Weald Park Hotel Golf and Country Club

Played on Thursday 10th April with a small group of friends. Whilst there were obvious problems, we had to change in the Ladies due to work in the Gents and much building work was going on, we were welcomed very warmly. The course itself has few bunkers in play but efforts are being made to renovate the others. The greens are fast but not particularly true but again show signs that work is being done to improve matters. Given time and a lot of attention this will return to a very good course. Ham egg and chips after the round was really good. All in all a good day at a very reasonable cost (£17-50) Stars reflect the work currently underway.

i,ll tell you people whats happened here,a bunch of cowboys related to a premier league footballer leased the place,promptly sold "life memberships for £7,000 and did a runner,leaving the owners in the poop,they still can,t get into the main building.it,.s their own fault and the course is at present ruined,thus the rating is zero, i have a photo of this place from 10 years ago showing a friend plying war games in a bunker[they were that bad ]

Ignore all the negative comments below. Weald park has been under new management for a couple of years now, and its really beginning to show. Therecare new hazards, the fairways are much better and draining well, the greens are being repaired, and the general mood of the staff and the club is very welcoming. Very reasonable prices, weald is a challenging and enjoyable days golf.

Years ago this course looked as though it could mature to be very good. Having gone back recently it seems to have been allowed to fall into a very poor condition. The greens are some of the worst I've ever played on. Numerous societies made it take an age to get round. The staff are incredibly rude. A great shame as to what has happened there. There's much better courses in the area, such as Bentley. The changing room also smelt really bad. Like an open sewer. Ps. You'll need a tractor to navigate the car park. Pot holes the size of swimming pools. Another sign that no money has been spent for some time.

I have to say thanks to all the staff at Weald Park golf club for making our charity golf day exceptional. The staff were extremely accommodating, breakfast excellent golf course in very good condition as for the greens well done to the green keeping staff. I have to say the game flowed without too much waiting about, must be the way in which the course is laid out. One comment can you please put a seeding sand box on each tee in order for golfers!! to repair divots after tee shot and also the encourage the fee paying members to maybe carry a carton of divot repair on the fairway. Very good club so members protect it for future generations. Well done to all and thanks once again for making our day memorable. Patrick Duct Com ltd

Having played this course 3 times over the last 5 weeks, I would just say this. This layout is excellent, the overall condition good, although a lot of work is needed on some of the bunkers. It really wouldn't take too much cash and work to make this into a really great course. The staff were very helpful, the off course facilities were pretty good, and for £15 (including a bacon roll)must be one of the best value courses in Essex. Well worth a visit.

What the hell has happened to this course! I used to play this many years ago and thought what a great course it was. How things have changed. The club now seems to cater for pay & play and as a result the course has been changed to allow for quick play. The day we went, there were all sorts of people on the course and the standard of dress was not what you would want to see on a golf course. Potentially the course could be really nice, but there doesn't seem to be much care and attention paid to the condition. Some of the greens were ok and held a ball, but some were in need of attention. The bunkers were awful, with very little sand and some had weeds growing out of them. It was impossable to play out of them. All in all not a very good experience. It would seem to us that the owners have lost the plot, and as a result we will not be going back.

Have to take issue with Mr Smith regarding his appraisal of this course. It would appear that he wants Belfrey facilities for £15 . Have today returned to this course following my previous impressions in January. I am pleased to report that the welcome was as warm as before, excellent food, a neat and tidy non-members bar with excellent staff. On course counted four green keepers working on the bunkers, and the course in good condition. As the weather improves this course can only get even better. Its very nice to play on a course where there is no over crowding, and plenty of gaps between groups. Oh, by the way Mr Smith the seating area is paved, you should have gone to it via the bar rather than taking a short cut. This course is the best kept secret in Essex, long may that last so that people who appreciate it can play in a peaceful environment. The previous report is not representative of this course

4 of us played this course for £15 which included a bacon roll on arrival. Sounds good value, but since the bacon roll wasn't cooked properly (how can you ruin a bacon roll) and delivered cold, this wasn't a good start. Club House was a bit tatty. Looked like a cheap conservatory and was in need of some tender loving care - as was the course. To get to the outdoor seating area you needed to step through mud. Why couldn't they put slabs down which would be a great improvement. Changing room facilities were dreadful and there was a strange damp smell lingering around! Course design was very good, but as mentioned earlier, the whole place is in need of some tender loving care. Didn't see a green keeper the whole day, which probably says something about the condition!! Bunkers were the worst I have ever seen and impossible to play out off. Greens were in poor shape, and 5 or 6 looked to be diseased and if not treated could be lost very soon. Fairways were ok, although it looked like divots hadn't been replaced for months. We followed another 4 ball. Unfortunately they seemed to be high handicappers, and this is not a course for high handicappers or beginners. Members we met were ok, although there didn't appear to be many using the course, which isn't surprising considering the condition. Verdict. We won't be going back...

Played here on 19/01/09 on a wet day following a whole weekend of rain,didnt expect to be able to play due to conditions but this is a very well draining course and was indeed very playable all be it wet underfoot. This was my first time at Weald, to say I was impressed would be an understatement all the staff are soooo pleasant as are the members and made me feel as though I had played there all my life. If this course is like this on a soggy rainy day it must be very good when the sun dries it out. No winter tees or greens, the greens played very well,fairways fine, comment has been made of the state of the bunkers,I must say they did not look at their best but that was mainly due to the amount of water that had fallen (did look a bit short of sand but was advised that this will be sorted during the winter) At the midweek price charged (which included a bacon roll on arrival) £15 this is fantastic value and puts a lot of the other cheap offer courses to shame. You may have guessed by now I will be going back on a regular basis

I played Weald Park for the first time on Saturday 11th October and thought the course was in excellent condition. I had previously checked the reviews and they were all correct – great course, lovely fairways and greens, but with bunkers in poor condition some of which were marked GUR, which was a shame. My four-ball paid £25 each for a Saturday morning tee-off with bacon roll before we started and I could not fault anything except sadly the bunkers. We all agreed to return when hopefully the weather will be just as good.

I've always liked the test of this golf course and played it on and off since it opened in 1994. I played a few times last year and was a bit disappointed with the condition so decided to give it a break. Having returned recently I noticed the huge difference in the condition of the course. The greens are really good - they hold and are quick, the fairways are lush and tees in good condition. The only drawback is the consistancy of some of the bunkers as detailed on other reviews here. I asked the Pro what was being done and was informed their being worked on over this winter so hopefully the only thing letting this lovely golf course down will be fixed. Midweek greenfees are £15.00 and you get a free bacon roll which in my view makes this one of the best value golf courses in the area!! I am back to playing this course regularly again as its vastly improved and great value for money.

Have to agree with last fella. Cannot fault the course design and the layout of the holes, and there are some great ones. As for the condition........ This used to be in a great shape. What the hell happened? I don't think any of the bunkers had anything resembling sand in them. A lot were totally weed infested and were G.U.R. The greens were very, very sloooooow, and overall the place was tatty. With a fair few quid spent on this course it could be a great venue. Can any of the members please let us know what has (or hasn't) gone on at Weald Park... We did however, pay on a twilight special which cost us the princely sum of ten squiddlies. That, we cannot fault. This would have been unheard of a few years ago at this place.

Played this on a Society Day last week, and was impressed by the layout of the course. There were some very interesting holes. The only thing I would say is that the bunkers, especially on the front 9, were in a terrible state. They did improve on the back 9. Overall, bearing in mind what we paid for 27 holes and a meal afterwards, it was excellent value. However, we probably wouldn't return there until we knew that the condition of the bunkers had improved.

a small not to say the scorecard on this site appear to be the wrong way round i.e. the 10th on the cards is actually the first and vice versa. the price they charge is a bit steep but the 15th, 16th and 17th will provide a test, especially if you're not too precise off the tee.

Played Weald Park last week for the first time although my so called "best friend" has enjoyed it many times. As others have said,this is not a course to pull out the driver and Whale away; it certainly repays checking yardages and knowing your game. I imagine that it also repays playing several times to work out where to go, but I can only advise not to go right at the 1st, nor left at the 4th, nor right at the 5th and 6th!! In terms of value I did think £25 was a little OTT as the bunkers are poor, and the greens not great, although they had been recently tined, and should improve for that. With care on the bunkers it would be an excellent test. Finally, it's bizarre having to have acode to get out.

I have been a member at Weald Park for over 2 years now, and couldn't recommend the course highly enough. I've read through some of the older posts here, and to be honest, I have to say that I agree with the majority of them. The bunkers still suffer from a lack of sand (it gets added, but washed out again in heavy rain) and the greens can be difficult. Having said as much, it is a challenge, and a challenge that when played often, helps you get round other, less difficult courses with ease. Any course that teaches you to learn the precise range of the clubs in your bag is good in my book. Get it wrong though, and you will be in trouble. Weald Park does not accept tee bookings, so it's turn up and play, which is great - I have NEVER queued to play - that is worth the membership fee on its own. The Pro, Michael, is a very helpful and approachable chap and so are the rest of the staff. In short, give it a go - it's worth it.

I played weald park for the firat time a few weeks back and have since returned. The green fee's midweek are now £25. A strokesaver is a necessity and £2.50 is fairly priced, even with the saver we still mis-read the 90degree dog leg 6th. My only major gripe is the complete lack of sand in the greenside bunkers, what sand is in there is rock hard and makes "splash" shots impossible. In the 2 rounds with 3 partners we visited 14 different bunkers and they were all very poor. I can't comment on the fairway bunkers as these were avoided (by luck more than judgement) All in all a good course, that could be outstanding if a few grains of sand were added Paul Smith (Hcap 21)

A lovely course; very well maintained and with a good variety of holes. I strongly recommend you buy a strokesaver if you're playing it for the first time because you will certainly not get away with just fishing your driver out of your bag on the par fours and fives. This is a course that requires good course management. Also, the staff couldn't do enough for us. Highly recommended.

I have recently joined Weald Park but have been playing in a friendly society here for some months now. Being a part of American Golf give me and me fellow society members the chance to play Abbots, Priors, Hertfordshire etc all within 1/2 hours drive. I find the couse more challlenging that many I play (17 handicapp) and am more than happy with the greens, tees, and fairways. Indeed I drive 60 miles each way just to play this course with my friends. If you are interested in our society, goto WWW.WEALDPARK.COM and have a peek. Feel free to post comments onto our discussion forum.

Good little course, loads of grass, bunkers full of sand which made getting out fairly tricky. Very near my house which nice. Good for the big/short hitters amongst us.

I played this course on 28/12/01.Tees were in use along with all greens. Quite a nice course, something for everybody. Clubhouse ok,reasonably hospitable. One thing though. When I say the greens were in use I am mystified to know why? These greens putted worse than any temporary would have done. They were bumpy,patchy and looked diseased. Why not rest them, they need it !!! It's not worth playing here to avoid temps, to say greens are in use is nonsense and a misrepresentation of the facts. No wonder the "COURSE AMBASSADOR", who does a good job of welcoming you to the course, isn't there to bid you goodbye. The poor chap would end up with ringing in his ears !!!!

Can agree with both of the previous entries. I personally enjoyed the course where the holes made you think about club selection off the tee. Be bold or lay up are both possiblities at the 7th or the 14th, although driving over the trees at the 7th would be particularily bold. My advice is don't get too far right then even if the trees are in the way the club you need will go over them anyway, however some of the guys I played with had the same comments as Steve Hyde. The course was in very good condition with true if not fast greens that hold a lofted ball. Good variation all round, play well you'll score well play badly and bring plenty of balls. The stroke index 1 the Par 4 12th 410yds was a great hole and will bring you great sense of achievement if you get on in two. Staff were friendly and the clubhouse was pleasant. PS 2-fore-1 midweek £9 each unbelievable value !!

I liked this course but I didn't have the same problems as the previous chap as I'm not that good! However, as a high handicapper it was good fun and gave a chance of a good round. The overall condition was very good and provided a good test (but not that good!). I would recommend it. On a negative point the clubhouse was full of flies!

This course has some well laid out holes but overall lacks any substance. Some holes are too precise from the tee. ie I had to hit a 5 iron at the par 4 7th into a landing strip approx 10yds in width. 5yds shorter & I was blocked out, 5yds longer & also blocked out to the green. A lot of the holes just look very open & unattractive but there are a few good ones like the 12th with approach shot over a pond to green. The greens are patchy & require more work. The course is trying to become established but will take a few years yet before it is on my "regular" list. nb- I have a h/c of 13, so you can gauge my comments. Anyone used to playing private courses with there societies will probably feel let down here.