Stephen Danks (17.6)
Surrey, United Kingdom 
by Stephen Danks on 8th September 2008Milford is an excellent course. No overly long, but you are rewarded with straightness. Lots of trouble left and right, especially with the long grass in the summer. Very friendly club, and well worth a visit. Usually have twilight and 2:1 deals available.
The Course
Club Facilities and Services
by Stephen Danks on 26th June 2008East Horton is a very picturesque course. Not overly long, but still offers a good range of holes, and the chance to add a blob or 2 to the round! I have played here twice, and always found the staff accomodating, and the prices are very reasonable. Booked a Society day there for later in the year, and looking forward to it. A good challenge for any Mid handicapper.
by Stephen Danks on 23rd May 2008Traditions plays well in the summer, and is always a challenge, with hazards on every hole. A good course, medium length and worth a visit. Can be a bit boggy in winter, as it is low lying. Good deals available online and twilight. Good society course.
by Stephen Danks on 23rd May 2008Surrey National is a picturesque course, in the heart of Surrey. Well worth a visit with good facilities. Recommend their twilight deal, over a Greenfree, which was £22 each. A good course, in great condition.
by Stephen Danks on 23rd May 2008Silvermere is a massive complex. The pro shop has some of the best priced stock in Surrey, with great deals on Shirts, balls, etc, etc. Worth a visit for that alone. The bar and restaurant is pricey, but good fun watching people hitting into the lake on the 18th hole over water. Great deals available online for ealrybird, and twilight. Recommended.
by Stephen Danks on 23rd May 2008Worldham is a short course, but priced accordingly. Welcoming, with a short driving range, and a good relaxed atmosphere.
by Stephen Danks on 23rd May 2008Blacknest has been much inproved recently, and they seem to be improving further. The staff are very friendly and accomodating, and the course is getting better. Not too long, but a fair few hazards, with water and OOB. Really good deals available, and the pro shop are always aiming to please. Very relaxed atmosphere, and a good society day out.
by Stephen Danks on 23rd May 2008One of the shortest courses in Surrey, and one of the prettiest. If you have children, and great afternoon treat. May be slow, so take your time, and soak up the very relaxed atmosphere. Staff are always welcoming with a quaint bar/pro shop. A lovely place to spend an afternoon, and to relax, practising your short game.
by Stephen Danks on 23rd March 2008Meon is a great play to stay and has 2 courses. The hotel has just be refurbished, and the facilities are first class. Both courses are tough. The 9 hole offers a fun challenge, and the main Meon course, plays 6097 off the yellows, a very good test into the wind. The course has an excellent balance of ditches, water, bunkers and hazards, and they like their dog legs! First class place, and would recommend a round. Worth staying, to get the guest rates, as £45 in the Summer may be a bit steep, but still a good place to play. Greens are fast, even in winter, and good condition.
The Course
by Stephen Danks on 18th March 2008What can I say, a very expensive weekend, but the Brabazon and the PGA were wonderful. The starters hut is welcoming, and having fun is paramount. Do not be intimidated by the history of the Brabazon. The course is manageable off the yellows, and you do not have to be the biggest hitter. The Blue Tees are obviously a different matter. The PGA was a tough course, and take your bucket and spade for a day at the beach, as the bunkers are well within reach, as you are sometimes 100 yards forward of the competition tees. Expensive clubhouse, take beer in the golf bag, and some sandwiches! A must play course before you die!
Value for money
by Stephen Danks on 18th March 2008This club has 2 courses, we played the shorter of the 2, the Kings course. It is tough, and long, and I felt tougher than it's neighbour, the Belfry. Got an excellent deal from teeofftimes, £20 each, and worth every penny. Want to return on a non-windy day to do it justice. Excellent.
by Stephen Danks on 18th March 2008A lovely course, with good all round facilities. Played as a guest, and I know my friend is a happy member there. Played a few times, and a good test of golf. A few watery hazards to look out for, but a low score is easily possible. If you get a chance, take it.
by Stephen Danks on 18th March 2008Ladies and Gents, this course is a treat, one of the oldest in the country. Next to Farnborough Airport, it is steeped in history. Lush fairways, excellent greens, and it's fair share of hazards. Whilst only 2 Par 5's and 3 Par 3's, it is 6330 off the yellows, and hard work in the wind! The course is fairly flat, and a good walk between some greens. The halfway hut is the quaintest ever. £15 on Teeofftimes, is an absolute bargain, compared to the usual £40. 100% worth a visit. Played recently, and returned 2 weeks later with another golfing buddy to enjoy. First class, and the clubhouse is excellent.
by Stephen Danks on 13th February 2008Downshire is a favourite with my golf society. It has a good range of holes, and is a very well run council owned course. At just under 6000 yards off the yellows, it is a good test for any golfer. Prices are reasonable and the Bar/restaurant is good. Greens were soft last weekend, but generally true and in good condition.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Hoebridge is always busy, as it has 3 courses, a range, and teaching. Usually fair value for money, but look out for special offers. The course is currently in good condition, and always a good course to play for for the average golfer. The 17th hole is a great challenge, and a gentle par 3 to end. The bar area is always busy with families and children, and a good alround facility for beginners to the lower handcappers, and welcoming to all abilities and ages.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Absolutely fabulous. Had the chance to play with a friend recently, and the main course is very tough indeed. Part of a Hotel, the food/bar is fairly pricey, as is a round. But the course is tremendous, and a good variety of hazards, excellent greens, bunkers, etc. Must be one of the top Welsh courses, and I would love to play here again. If you get a chance to visit, take it. Would like to play their second course as well.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Lostwithiel is in a lovely location, and spent 5 days there. Best described as small and friendly, the Hotel food is excellent, and the staff and clientele are very friendly. Recommend the golf simulator. The course is hilly for the first 6, and then flattens out for the back nine. A few tight fairways, and the river prove hazardous, and the 8th hole is outstanding as a signature par 3. Recommend a visit, and whilst the clourse can be wet, proved a good challenge for a mid handicap golfer.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Gatton Manor seems to be hidden from the world, although half way between Dorking and Guildford! A lovely course, the Pro, Rob is very good, and willing to offer friendly advice and assist. The bar is friendly, and the food excellent. The course is medium length, and a good challenge. Not too many hazards, and a few holes allow you to open up the shoulders. Good deals available for societies and would be happy to visit again. Recommended.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Canford has a number of courses and practice facilites. Visited a few times, and I guess must be one of the major facilities in the south of england. The courses are great fun, the holes are not overly long, and a few pars easily possible, but you will be punished as there is a fair amount of water, even on the "Parkland" course. Fairly flat courses, and a good test. Welcoming to societies, and all standards of golfer. A good day out, and good bar / patio areas.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Cottesmore has 2 short courses, one very short. However, they make up for this as they are both tricky, and you need to take a few irons to place shots on the fairways. This is also a very pretty course, and well maintained. Spent a weekend here, and the food was of a good standard indeed. Not a tough test for single handicappers, but for most, tricky courses, fun and picturesque. A good weekend, and very friendly staff.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Hidden away in the Surrey hills, don't trust your Satnav, as it takes you to the wrong side of the course! Had a good windy wintry day there, and a great course. Excellent faciilities, and would recommend a visit.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Pine Ridge offers excellent practice facilities as well as lessons, ten pin bowling, and a good bar/ restaurant. Recently been bought by Crown Golf, and I believe they are to improve the bar area, and maybe offer better deals. Main benefit of Pine ridge, is the course is very playable in the winter, due to good soil drainage. The course is tremendous, and in the summer, you can get massive distance on drives due to the hard ground and the flat fairways. Back 9 is more tricky and a good test for any golfer. Recommend a visit.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Blue Mountain is a great course, but can get very busy at weekends with golfers of all standards. Midweek, the offers on Teeofftimes, are unbelievable, and as the course is about 6000 yards with a number of water and other hazards, a fair test for anyone. Part of Crown, but a good course to visit, with a range of challenging holes, but fair. Generally greens, etc in good condition. Really nice clubhouse with good food, etc.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Sherfield Oaks is part of Crown Group. They have 2 courses. Played here a few times. The course is not overly difficult, although the grass in the summer, can get long and losing balls is easy. The course have always been in good condition, and possible to shoot a few low scores here, as not overly long holes. The clubhouse is in great condition, and welcoming, and a great place to visit. Teeofftimes offers some good deals, but check which course you are playing first.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Trevose is a beautiful course. Teeing off on the first hole, toward the sea, is a great experience. The course was very windy, but open, as you would expect for a links style. The fourth green by the sea is spectacular. The staff were very friendly, and the clubhouse is currently being refurbished, but the bar welcome was great. Well worth the £40 for a day ticket, didn't try the 2 9 hole courses, due to the heavy rain.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Sutten Green is a great course with a number of water hazards, and a few tricky holes, as well as some open fairways to go for the long drive. Played here many times. The staff and bar are welcoming and friendly, and a good course for any medium standard golfer.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Carlyon Bay is on the Cornish south coast, and has magnificant views over the bay. The wind was blowing a gale, and proved a real challenge. OOB is basically the cliff edge, and best not to retrieve balls. Front 9 was difficult with the wind behind, but helped on the way back to the clubhouse. I would thoroughly recommend as a great experience and watch out for the mineshafts. The clubhouse is inviting and friendly. Excellent day out.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008West Hill is a traditional members club, and rounds for the public are expensive, but some deals are available for societies. The club house is very smart indeed, and there are currently having a new halfway hut built. The course is excellent, and if you get a chance to play, is should not be passed by. The club in woking, adjoins Worplesdon and Woking, and all 3 course are of the highest standard in Surrey, and a good test for any golfer.
by Stephen Danks on 28th January 2008Merrist wood is a great course, and always a challenge. Seems to play long, and has a few uphill holes to test you. The 17th over water and the 18th as a long par 5, are always a challenge, and you feel exhausted by the end! The clubhouse offers excellent full english and buffet dinners, and if you get a chance to dine, take it. You can usually get some great deals using Greenfree vouchers from Argos, or using teeofftimes, to get half price golf for £15 a round. Excellent value.
by Stephen Danks on 26th November 2007Woking GC is steeped in history, and a members club. The welcome is friendly, and a good tough course off the Whites, was 6340. A good test of ability and some great driving holes, a bit of planning is required for ditches, etc. Recommend a visit, well worth while.
by Stephen Danks on 23rd November 2007St Omer is an excellent course, and a tough challenge at 6600 yards off the yellows. Rates are alot cheaper in the winter, and the 9 hole par 3/4 offers a good warm up. Recommend a visit, and would also recommend buggies as a hilly course. Bet you 3 putt a few times, as even in the wet winter, the green are true and very quick indeed. Some great driving holes, and beautiful elevated Tee's. Showers never work though!
by Stephen Danks on 31st October 2007Hurtmore is a lovely short course with a lady pro, and a friendly welcome. I have played this course hundreds of times. They do excellent twilight deals for £11, and you can play the course in 3 hours. It is well maintained, but you can open up the shoulders on many shortish par 4's. Ideal course for high handicappers and beginners, but equally for lower handicaps, that fancy a quick after work round. The pub next door, The Squirrel, is excellent.......
by Stephen Danks on 31st October 2007Woldingham is a lovely course, surrounded by fields, and very scenic. The course is excellent, and whilst not overly long, straight hitting is rewarded. A few hazards, but mainly open fairways. Enjoyed the course so much, went back again and shot 8 less than previously.
by Stephen Danks on 31st October 2007Worplesdon, in the heart of Surrey, adjoins Woking and West Hill courses, probably 3 of the best courses in surrey. Worplesdon is maintained to a very high standard and is a tough course. Shoot your handicap and you will be very pleased. Tough but fair, and if you get a chance to play there, take the opportunity.
by Stephen Danks on 31st October 2007Paultons is next to the Amusement park. A good course, and excellent facilities. Definatley would return again. A few hazards, and I would say a Medium standard course, with a mix of rough, but enough fairway to hit.
by Stephen Danks on 31st October 2007Hindhead is over 100 years old, and a stunning course. Heather awaits you at every hole, so be careful. Practically no water at all, and the course plays well in the winter, due to the height of the course, with views over Surrey and Hampshire. Many hoiles have wide fairways, some that slope to the middle. A long course that is a very good lest, but low scores are possible. If you get the chance, you will not be disappointed.
My blog
| November Event ... 24-Oct-2008 |
| OCTOBER EVENT ... 17-Sep-2008 |
| August Event ... 22-Jul-2008 |
| July Event ... 21-Jun-2008 |
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In my bag
Driver : Lynx
Sand Wedge : Wilson
Pitching Wedge : Wilson
Lob Wedge : Donnay Copper
Putter : Odessey 2 Ball
3 wood : None
5 wood : None
7 wood : None
Driving Iron : None
Rescue Club : None
Bag : Wilson
Trolley : I carry, of course!
Balls : Titleist NXT
Shoes : Footjoy, US imports
Gloves : Titleist
by Stephen Danks on 8th September 2008