The Wiltshire Golf & Country Club

Just back from a golf break with Your Golf Travel and have to say was very impressed by the whole set up and the facilities on offer at the Wiltshire. The hotel is good and the course is fine for most players. The group we travelled with were all 14 handicappers or there abouts and the Lakes course provided a decent challenge. The 9 hole course is a good test and fine for a warm up round on the day of arrival. Well recommended - four stars from me.

Played this course Yesterday and i must say thou it took 4 and half hours due to the match in front of us we relly enjoy it . Thou we are not of a great standard we found each hole a lot of fun and you realy had to think your way around the course with some lovely driving holes . The greens were not the greatest and the biggest moan is that the sign posting to find the holes were poor ,if you are new to the place you realy could get lost

Played the course several years ago before the supposed improvements and really enjoyed it but was bitterly disappointed this time having played it today, 16th October 2009. The six new holes are very poor and not just because they are new. They are non descript and look exactly what they are; six holes shoe horned in with little thought. They have ruined a good course whch is a real shame. Our round wasn't helped by a ridiculously slow society group in front. 3 hours 20 for 12 holes; we walked off after 15. There is little now to recomend The Wiltshire i'm afraid.

Played The Wiltshire 7th October 2009 for the first time since they have created the new holes and I was expecting that the new holes on the Lakes course to be of a similar standard to the existing holes but this is simply not the case. There is no way that the six new holes were created by a course designer because the standard of the finished work is a disgrace. The tee boxes were completly worn out, pathways a total mess not to mention the bunkers full of stones. Why oh why did they not get the original designers back so that the new holes were created to a decent standard. Best advice for anyone thinking of playing The Wiltshire is to keep on driving past to Bowood and play a decent golf course.

Played the course a couple of times lately and I have to say I'm pleasantly surprised! Certainly the previous reviews about the drainage should be updated - after a wet spell recently it has recovered very well and the greens are in super condition. The main defence here is actually the wind, especially on the higher parts of the course - that and the planes flying into RAF Lyneham. Any golf-playing plane spotter would have a field day here! The hotel and leisure facilities are also very convenient and make it ideal for a weekend away somewhere. The hotel is a little pricy for what it is at £75 but the food and drinks are reasonable value and there is a relaxed feel to the clubhouse. Not a venue for the traditionalists but who wants that nowadays anyway? A genuinely good venue and a good day's golf too - what more can you ask for!

I recently enjoyed a Society weekend at the Wiltshire course. Enjoyed? Well, yes, although make no mistake this is a tough test of golf. Even the better golfers struggled to get 30 stableford points and it didnt surprise us too much when we found out the course record is level par! After weeks of rain the fairways were not surprisingly a bit muddy and a little bare of grass meaning plugged balls and lots of heavy shots. The rough had been left to go quite deep and it was barely worth looking for wayward drives. The greens were in excellent shape, with very few straight putts to be had on the undulating greens. The flow of the course is interesting and there are no really bland holes or easy birdies to be had. You really do have to think about your tactics for getting round in a decent score. The last four holes particularly demand careful play to return a good finish. Some of the signposting is a bit weak and walks between green and tees are quite long meaning play was slow. The halfway house and a cup of tea helped a bit though, even though it closes mid-afternoon. Off-course, the hotel is reasonably basic but nicely done and maintained, and the meals were very good for a 'society package'. So as a complete experience, it is strongly recommended by me. I only wish we could have played it with a bit of run on the fairways!

I played in a match in early April 2008. I wasn't playing particularly well, so got a deserved stuffing! Start with the good stuff. After a long, cold and pretty damp winter, the greens are in pretty good condition. They're tough - hard, difficult to get balls to stop and with subtle undulations - but the grass covering and its thickness was worthy of reasonable praise. Keep your ball on the fairway and Winter rules allow you to clean and place. It's strange - this course is on the top of Wiltshire downs but it's quite damp and muddy (except for the greens). Apparently, the underlying land is clay. After the wet winter, it's not surprising that the fairways aren't densely populated with grass but they were acceptable. Off the fairways was a different matter. No two ways about it: the place is soft and muddy. I understand that drainage work is ongoing but it has a ways to go yet. My playing partner, a member, guided me through various changes that have taken place since my last visit, about two years ago. Some have definitely been for the better; there was one green that was almost impossible, I recall. Some, particularly removal of some water and other features that gave various holes character, are not. I am given to understand that some of the owners' 'celebrity' sporting contacts regarded the course as too hard. It wasn't then, and it isn't now - I suspect I'd be able to shave a couple of shots off my handicap without too much problem. The wind is its strongest defence. I remarked that there seems to be a lot of space available around the place, perhaps for spectator viewing areas in the future? If that's the ambition then there is still a lot of work to do. The trees have to grow and the damp, muddy feel underfoot really has to be addressed - it hadn't been raining for a couple of days when I played. Efficient staff, pleasant clubhouse and if you're looking for somewhere to stay and play, then the £75 a night rooms, with free use of pool, spa sauna and steam room, plus 'preferential rates' for green fees, looks like the best deal.

This golf course is part of an Eddie Shah country club facility that includes a hotel, holiday homes, leisure centre etc. Although over 15 years old the complex still has a work in progress feel. The main Lakes course is designed by Peter Allis and is a bit of a mixed bag. Lots of little lakes, lots of sand, interestingly contoured greens many of which have an upside down saucer shape. Potentially a very interesting test of golf, requiring course management to weave your way around the obstacles, holes like the 10th and 17th been particularly challenging. The downsides are that holes 4 to 9 are rather bland, the driving range is nowhere near the clubhouse, and the course maintenance in places leaves a lot to be desired, the condition of 9th tee was one of the worst I have come across. Would probably play again, but preferably in summer conditions rather than during 2007's soggy August.

Played the course for the first time yesterday and was impressed. They are in the process of introducing new holes onto the main 18 hole course having just completed a new nine. Therefore it was a little confusing going from green to tee as the signs around the course are yet to be updated (only 5 days on the new layout). However once over that hurdle you will find a good course, though still overall quite young. The three par fives are good holes and three of the new holes 13, 14 and 15 are very good. 14 in particular is a 446 yard par 4 SI 1 that needs two very good shots to get on in two. The new holes have bigger greens than the older holes.. on some holes they are postage stamps. A course I will visit again, an having played on a 2-FORE-1 voucher is good value, and when I played not busy, which was nice!

I must disagree with some of the negative feedback about this course. I was a member up until 2001, I was 18 then and had been a member for 5 years. I feel that when Eddie Shah took over from the previous owner there a big insert of both money and effort. The club house was tripled in size and the leisure facilities and hotel made it feel like a championship course. The price has somehow managed to stay reasonable and, take it from me, this course leaves you wanting more, and you will return. Fantastic greens, Reasonably long and such a tranquil environment. It is a pleasure to play. I am obviously an ex member, but I haven't played the course for a while and I am looking forward to returning after 6 years.

First visit and the last! Even though the course was undergoing extensive course maintainence, the majority of holes were untidy, very poor signage, and generally unattractive. We completed the 14th hole and walked in - very disappointed.

Played this course at the start of october after reading some very good reports on this site. Now for me i have to say the course was very poor, yes the greens are nice but the course its self i found a a massive let down, after reading the reviews i got up in the moring and set off expecting to play a top quality course, what i found was a very young course with a lot of growing up to do. i may come back but not for a few years yet as there are plenty of better course more local to me (oxford) which i would rather play.

Being local The Wiltshire offered a perfect place to hold our companies golf day. The staff tailored a package to our needs and at a reasonable price too. The course was in excellent condition and the vast amounts of time and effort and money put in by Eddie and Jennifer Shah and their staff deserved a large amount of praise. Our day couldn't have gone any better (Well I could've won I spose!) Everyone was at great pains to help even the young lad who put out our longest drive and nearest the pin markers. An Excellent venue with excellent staff and facilities. Watch out for the green on the 11th !! A short par 4 but with an Augusta style green. I kid you not! My playing partner drove the green and just trickled off the putting surface 7ft away and walked off with a 5 !!! We'll be back!

I have just played this very testing course with two members and they had nothing but praize for the resent work done to all the bunkers. I myself though the course was very well maintained and the greens of a high standard. Lots of water you have been warned. I will be playing a lot of my golf here in the future and look forward to seeing even more improvments I'm told on the cards. This is a big club but still maintains a friendly atmosphere. Be back very so and often.

Just back from a few days of playing golf, around Swindon area. I was very impressed with the course and agree with previous comments regarding course guide and water. Greens quite tricky. Looking forward to returning.

A lovely course in good condition. Good course management required and the greens, whilst tricky in undulation, were kept to a high standard. Plenty of water, much of it not visible off the tee and the only criticsim I would have is a lack of a course planner or map. Now i've been round once I know where not to venture next time! I'd certainly recommend the course and with a 2for1 voucher this is excellent value golf.

I have been a member at The Wiltshire for the past four months, I believe it is one of the most challenging golf courses in Wiltshire. The greens are always to a high standard and are very fast. I played here a few years back and thought the course was very average, the fairways were very wet in places. Any player who has played here previously can easily see the amount of time and effort the greenkeepers have put into the golf course. The reputation the club built up over the years of being wet and boggy has long since been put to rest.

I have been playing The Wiltshire the late part of 2001 up to now and have played many other clubs in the county also in this time. The Wiltshire is by far the best consistently well maintained golf course in this area. The greens are fast, true and hold well, if you know how to hold a ball on a green that is? The club has done a great deal of work on the coures, all sorts of drainage, new tees and new sand in bunkers. The overall condition seems to just get better and better. All of the guest I take they are always impressed and enjoy there time at The Wiltshire.

The Wiltshire has been in new ownership for the last 18 months since April 2001 and the changes on the golf course, has been at the least dramatic. The course has only been closed for one day in all this time dew to excessive rain of over 80mm in less than 24 hours. The drainage program has been very successful. Over 3000 metres of 80mm pipe, seems to have done the trick so far and much more is still planed to go in this Autumn '02/ Winter '03. The Membership has greatly increased since the standards on the golf course have varstly improved. The greens have been said to be some of the best in the county this summer and they have a lot more potential in them for even more improvement. The bunker are slowly being rebuilt and are about 1/3rd through the program. The work as also included the building of new Tees and the transplanting of mature Trees. The Course was in need of a face lift, what it got was a miracle. Come see for your self. Messenger Leisure's slogan is "Exceed Expectations" The Wiltshire is the epitome of this slogan.

You will note that the good comments only appear in the summer! The course is an absolute quagmire for 8 months of the year. Endless attempts at improving the drainage have not paid off. The greens are poor, the bunkers worse, the tees uneven and yet they plan to build a hotel and no doubt con golfers into spending the weekend there! Definitely one to avoid in Wiltshire - go to Tidworth or Bowood instead.

The Wiltshire's slogan is 'The Legend Grows.' But there is precious little that is even remotely legendary about this distinctly below-par course. As others have identified, the practice facilities are very poor, in fact barely worthy of the name. It is immediately obvious that this is a new course and, while there is the occasional interesting hole, we found the overall condition of it to be poor. I hope they weren't indicative of the club's membership but we also had the misfortune of encountering some absolute morons on an adjacent hole near the finish. If you're in the area, make sure you go to Bowood or The Manor at Castle Combe instead: they're a lot nearer legendary status. 2.5/10 Young P

This is an excellent Peter Allis designed course, not particularly long but very challenging in parts. There is water on numerous holes most dangerously on the 7th and 17th were there are fairly long carries to reach the fairway and green respectively. There are a couple of good par 5's but it really lacks any challenging par 3's. The course has suffered due to lack of investment from the previous owner, but under new ownership is already showing signs of improvement, and with a driving range, hotel and leisure club being built (hopefully) its only going to get better.

Here we go again yet another new owner coming very soon. The course is very wet like all others in the area although it is playable and what is even more surprising using the greens not like other course.

I agree with the previous player the bunkers are very poor in places i.e. no sand only clay.Also the green on the 3rd hole the 12th and the 13th are in a very poor state it appears to be a fungus in the grass with meadow grass growing in places. Albeit a very good test of golf.

Challenging course with a number of very small, undulating greens placing a premium on accuracy. Lots of opportunities to wrestle with water hazards. A number of new white tees this year have increased the length of course.General condition reasonably good but very poor bunkers in places and limite dpractice facilities also a let down.