The Course

From committee Member, Ian Southgate

Having been a member some 40 years ago it gives me great pleasure to offer my views and opinion on our golf course as it now plays.

The main reasons for my leaving were the ‘5 hour plus’ rounds and the need to pitch

Approach shots some 40 yards short of the greens during the summer because of the ‘rock hard’ fairways. Despite this the club still entered a Thornton Cup side where all 10 players were below 6 handicap and even advanced to the last 16 one year.

Apologies, I digress.  These two problems are now ‘long gone’ as the new water system is brilliant and a round takes no more than just over 4 hours even on busy days.

Fairway sprinklers some 40 yards short of the green and also on all Tees and Greens, means the course looks lush and allows well hit iron shots to be fired straight at the flags. The greens are still a little on the slow side but once you get used to them they putt reasonably well.

The course has been changed since the ‘old days’ with the old 9^th now playing as the 2^nd and this has improved the flow of the course considerably. It means that the old 8^th & 11^th are now played consecutively as the 4^th & 5^th which means the lowest stroke indexes are  together  but this doesn’t spoil the front nine which now has many more mature trees to worry about. I can remember the poplars between 5 and 9 (now) being planted as saplings with stakes where a compulsory ‘drop’ was in play to protect them against damage. Now look at them!

The 11^th (old 7^th) is now a par 4 and the bunker which use to be in the middle of the fairway has been filled and replaced by a new one on the left around 240 yards. It plays far better as a shortened par 4.

On to the 12^th and you start playing through the woodland. A more beautiful stretch you would be pushed to find. Just look at the photo section of these holes in autumn.

They are on the short side as they are still the same as originally designed when hickory clubs and feathery balls meant a huge drive would go around 180 to 210 yards but they still require straightness. Just ask anyone who has run up a 7 or 8 on any of them. ( did it myself just the other week on the 14^th Doh! )

All in all the Belfairs experience has improved beyond all recognition and is great value for money especially the ‘Twilight Special’ on weekdays at only £7.00