A Superb Hotel And Golf Course Near Tunbridge Wells

Dale Hill Hotel and Golf Club is located on the Kent and East Sussex borders between the villages of Flimwell and Ticehurst, just a mile off the A229. The hotel itself has 50 bedrooms, many of which are located on the south side overlooking the golf course and the surrounding Weald and providing stunning views. The hotel has comfortable lounges and bars, conference facilities, an air-conditioned gym, and a heated indoor swimming pool and sauna.

There are two 18 hole golf courses, The Old Course, and the Ian Woosnam course covering 350 acres of historic woodland and undulating hills. Woosnam himself says that the course he designed is challenging enough to test the pros, yet accessible to amateurs. Dale Hill has a driving range, two putting greens, a practice bunker, and a fleet of no less than 40 electric buggies to hire.

Green fees from November 1st to March 31st are £25 for a visitor, £20 for a member’s guest, and £20 for a visitor off-peak which is after mid-day. In summer there is a range of fees from £20 for a member’s guest either midweek or weekends, up to the list price of £45 midweek and £55 at the weekend. The club has a strict dress code and while guests are permitted to wear jeans and t-shirts in the clubhouse, they are not permitted in the Wealden Restaurant.

Read More Information To Visit - Dale Hill Hotel and Golf Club

Facilities available At Westerham Golf Club

Westerham Golf Club is in Valence Park which is on the Brasted Road heading west out of Westerham town centre in the direction of Reigate. This is a 6,270 yard par 72 course which is largely woodland and was opened in 1997. It offers amazing views over the North Kent Downs and the greens are all to USGA standards. There is full irrigation throughout which allows play all year round.

The course has beautiful tree-lined fairways and there are three water features including the devilishly positioned lake at the 9th. The club boasts that lasting memories of the course will “no doubt revolve around the ‘eye of the storm’, the 11th hole with daunting pine trees and bunkers protecting a small green.”

In addition to the course itself, Westerham offers a range of practice facilities. There is an 8 acre short game area, 60 yard green side bunker, a 60 x 30 yard chipping green, and two large pitching greens of 80 and 120 yards from purpose built grass tees. There is an 8-bay driving range of 10 acres, and indoor facilities include a GC2 simulator and video analysis.

Recently completed is the 9-hole Churchill Academy course which has been designed for beginners and on which both juniors and adults can hone their skills.

It includes bunkers, a lake, and wild “rough” areas which lend a degree of difficulty and which, according to the club, “will test golfers of all standards”. The Altonwood Group which runs the club has produced an extensive tuition programme along with its’ team of PGA qualified professionals and major golf organisations, including England Golf, to target new golfers and encourage people to take up the sport – including Juniors and Ladies. There is also a detailed programme for schools which meets the requirements of the National Curriculum. 

Why Join An Online Golf Club?

One of the best things about an online golf club is that it lets you talk golf whenever you wish, wherever you are, and at all those times when you can’t get out on a course and play as often as they would like.

There are so many advantages to an online golf club, not the least of which is a golf courses guide which many of them produce, and golf course reviews by other members. Golf course guides and reviews are exactly what you need if you want to play some different courses when you are going on holiday. Not only can you find reviews of courses by other members, but you can add your own reviews also in many of the online clubs.

Another advantage is that you can take part in the forums that they have. While some of them are merely social chit-chat, you will also be able to pick up tips and tricks, often from pros who are members also. 

Golf is a game that on the ‘face of it’ appears to be very straightforward: you hit a ball with a stick in order to get it into a small hole. However, as we all know, there is a myriad of things to overcome and it will take you some time and a lot of practice to master the game.

If you are a new player you will have all sorts of questions, such as how to go about getting a handicap.

Getting a golf handicap requires you to play 54 holes – ideally 3 rounds of 18 holes, but it can be a mix - and you need to be a member of a golf club affiliated to one of the eight unions which are part of the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU). You then submit three or more cards signed by a “responsible” club member and the club will then allocate a handicap based on the best card.

However, if you are just looking to play ‘social golf’ you can use the handicap trackers provide by one of the many online golf clubs in the UK, often for free or as part of your annual membership fee.

Some Reasons To Join An Online Golf Club

There are only two types of people in this world. You are either a golfer or you are not. OK, fair enough, we golfers are actually in the minority, but nonetheless there are a good number of us. Some recent stats showed that over 1 million people in the UK had played a round of golf the previous week, and over 1.5 million had played in the previous month. That’s a lot more than people who play chess or scrabble, or even those who go fell running or paragliding. Anyway, what was that old saying? “A bad day on the golf course is better than a good day in the office!”

Those of us who play golf live and breathe the game. And with the coming of the internet we can now indulge ourselves even more with golf clubs online. What once used to be a hobby that we could only enjoy at the weekend, we can now be involved in every time we are anywhere near a laptop, mobile phone, or tablet – and we’ve all got mobile phones. We can chat away to our heart’s content in the virtual online club bar as much as we like.

However, there is a lot more than just chatting that you can do in an online golf club. Most of them will point you in the direction of new golf partners and golf societies in your area, which is great, because you can make new friends and find new courses to play. Finding new golf partners is not always easy, but online golf clubs usually have golf games posted where people are looking for partners to play on courses in your area. Of course, because it’s the internet, you will also find that there are games to play up and down the country, so if you happen to be going 100 miles away on business for a few days you may well be able to get in a round of golf while you do so as well.

Let’s say you are going on holiday, whether in the UK or abroad, and you are going to take your clubs with you. (What’s a holiday for if it’s not to play golf?). You are going to an area that you very well may not know, so you can ask in your online golf club if anyone has played at such and such a club that is in your holiday zone. You will almost certainly find that you get reviews of that course from other members who live there and have played it, or at least get pointed towards some reviews.

There are plenty more benefits to becoming a member of an online golf club, so if you are not already a member you would do well to join one.

Checking Out Golf Course Reviews For Your Holiday

If you are going away on holiday and want to play golf (what’s a holiday for, if it’s not to play golf?) you will want to check out the golf course reviews for the course or club to which you are going. If you are not already a member of an online golf club, now would be a good time to join one as you will usually find that they have a golf courses guide and lots of reviews from other members.

However, there are plenty of sources online which have extensive golf course directories covering the whole of the UK, and some 40,000 courses worldwide, along with many independent reviews. So, for instance, if you are going to Norfolk in the UK, you can simply click on that county in the listings in an online golf club and up comes a list of every course together with a price guide and possibly a star rating.

In many cases you can then just click on the name of a club that interests you and up will come its’ details including address and phone number along with the price of a round midweek and weekends, its’ website address, and a link to book tee times. You may also find an in-depth review of many courses by one of the members of an online golf club.

However, becoming a member of an online golf club gives you another advantage because you can talk directly to other members in the forums. It’s all well and good having the views of someone who has played a course, but you may want to ask questions about the facilities, the pro shop, or any one of another dozen things.

You can also arrange games and matches with other members. Online golf clubs give you a place where you can do this and everything else except, actually play golf, but they point you in the right directions with that as well since that’s why we are all here – to play!

Join an Online Golf Club To Find Open Golf Competitions

Open golf competitions are a great way to find new friends and play new courses, and one of the best ways of finding them is to join one of the online golf clubs. Many of these will have information on games that people are promoting and inviting others to take part. You will often find that there are games available at a time to suit you and in many cases not very far away from where you live. This gives you the chance to play courses that you otherwise would never have thought of, or that may be restricted to their members and guests only.

It is always fun to play a new course as there are no bad memories of quadruple bogeys or missed fairways, and the course is new and exciting. The fact is that most people play well on a new course, perhaps because they sub-consciously know that they need to play at their best. However, there are a few tips to be had by reading fellow members course reviews before you play. You can see photos of the course including the signature hole and check out the Stroke index/difficulty factor.

When you arrive at the open event, it is always worthwhile spending some time on the putting green to get a feel for the speed of the greens. Start with short putts and then increase the distance.

If you use a online golf club like thesocialgolfer.com, you can also review other members scorecards that have been posted on the site to see which holes may be the trickiest to navigate. So, no longer do you have to scour the web for Open golf events, just join an established and well like online golf club, new courses are always fun so there is no need to feel stressed.

The Benefits of An Online Golf Club

To some people the idea of an online golf club may seem somewhat strange because you can’t play golf online. Well, even that is not strictly true because you can play simulated golf online, and some websites let you play on actual named courses. However, sitting at your laptop all day doesn’t have quite the same appeal as getting out on the course with a set of clubs and doing it for real.

As such, the last few years has seen a growth in online golf clubs. These can provide you with all sorts of entertainment, tips, forums, golf societies, and above all may give you links to people wishing to play in your area or clubs in your locality that you may want to try.

You may find that some online golf clubs have a golf courses guide to clubs in your area, and reviews by other members. It is one thing visiting the website of a club where it will tell you how wonderful their course is, how superb the food in their restaurant is, and more. Of course it will. But reviews from people who have been to a course, played it, and can tell you an awful lot more than club website and are of course completely independent.

Furthermore, you may also get tips from fellow members on how to play a certain hole, or possibly how not to, especially if they have managed to get into trouble on it.

Another possibility with an online golf club is discounts from partner clubs on their green fees.

We all like a discount, and some online clubs have arrangements for discounts for their members at affiliated traditional clubs with which they have teamed up.

From the golf club’s point of view, they will get extra income, and from the online club member’s side you get to play a round for less. Everybody wins.

Finding Golf Courses for Your Holiday

If you are looking for somewhere to go on holiday that has some good golfing opportunities the best place to start is by joining an online golf club. You will find a lot of golf course reviews from other members who have played at a course and then will give their considered opinions about it for the benefit of the rest of the members.

Furthermore, the good online golf clubs will have their own golf courses guide containing a considerable amount of information about courses including tee times, green fees, and the facilities provided. Online golf club membership is considerably less than the membership fees charged by some golf clubs in the golfing world. Some of the most prominent and traditional golf clubs in the UK have very restricted memberships, and you must be proposed and seconded, and in some clubs, you are required to have a playing interview with the chairman.

Some membership fees can be high, although average is £800 per year but you can pay astronomical amounts: in some cases, they are well in excess of six figures, whereas an online golf club offers membership for less than £50!

Online golf clubs provide all sorts of information about everything golf. In fact, about the only thing you can’t do in an online golf club is play golf and sit in the bar afterwards either bragging or drowning your sorrows. However, you can keep in touch with your golfing buddies on the days when you are available, and there may be a monthly newsletter, tips from Pro’s, discounts on green fees, and all sorts of other goodies.

So, if you are looking for a good golfing holiday or want to plan a golfing odyssey, you can really do no better than join an online golf club. They will have forums which you can join and ask other members their opinions about any golf clubs or courses that you are considering too.

Golf Is A Totally Addictive Sport

Once you start to play the game of golf you will very quickly realise just why it is such an absorbing the game of golf is. Chess players probably do not go home and chat to their friends in the pub about how they played the rook against the bishop, and tennis players probably don’t talk endlessly about their games, but golf has a way of getting hold of you: you do sit in the pub afterwards and chat with your fellow golfers (or not) about the shot you played at the 11th hole.

Anything to do with golf become your focus (bordering on obsession!). This is why corporate golf days and society golf days are so popular. Corporate golf days are not just a day off work and a chance to relax with people who are clients or suppliers but also an opportunity to play the sport you love (and an excuse to get a day out of the office or factory!).

They are also a great way for businesses to show appreciation of their staff and clients by raising money for a charity or cause close to you or your staff’s heart – or if this not your motivation - it gives them a day off and a chance to reward their hard work throughout the year. This is quite smart business thinking too, because those staff members will realise that they are appreciated and will work more proficiently as a result.

All sorts of well-known and not so well-known Corporate Businesses/Companies and Golf Societies hold charity golf days for members, However, some who do not play golf may come along for the ride and to find out what is so fascinating about bashing a ball into a hole with a stick. They can very quickly get roped in!

Corporate and Charity golf days are a great way of combining your love of the game with raising funds for a good cause. All sorts of individuals, clubs, and societies organise charity days, and they can be a much more fun way to raise money than a village jumble sale.  

Great Golf Courses in and Around London and the Home Counties

There are a considerable number of golf courses in and around London, with over 220 courses around London and its major orbital road – the M25. However, there are rather fewer located in the royal county of Buckinghamshire which tends to favour quality over quantity.

Beginning with golf courses Buckinghamshire, one of the more notable courses is the one of the same name as the county – The Buckinghamshire. This course is not only the home of the LPGA Women’s Tour governing body but hoe to a stunning and well-kept course. There is plenty of water to be avoided here in the shape of the River Colne and the River Misbourne on the first nine holes.

The course also plays host to some superb water features. The greens are large and there are bunkers seemingly everywhere, with the 15th proudly sporting no less than ten of them.
The 8th has a dogleg sharply to the left over a lake and can catch out the unwary, but the 9th is a beautiful par 3 to the green which is set between the clubhouse and the river.

Highgate Golf Club is another prestigious club among the golf courses of London and is a par 72 of 6,015 yards set among trees and woodland in a hilly environment. This is a private members club, but non-members are welcome with a handicap certificate midweek, Monday to Friday, and at weekends if accompanied by a member. It is set on the north side of Hampstead Heath and is only a short drive from the West end of London There is a covered driving range, putting green, and short game practice area.

Finally, we should also give a mention to one of the best Golf courses in Essex, Thorndon Park in Brentwood. Known by some as “The Wentworth of Essex”, this is another Harry Colt-designed course. This unique club is surrounded by centuries old woodland including oaks which are over 500 years of age, along with many cedar and elm trees. The turf here is springy and lush and is always very well maintained, and the greens are hard but true. The 18th century Palladian Mansion and former clubhouse is one of the most stunning sights in the last hole of golf.

Golf Clubs in Essex And London

There are some 80 golf clubs in Essex affiliated to the Essex Golf Union which was inaugurated in 1924, and around the same number in London. However, with the Essex Ladies County Golf Association founded in 1900, meaning the women’s game was nearly a quarter of a century before the men’s Union was formed.

Golf clubs in Essex include the well-known Chelmsford Golf Club which was re-modelled in 1924 by Harry Colt. The October of 1987* brought with it a rarely seen hurricane in the UK, which devastated a lot of the English countryside and damaged many golf courses.

It brought down many trees, which in turn (over time) opened things up so that there was greater air movement, and the course became much drier. It is now said to be one of the best maintained courses in the county.

Romford Golf Club can be found in Gidea Park in Essex and is a testing course of 6,383 yards with a par of 71. Everything seems reasonably straightforward until you reach the par four 4th where you are often playing into the prevailing wind. It is 477 yards and the Pro’s tip is “carry the middle bunker for the second shot, card a five and move on”. The hardest hole is the par four 14th   which is 455 yards and has a pond just short right of the green.

Other well-known Golf clubs in London include The London Club, The RAC Club, The Grove but there is some bad new, as council become even more strapped for cash, they are selling off some golf course land for housing one such club is Beckenham Place Park GC between Penge and Bromley. This was a challenging and enjoyable course meandering between the ancient trees in the park but alas, from 2016, this course no longer exists.

Meanwhile, Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Golf Club (opposite to the famous Dulwich College and is an undulating course with astounding views of London from Canary Wharf to Wembley. This is another course designed by Harry Colt in 1894, although some alterations to bunkers were made in 2007 and the tees were rebuilt. 

*The Great Storm of 1987 was a violent extratropical cyclone that occurred on the night of 15–16 October, with hurricane-force winds causing casualties in England, France and the Channel Islands as a severe depression in the Bay of Biscay moved northeast. Among the most damaged areas were Greater London, the East Anglian coast, the Home Counties, the west of Brittany and the Cotentin Peninsula of Normandy which weathered gusts typically with a return period of 1 in 200 years.

Charity Golf Days Are A Great Way Of Raising Funds

Society golf days and corporate golf days can be a great way to get to know people outside your normal environment. In particular, if you own or are a director of a business, giving your employees a day off work will be seen by them as a sign of the company giving back, and as gratitude for their efforts, which can in turn help people to bond better and feel good about the job that they do, knowing that the company appreciates them.

Charity golf days are organised by lots of people to help their favourite charity, but they can take a bit of effort.

If you have a favourite charity and you would like to help raise funds for, you should contact their office as they will very probably be able to help with a fund-raising pack.

Enquire at several clubs to find out which one offers the best deal for a round of golf and a meal. Some clubs do special deals for charity days. Make sure you select a day which doesn’t clash with something else important, such as the Cup Final, as you want the most people possible to attend.

You need to make a budget covering all expenses, List all outgoings, such as venue hire, food and drink, entertainment, and promotional material. Once you know your expenses you can fix an entry fee that gives you a profit to donate to the charity.

Ask local businesses to donate prizes or sponsor a hole in exchange for some promotion at the event such as advertising boards on the course or a write-up in the programme. You could also invite companies to enter their own team.

Above all, get the word out. Posters, flyers, local papers, social media, and word of mouth can all boost interest. 

Some Superb Golf Courses In London And The Home Counties

If you are a keen golfer there are some superb golf courses in London and the Home Counties. In fact, there are 45 golf courses in Buckinghamshire – most of them with 4 star reviews or better – 71 golf courses in London, and over 80 golf courses in Essex. Playing all those should keep you busy for a year or two!

To examples of popular clubs in the region include Hazlemere Golf Club in Buckinghamshire, which has sloping hills and fairways and great scenery. At just 5,833 yards it is not a long course, but the slopes can take it out of you. The 9th hole is known to the locals as “heart attack hill” and not without good reason.

There are three par 5’s so there is always the chance of a birdie, but playing the par 3’s well is crucial because it is easy to drop shots on these. The 18th hole is a test of nerves as it is a two-tiered green with water in front of it, and many a ball has disappeared into it, requiring a donation to the captain’s charity.

Meanwhile, Fulwell Golf Club is in Twickenham, South West London, and while also a short-ish course there is plenty woodland and parkland with plenty of thick rough and shrubbery to test your game.

There are some very good par 3’s, especially the 9th. Tee shots are played over a small valley with marshland and water, and if you hit it a little heavy the ball can fall back into it. What’s more, if you stray off line on most of the holes you are in the rough or the trees.

Finally, Colne Valley is in Earls Colne near Colchester in the north part of Essex, and is definitely worth a visit. It is a testing course in very good condition and has some stunning views, especially from the balcony on the clubhouse which overlooks both the 9th and 18th holes. There are no easy greens here, which is what makes it, for some, a great course.

Golf Clubs In London And Essex Are Many And Varied

If you live in Greater London or in close by counties like Essex, you have a choice of some 450 golf clubs at which to play within an hour drive. Some of them, are ‘members only’ but you can play at most accept visitors or visiting societies. Golf clubs are in business to make a profit, after all, and the way they seek to do that is to provide players with a wide range of activities in addition to keeping their courses in tip top condition.

There are some 80 or so golf clubs in Essex alone reaching all over the county, so wherever you live there will be some courses near you. Indeed, it takes only an hour to drive from one end of the county to the other, so the world – to coin a phrase – is your oyster.

It is no secret that golf club membership has been declining in recent years for a number of reasons. Not the least of these is that potential junior members spend far more of their time on the internet playing games and chatting on Facebook than they used to do 20 years ago when we didn’t have all this 21st century technology, rather than getting out and about in the real world.

However, there are other problems too. Many golf clubs are seen as outdated and run by committees of pensioners, and “cliquey”, while others are viewed as sexist. However, this needs to change if the sport wants to survive and flourish.

Despite this, many golf clubs in London, along with those in Essex, are keen to be seen to be bringing themselves into the modern world and are taking steps to try and “up their game” quite literally.

Some have swimming pools, spas, saunas, and even creches for children, in addition to the bar and restaurant, in order to attract a wider audience. 

What makes for a good charity golf day?

1. First things first is to decide on a location.

Coupled with the plethora of online golf tee times platform that have driven down the price of some tee times green fees, now is the time to look at joining an Online Golf Club. There are number of platforms and apps available to join – just search ‘Golf Groups’ in Google and you will see many options but what is the criteria for judging which Online Golf Society to join?

Here’s ten top tips for choosing which golf website platform or app is right for you…

1. Is the site being used and are there any active forums?
2. Is the site easy to navigate and use?
3. Does the Online Golf Society have a list of upcoming events?
4. Is there a messaging system within the App?
5. Can you build a Golfers Profile and grow your numbers of golf contacts?
6. Is there a ‘Society’ options in which you can promote your events?
7. Can you track your golf handicap and get a handicap certificate?
8. Do they offer discounted Green Fees to members?
9. Can you add photos, society results and your society handicaps?
10. Does it allow you to meet with other golfers in your area?

Each Social Network for Golfers offers its own unique way or presenting its layout and functions but as with all these things, simplicity is key. Try to find a website or platform that is quick and efficient and of course one that does not sell your data or bombard you with email promotions.

There is no doubt they in the future this is the way that many golfers with connect with other golfers and with the technology constantly evolving, there is no reason why anyone, rich or poor should ever play golf alone again!

How many golf Clubs are there in Essex?

As far as we know the first golf club in Essex date back to the 19th Century including some of the more well-known clubs such as Royal Epping Forest Golf Club (1888), Chelmsford Golf Club (1883), Malden Golf club (1893), Romford Golf Club (1894) with others being establish in the early 20th Century such as Thorndon Park Golf Club (1920).

Of course, the 1990’s saw a huge amount of course being built and but the turn of the millennium there was reported as many as 82 golf course in Essex. This figure has since reduced with estimations now standing around the 70-sh mark.

Many Essex based golf course suffer from a clay base which can sometimes means the courses struggle with wet weather in the winter but those that maintain their course, have proved that it doesn’t have to effect golfers in the colder months.

One of the Older Club is Clacton Golf Club, which was established in 1892 and at the time of writing had just celebrated it 125th anniversary.

The course was designed by Jack White, when a small band of enthusiasts leased 40 acres of grazing land close to the town centre and roughly laid out nine holes.  After four years the land was taken back for residential development and the club moved to the other side of town where it leased, initially, 50 acres to provide nine holes, then a further 50 acres in 1909 to give 18 holes. Much of that land is still part of the present course, though there have been many changes in boundaries and layout since then.

The course now covers 110 acres and runs alongside the sea wall and inland to West Road. It is flat, part wooded and part open, and comprises five par 3s, nine par 4s and four par 5s. Total length from the competition tees is 6448 yards and the standard scratch score is 71. For ladies it is 5526 yards (SSS72).

There is an excellent practice ground of 10 acres, which is accessed by carefully crossing the 18th fairway. Two practice putting greens and a chipping area together with two practice nets are located close to the clubhouse. Practicing on the course is prohibited. The course is well bunkered and fleets, which cross fairways or form boundaries, are a peculiar feature providing many water hazards.

So, for those old and new to golf, there is plenty of variety and golfing option available to the golfer!

Golf Clubs in London and inside the M25

Using TheSocialGolfer.com course directory mapping tool*, we located approx. 100 golf courses can be found within the London Orbital Motorway, the M25. These consist of a combination of Private Members Clubs, Proprietary owned club and Public Golf Courses.

These include some of the more well-known courses including The Grove, The Addington, The Shire, The Richmond, The RAC Club (Royal Automobile Association) at Woodcote Park and Hampton Court Golf Club. This list also includes in the list is Royal Blackheath Golf Club, which in 2008 celebrated it 400th year in existence and is THE oldest golf club in London, and widely recognized as the Oldest Golf Club in the World….

 
By the late 16th Century, golf had been reported played in Scotland for some 150 years, and James I (James 6th of Scotland) entourage was rumoured to include several golfers and, by climbing to the higher ground at Blackheath above the palace, these courtiers could see an area on which they could pursue their sport. In addition, the Prince of Wales and James I's son is known to have started golfing in 1606. This was the first record of golf in Blackheath, and while many of these golfers belonged to Scottish nobility, Royal Blackheath was considered a Scottish club! But this golf club is in London?

The Club's own artefacts date back to as early as 1745, and the Edinburgh Almanac which has listed the dates of formation of the leading golfing societies since the early 1800s - records Blackheath as having been established "prior to 1745" from as long ago as 1830. Bernard Darwin, grandson of Charles Darwin, golf correspondent of The Times for 46 years, past Captain of the Royal & Ancient and the most revered of all golf writers, began his introduction to a guide to the Club published in the 1940s with the following words…"The Royal Blackheath Golf Club, as all the world knows, is the oldest golf club in the world."

So, if you’re looking for a golf club in London and inside the M25, why not give some of these historical and prestigious golf clubs a try!

*The Social Golfer website is an online golf club, golf society and course review site.

Golf Course Reviews

What can potentially ruin a terrific round of golf? It can be something as simple as a slow partner or a disinterested caddy, or something important as the overall failure of the golf course to deliver you a great golf playing experience. It is precisely for these reasons why reviews of golf courses and clubs are vital. Golf course reviews are generally given by fellow golfers and can cover all aspects of their experience. When it comes to your favourite pastime, knowing what to expect is crucial as there is absolutely nothing worse than going unprepared and returning home disappointed.

What Can Reviews Reveal about a Golf Course?
As mentioned above, the golf course plays a key role in influencing your golf playing experience. Reviews can provide you with a clear idea of what to expect from a golf course and it usually includes the following:

1. Design and layout of the course
2. Condition of the course and how it is maintained
3. Pace of play
4. If it offers good value for money
5. The efficiency and friendliness of the staff
6. Off-course amenities, if any

If the reviews are good, then you know you can book the course with confidence.

Why You Should Read Golf Course Reviews
Most golf enthusiasts enjoy planning a full day out at the course of their choice . There are also others who plan golf vacations in the UK and abroad. If you are planning to spend an entire day or holiday playing golf, it is of utmost importance to know what your chosen golf course offers. Make sure you go through golf club reviews before booking.

Bored of playing the same golf course? Why not try a Social Network for Golfers

Many golfers no longer see the value in playing the same course over and over and with the increase in the numbers of golf clubs opening their doors to more visitors, there has never been a better time for the golfer to increase their portfolio of clubs they play.

Coupled with the plethora of online golf tee times platform that have driven down the price of some tee times green fees, now is the time to look at joining an Online Golf Club. There are number of platforms and apps available to join – just search ‘Golf Groups’ in Google and you will see many options but what is the criteria for judging which Online Golf Society to join?

Here’s ten top tips for choosing which golf website platform or app is right for you…

1. Is the site being used and are there any active forums?
2. Is the site easy to navigate and use?
3. Does the Online Golf Society have a list of upcoming events?
4. Is there a messaging system within the App?
5. Can you build a Golfers Profile and grow your numbers of golf contacts?
6. Is there a ‘Society’ options in which you can promote your events?
7. Can you track your golf handicap and get a handicap certificate?
8. Do they offer discounted Green Fees to members?
9. Can you add photos, society results and your society handicaps?
10. Does it allow you to meet with other golfers in your area?

Each Social Network for Golfers offers its own unique way or presenting its layout and functions but as with all these things, simplicity is key. Try to find a website or platform that is quick and efficient and of course one that does not sell your data or bombard you with email promotions.

There is no doubt they in the future this is the way that many golfers with connect with other golfers and with the technology constantly evolving, there is no reason why anyone, rich or poor should ever play golf alone again!

The benefits of good Golf Course Reviews or Golf Club Reviews

When leaving a golf club review for your fellow golfing nomads, there is a number of criteria you should look to include in any feedback. Firstly, ensure your review is not based on the quality of golf you played on the day. In addition, take into account the weather conditions and the price of the round – just because it was expensive, does not mean it was not good value for money.

 Ten Top Tips to consider when writing your golf course review…

1. Was the club located close to major roads?
2. Were you given a friendly welcome on arrival?
3. Were the Pro shop and bar staff professional?
4. Was there a good selection of food available?
5. Was the course well maintained?
6. What was the condition of the tee boxes and greens?
7. Was there good signage on your entrance to the course?
8. Was there a history to the club?
9. Was the green fee reflective of the quality of the course?
10. Would you return?

It goes without saying, that every golfer will have a different experience to the next but in today’s modern world, it is paramount that clubs take heed of the reviews that travelling and visiting golfer give their club, as this could, and in time will, affect the ability for clubs to survive.

Sadly, gone are the days when clubs can just rely on their local constituents as a steady trade. In fact, with golf club membership continuing to fall – it is paramount that golf club owners start listening more to the views of visitors. A good golf club reviewer will also take pictures and share these in their reviews – this is particularly useful for readers, as they can provide images of how the course looks throughout the seasons.

Finally, be generous, its easy to give negative feedback than positive but above all, be honest!

How to manage your Golf Society or Golf Group online

Ideally, when looking for a golf group or golf society management system, look for one that provides the following:

1. Score Tracking – This prevents any unnecessary argument over group members handicaps
2. A leaderboard table – Meaning you can keep you member informed of their rankings
3. Email or Messaging – A system that you can update your results in one stroke (no pun intended)
4. Photos/Images - A place where you can store images of your golf days & golf events
5. Handicap Certificate – No more arguments over who’s playing off what!
6. Grow your Society – Increase the awareness of Golf Group Online
7. Special Rates - Take advantage of Golf Society Website Partner Green Fees
8. Increase Participation - Promote your games and events to other golfers
9. Total Control – Organisers can add or delete members at their discretion
10. Everything in One Place – No more searching for email address and contact numbers

Of course, having a stand alone golf group or society website yourself, arguably gives you a certain amount of control but can you create the sophisticated functions available on the bigger websites? In today’s world, a website or social media page will get you so far but using this route will have its limitations.

With so many golf society platforms now growing fast, it’s only a matter of time before traditional golf club membership as we knew it, will be a thing of the past.

Alas, there is no reason why anyone should be forced into joining a club to find golfers to play with.

So, if are you looking to meet playing partners online and join a group or golf society near you … Try out one of the many golf group online platforms and start playing more golf today!

How to write Golf Course Reviews or Golf Club Reviews

Having written many reviews of hotels and restaurants (think trip advisor) writing a good golf course review is just as easy but there are some fundamentals that you should include in any description. It should not be an account of your day but an independent and balanced view of your overall golf experience when you visited the club.

Her is our Top Ten Tips to consider when writing your golf course review.

1. Is the club easy to find?
2. Was there ample signage?
3. Were you welcomed on arrival and treated well?
4. Were the Bar and Catering Facilities to your satisfaction?
5. Did the Pro shop offer you any advice on playing the course?
6. Were the tee boxes and fairways well maintained?
7. Were the Greens in good condition?
8. Was their wide history to the club?
9. Was the course good value for money?
10. Would you return?

Obviously, every golf club reviewer will have their own personal style of writing, but try to avoid giving a review of your round. Sadly, the way you scored on the day can have a big effect on how you rate and judge the course – so be objective. In addition, as well as giving your feedback, try to always find at least one positive thing to say. No one wants to read a wholly negative review and rather than encourage the club to improve its service – it will probably just annoy them (short sighted, I know!)

Finally, if you are in a position to take photographs, add them to your golf course review. Over time this will allow your fellow ‘nomadic golfer’ to gauge what the course may look and play like at various, and huge differentiating times of the year.

Of course, if the website you are using offers you to rank your experience ‘by ratings’ – use these to full effect…. Happy Reviewing!

How to find Golf Groups Online in your area

Whether you are looking for new golfing friends, a local golf group or society of golfers to play with regularly, there are now many options to find Golf Group online with a plethora of websites, apps and social media platform on which to try….

When looking for a good golf group online, there are many options:

• Join an online golf club (e.g. the Social Golfer)
• Join a Facebook Group
• Join A Meet Up Group
• Join a WhatsApp Group
• Join a Twitter Group
• Join a Traditional golf club

Which is best for you?

Much of this will depend on whether you want to play with the same group of golfers, in the same areas or whether you wish to keep meeting new golfers and like to play different courses?

As such, if it’s the first option, then we recommended that you local a club near you, book an appointment with the Director of Golf or The PGA golf Pro and discuss the membership options on offer but if you like playing new courses and meeting new people, the latter will probably appeal to you most.

This is where a good online golf club comes into its own. Joining this type of new golf club (appealing to the nomadic golfer) will mean you will have plenty golfers available to play and keep your interest over time.

In addition, while the Facebook, WhatsApp and Meet Up groups can help you find golfers, they will not offer you a handicapping certificate service or allow you to run and grow your own golf society efficiently.

Furthermore, it may be the online golf community you decide to join will also have deals and green fees offer with traditional clubs, so check what the website platform offers, outside of email, forums, handicap tracking, as you can probably receive discounts and offers too.

Choosing to play a Golf using a Golf Course Directory service

You're excited about your trip, you’ve booked your accommodation, you’ve picked your Restaraunt for the evening and you know you want to play golf while you're away but what the best course to play, what are the green fees? Are they any offers available at the time you wish to play? Using a Golf Course Directory that is up to date, full of information, maps and other detailed content regarding the club is the best way to decide. Furthermore,  there are numerous website platforms on which to source this info.

Look for a Golf course directory that offers you all of the above but most importantly one that provides golf club reviews. Not only with these give you an insight into what your fellow nomadic golfers think of the course but it will also supply you with an objective view of the course, its green fees and its overall value for money. The best course directories will offer a star-rating system making it quick and easy to decide whether it's worth reading on or if to avoid.

By the mid-noughties, many websites like Amazon and eBay were offering customers the opportunity to leave a ‘review’ for the next person and this system is now being widely adopted by all markets and sectors.

A few tips to improve your reviews

1 - Write truthfully and be fair
2 - Talk about the club as well as the course
3 - Be sympathetic to the time of year
4 - Don’t write a review based on what you scored (!!)

However, a word of warning…. what one man (or woman) may think is a luxury, may, in fact, be another person nightmare, so try to take into account the contact in which the ‘review’ has been written and read more than one golf course directory before making up your mind to visit!