from the members playing in their competition. This was only revealed to us when we stepped up to the first tee, to find 4 other groups waiting to tee off at the time we were supposed to be heading out.
We managed to play just 3 holes, before we hit a log jam on the 4th where there were no fewer than 3 groups playing the hole, and a further 4 groups waiting on the tee (soon joined by the several groups rapidly descending on this tee behind us). These groups had already been reliably informed by a self-righteous lady member that she would have no intention of letting anyone play through. Nice attitude. Let's just adhere to the "rules" and ignore common sense. Judging by how seriously these people were taking themselves, they seemed to be entertaining the illusion they were playing in the Masters, and that we were all their admiring spectators.
Clearly the round was untenable - this was never going to finish. So my group, and most of the other groups we encountered, were obliged to walk off the course after just a handful of holes played.
Indignantly, we returned to the clubhouse to air our rightful frustration. We, like others we spoke to, had had a choice of where to play on this, one of the few remaining pleasant Sunday's in 2011. But we had come here, because we had been reassured the course was running clear, and we should encounter no problems enjoying a round of golf at a leisurely pace. As we walked into the pro-shop, we observed many groups still walking up to the first tee - the course managers seemed to think it was acceptable to continue to profit from any unsuspecting customers, who had no idea what they were letting themselves in for. This was shameless profiteering, with no hint of professionalism about it. This clearly isn't a golf course - just a factory line.
I asked to speak to the manager when I came into the pro-shop, who was unforthcoming, so was obliged to express my frustrations to the two assistants in the pro-shop - specifically, that they have no business allowing visitors to come to the course, and part with their money for a full 18 holes, knowing that the course was going to be rendered unplayable by the obvious litany of useless members turning the course into an interminable traffic jam. If you want to give the course over to your members for their medal - fine. But then tell any visitors that the course is closed. Don't try and have your cake and eat it. Eventually, an arrogant, pugnacious gentleman emerged from the office, to take issue with me expressing dissatisfaction with the state of affairs. He thought it was politic to respond with aggression rather than conciliation, and issued a string of irrelevant non-sequiturs to try and excuse their shoddy management.
I have encountered this situation once or twice before in the past, and when been obliged to complain, the course managers have duly apologised, issued a refund, and offered a free round in an attempt to preserve my custom. This course's attitude is clearly "take your money and hang the consequences".
Having shared this tale with various other friends, I have learned this is not unusual. The phrase "I will never play Sweetwoods again" is frequently uttered it seems - and the management of the course clearly couldn't care less.
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Mark P/ Tunbridge Wells rated 2 out of 5
Reviewed Oct 9 2020
Lovely course but beware the pro shop ogres!!
Lovely golf course, decent test with some strategic play required- however, every time I visit this course the customer service and welcome in the pro shop is absolutely appalling- probably the worst I’ve experienced in any retail or hospitality environment- to be fair the younger pro was very good but the two older gentlemen I’ve encountered recently shouldn’t be anywhere near a customer really- shocking! Everything else is pretty good but difficult to forget how poorly you will be treated in the pro shop! Enjoy the course but do Beware!!!Reviewer Rating
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Sam rated 2 out of 5
Reviewed Aug 21 2013
Played last week and was disappointed. Too many people on the course with no marshall's around to keep things organised. Took five and a half hours to play 18, with waiting on every hole!
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James S rated 2 out of 5
Reviewed Apr 15 2013
Decent course with interesting holes. Totally ruined by slow play. 5 hours and 30 mins for a round! Ridiculous. Too many people on course an no marshalls at all. Wont be returning.
(Round played: Apr 2013 - Score: 106 Handicap: 25.4)
(Round played: Apr 2013 - Score: 106 Handicap: 25.4)
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Mike F rated 2 out of 5
Reviewed Apr 14 2010
A beautifully laid out course which never gets boring from hole 1 to 18. The bunkers are nice, the greens are undulating and fast, there's also plenty of water features to keep you focussed.
However, this is where the good comments stop.
I played this after about 4 days of sun following a wet spell and much to my surprise the course was still quite boggy and the greens so soft they were full of footprints and pitch marks. This made putting a guessing game not a skill.
Fortunately I was playing on the twilight rate as the full £40 midweek or £48 at weekends is quite frankly a ridiculous fee to charge, about 20% more than they should be charging. (My value rating is based on full green fees)
I'd happily play this course again but only on twilight rates and never after a week of rain.
However, this is where the good comments stop.
I played this after about 4 days of sun following a wet spell and much to my surprise the course was still quite boggy and the greens so soft they were full of footprints and pitch marks. This made putting a guessing game not a skill.
Fortunately I was playing on the twilight rate as the full £40 midweek or £48 at weekends is quite frankly a ridiculous fee to charge, about 20% more than they should be charging. (My value rating is based on full green fees)
I'd happily play this course again but only on twilight rates and never after a week of rain.
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Patrick S rated 3 out of 5
Reviewed Aug 25 2020
A pleasant course in the lovely Kent countryside
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Bob J rated 3 out of 5
Reviewed Jul 27 2020
Good Challenge
The greens require a little attention but the course layout is very nice and a good challenge.Good practise facilities as well.
(Round played: Jul 2020 - Score: 93 Handicap: 14.7)
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Mark T rated 3 out of 5
Reviewed May 28 2020
fairways
played last week and have to agree that fairways rather poor. 1st is awful and the 18th is truly abysmal. A good portion has absolutely no grass whatsoever. Hard but nice walk. Some cracking holes.Reviewer Rating
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Graeme W rated 3 out of 5
Reviewed Jan 8 2020
Good challenge
Enjoyed the course with a good mix of holes of varying difficulty. Definitely requires some thought to shoot a good score. The course was very wet, but that was to be expected. I will definitely be back when the course is drier.Reviewer Rating
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Terry S rated 3 out of 5
Reviewed Jan 1 2020
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Marek L rated 3 out of 5
Reviewed Mar 19 2019
Overnight Rain made it damp underfoot
Nice layout and quite a few elevations. If it is your first time need a map and idea as a number of blind teeshots. Too much standing water to make scoring chances. However can see that course is well maintained and is looked after. Greens a little bumpy in places but have recently been spiked it seems. Got a cheapy tee time from Teetimes(Round played: Mar 2019 - Score: 95 Handicap: 15.5)
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Showing reviews 1-15 of 223 reviews
The golf courses reviews are the personal opinions of members of Golfshake who completed a review after playing the course. These opinions do not necessarily represent the views of Golfshake.com
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