Cleeve Hill Golf Club

Cleeve Hill Golf Club, Cheltenham, South West, England, GL52 3PW

01242 678666 | E-mail golf course | Golf course website

17 reviews of Cleeve Hill Golf Club

On a clear day there is not a better place to be playing golf than on Cleeve Hill. On a windy day it is unforgiving and a real challenge. There are some great holes and the views are absolutely spectacular - it is the highest point in Gloucestershire. If you prefer a bland, flat, perfectly manicured course I would probably go elsewhere - you do share the course with walkers, bikers and lots of sheep - but this very rarely intrudes. It is a relaxed and friendly place and green fees are reasonable. The twilight deal is a steal - in the summer months you can comfortably get round the full 18 after 5pm. I love this course.

Posted by Michael K on 05/05/2011
4
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Overall Rating 4
  • Overall Ratings
  • Green conditions 4
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Staff service 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Green conditions 4
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Staff service 5
  • Value for money 5

good vaue but course could be better looked after

Posted by s walker on 31/03/2011
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Green conditions 2
  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 5
  • Staff service 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Green conditions 2
  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 5
  • Staff service 4
  • Value for money 5

i have to say that as a self proclaimed acoomplished player (+2 h/cap), cleeve hill is as good an inland course as you are likely to visit. it is an inland links and is a real test of golf that requires all the shots you may have in your bag.. the greens have recently been surrounded by small fences during the summer months to keep off the sheep and cattle and this showed a remarkable improvement in their quality without being unsightly.. when the wind blows it is a brute of a par 72(back tees) but when still it is extremely friendly as the wind is its main defence.. the guys in the pro-shop are mega helpful, and the bar staff and caterers can't do enough for you.. i do live in the area and am baffled by the sometimes bad rap that the course gets (presumably becasue these people have no perception as to what a good golf course looks like).. it is among the most popular courses around us especially among the better players, and this is no surprise

Posted by john roland on 18/02/2010
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5

If you like old golf courses, Cleeve Hill is not to be missed. I played in a match there recently and it really is something special. The views are stunning - you can see as far as Stratford to the north and the Severn Bridge to the south. The course itself is full of character - quirky but some great holes. Where else can you find a green within an Iron Age fort and a short hole in a quarry? The turf is just like a links course - great to hit iron shots from. There is no irrigation but the greens are fine. The bunkers tend to double as windbreaks for the sheep. The members are very friendly and the atmosphere completely unstuffy. We played on a bright and breezy evening and it was just magical! If you want a manicured course, all the facilities, haute cuisine etc , Cleeve is not for you but if you are a golf nut who understands the true nature of the game, go up to Cleeve Hill.

Posted by Barry Wild on 28/07/2009
3
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Overall Rating 3
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  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 3
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 3
  • Value for money 5

played here 15-3-09 what a treat it was ,enjoyed the course immensely ,it was in very good condition, the greens were great and so fast and tricky,i am a six handicapper and i shall be coming back again ,if you have not played a links course ,then come and play cleevehill , only downside a lot of ramblers

Posted by gary hawkins on 18/03/2009
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5

Very tough course and very windy on a bad day. Being a member I've experienced all the weather conditions. In the summer the course is fantastic and you can tee off at much later times and still fit a 18 holes in. The course is great for high and low handicap players and make it a great day out.

Posted by Jim Pownall on 06/09/2008
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 2
  • Course challenge 5
  • Value for money 5

Having now played the course 3 times, it goes in my top ten courses ive played in britian. No matter what your handicap it is a great test and the views are superb.

Posted by chris evans on 01/09/2008
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5

I played Cleeve Hill in July 2006. £25 for a day's golf proved excellent value. The scenery was stunning with panoramic views pretty much all the time. The course was in good condition though I instigated a local rule involving a free drop from sheep's droppings. Interesting holes, friendly staff and members, and a test of your fitness. All in all, a great day's golf.

Posted by Peter Bailey on 26/01/2007
5
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Overall Rating 5
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  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 5
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5

Played twice in July 2006. Though I imagine its always windy at Cleeve Hill, the first time was windier than the second time which resulted in numerous discussions amongst our 4 ball about club selection. Needless to say, none of us, irrespective of scores on the previous hole, wanted to tee of first. We enjoyed both days immensely. Its a golf course full of character (not to mention sheep droppings) with excellent views and a some very memorable holes (6th 3 par, 12th 4 par and 14th 3 par come to mind). Also the hilly terrain provides for an excellent walk (confirmed by 3 friends who accompanied us but did not play). The blind tee off's are not a problem as the line is quite clearly marked, fairways broad and the rough forgiving. Hazards, in terms of bunkers, are few and far between (I dont think I hit one during my 36 holes) and one can gain significant yardage with the ball running along nicely. It was useful to know the line onto the greens especially on the 1st, the 10th and the 18th ( Hint - bounce it on the right slope and it rolls onto the green) and so easier to play the 2nd time around. We are high handicappers (18-28) but thought the course gave us all a chance. Highly recommended.

Posted by vinay gupta on 09/08/2006
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5

The first course I ever played. Abiding memory is of one tee - to the south we saw the Severn bridge, to the west the Welsh mountains, to the north, the Malvern hills. Marvellous stuff. But could we see anything useful like the fairway - the tee shot disappears over the brow of a hill! And this was not the only blind tee shot so a good eye for your line of play is required. Cope here on a windy day and you could play almost anywhere in any weather conditions.

Posted by Robert Campbell on 23/03/2006
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 4
  • Clubhouse 3
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 4

Played on 12/11/05 on a sunny November day, having never played the course before. Best described as an inland links with many blind tee shots. Certainly not one for the unfit, as it's all up & down hills. A couple of the tees were off mats, but that didn't put me off enjoying myself as you can really let rip with the driver on this course. It's fairly open & the rough, whilst punishing, still allows you the chance of getting up & down! Fantastic value @ £18 & will definately return in the summer when the tees are open again! p.s Great food in the bar afterwards!

Posted by Lee Hopkins on 18/11/2005
4
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Overall Rating 4
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  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5
  • Clubhouse 4
  • Course challenge 4
  • Value for money 5

A truly unique old course that gets better the more you play it. Never the same course twice. Certainly quite daunting the first time you play, and when the wind blows (which it does a lot of the time!) Par 69 off the yellow tees, if you can play to your handicap here on average, you are doing very well. Every hole has challenges up its sleeve and specific advantageous lines of approach that can mostly only be learnt from experience. It’s a thinking mans course. At the highest point in the Cotswolds, on this course, the weather obviously plays a major part, the difference between a calm and very windy day can add as many as 15 strokes to your score. Condition of the course has improved greatly since a few years ago, though you may have to move the odd piece of sheep dung from your stance on the fairway in certain seasons, the greens are clean and in good order, and are hard – so don’t expect to land and stay on the greens. Its very much a bump and run kind of course, with good chipping a must. Avoid the bunkers at all costs – especially on the 2nd, 4th and 5th holes, as they are devilishly placed and what little sand that is in there (due to the winds) make it very difficult to get the ball out satisfactorially. Prices at time of writing are now £18 at weekends and £15 in the week. It can be quite busy at weekends but during the week it is usually relatively quiet and one can usually just turn up and go straight onto the course. I play this course about twice a month (although not a member) and keep coming back because of the sheer character of the course and the desire to finally break 90! Favourite holes are the par 5 1st which offers up birdie opportunities if you have the wind, the par 4 13th - a very long par 4 into a small green surrounded by an empty moat, and the par 3 15th – requiring a 110 yard carry over a rock quarry. The views across Cheltenham and towards the Malverns are amazing. You can even see the welsh mountains on a good day. You certainly do feel at one with nature up on the old hill. Also bear Cleeve in mind when most other courses are waterlogged, you should still find cleeve open as the drainage off the hills is usually very quick. I cant see anyone not liking this course, except perhaps the very unfit!

Posted by Peter Reed on 26/07/2004

Rarely do people give you good/useful advice prior to playing a new course. Well here is an invaluable pearl of wisdom for anyone interesting in playing Cleeve Hill... Don't play this course in high winds! The greatest drive can be transformed in to a shot half the distance it might ordinarily have been. Considering the majority of holes are up hill and invariably in to the wind you could be in for a energy and morale sapping round. That all said, I like Cleeve Hill. Not only does it offer up some breathtaking views, it is a course that plays fairer than most heathland courses. Even in late December the greens were solid, quick but at least consistant. Overall I think that players of all levels will find it a challenge. Wind or no wind.

Posted by Laurence Willicombe on 05/01/2004

cleeve golf course is a very interesting course. The views are astounding and the best in gloucestershire, the course however leaves me with different views everytime. The condition is not very good at all and it never is. but the course set out is great, some of the holesare very intereesting and can cause a problem, the thing i like about ths course is all the holes are different!its a shame they cant keep the course in better condition andy

Posted by andy downes on 18/08/2003

A COURSE THAT HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE CHARACTER. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE IS A DISTINCT ADVANTAGE, IT TOOK ME A FEW HOLES TO REALISE THAT WITH A FULL SHOT INTO THE GREEN IT WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD, AS THE GREENS WERE REALLY FIRM. IT IS WITHOUT DOUBT A TOUGH TEST OF GOLF AND YOU'LL NEED TO HAVE AN EXCELLENT SHORT GAME TO SCORE WELL. THE VIEWS ARE ABSOLUTELY OUTSTANDING, ESPECIALLY OVER THE FINAL FEW HOLES. THE COURSE IS LITTERED WITH SHEEP DROPPINGS WITH THE ODD COW PAT!!! BUT ALL ADDS TO THE CHARACTER. MOST OF THE ROUGH IS LIGHT WITH WISPY GRASS, BUT THERE ARE PATCHES OF HEAVY ROUGH MOSTLY ON THE BACK NINE. THE 14TH IS BY FAR THE TOUGHEST HOLE, A 436 YARD PAR 4. HOLES TO NOTE ARE THE PAR 4 5TH, PAR 4 9TH AND THE PAR 3 15TH WHICH IS PLAYED OVER A QUARRY. I PLAYED THE COURSE WITH IN SUPERB CONDITIONS, BUT WITH THE WIND UP I CAN IMAGINE IT TO BE BRUTAL!!! IF YOU WANT A CHANGE FROM TREE-LINED FAIRWAYS OR "AMERICAN" STYLE COURSES GIVE IT A GO. YOU'LL EITHER LOVE IT OR HATE IT!!!

Posted by MARTIN RAINER on 05/09/2002

Cleeve Hill Golf Course is a real test of golf and character. Thankfully the truly outstanding natural beauty of the course and all round views take your mind off of just how difficult this course is... Played in fine weather it has to be one of the most beautiful courses in England, played in bad weather, one of the most exposed and windy! It is, in many respects a, "what REAL golf is all about" type course. Slopes, quarries, extreme rough {watch out for the adders!} and almost invariably, wind. It's a course that can demand real imagination with the shots you try, a lovely bonus.The greens,I've found, are pretty good - offering a difficult, but fair enough test of your putting. If you shoot low round here when the wind and rain are up, consider yourself a good golfer - Tiger might even ask you a few tips... Very friendly and relaxed approach from the staff, and if you have a 'mare, have a beer and soak up the views...DO play it, it's golf in it's original form! Low handicappers will enjoy the need for imagination, high handicappers will possibly need a good few balls and a fair bit of patience...

Posted by Alisdair Naulls on 01/08/2002

As previous visits to this course have been either early morning jaunts with hangover or horrendous weather conditions, my view of this course has always been a bad one. Being located on a grand hill which in fine weather offers you sites as far as the Malverns and i think even the Black mountains is a definite plus. The course is an extreme challange of will and determination and it is advised to play it with a member or a few times so you actually know where you are going. Have never seen the greens in good nick, but the fairways are very decent and as my most recent visit to the course was in glorious weather i think i have exorcised some of the demons this golf course had over me. Very friendly staff and good clubhouse, and it has to be played as you will either hate it or love it depending on the weather and how many walkers/horseriders/gliders or mountain-bikers see you play a bad shot.

Posted by Rich Lambert on 25/06/2001

Course information

Number of holes 18
Year opened -
Designer -
Style moorland

Tee information

TeesYardsParSSS
Competition
Men's641172
Ladies'

Green Fees

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Weekday round£10
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Weekend round£12
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