The Warren Golf Club (Essex)

I played this course a number of years ago and thought ok not bad, subsquent to that the owners went bankrupt and i heard through the grapevine that the course was in a bad way. However the club was recently purchased and things are very much looking up. The new owners have clearly been putting their money where their mouth is as there has been a huge amount of investment. I was recently invited to play with a member (May 15), wow what a change. Not only has there been significant investment in the course but the other facilities such as the club house, changing rooms, pro shop etc have been or are in the process of being significantly upgraded. This is the place to be. Of course it matters most on the course and like i say what a trasnformation, everytihg from the tee boxes, to the fairways, bunkers and the greens are brilliant. My only gripe, there are a few cross over holes. This is a must play course, highly recommended.

What a fantastic course, got to be in the top 5 for Essex, lovely warm welcome from staff and members very polite and helpful. The greens are lovely. There are a few holes that cross over each other, but i've not found this to be a problem. would be helpful for a few more signs telling you where to go, but it not like you need a compass and a map!!!

I played the Warren yesterday (10/09/2008) as a visitor in a 3-ball and would like to report that the course is in fantastic condition. Fairways and greens all generally immaculate, although two on the back nine had just been spiked. The front-9 plus probably 10th and 11th are dramatic holes - hilly, well wooded and a real test. The latter holes are more bland, but still a pleasure to play. As previous correspondents have pointed out there are a number of crossovers on this course, more than I have ever seen on one course, which even includes a drive (or two) directly over the previous green. There were no indications, that we saw, as to who had the right of way at these crossovers and it can be difficult to determine what a silhouette in the distance is trying to convey to you with frantic waving. If you haven't played the course before do NOT venture out on it without a course guide or strokesaver. There are no hole layouts on the tee marker boards and it can be quite unclear from some tees exactly which direction the fairways turn in. Also there is a distinct lack of "next tee" direction markers which can be a pain when approaching greens as one is unsure on which side to leave one's clubs. One last gripe, the 150 yard markers aren't always apparent and can take some hunting for before you can play your shots with any surety. But, in summary, do invest in a strokesaver and you will enjoy this testing secluded course hidden away in the middle of Essex.

what a totally enjoyable day. from the moment i rang them and booked a tee time the staff were very helpful and polite as were the members well done the warren. the practise area was very good and well kept. the course was in good condition and very picturesque and hilly. we were playing behind a society but still managed to get around in under 4 hours. you need a lot of imagination around the greens witch were quite fast and you always seemed to need one club more than what you would normally play for the yardage. i had a very enjoyable day and at a cost of £25.00 including breakfast i thought it was excellent value for money. once again well done the warren

Have had the pleasure to play this very picturesque course today. Playing with a member my £18 fee was great value for money. Beautiful surroundings and excellent practice area. The fairways were immaculate, the greens true with no bumpiness at all. Yes there are some crossovers, but even on a busy Saturday, the two of us managed to get round in just under 4 hrs. The front 9 are very tight with several dog legs which test your long iron/driving abilities. The back 9 prove a welcome relief with wider fairways. But drive to the wrong part of the fairway and there are some huge trees to give you the headache of whether to 'go for it' or play around. Members were pleasant and if you get the chance, sample the Sausage, Egg and Chips. Marvellous!

Having played The Warren a couple of times now, I felt I had to reply to the previous review. I've found it to be a lovely course - secluded, quiet and well-kept. On my first round there, I must have found sand on every third hole. The first hole is a curving dog-leg with a second shot over water; for the second hole, you drive over a pond: that's plenty sand and water for me. It's a good testing course for mid to high teen handicappers, perhaps a bit tricky for those who struggle to play to 28 (and perhaps a little easy for low handicappers, which may explain the more critical comments of the previuos reviewer). One of the few courses where I end up using every club in my bag because of the range of holes and shots you encounter: emphasis on placing rather than on length. And all this for a £12 twilight ticket (with member - who hoped I would be critical in this review in order to keep the hordes away. Sorry Mark). My one gripe is the number of cross-over holes. There's even a tee where you drive right over the green you've just finished. Occasionally dangerous and can cause hold-ups.

If you like bunkers and water this is not the place to play. Nice looking first hole however that is a good as it gets. An old course (and expensive) with many non-descript dull holes that could do with livening up. On the plus side it is a friendly environment in which to play golf. Overall the course is very dissapointing.

Played on glorious sunny Friday afternoon in May. Course very beautifull, and in good conditon bearing in mind the awful winter! Greens however rather bobbly - difficult to get the line right! Ninth hole a handfull. Played during a club foursome - members very friendly though. Green fees expensive - although we used the 2-fore-1 scheme!

The warren is a very competent golf course with extensive pratice facilities and a sense of tradition. when I teed up on one of the most memorable first holes ive ever played I felt good. At the end of the first loop of 10 I thought that the back 8 would blow me away if the first 10 were anything to go by. However unfortunatly it is a different course on the back 8 flat and largly uninterestingbut the front 10 just about made up for it. One word of worning dont play there when tempory greens and tees are employed as I had the misfortune to do.

EXPENSIVE!!!!!!! Even the bacon rolls broke the bank, and for £30 a round in winter we expected more. In saying that, there are a few memorable holes but far too many cross-fairways which slowed play up considerably.