Belhus Park Golf Club

No definition between fairway and rough .
One off the holes wasn’t even on the green
Greens in a right state
Worst course Iv ever played
Might be different in summer .
But for £18 with top meadow down the road
Top meadow is much nicer and better
value

It's a very tight course,and there are too many trees along most fairways,it's too hard for high handicappers,once in the trees which many of us will be in,there is still a lot of trees in the way to escape ,not needed half of them,for us middle to high handicappers.The greens were in poor shape,but of course just coming out of Winter,lucky we could play ,lift and place ,on most fairways,as the winter has left lots of bare areas.there are hidden ditches,but not to bad,I believe courses should be for all levels of players,I think this course is hard for high handicaps,but only a personal view ,like everything,I would I suppose play it again,in the spring onwards,but I would not rush..

One certainly appreciates this lovely, mild Spring weather, everything is sweeter, brighter and playing golf is certainly much, much more enjoyable....

Belhus fairways were very lush, well kept, though sand is a little scarse, greens in good condition but not as fast as one would expect.

The parkland course was very pretty, the sweet smell of Spring everywhere around. The course was practically empty, so we managed to tee off at least 20 minutes early. A bargain price posted by "Smooth/Sweet ED", a TSG gem for sharing his finds with us all.

We did not have a flag on the 6th, Par 3, as some little local hooligans run away with it, taking the markers from the 7th Tee box with them as well.... that is the joy of a municipal course with adjacent public footpath.

Despite this little incident, we had a nice relaxing game (4 ball) and an enjoyable drink afterwards. What a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

THE END.....

This is a public pay and play course - nonetheless in reasonable condition despite all the inclement weather we had endured in the area.

It is open parkland and a fair amount of holes were tree-lined up and down with adjacent fairways (OK another route to your chosen green). The general condition of fairways and greens were OK, some boggy bits which needed a bit of careful navigation but all in all a reasonable test of golf skills. Personally I found much of it needing a fair amount of repetition from the tees and unlike some other short courses I didn't exercise all of the clubs in my bag (so this course would be super for 5-club challenges). Greens were a bit on the wooly side (a bit slow and could be better in the summertime). If you could avoid the standing water fairways did allow a bit of roll and some measure of control for those of us who don't hit too long.

I thought a conservative approach (not too agressive) was a good tactic on this day and I did get the chance to chip close from the front of a number of greens. Putting needed some faith, hitting the ball a little harder than usual and it just about got to the hole a few times...

Good pro-shop - nice range of quality offers on display and food before the round was served with a smile and we were made to feel welcome.

Another nice little course - good for honing those straight shots - but watch out for a ditch that seems to get in the way on quite a few holes (seems just about within my range).

This course isn't signposted from the main road and you could easily miss the turn off. Shared car parking with a leisure centre, adequate spaces available).

We chose to wear golf shoes in the 'clubhouse' before the round and it wasn't prohibited.

Not much by way of panoramic vistas here, not a great deal of wildlife on show, surrounded on all sides by public access/motorways/roads...

Note: Many of the trees were deciduous and no leaves yet, so not much cover for those 'calls of nature'...

Once you accept that just a few miles down the road the day before flooded my garden and was still flooded the morning of the game, I reckon the course held up very well indeed. Yes the greens were dreadfully slow for the front nine, but no temp greens and not much standing water on the course. Rest assured my low Stableford points was not due to the course, it was due to some poor golf on my part.
I didn't have time to see if there were any practice facilities

In the clubhouse the woman who served my was nice and the food was not expensive. I would definitely go back again. Beats some other clubs we have been to on the tsg that's for sure.

"Cyder Cuper Society" was born today (22nd Sept 12 ) on the former ground of Belhus Mansion, ruins can be seen by the 10th & 12th holes, and mounts (13th hole?) from the gardens re-landscaped by Capability Brown. Some rescued items can be seen in local museums (Thurrock Museum in Grays and Valence House Museum in Dagenham)together with more history....

So now as the the golf course and the golf day:
we had a good deal £20.12 (Twenty Twelve, the Olympics, Team GB etc... year to remember) for our 18 holes inclusive of a cooked breakfast, Tea/Coffee.

A bubbly young TSGer, started a new golf society, the Cyder Cup Society and chose Belhus Golf course, a short course of just over 5000 yrds to accommodate the very first game. Eight of us attended as there were a few cancellations at the last minute, but these things happen...

Decent enough course, but hazard & trees always in my way, so not my kind of course (should have teed off from the Yellows maybe), but a good score can be had if you know your clubs and are accurate at pitching/chipping, without forgetting sand practice as there are numerous small, deep bunkers and not always filled with sand, but I personally did not visit many, instead my ball went into ditches or ponds or rough and just disappeared...

Pleasant parkland where walking is not streneous, some beautiful trees but that is expected when you are on the former grounds of what was once a beautiful mansion dated back from the 15th century. I noticed a wonderful tree/bush (by the 4th hole) full of small red berries, at its best in this September weather. There were also some very tasty blackberries by the 16th, where we looked for an errant ball. Some public footpaths by the side of the course, where one can see runners keeping trim, horse riders enjoying th Essex countryside. The wonderful Essex countryside is all around and the M25, Essex being blessed with an excellent infrascructure, making it easy to go from one golf course to another or one shopping centre to another!

On the 1st 9s, open fairways but one can end up on the wrong fairway, on the last 9s can be tight, ditches present and some dryish ponds. The rough is a bit rough and will hide your ball, but you may find another one, but still a penalty to add to the score card. The 17th hole, Par 3, is across the 16th fairways so one has to be careful when playing both holes, as one could be caught in the "cross-fire", (hope that makes sense, but people that have played the course know what I mean)....

At some point in the round, we lost one of our group as he has to go home due to an unfortunate back injury, but I have found out that Tony B. is making a very good recovery after some strecthing excercises.... so he will be fit for the next society game.

Friendly proshop. No Ladies members, only men, dont know why. Good service in the club house. Little terrace with wooden benches/tables outside by the 1st and 18th holes. A practice net. Not sure about putting green? Large car park which accommodate people going to the Sports Centre & Football?

The Cyder Cup Society wll move onto longer/more renowned local golf courses in its next steps, but it is only "a baby" and feeling the grounds first before bigger things happen. We all shared a drink and friendly discussion about TSG etc... the future and running of the Society, the prizes, the points systems etc... Our artist/creative TSG Jeweller, Russell F, kindly offered to design and make some little trophies, I hope I'll win one, but I better produce some better scores as I came last but one..... keep up the hard & good work Andy, we all enjoyed the day & appreciate your enthusiasm & we shall support you.

A bientot....THE END...

And I thought it was going to be a short review!

Very tight fairways. For £20.12 including a full English breakfast, not bad value for a Saturday