Hoebridge yesterday!!

[Scott W]

Managed to secure a pass to play yesterday pm and had a complimentary voucher for Burhill group so booked in to play 18 on the main course with 3 mates. I was expecting a slowish round (Bank Holiday, sunny etc) but OMG!!!

Hoebridge doesnt do itself any favours with the set up of the first few holes (second is a par 3, then 6 and 7 encourages bunching) but FFS there were 5 groups on the 7th tee when we finally hit! 

Standing on the 6th tee (elevated par 3) we were incredulous to see the group in front putting out from inside 2 feet.....when we enquired politely it turned out we were directly behind a comp; ladies versus gents....loser buys supper! Would have been nice to have been told we were out behind a com when booking

Add to that the fact that we had a bunch of muppets behind bombing balls on our heads on 9th fairway (they had shelled out for buggies so felt they had the right to push despite there being 3 groups on the hole (comp putting out and us on the fairway!). They didnt take the hint and preceded to hit into the green with 4 of us on it!

It could have got a bit lively but fortuitously the "ranger" drove by at that point which allowed us to point out 5 balls on the green and one just off the green so we left him to deal with it

so we walked off the 9th after 2hrs 45 mins and took the opportunity to go and talk to the shop. He said 2.45 wasnt bad for the front 9, we chose to point out that with a 20 minute wait on 10th tee looming it was actually over 3 hours!

His attitude stunk to be fair, had an answer for everything (sheer volume of players, members are entitled to play comps etc) which I am prepared to accept to a point but frankly I will never go near the place on a weekend again (added to a list including Silvermere, Richmond muni etc where 6 hours appears to be acceptable)

We jacked it in (after 9) and had a beer....and saw 3 or 4 more groups do the same so surely long term it has to hurt revenues for the club

Ironically they had a set of ladies irons in the sale in the shop which I was probably going to buy for the wife (good price) but couldnt bring myself to give them the money!

To cap it off when we were at the bar buying beers we were offered a selection of ready salted crisps or nothing (no peanuts, other flavours etc) as apparently they had been very busy and sold out of everything!!!!!!! 

We took a photo of the 5 groups on the 7th tee....might mail it to the manager for comment

[Stu-Pid]

Robin - Sounds like somewhere we should think about booking for a Masters event.   

[Longshot]

When I was a member there, the only time I would ever play is first thing in the morning in comps - otherwise it was a bloody nightmare.

[Sam the Eagle]

You should have come to Silvermere instead. Just under 4.5 hrs for the round yesterday, which is actually quite good...

[Stu-Pid]

When I was a member there, the only time I would ever play is first thing in the morning in comps - otherwise it was a bloody nightmare.

Groucho Marx:  "I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members"

Stu-Pid:  "I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like Longshot as members"

[3puttwizard]

Robin - Sounds like somewhere we should think about booking for a Masters event.   

Not really. Going to one of those type of courses on a bank holiday is madness IMO

[Scott W]

Not really. Going to one of those type of courses on a bank holiday is madness IMO

Fair challenge but 5 groups on a single tee box is a new PB for me!

[Stu-Pid]

Not really. Going to one of those type of courses on a bank holiday is madness IMO

Agreed.  Unfortunately if the owners choose to flood the course with as many people as possible can only lead to one result.  Scott should definitely send the photo and report of his round to someone at the top of the Burhill Group and also comment on the customer service levels.  It won't change anything, but hopefully he'll at least get some more free vouchers.

I actually like Hoebridge and am looking forward to (hopefully) playing there in the Masters.   

[Stu-Pid]

Fair challenge but 5 groups on a single tee box is a new PB for me!

You should try Trent Park.  Turning up at your pre-booked tee time and finding 5 groups on the 1st tee isn't unheard of!

[sally]

My old club was part of the Burhill group and they used to regularly double book tee times at weekends to the point that they actually had a defined system for recording them on the starters list.  

It didn't help that the first was a very drivable downhill par 4 so there was often a huge queue on the first. and there was quite often 4 or 5 groups queuing on the par 3 3rd as well

[Stu-Pid]

It didn't help that the first was a very drivable downhill par 4 so there was often a huge queue on the first. and there was quite often 4 or 5 groups queuing on the par 3 3rd as well

Same at Trent Park, a par 5 that is reachable in 2 even with a hybrid off the tee.  If they moved the tee forward 50 yards and made it a par 4 it would eliminate a lot of the problems.

[Longshot]

Fair challenge but 5 groups on a single tee box is a new PB for me!

Indeed. The 7th can cause problems with lost balls but the 5th is normally the major problem.

I played there for over 10 years and I've never seen 5 groups on any tee, never mind the 7th.

[Scott W]

I actually like Hoebridge and am looking forward to (hopefully) playing there in the Masters.   

I like the course too and have over the years organised 3 or 4 work society days there (though not for a while)

It does have some poor holes (11 for example) and I dont like finishing on a par 3 TBH

[Longshot]

I like the course too and have over the years organised 3 or 4 work society days there (though not for a while)

It does have some poor holes (11 for example) and I dont like finishing on a par 3 TBH

I agree about #18 but why is #11 poor? I like #11.

[3puttwizard]

Is 11 the downhill Par 4?

I think my most hated hole is 13...mega block straight over the hedge line