| Course
Reviews |
This is a delightful course set amongst some of the most
spectacular scenery you could wish for. Although there is
no view of the lake, the highest point of the course affords
a magnificent panorama of the surrounding hills and valleys.
The club is over 100 years old (founded 1891) and was presumably
built to accommodate the golfing interests of the then burgeoning
Victorian tourist industry. The clubhouse is spacious and
pleasant with a tangible air of gentility from a bygone era,
but without any of the stuffiness that is sometimes to be
found in its peer group of older established clubs. All of
the staff gave my three playing partners and me a very warm
welcome. We played on a Saturday morning at the height of
the season and had no problem booking. At £37 a round
it's not cheap golf, but, as with most things in life, you
get what you pay for. The course is very well laid out, if
a little on the short side, and was in absolutely perfect
condition when we played at the end of August. Inevitably
on a course which is uphill and down-dale, there are a few
somewhat frustrating blind shots and it would have been useful
to have played twice using the first round to get one's bearings.
An investment of £3 in a course planner was money very
well spent!! In terms of playing ability, there is a bit for
everyone here, although rank beginners would struggle with
some of the holes and very low handicappers would find some
of the shortish par 4s no callenge at all. Nevertheless, my
11 handicapper son was so impressed by the variety of the
lay-out, he said that he would find it difficult to get bored
with playing here and would be happy to be a member were it
not for the fact that we live in Chelmsford! We were lucky
to have a pleasant, calm day; I would imagine that, when the
wind is blowing down the valleys and the rain is lashing down,
Windermere would be an altogether different test of golf.
A great little course; play it if you can.
Mike Duval September 15, 2006
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