Stoke by Nayland Golf Club

This is the 2nd time I've been with friends to SbN Hotel & Golf Course. Like most Hotel/Golf Course complexes I've played in the UK, I find that the course needs more maintenance. The par 3 tee boxes are atrocious. The majority had little or no sand available to fill in divot marks (and in one case no trowel to use). The first cut off the fairway is generally for about 2 yards, then into thick rough on a lot of holes. greens are good,, they are fast, but run true with a good few hidden burrows which make putting exciting. Very "up hill and down dale" which gives you good exercise, but tired at the end. Hotel rooms are very good, nice and spacious, light and airy. Food is good. Large selection of wine and beers.

It's a lovely setting - surprisingly hilly considering it's Suffolk; I expected it to be quite flat.
Some interesting holes - a short course with some holes quite a challenge and others quite easy for an average golfer like me. Personally I'm not keen on hilly courses but that's just a very personal view. Others would love it. Def worth a visit.

The Constable course is, in my opinion, even better than The Gainsborough course. Beautiful views everywhere on this fantastic course. If John Constable were alive today he would be sorely tempted to put away his paint brush - and play golf instead! These two championship courses must be the best in East Anglia.

Gainsborough course. Magnificent on all counts. Green fees appear to have reduced. Teeofftimes is currently cheaper than special offers direct from the club. It's now also quicker to drive to it from J28 A12.

We played the Constable Course which is considered to be the second course at this venue. It is very hilly but the holes are interesting and the condition is generally good. The teeboxes were in decent condition and the greens generally ran true. Fairways could have been a bit more lush but this is only a small criticism. The clubhouse is a lovely modern buidling that served decent food with a smile. There are just 2 nets near the course but a huge driving range only a few minutes walk away. I enjoyed the round and would not hesitate in going back to try their flagship course.

My first visit to S by N, was on a rainy day for a conference. the second was to play in the PGA Seniors tour Pro Am, which I did with our host here Ian Mullins, amputee golf pro Andy Gardner and seasoned PGA Tour winner Nick Job.
Stoke by Nayland is one of the few true championship courses in Essex. It has fantastic views of beautiful countyside that the artist John Constable painted.
S by N is a very tough golf course, with very tight fairways and tricky 2nd cut rough. The bunkers are deep.
Par threes do give the high handicap a chance, I parred three of them off the whites. Birdies on par fours are hard to come by unless you are a very long hitter.
The par fives are tough, but again give the long hitters chances.
The greens are fast, very fast 9.7 on the stimpmeter the day I played.
Of course the facilities are superb, what you would expect from a championship course.
Well worth a visit

I played both courses over 27th and 28th March and enjoyed them both. Played the Gainsborough on the first day which was a good test but not over the top. The greens weren't great and reading the previous review it appears that this has been the case in the past. Considering that the club had an open day on the same weekend I would have thought that the greens would have been given a good roll but they were very bumpy.

I then played the Constable on the second day and the greens were the same, maybe slightly better but not a lot. There were also a lot of temporary mats to tee off from which was quite surprising, and a little annoying (no mats on the Gainsborough). The course itself though was enjoyable to play and if the tee boxes and greens were sorted out would be a very good course indeed. Plenty of shots over water, including the first and the last and a good mix of holes.

Would like to play again if I knew the tees and greens had been sorted.

The facilities were really good though with excellent food, a nice bar, pool, steam room, jacuzzi and snooker room which I made use of. Good place for a golf break.

Considering this course was billed as a Championship course, I was slightly disappionted! However, that is probably mostly down to the quality of the greens, having just been treated, but they didnt mention that on the phone when I booked. Very up and down, it is a good test and has some fantastic holes with some great views of Suffolk! Would play there again in the Summer but 'Stoke by Nayland' - please note - the sign posting between holes is terrible! Weekend Pacakages are good value!