With
roughly 80 programs affiliated with its county union, Essex boasts
super selection relating to golf.
Some say Essex doesn’t have a ‘massive identify’ like different residence counties. Nevertheless, most of the sport’s most revered architects have left their mark right here, which makes a go to to Essex nicely value your whereas.
Thorndon Park
Situated in
240 acres of historical deer park, the Harry Colt-designed Thorndon Park is simply
over two miles away from the M25. As you thread your manner via the mighty,
outdated oaks, it’s onerous to consider it could possibly be so shut—it is a secluded magnificence;
one of many county’s best programs, if not THE best.
Two loops of 9 run in reverse instructions round New Corridor Pond, making for some memorable holes. Nevertheless, with Thorndon Corridor because the magnificent backdrop to the ultimate gap, the 18th takes some beating. The quick holes run it shut, although, particularly the fifteenth, the longest par 3, which performs over a small lake and stream to a well-bunkered inexperienced.
Chelmsford
One other
high-quality Colt course, Chelmsford, is without doubt one of the county’s oldest layouts. The membership,
which celebrated its centenary in 1993, moved to an 18-hole James Braid design
nearly 30 years after its basis, earlier than Colt made some appreciable
modifications. Measuring a fraction underneath 6,000 yards (par 68), it’s not the size
that’ll problem you, a lot because the variety of tight pictures you’ll face as you
negotiate fairways which can be consistently altering route.
The seventh is without doubt one of the most memorable holes, the place you’re required to string an extended drive via the bunkers, whereas the eleventh, the one par 5 on the course, affords the possibility for large hitters to chop the nook and go for the inexperienced in two with an iron.
Orsett
Orsett
Golf Membership, positioned just some miles from the Thames, was based in 1899; it’s
the work of James Braid and boasts each woodland and heathland options. The
membership has hosted Open Championship qualifying on a number of events and presents
an actual problem when the wind is up, with holes 17 and 18, that are
invariably performed into the prevailing wind, significantly brutish.
As signature holes go, Orsett has an actual gem: the quick par 4 sixth, which is about in a valley. Many a visiting golfer has underestimated the problem of this gap, the place an correct tee shot is essential.
Colchester
Colchester
is the oldest recorded city in Britain, and its membership was shaped in 1907. James
Braid is chargeable for this undulating parkland the place mature timber line the
fairways, so it’s straight driving that will get rewarded.
Coming residence, most par 4s exceed 400 yards, so it’s essential make your rating going out, which is the place you’ll come throughout the course’s two par 5s, on the 2nd and ninth. Hardly ever will you discover Colchester in something however glorious situation, and it’s benefitted from a £750,000 state-of-the-art irrigation system, too. If you happen to like quick greens, you’re positive to heat to Colchester’s subtly-contoured placing surfaces.
Romford
Romford
Golf Membership, which celebrated its one hundred and twenty fifth anniversary in 2019, is positioned simply 18
miles from the centre of London. Little doubt, a lot of its members commute again
from the capital with haste to tee it up right here. The course, one other James Braid
design, is famend for its taxing bunkers, traps which have value many a participant
seeking to qualify for The Open.
The Regional Qualifying course opens up in a reasonably sedate method earlier than displaying its enamel on the par 4 4th, which at 470 odd yards, can solely be described as a beast. “Card a 5 and transfer on” is the recommendation provided by the membership professional, and the identical might most likely be mentioned of the 14th, rated the toughest gap on the course and one other par 4 measuring over 450 yards.
Canons Brook
The
legendary Sir Henry Cotton designed Canons Brook, located near Harlow on
the border of Hertfordshire and London. It opened in 1963, and whereas it might not
boast the identical wealthy historical past as quite a lot of the county’s different programs, it’s a
observe that’s matured splendidly over the past 50 years.
The membership’s identify comes from the traditional space through which it’s positioned, with the brook winding its manner via the panorama and catching out many a participant, particularly first-time guests. The seventeenth, in the meantime, generally known as “Dying or Glory”, is about again in an avenue of timber, whereas up forward, a ditch extends throughout the golf green.
Chigwell
Situated
simply 10 miles northeast of Central London, near the A13 and M11, Chigwell
is definitely accessible and nicely value including to your checklist of golf programs in
Essex. Set on undulating parkland, the membership affords a heat welcome, so pleasant
actually that the first gap can relatively catch you off guard.
The membership describes its 467-yard 1st as “one of many hardest opening holes within the south-east”. The tree-lined fairways aren’t fairly as intimidating as these you would possibly discover elsewhere, which implies you possibly can escape with the odd unfastened shot. In addition to a high-quality assortment of par 3s, which drive you to make use of a special membership every time, the course additionally boasts a beautiful closing gap—a powerful par-5 of 556 yards with water down the left.
Bentley
Located not
removed from Brentford, Bentley is a gorgeous parkland structure; one which has hosted
the Essex County Championship and stays a well-liked venue for the Essex
Captains. Designed by Alex Swan, founding father of Swan Golf Designs, it’s configured
of two returning nines. The gently undulating fairways, that are flanked by
mature timber, veer this fashion and that, and must you stray off line, quite a few
ponds and ditches lie in wait.
The signature gap arrives on the par 4 sixteenth, and it’s definitely worth the wait. A downhill dogleg proper with out of bounds to the proper and a lake guarding the inexperienced, it’s a little bit of a knee-trembler when you go away your self an extended iron along with your second.
West Essex
Affectionately
generally known as “The West”, the James Braid-designed West Essex was based in 1900.
Epping Forest, Chingford, gives a gorgeous location for this parkland
structure, providing picturesque views throughout town of London, together with many
well-known landmarks such because the London Eye and Wembley Stadium.
It’s a course of two distinctive nines, with the tree-lined entrance 9 winding its manner via the forest, while the again 9 is longer and flatter.
A enjoyable truth: West Essex is residence to the smallest championship inexperienced in England. Members nickname the downhill par 3 fifth, which measures 159 yards, the “Frying Pan”. With a placing floor that measures simply 14 yards, it relatively goes with out saying that membership choice is essential.
Abridge
Abridge
Golf & Nation Membership, set in 240 acres of gorgeous parkland, has matured
superbly since opening within the Nineteen Sixties, and Sir Henry Cotton’s structure has
hosted Open Championship qualifying in newer occasions. This offers you an
concept of the standard of the course, which is, no doubt, the most effective in
the county.
Golfers are handled to some great elevation modifications and several other plateau greens. In addition to making for an excellent number of holes, the undulations do a high-quality job shielding the sound of the close by M25. As shut as it’s, there’s no scarcity of great views of the Essex countryside.
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