Bowood Golf & Country Club ***

Derry Hill, Caine, SN11 9PQ

Nearest main town: Chippenham

 

The early 1990s saw a trend towards a new breed of Luxury golf resorts as developers attempted to match the standards set by the likes of Turnberry and Gleneagles, far-flung but long-established favourites in Britain. Many of these big-dollar, high-maintenance country clubs failed, but some flourished, like Bowood, which even today remains a popular West Country retreat.

On what is essentially a flat site, although majestic in its own way with mature woodland encasing the Bowood estate, the course is a fair test of golf, blending 18 holes with the property's 2000-acre Great Park, originally the creation of Capability Brown in the late 1700s. The cavernous, moulded bunkers, skilfully planned hillocks that skirt and define the fairways, vast greens, and the occasional lake or stream are in complete harmony with the surroundings.

From the very back tees, Bowood weighs in at 7317 yards, which includes a 600-yard par-5. Anyone with any sanity will settle for the more under-friendly, although still long, 6890 yards from the whites. Given its length, you could be forgiven for thinking this is some US Open-style course with pencil-thin fairways and punishing rough. In fact, the rough is loose knit and relatively benign, but, by and large, like so many quintessentially English designs, it begs you to think on every hole.

Pick of the holes are the 13th, Wyatt's Spire, the green framed by dense woodland and a towering old church spire, and the 15th, The Moors, a scenic dogleg with a couple of huge dominant oak trees. The 18th, Home Farm, with water all the way down the right and another small lake sitting just short and left of the green, is a bit of a cliché, but these designers like to finish with a flourish.

 

Secretary: Ms K. Elson (Sales & Marketing Manager)

Tel: 01249 822228 Fax: 01249 822218

Professional: Mr M. Taylor

Tel: 01249 822228 Fax: 01249 822218

Playing: Midweek: round £39.00; day n/a. Weekend: round £41.00; day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11pm. Food: Breakfast, lunch and dinner from 8am-10pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: Long and demanding...Well-thought-out course...Hazard warning...Gets wet in winter... Excellent course but poor drainage so avoid in winter.

 

Cumberwell Park Golf Club ****

Bradford-on-Avon, BA15 2PQ

Nearest main town: Bath

 

Secretary: Mr J. Jacobs (Golf Director)               

Tel: 01225 863322 Fax: 01225 868160                                   

Professional: Mr J. Jacobs                    

Tel: 01255 863322

Playing: Midweek: round £20.00; day £35.00. Weekend: round £25.00; day £40.00.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Sunday lunch. Bar snacks.

Comments: One of the best new courses around...No excessive contouring, just natural golf...What golf clubs should be all about - friendly and accessible... Best in Wiltshire...Very long from the tiger tees.