Forum > Any other business?

Richard Lane-blackwell

Hi,

I'm taking my dad out for a round towards the end of October for his birthday and he lives in Cambridgeshire.  Can anyone recommend any courses within a 25 mile radius?  I've had a look at some of the reviews on GS but any further info would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Richard

Jon Williams

Hi Richard, 

    It depends what you are looking for although flat seems to be the order for most courses. 

I have played a few in the Cambridge area and will comment on the ones I have played this summer with my opinions:

I am a member at Girton just outside Cambridge which is a nicely kept course but is fairly short and tight with narrow fairways and some nasty rough in places. Accuracy is the order of the day but it is a well kept pleasant course and has a friendly club atmosphere (bar) 

New Malton Golf on the South side of Cambridge is very welcoming for non-members - the course is fairly long and the bar is also OK, they are spending money on improving the course and the last time I was there, some of the tee boxes etc were being improved. Also a round is pretty reasonable on a weekend. 

The course at the Menzies hotel in Bar Hill is a good one but I have found it fairly busy when I have been there in the past. Don't know if that is the norm. Playing there again in a couple of weeks and looking forward to it. 

The course at Meridien is nice, some interesting holes and reasonable value as I remember. Also a good bar & facilities. 

I wouldn't go to Longstanton for a special occasion - it is cheap and long but not great although there is a nice covered driving range there. It is good for a quick round on a summers evening though as it is fairly quiet and very cheap.  

Lakeside Lodge in Pidley is also quite a good setup with bar shop / driving range and the course was pretty interesting - although I played it after that dry spell in a howling wind which didn't result in a good score. grrr. It is also further away than the others

Heydon grange (again a little further afield)  hosts a senior open and has 3 loops of 9. The bar etc is good but I was disappointed with the course. Over hyped with Rock hard fairways and poor bunkers made it a challenge although bizarrely my best away score of the year. Not overly bothered about going back. 

The 2 around Cambridge itself that I can't comment on are the Gog Magog and the course at Bourn  - Both have a good reputation but are on the more expensive side of Cambridge golf. 

 Bob

Richard Lane-blackwell