The Course


The First Tee	The 2nd Hole	The 3rd Hole	The 4th

Holes 1-9 (click on image to enlarge)	Holes 10-18 (click on image to enlarge)

The course is a parkland course, with many varied species of fine trees, including Red Maples, Indian Bean Trees, Walnuts, Oaks and many others. Particular mention has to be made of the magnificent Horse Chestnut tree that guards the right hand approach to the second green.

The Clubhouse was rebuilt in 1985 and is very well designed having a large friendly bar area with a very attractive stone fireplace. Excellent cuisine is available in the restaurant, which is well used for all kinds of club functions and a daily lunch menu is always available.

The club welcomes societies who will find suitable flexible packages available that should cater for their every need. The Club Professional Karl Hayler provides an excellent shop facility, stocking major brands coupled with a teaching service to suit the individual or group, including company clinics and playing lessons. Buggies may be booked in advance.

The course a par 69 with just one par 5 on the card, at first glance it may look easy to the uninitiated, however, when you play it once it is quite apparent that first impressions are not always as they seem.

The course lies under the scarp edge of the Cotswolds and as a result there are many very tricky lies and borrows to overcome. Couple this with the abundance of trees as hazards and you will quickly realise that a great deal of thought is needed when deciding upon club selection and trajectory of shot. The fact that there is a total lack of fairway bunkers on the course often goes unnoticed, the trees themselves provide quite enough problems for the wayward shot.

The course could also be said to be in two parts, the first 11 holes are fairly flat and then there is a gradual climb up the 12^th hole to the top of the course. Whilst up on top, particularly on the 14^th fairway, there are stunning views over the whole of Cheltenham across to the Malvern Hills, with the imposing Tewkesbury Abbey in between. On a clear, sunny day you will wonder if there could be any nicer place to be.

When you step onto the first tee the opening hole, a par 4, looks quite straight forward, a good drive to the left of centre will ensure an easy approach to the green, but beware, any straying tee shot to the right finds a very large walnut tree blocking out the green.

The second hole at 369 yds is a very slight right to left dogleg; the fairway is lined with many large trees. The best position to be is on the left side of the fairway as the green is guarded on the right by a massive horse chestnut tree together with bunkers right and left.

Hole 3, a par 3 of around 200 yards, and with a large bunker to the right of the green collecting any shots fading with the generally prevailing wind makes the tee shot demanding. Miss the green and you are left with a tricky pitch or chip.

Hole 4 is a long par 4 at 394 yds. The drive is blind with a large raised lake running along the left for around a hundred yards or so. A good straight drive will result in an open approach to a large green, with bunkers right and left at the entrance.

The fifth usually benefits from a tail wind and is stroke 2 on the card. The average golfer is usually playing his second with only the top of the flagstick as a target. Large trees are to be found to the right front of the green, which slopes from right to left. The ideal drive is always left of centre.

The sixth is a hole that may provide a birdie opportunity, as long as the drive is straight. Long hitters should beware of a ditch running across the fairway at a distance that can easily be reached from the tee and can result in a penalty drop.

Hole seven is a par 3 of around 170 yards from the tee of the day. Bunkers left and right of the green provide the only real hazards on this hole. But beware, it always seems to play just that bit longer than it looks.

Our next hole, No.8 is the only par five on the course and presents better players with a birdie chance. However, it does require a good straight drive a little left of centre of the fairway. Stray left or right and the second shot can be blocked out on either side by very large oak trees. The largest on the right hand side often acts as a magnet to the ball. The green is large with bunkers on the left front side.

The final hole of the front nine is a long par 4 some 444 yards from the tee of the day. The green is not visible from the tee. The left hand side is tree lined,and on the right any wayward drive will be blocked out by three very tall Lombardy poplar trees. There is a bunker front right to catch a wayward approach shot to a large green on which most balls swing left to right.

To start the back nine we have a short par four (no. 10), a wayward drive to the right, at worst means out of bounds and at best being blocked out by a copse of large horse chestnut trees, so keeping it straight from the tee is the order of the day. A short iron will follow, but if hit long will leave a difficult shot down the green.

Eleven is a delightful short hole. Guarding the green right and left are two very large bunkers, presenting a narrow approach. In front of the left bunker is a beautiful weeping willow tree.

Now starts the change in terrain as, twelve, stroke index one, is a right angle dogleg, the tee shot needing to be hit accurately to see the green. All the ground rises gradually up to the scarp edge. The large green has a back to front slope, so below the pin is the place to be after your second shot.

The drive at 13 is dominated by two large sycamores to the left, and with the ground falling away left to right you need a good straight drive. Big hitters will find the green almost within range. The green, with many varied borrows, has two strategically placed bunkers that see many visitors. But still a good birdie opportunity.

At the very top of the course is hole14, which has a blind drive over a hill; right of centre being the perfect position. Provided your ball gets over the hill, the second shot to the two- tier green should not present too many problems. While on the top of hill take the opportunity to survey the scene, the view is breathtaking.

The next two holes 15 and 16 are somewhat similar, literally out on one and back on the other. The 15^th being stroke three needs a good long drive to ensure reaching the elevated green in two. The 16^th also has an elevated green to which most people are playing from the right of the fairway as the natural lie of the land takes the ball there. On the approach aim left of the pin as the contours of the green will bring the ball towards the flag.

The last par 3, no.17 is a pretty hole with a lake along the right side of the green and two bunkers to the left. The land slopes down to the green left to right. At around 200 yards this hole can easily spoil a good card if care is not taken with your tee shot.

Our final hole sweeps down as a right hand dog- leg back to the clubhouse. Here there are also good views to be admired. With out of bounds all down the right of the fairway, which is flanked by tall trees, trying to cut the corner is more often than not foolhardy and can be costly.

End the round with a well-earned drink on the attractive terrace and see how the others do on 18.