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

[James the Hogan Fan]

I just played North Foreland in Broadstairs for £30 twilight (£50/£75on weekdays/weekends), so it straddles the affordability side. But what a pretty and fun place to play golf! Great views and a number of fun holes. I really liked it!

 

[Pete O'Tube]

> @"El Gringo" said:

 

> I am in the Midlands. The older I get the more I dread using motorways in England. It seems there can be bad traffic anytime, anywhere. At the end of the month I am heading to Bournemouth. I normally first think of a detour to Surrey for a game on the way down. I think this time I will avoid the M25 and head for either Hockley or Stoneham. I like both courses and each have done some good tree clearing work since I last visited.

>

>

>

> Ciao

 

Instead of Hockley or Stoneham, stay on the A303 and play High Post near Salisbury. Great downland course in superb condition - and entirely free from Novichok!

 

 

[rusty380]

Matlock GC It's £22.50 a round for visitors at the moment, I imagine the price increases in summer, but it certainly remains under the £40 bracket, I believe around £30-35 in peak periods. It's based in Derbyshire the Midlands within the Peak District close to a lot of B&B's, camping and tourist sites.

 

Lovely green and fairways very much a rolling course and great value for money as a member or greenfee. Have to play some holes very strategically due to the sloping nature of some of the fairways, can get good and bad breaks as a result.

 

I've recently moved to the area and joined immediately so i can play before and after work during the week despite being a member at 2 other golf clubs, Ramsdale Park & Coxmoor GC. Coxmoor sits at circa £80-100 a round so not within the criteria of this post but a fantastic course.

 

Ramsdale however is a stones throw away from Coxmoor also fits in the <£40 a round bracket, decent greens and fairways Parkland front 9 and then a Rolling Back 9 you'd not realise you're playing the same course if you was escorted blindfolded to the 10th tee. Also accompanied with a par 3 that i've not played many times.

 

Anyway a few pictures:

 

**Matlock Golf Club, Derbyshire:**

 

 

 

 

**Ramsdale Golf Club, Calverton, Nottinghamshire**

 

 

 

[El Gringo]

> @"Pete O'Tube" said:

> > @"El Gringo" said:

>

> > I am in the Midlands. The older I get the more I dread using motorways in England. It seems there can be bad traffic anytime, anywhere. At the end of the month I am heading to Bournemouth. I normally first think of a detour to Surrey for a game on the way down. I think this time I will avoid the M25 and head for either Hockley or Stoneham. I like both courses and each have done some good tree clearing work since I last visited.

> >

> > Ciao

>

> Instead of Hockley or Stoneham, stay on the A303 and play High Post near Salisbury. Great downland course in superb condition - and entirely free from Novichok!

>

PO'T

I decided to stick with Stoneham today because its been many years since my last visit. I am very impressed with the tree clearance and bunker work! There are now some wonderous vistas across the property and the design integrity of Willie Park Jr's design shines brightly.

Ciao

 

 

 

[milesgiles]

I’ll second ramsdale, played it 20 years ago and it stuck in my mind. Stoneham good fun as well, lacks a proper range unfortunately and a tough walk, but will play again

[downforg]

Royal Eastbourne Golf Club. This place is loads of fun, along with really good design features.

[Chanceman]

Old Fold Manor just North of London. 40 quid.

[Divot License]

I would add Thetford in Norfolk to the list of gems. £45 weekend and £35 weekdays for a visitor.

[El Gringo]

The range may be finished by now.

[milesgiles]

Seconded, beautiful

[milesgiles]

Got a short break planned end of the month, if I was staying Mansfield/Chesterfield area are there other ‘hidden gems’? I’ve played the major courses there and might try for a twilight on Hollinwell or Sherwood, but I could do with a couple of <£40 courses within 20 miles ish? Any thoughts midlanders?

[CraigLester]

Miles.

Try Rushcliffe, played it 10 days ago and was very impressed with it

[Hawkeye77]

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.

[Divot License]

Miles,

Cavendish is worth a look. It's around£40 depending on weekday or weekend.

Seely course at Ramsdale Park would be a good call also.

 

 

[FairwayFred]

Dunaverty GC

Southend Scotland

£32 peak season 18 holes

£50 peak season day pass

[milesgiles]

So using the advice here and a couple of other sites, I’m looking at a short East Midlands trip in two weeks time. I’ve played around Notts so I’m leaving that out for the moment, I’ve narrowed it down to:

Rutland (Melton Mowbray, Oakham, Rutland, Luffenham)

or

Derbyshire (Cavendish, Matlock, Kedleston, Horsely Lodge, Morley, Willesley, maybe Longcliffe/Rushcliffe)

 

criteria,

likely use air bnb no nightlife strictly necessary.

Need at least three courses mon - weds. Play 5 rounds over 3 days. May use day ticket. Average cost under £60 a day?

will likely play somewhere Sunday afternoon but that could be anywhere I’m coming north from Herts

minimal travel is always a bonus.. thoughts?

 

 

 

[Chanceman]

I guess Luffenham Heath and Cavendish are the two not to miss from your list, but possibly consider a diversion to Sherwood Forest in the Nottingham area.

[Divot License]

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

 

[hackerandy]

Askernish on South Uist, holes 1-5 are good holes but from 6 until 17 it is just fabulous, if this course was in mainland Scotland it would be at least £180 but £45 just because of location, if you like links golf then this is a must play. Rough is extremely penal and green complexes are brilliant. ???

[jonnymc44]

On the Outer Hebrides theme, I'd loved to have played Isle of Harris Golf Club when I was over there a few years ago. Not easy to get to but the views look spectacular. Only a short course at 4800 yards but makes up for it in other ways. £26 a round. http://www.harrisgolf.com/default.asp

Also Durness on the north coast of mainland Scotland. Another difficult one to get to but looks worth it. £20 for 9 holes, £35 for 18. I can't take credit for the photos below, they're from their website. https://lucy916.wixsite.com/durness-golf-club-2/functions

[Divot License]

It's also got a great history as being a lost course designed by Old Tom Morris that was rediscovered by luck.

[milesgiles]

Playing Horsley, Matlock and Cavendish this week.. anyone know the deal with Kedleston, no info on the website do they take county cards? Might just fill in with the Marriott Breadsall..

[FairwayFred]

Yes to Askernish. 6-17 is just amazing, imo the best stretch of links golf in Scotland.

 

Isle of Harris is good and amazingly scenic but not on Askernish level. Worth playing if your on Harris but I'm not sure it's worth a special trip just to play it.

[Divot License]

@milesgiles Kedleston Park is on the County Card website. It's always worth ringing the club to inform them you wish to use the card otherwise they might reject it.
https://www.bbogolf.com/derbyshire

[milesgiles]

I skipped Kedleston simply because there’s not even an indication on the website on the green fee, which doesn’t really ensure a cheery welcome. I pretty much avoid courses with poor websites.

in reverse order of what we did play in Derbyshire

Marriot Breadsall Priory. Reasonable course especially back nine, didn’t like the holes around the driving range, tough walk. Greens weren’t great, but it’s a decent fill in course. Might be a top 400 course if they firm up the greens

Horsley. We enjoyed it a lot, fairly tight nice mix of holes, the 9th would be a great finishing hole. Definitely top 400, it seems really well run and managed

Matlock. Very nice course indeed, much more spacious, best greens of the week, we got round in good time great views very friendly members, thoroughly recommend. Top 200 uk definitely

Cavendish. Just a brilliant course. The green complexes are so, so cleverly designed. Every hole is memorable, the Augusta influence is not hyperbole at all. Perhaps it’s setting is a little too wild and rustic for some, for me it’s top 100 uk and fantastic value.

[Divot License]

• Course Name: Glen Gourse GC
• Town/City, County: Oadby, Leicestershire
• Price Range: £25 midweek
• Course Website: https://www.glengorsegolfclub.co.uk/
• A brief description of why you think it's a hidden gem (and please include a photo if you have one!): This is a quaint and charming parkland course. The members and staff were incredible friendly and made us feel very welcome. The course I believe has had some work carried out on it by Donald Steel and it's an interesting test of golf. Most of the holes are nicely designed with several being truly great golf holes. One thing to note is the "rippling" fairways. Almost the whole course has small rippling bumps across it which can cause some interesting bounces. I asked some members about them and several times it has been discussed to flatten them but it's always been decided to keep them as they at character to the course.  

 

[milesgiles]

Another vote for Thorpeness, just played today holds up great in the winter. I’d rate it up there with almost any heathland, gorse in flower, tremendous par 4s.

One thing, it doesn’t seem to be a members course as such, so the hotel is letting complete choppers on in tracksuits, there were a Lot of pitchmarks, it would be a shame if it wasn’t looked after

[El Gringo]

On 12/23/2018 at 4:49 AM, El Gringo said:

I will offer a few, but none are fully public. That said, all will take visitors at certain times and days.

 

1. Kington...Herefordshire (very close to Wales)...£34 weekend fee: A course gaining some notoriety because Doak gave it a 7 in his latest CG edition of GB&I...he isn't wrong.

 

2. Cavendish...Derbyshire...£35 top fee: A wonderful little course by Dr Mac which plays far harder than the card suggests.

 

3. Welshpool...Powys (Wales)...£30 weekend fee: Another hilltop course with outstanding greensites/greens...this time by James Braid.

 

There are more, but this should do for now.

 

Ciao

Two years later and three more gems. 

 

4. Castlerock Bann, the relief 9 for the club which is a cracker. 

 

5. Alnmouth Village, a lovely 9 holer on a tight property which plays in and out of the village. 

 

6. Reigate Heath, another lovely 9 holer, across the M25 from Walton Heath. 

[milesgiles]

I'll add Sleaford, Lincs to the list, £23.50 on county card...

 

played it a couple of weeks ago, I dont think Ive ever played a bigger bargain in the uk. Exceptional condition, very comparable to Belton Woods up the road, nice easy walk, quiet, old school charm.. 

 

its low key and undramatic but thoroughly enjoyed it. Dont if it looks like this year in year out, but at the moment its well worth the trip if anywhere remotely close..

[Divot License]

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.