Longcliffe Golf Club ****

Snells Nook Lane, Nanpantan, Loughborough, LE11 3YA

Nearest main town: Loughborough

 

To be fair, Longcliffe suffers from a little bit of an identity problem. It is labelled a heathland course but over the years the heather has receded and you have to be incredibly unlucky nowadays to find your ball buried in heather. It now resembles parkland, but do not be put off into think­ing that it is in any way dull. Longcliffe is a refreshing course that constantly surprises.

Indeed, almost every hole here is tree-lined, which gives the course a splendidly isolated feel. Along each avenue of trees the fair­ways undulate gently, and as you would expect, placement of your tee shot is the first and most important thing you need to do here to score well. Go off line and you are likely to run up a big score once in the trees.

The course's feature hole is probably the 15th, a par-3 played from an elevated tee to a green surrounded by a pond and dangerous bunkers. It's a gamble to go for the flag but there are a lot of such dilemmas at Longcliffe.

Much of the pleasure of playing here is the atmosphere created by the members, which is always jolly and laughter can often be heard on different holes as you pass through the avenues of trees. They are an active bunch and it really does give the course a very homely feel.

 

Secretary: Mr P. Keeling

Tel: 01509239129 Fax: 01509 231286

Professional: Mr D. Mee

Tel: O1509 231450

Playing: Midweek: round £29.00; day £39.00. Weekend: round n/a; day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Lunch and dinner from 11.30am-8.45pm. Bar snacks.

Comments: Absolute blinder...Trouble everywhere with granite outcrops, heather and tangly gorse... Real test of man versus course...Could not ask for more, especially at the bargain price...A perfect golf experience.

 

Cosby Golf Club *

Chapel Lane, Broughton Road, Cosby, LE9 1RG

Nearest main town: Leicester

 

Secretary: Mr G. Kirkpatrick

Tel: 01162864759 Fax: 0116 286 4484

Professional: Mr M. Wing                    

Tel: 0116 284 8275

Playing: Midweek: round £18.00; day £26.00. Weekend: round n/a; day n/a.

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

Comments: Friendly welcome and good value for visitors. . .Narrow course but little trouble around the greens...Best value golf in Leicestershire ... Parkland course with right attitude.