What's Your Hidden Gem UK Edition? Submit your favourite "hidden gem" golf courses (less than £40)

[milesgiles]

23 hours ago, Divot License said:

Thanks. 

 

I'm playing Cavendish on Friday so very excited about that. At £40 each and with it's reputation I'm expecting it to be added to this list as a bargain course.  

 

 

wasnt in good enough condition to last year to justify a three figure green fee and its definitely low key, but such a good design, enjoy 

[Divot License]

On 6/24/2021 at 2:44 PM, milesgiles said:

 

 

wasnt in good enough condition to last year to justify a three figure green fee and its definitely low key, but such a good design, enjoy 

I don't know about the three figure green fee. Played it on the 25th June on a Friday and it was £40 each. 

 

Absolute bargain, course was in great condition, super friendly staff and a really enjoyable test of golf. Truly a bargain for the money paid. Only let down on our trip was the weather which was overcast but at least we avoided the rain. 

Edited June 30, 2021 by Divot License

[milesgiles]

2 hours ago, Divot License said:

I don't know about the three figure green fee. Played it on the 25th June on a Friday and it was £40 each. 

 

Absolute bargain, course was in great condition, super friendly staff and a really enjoyable test of golf. Truly a bargain for the money paid. Only let down on our trip was the weather which was overcast but at least we avoided the rain. 

 

yes sorry 40 is what we paid. Was a tad scruffy in places last summer, not enough to spoil it, I can pretty much remember every hole which is the mark of a good track imo

[El Gringo]

20 hours ago, Divot License said:

I don't know about the three figure green fee. Played it on the 25th June on a Friday and it was £40 each. 

 

Absolute bargain, course was in great condition, super friendly staff and a really enjoyable test of golf. Truly a bargain for the money paid. Only let down on our trip was the weather which was overcast but at least we avoided the rain. 

Agree. Cavendish is nowhere near 100 quid. I have yet to see the course in good nick, but it's always been very playable. Hands down one of the best bargains I know. 

[milesgiles]

On 7/1/2021 at 7:22 AM, El Gringo said:

Agree. Cavendish is nowhere near 100 quid. I have yet to see the course in good nick, but it's always been very playable. Hands down one of the best bargains I know. 

 

yeah i phrased it poorly just comparing it to top courses, if it was in better condition it would be worth a lot more than £40 

[DavidH88]

Hi again folks, Now I have to admit the golf courses above all do look in magnificent condition and are reasonably priced however I have to say my course is Bulwell Hall and its a completely different course every time I play it. 

 

I have posted about Bulwell Hall before but now it getting much better and now no longer under Nottingham City Councils control. It was taken over by a Golf based business during winter of 2020 and the course is absolutely great and getting better. 

 

Book anytime before midday it's £15 per person for a full round of 18 Holes. They have added a new bunker down the 1st fairway and the greens are now in fantastic condition. (they're quick)

 

Anytime after midday its £10 per person for 18 holes and down to a £5 after 3pm. The staff have all been kept on from before and are delightful to speak to.

 

Now the green-keepers have busy adding new drainage on the back 9 holes including the 15th which I admit did get rather wet and nearly unplayable which is almost complete, They are also reseeding the 16th and 17th holes. 

 

In the future they will be making a new Par 3 course and also a golf academy. Their food is also very good and well priced. £2.50 for a sausage or bacon cob is not to be passed on and they are even showing the European Championships till the final where hoping England will be in lol. 

 

I will add photos of the course to this post when I next go and play when I have some time off work in the next few weeks. 

 

Give it a go and be in for a real treat. 

 

Good golf everyone ^_^

[Divot License]

17 hours ago, DavidH88 said:

Hi again folks, Now I have to admit the golf courses above all do look in magnificent condition and are reasonably priced however I have to say my course is Bulwell Hall and its a completely different course every time I play it. 

 

I have posted about Bulwell Hall before but now it getting much better and now no longer under Nottingham City Councils control. It was taken over by a Golf based business during winter of 2020 and the course is absolutely great and getting better. 

 

Book anytime before midday it's £15 per person for a full round of 18 Holes. They have added a new bunker down the 1st fairway and the greens are now in fantastic condition. (they're quick)

 

Anytime after midday its £10 per person for 18 holes and down to a £5 after 3pm. The staff have all been kept on from before and are delightful to speak to.

 

Now the green-keepers have busy adding new drainage on the back 9 holes including the 15th which I admit did get rather wet and nearly unplayable which is almost complete, They are also reseeding the 16th and 17th holes. 

 

In the future they will be making a new Par 3 course and also a golf academy. Their food is also very good and well priced. £2.50 for a sausage or bacon cob is not to be passed on and they are even showing the European Championships till the final where hoping England will be in lol. 

 

I will add photos of the course to this post when I next go and play when I have some time off work in the next few weeks. 

 

Give it a go and be in for a real treat. 

 

Good golf everyone ^_^

@DavidH88 The wife and I were looking for a course to visit this Sunday to play and having read your post decided to take a chance. 

 

At only £12.00 per person for 18 Holes at 1pm on a Sunday it was a no brainer. Looking forward to seeing what it's like. 

[DavidH88]

4 hours ago, Divot License said:

@DavidH88 The wife and I were looking for a course to visit this Sunday to play and having read your post decided to take a chance. 

 

At only £12.00 per person for 18 Holes at 1pm on a Sunday it was a no brainer. Looking forward to seeing what it's like. 

You got a great deal there, I last played on the 23rd June and it was in wonderful condition. greens pretty quick but may have slowed somewhat with the rain we've had. hope you both have a nice round and the weather picks up for you ^_^. just a quick note - Holes 15 to 17 are on the other side of the road if you cut through the wooded area behind the 14th Hole 🙂 or walk up the road beside the 18th and down the other side of the hill to find the 15th Tee added a course map which is on the scorecard enjoy and Good Golf 

 

 

 

[Divot License]

Had a enjoyable day at @DavidH88 home course Bulwell Hall in Nottingham. The course defiantly has a lot of potential and had a really good 20 min chat with the owner while in the bar as he owns both Woolston Manor and Blakes Golf Course which are more my neck of the woods. The staff were incredibly friendly and really made us feel welcome. Will definitely go back again some time to see how it is improving although I doubt we will get to pay the same low low price. 

 

[DavidH88]

16 minutes ago, Divot License said:

Had a enjoyable day at @DavidH88 home course Bulwell Hall in Nottingham. The course defiantly has a lot of potential and had a really good 20 min chat with the owner while in the bar as he owns both Woolston Manor and Blakes Golf Course which are more my neck of the woods. The staff were incredibly friendly and really made us feel welcome. Will definitely go back again some time to see how it is improving although I doubt we will get to pay the same low low price. 

 

 

You're most welcome and thank you for the update. I'm really happy to hear you had a great day (though the football didn't go according to plan lol) It's great to see the old photos have been kept for the History of the venue. The course looks in great condition I've never seen the 16th so green. I've played it where its been brown and links like( a few years ago). 🙂 I'm hoping to play the back 9 when I am on Annual Leave. 

 

Good Golf

Edited July 15, 2021 by DavidH88

[milesgiles]

Bit of a mission to get there, but I'll add Reay, the northernmost mainlind uk links just across from John O Groats.

 

£40, beautiful. Its not irrigated so wont be at its best in a long dry spell (which is what they've had in the East Highlands this summer, honest..)

[El Gringo]

On 7/20/2020 at 11:52 AM, Divot License said:

I played Thorpeness last week.

Gorgeous golf course with some really interesting holes.

Green Fees are currently £65.00 before 12pm and £45.00 after 12pm

 

Played Thorpeness several weeks ago. Superb potential if s*** loads of trees are cleared. Quite a popular place for overnight societies. 

[milesgiles]

On 9/21/2021 at 9:09 AM, El Gringo said:

Played Thorpeness several weeks ago. Superb potential if s*** loads of trees are cleared. Quite a popular place for overnight societies. 

 

certainly agree with the society vibe, which is a shame.

 

Didnt think the trees were intrusive at all last year, its just a typical heathland in that it gets narrow in bouncy conditions. Go back when its a bit softer I think youll appreciate it a bit more, its a lovely design 

[El Gringo]

16 hours ago, milesgiles said:

 

certainly agree with the society vibe, which is a shame.

 

Didnt think the trees were intrusive at all last year, its just a typical heathland in that it gets narrow in bouncy conditions. Go back when its a bit softer I think youll appreciate it a bit more, its a lovely design 

I agree there are plenty of good holes. However, when a course is beautifully firm and fast with rough wider than fairways because it's used as a buffer from trees it's time to take action. The superb 3rd is stupidly narrow. Thorpeness could learn something from the work done at Woodbridge. I am not sure the design is any better, but it's more fun because it's more playable. Consequently, Woodbridge is more heathy and beautiful as well. 

[Divot License]

• Course Name: Seacroft GC
• Town/City, County: Skegness
• Price Range: £30 midweek
• Course Website: https://www.seacroft-golfclub.co.uk/

 

The wife and I had a really enjoyable round at Seacroft last week. Weather was superb for a November day and at only £30 it was a true bargain. The fairways were scruffy and patchy, almost as if the grass hadn't grown since summer but everything else about the course was lovely. There is bunker restoration work being done on Holes 1, 2, 17 and 18 but they don't effect the overall enjoyment of the course. 

[milesgiles]

On 11/17/2021 at 2:40 PM, Divot License said:

• Course Name: Seacroft GC
• Town/City, County: Skegness
• Price Range: £30 midweek
• Course Website: https://www.seacroft-golfclub.co.uk/

 

The wife and I had a really enjoyable round at Seacroft last week. Weather was superb for a November day and at only £30 it was a true bargain. The fairways were scruffy and patchy, almost as if the grass hadn't grown since summer but everything else about the course was lovely. There is bunker restoration work being done on Holes 1, 2, 17 and 18 but they don't effect the overall enjoyment of the course. 

 

 

lols yes played it in the summer, very nice but scruffy fairways, Definitely good value. Paired it with Sleaford, which blew us away, bonkers good condition, no money at all on County Card, not the hardest course in the world but a lovely walk. Better than Ive ever seen Belton Park, which is more renowned in that neck of the woods.

 

*played woodbridge this week, certainly a lot wider than Thorpeness, but can't really call it a hidden gem at that price..

[milesgiles]

 

problem with hertfordshire is its almost all parkland ion non draining clay. They all struggle this time of year. 

 

I had idly wondered if you could 'sand' a golf course the same as you do the greens, but assumed it was uneconomic and would leach away over time anyway..

 

I may have been mistaken, because I hear Highgate golf course has done exactly that.. not likely to get there myself but if any north london golfers are getting a little angsty be interesting to hear how it compares..

Edited January 5, 2022 by milesgiles

[Divot License]

• Course Name: Knebworth GC
• Town/City, County: Knebworth
• Price Range: £30 midweek
• Course Website: https://www.knebworthgolfclub.com/

 

Had a really enjoyable round last week at Knebworth. While the course is wet (clay based country) the layout is very nice with some really interesting hole designs. It was definately a course we all said we sould return to in the spring/summer to see it in it's full glroy. 

 

[Divot License]

• Course Name: Crews Hill
• Town/City, County: Enflied, London
• Price Range: £45
• Course Website: https://www.crewshillgolfclub.com/
• This course has been on my radar for a couple of years now (ever since getting mentioned on this thread) and I finally made the (1 hour) trip to it yesterday and all I can say is, it was very much worth the trip. I've always loved Harry Colt courses (although I've not played a lot of them, but was a teen junior at Burnham & Berrow) and this may be my favorite yet. The layout was superb with my wife praising how no two holes felt the same, the greens while appearing simple contained many subtle breaks and were rolling superbly considering the weather so far this year in the UK. The only let down was due to the recent weather, there were three or four spots of standing water on the course (non interfered with play) but the fairways had y been allowed to grow a little longer than usual leading so a couple of flier lies. Over all this was a superb day out and a great way to start a week of "hidden gem/value for money" rounds

Edited May 29, 2024 by Divot License

[Divot License]

• Course Name: Rushcliffe GC
• Town/City, County: East Leake, Nottinghamshire
• Price Range: £35 midweek
• Course Website: https://www.rushcliffegolfclub.co.uk

It's been a fair few years since I last visit Rushcliffe and it stood up to the test of time. The course exceeded my memory of it and provided a wonderful day of golf. 

 

[El Gringo]

On 7/5/2020 at 11:55 PM, Hawkeye77 said:

Somehow the transition to the new site wreaked havoc on an earlier post.

Traigh Golf Club on the west coast of Scotland a short drive from Glenfinnan was inexpensive and a wonderful first 9 holes of golf played in Scotland two years ago.

I agree! Great little course. Would go back in a heartbeat. 

[El Gringo]

A few more to add….9 holers

 

Castlerock Bann, N Ireland

Alnmouth Village, Northumberland 

Gatehouse, Scotland