We all have our favourite golf venues, courses that live long in the memory.
For me it includes the likes of Kingsbarns, Pebble Beach, Torrey Pines, Wentworth, Aldeburgh and Old Thorns. There are many others, too many to mention.
But we have all had dreadful experiences when visiting courses. So, what would stop you from returning to a golf course?
Having separate car parks for members and visitors
I still cannot quite believe that this still exists. You roll up the driveway as a visitor and are greeted with a sign that directs you to a visitors’ car park. Why? In my experience, the members’ car park is always perfect while the area reserved for visitors can be a mud bath. It is like they are telling you before you have even got out of your car that you are not going to be welcome. You are being tolerated as something of a necessary evil.
Not having a welcoming pro shop
I would be very surprised if most of you have not had a dreadful experience when walking into the pro’s shop. There are a couple of examples that stick in my mind, both at the same Suffolk golf club. I turned up to play with a member on a scorching hot summers day, wearing shorts and ankle-length white socks. The pro took one look at me and said: "You can’t go out on the course dressed like that."
"I beg your pardon."
"You need to be wearing knee-length socks."
"I don’t have any."
"I can sell you a pair."
"Do you have anything to hold them up?"
"No."
"In that case, by the time I get to the first tee they are going to be around my ankles."
"It’s the rules. No knee-length socks, no round of golf."
So, I duly purchased a pair of socks. And sure enough, by the time we teed off they were down around my ankles.
On another visit, I walked into the shop while still wearing my everyday shoes. He said: “What have you got on your feet?”
"My shoes."
"I want you back in here before you go on the course wearing your golf shoes."
Talk about not being made to feel welcome. It was the final straw. I vowed never to return - and I never will.
Maybe it’s just me, but if I am playing a course for the first time, I do not think it is too much to expect that the pro gives you a quick guide to his course, telling you about the areas you need to avoid. Too often I get the impression that all they want is your money.
Green fees that rip you off
I don’t mind paying a decent sum for a round of golf on a good course. Where I do object is when I have finished said round and feel that I have been ripped off. Whatever happened to value for money? If you get the feeling that all they interested in is relieving you of your hard-earned cash, why on earth would you want to return?
Condition that falls below expectations
(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)
Have you ever visited a course and walked off feeling extremely disappointed? I have. Many times. I recall playing a prestigious Norfolk links course not so long ago. The green fee was in excess of £100. The professional asked me to come back to the shop after my round to him what I thought. I was encouraged by this. What was less impressive was the state of the bunkers. There was next to no sand in them and what there was felt like hitting off solid concrete. When we completed our round, I duly headed back to see the pro.
"Well, what did you think?" he asked.
“You have a lovely layout, but you don’t need me to tell you that your bunkers are pretty poor.”
"You are kidding me. It’s a links course."
He was implying that the wind had taken its toll on the bunkers. Now I grew up playing my golf on links courses in Scotland, where there is plenty of wind. And I can never remember the bunkers at Lundin Links and St Andrews having no sand in them!
Stuffy and overpriced clubhouses
Oh please, don’t get me started. Until fairly recently, the Suffolk golf course I referred to earlier insisted that all golfers wore a jacket, shirt and tie in the clubhouse. Come on! As if that was not bad enough, unless you were accompanied by a member you were not even allowed in the main bar - you were directed to a horrible stud bar.
My other bugbear is beer prices. It makes my blood boil to be asked in excess of £7 for a pint of beer. There is no possible justification for it.
Changing rooms that are extremely poor
Changing rooms tell you a great deal about a golf club. My pet hate is changing rooms that smell of sweat, that have showers that only provide cold water, that have no towels or hairdryers and offer visitors nowhere to store a change of clothing. Oh yes and provide no toiletries and toilets that appear not to have been cleaned for months. This is 2026 - there is no need for it!
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