How to write a good golf course review

You don’t have to be Shakespeare or an English graduate in order to leave a good golf course review, just some simple guidelines to follow.  Here are a few tips and just some of the criteria to consider and include in any review you give.

Location – How far is it from major roads and landmarks? Is it easy to find?
The History – When was the course established? Who was the golf course architect?
The Clubhouse – Was it clean, well looked after, were they function rooms available to hire? And most importantly, was there a good selection of food and drink on offer?
The Pro Shop – Did anyone explain where everything was and did they try to help you as a visitor?
The Course – What was the quality of the tee boxes and Greens? Was there ample signage around the course? How did it cope in bad conditions? Were the fairways cut?
The Staff – Were you welcomed by everyone and did they try their best to make you feel welcome?
The Cost – Did the course meet you expectation? Was the green fee good value for money? Would you want to play there again?
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There are online golf clubs that has more than 5K+ golf course reviews and golf club reviews across over 20,000 golf courses.

So next time you find yourself driving past a new golf club and you find yourself wondering what the golf course might be like, visit the golf club review pages on the website of these online golf club’s course directory. This is a unique and excellent resource from which to choose new courses to play.

Is there a need for a social network for golfers?

With only 33% of golfers in the UK belonging to a golf club, it was our ambition from the outset to build a strong and vibrant platform on which golfers can Connect, Play and Share their golfing experiences. In addition, in times of austerity, we hope that we can keep the game both affordable and fun for those that already love the sport but only get to play occasionally.

More than just another ‘social networking for golfers’ site, the benefit of The Social Golfer, as well as pairing you up with likeminded golfers in your local area, it also allows Society organisers the opportunity to run all its competitions and golf days from one central point.  

No more remembering telephone numbers, emails address and handicaps, there are online golf clubs that tracks all this for you and allows you to update golf days at the touch of a button.

So how does it work?
Firstly, you build your golfing profile; entering in your postcode and handicap (28 or 36 respectively if you’re starting the game) the system then recognises every time a game is posted in your catchment area and emails you an invitation to join other members from the site for the game.

Can’t play that day? Just delete the email. Can play at that course and that time? Hit the email link on your laptop or phone and your profile image automatically appears on the game page and alerts the organiser you are attending. Turn up on the day, pay your green fee and away you go. In June 2017 alone, there are online golf clubs that has over 70+ games available to join in London and the South East. Furthermore, every member can track and graph their scores and keep an eye on their friends/society members progress too, thus putting an end to all those ‘bandit’ debates – OK, maybe not!

The system also allows you to print your very own handicap certificate, widely excepted as proof of your playing standard. The online golf club’s scoring system also automatically enters you into the site monthly league table.

So, do we call it a social network for golfers? NO.

It’s an Online Golf Club; we just don’t own a golf course!

Using an Online Golf Course Guide

Many online golf club websites provide a good source of information but often these are not kept up to date and one could argue that the information shown is not (in most cases) is at worst bias and at best objective.

In addition, with so much information now available via your laptop or phone, it is often difficult to separate the good from the bad quickly and efficiently.

As such, using an independent online golf course guide can be very helpful but how do you decide which is the best one for you?

There are many useful club pages on independent golf sites but ideally you will want to use a website or app. that not only gives you Club location and Green fee prices but detailed feedback from other golfers that have recently played at the club.

The most useful of these online course guides available also have forums pages on which you can leave additional information and discuss the pros and con’s of the golfing world.
Look for a golf platform that has an active forum and one that provides independent golf course reviews and one that is kept up to date.

Some of the best golf course guides also included detailed information membership fees, Club Pro’s, website contact details and some also have golf tee time booking engines, meaning you can source, plan and book all your golf from one website.

At the moment there too many golf course guide platform available to list here but we have no doubt that as the service providers consolidate over the next few years there will be two or three clear winners in this category… and as with most things the best of the best will rise to the top!

Choosing for a new venue for your golf day?

Finding the right venue for your golf day can be a long and detailed process and can make a huge difference to whether your day is a success or failure. Two clubs that have proved to be popular with Golf Day organisers and golf societies and I have had the pleasure of working both Bletchingley Golf Club Surrey and Pedham Place Golf Centre Kent in recent years.

During this period, both these clubs have provided a great venue for corporate and private golf events that include multiple formats including individual competitions, Yellow Ball team games, Nearest Pins, Straightest Drives and six player shoot-outs. Their golf day packages also incorporated post-match meals, raffles and auctions, all good fun. On each occasion, we were provided with excellent food and function rooms to hold our events.

Having first worked with Bletchingley Golf Club in 2012 when they hosted only the 2nd TSG OPEN Championship, I have since used their golf club for numerous events. We were very well looked after by General Manager and PGA Golf Pro Steve Cookson and his staff. Following the success of this golf day, Bletchingley went on to host the event for the next three years. Winners at this venue included TSG members Paul Smith, Brigitte Lockwood, Judy Lilley, David Holmes. Arguably one of the best draining course in the south of England, this course is a great choice for golf day organisers and the like, due to its playability in all weathers.

Meanwhile, Pedham Place Golf Centre was the chosen venue for the first TSG Par 3 Championships in 2016. The superb Academy Course has gone on to host the event every year since. The Club has always been good supporters of my events and the course is always in great condition. Winners at this venue included TSG members Brian Scott, Noel Loughrey and Pete Mayo. Located just a few minutes’ drive from Junction 30 on the M25, this pretty and well maintained short-ish Par 3 course is great fun to play and a test for golfers of all levels.

For more information on both these clubs visit their websites.