Course review – Aldwark Manor

Aldwark Manor – 5th – 6th of August.

The course:

We arrived a Aldwark Manor on Sunday around lunchtime, ready to play the first of our 2 rounds. A quick trip to the pro shop, drinks purchased etc and we were off.

The course is quite interesting, without being spectacular. Staring with a par 3, it then moves on a long stretch of par 4s before crossing the river for the back section, 5 to 13. Most of the holes have something about them, trees in fairways, driving over the brow of a hill etc, but none of them really struck me as outstanding. The 18th, supposedly the signature hole, was ok, but nothing amazing. 2 tier green, approach over water, weeping willow blocking out part of the green. Pretty, but nothing to write home about.

On the plus side, the greens were immaculate, running fast and true all the way round. The rough was fair but punishing. Going in made for a lot of heavy sighs and fluffed shots. The fairways were in good condition, and I think there were only 2 areas of GUR on the course. The brochure mentioned that the river comes into play on 6 holes, but you would have to be pretty wild with the drive for the river to be a hazard. In fact, i was pretty wild a few times and it still wasn't in play. Saying that, fairways lined with rhododendron bushes always make for an interesting card.

Moments of the rounds:

Andy hit the pin on the 5th during the second round, and then followed by chipping in on the 6th for Birdie. Jammy get.

I hit a 311 yard drive on the 10th on day 2.
311.
Yards that is. 311 of them. I know, it’s a rare skill.


The Hotel:

The hotel room as very nice, twin, with a view over the approach to the hotel and fountain (mercifully turned off at night). TV, tea and coffee, nice bathroom with powerful shower etc etc.

There are (at least) 2 bars. After our first round we had a drink outside the Terrace Bar which seemed to be spike-tolerant. Then, before dinner we had a quick livener in the main downstairs bar. Drinks weren’t very cheap, £8 for a pint of lager and a G&T. The restaurant was pleasant and airy and modern. Our meals were good, without being spectacular, or indeed particularly large, but the chocolate marquis we both finished off with was incredible, and that may be the best cappuccino I have ever had.

Breakfast the next morning was a buffet of sausages, bacon eggs etc (although Andy very nearly asked for a confit of sausages on a bed of bacon served with a tomato jus), and was very good. Checkout was as painless as check in, over in about 30 seconds.

There was however a slightly disturbing ‘blocked-drains’ smell, which we though must be caused by some standing water near the swimming pool, beside the 16th tee. This was only detectable outside on the terrace, but it was unpleasant.
Also, the bar staff had to spend 10 minutes looking for a corkscrew. In a bar.

I won’t be going back, but that’s mostly because of all the other venues I still have to try. I thought that Rudding park 10 miles down the road had a much nicer course and a similar standard of hotel.