COUNTY CARDS

Some advice from Pachesham.

For those of you who are members of Golf Clubs, if you haven't already subscribed to the County Card scheme, we suggest you do so. It's a great system whereby, as a member of a Golf Club, you pay a nominal amount (of circa £10) to join the scheme, and then you can enjoy the priviledge of being able to play a variety of other golf courses at reduced rates. The scheme has been extended over recent years and you are now not restricted to only playing within your county. Counties currently in the scheme include Bedfordshire, BB and O (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire) Cambridgeshire, Cumbria, Dorset, Essex, Gloucestershire, Kent, Leicestershire and Rutland, Middlesex, Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Sussex and Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.

Mark Woodward, a County Player, in his right has suggested and comments on the following courses as well worth a visit:

Puttenham Golf ClubA picturesque course on the A31 just beyond Guildford is a prime example where accuracy and course management prevails over distance. The key to any classic course is where no two holes are the same type and this is the beauty at Puttenham. In my experience the course is always well presented with excellent greens.

County Rate £25.00 (normal rate £40.00)

Reigate Heath Golf ClubSimilar to Puttenham, this is one of the prettiest little courses anywhere with spectacular views. Although only 9 holes, the split tee positions on the opposite nine often provide a completely different aspect to the hole. Peter Alliss had the BBC film the series “A Round with Alliss” over the first three holes, probably due the photogenic nature of the course, which is evident on their website.

County Rate £17.50 (normal rate £35.00)

Foxhills Golf ClubThis is famed for its overall facilities which include a Spa, Health Club and Resort Hotel. There are two Championship courses, Bernard Hunt and Longcross, but for me, it’s the Longcross course that stands out as a great golfing experience. The benchmark is raised here as both accuracy and distance is the order of the day. In essence the holes are cut through tall Pines, Beeches and Silver Birches. The 14th Hole, a long Par 5 with a raised tee and tight fairway, was recently voted by BBC Radio 5 Listeners as “ one of the greatest holes ever played”.

County Rate £45.00 (normal rate £75.00)

Old Thorns Manor HotelOld Thorns is a magnificent golf course and ranges across the rolling hills of the North Hampshire countryside, it offers fantastic views at every turn. Mature trees, natural springs, lakes and testing bunkers gives real character to this course and it offers a great challenge for all players. The par 72 course has an illustrious history. In 1981 Peter Alliss, Honorary President of the Club and Dave Thomas completed the construction of the course they had painstakingly designed. A year later its official inauguration saw Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, Isao Aoki and the then reigning Open Champion, Bill Rogers, play a competitive four ball. With similar facilities to Foxhlls, this is sure to make a great day out and is proof that your county card can be used for trips a little further into neighbouring counties.

County Rate £25.00 (normal rate £40.00)