North Weald Golf Club

A decent all-round golfing venue but when we played it wasn’t in the best of nick. The fairways were generally bare and left a lot to be desired though the greens were in excellent shape. With seven lakes on the golf course, North Weald demands careful golf course strategy, the par 4 10th being a prime example – it’s flanked by trees on the right and two ponds on the left so probably best to rely on a long iron or fairway wood.

North Weald Golf Club was originally designed by Peter Alliss and Clive Clark but redesigned by David Williams in 1994 - since that time it has experienced minor alterations.

The sand-based tees and greens, all built to USGA specification, allow the golf course be played all year.

Accommodation: A Travel Lodge is less than one mile away on the A414.

• Course has: Bar
• Course has: Buggy Hire
• Course does not have: Driving Range
• Course does not have: Practice Green
• Course has: Pro Shop
• Course does not have: Restaurant
• Course has: Trolley Hire
• Course does not have: Dress Code
• Course does not have: Club Hire
• Course does not have: Handicap

• 3.5 out of 5 Getting better 18 August 2010

  By lee30

   I've been at North Weald as a member for the year as it had a good deal for 19-29yr olds, turned 30 this year. I would normally pay and play at Epping, a relatively short course, but the opportunity to improve my long game meant North Weald was quite attractive.  It is true that the course has undergone a huge amount of landfilling, but that has now all finished is starting to turn green. North Weald's biggest problem is fairway consistency in harsher weather. In the middle of summer you can't get your club under the ball and in the middle of winter a couple of the fairways just flood.  Their bunkers have improved greatly since introducing some heavy sand. Their tees are so good I rarely break my tees on driving.  Unfortunately, some of the landfill areas that they have brought back into play still have a huge amount of stones in them and I have scraped some clubs quite badly on them. Though I won't be renewing my membership, which is now £649 unlimited, good price if you want membership, I think £15 after 2pm in the summer is a good price for a course that's improving itself.

• 3 out of 5 maybe next year 31 October 2007

  By addison

  Nice interesting layout not your typical flat farm. yes there are works and plenty of soil lining a couple of fairways but for £20 on a Saturday it was still VFM. Next year the grass will have grown through and the course will be the better for the lanscaping.

• 1 out of 5 Rough all round. 23 October 2007

  By Anonymous

  Considering the amount of sunshine and showers weve had this year I was expecting the course to be in fairly good condition. I should have known better. Poor greens,some patchey fairways that are mud lined rather than tree lined due to all the 'improvement' work that's taking place. In some places the course resembles a building site rather than golf course. I played this course 10 days ago and I have no ides where the other reviewers played because it wasn't the same course that i played on. They even managed to mess up our booked tee time. If you were considering playing here I would advise getting your swerve on and avoiding at all costs. At least until they put the JCB away.

• 4 out of 5 Excellent Course 08 September 2007

  By Earl_Russ

  Excellent course in excellent condition. Large, modern clubhouse but a small pro-shop. Tees, fairways and greens were in excellent condition. The bunkers were good but I would have liked to have seen a bit more sand in them. Excellent practice areas, chipping, putting, bunker and a small driving range. Well worth a visit

• 3 out of 5 Solid Performer 17 April 2007

  By Anonymous

  Although a relatively short course it is difficult to over power. Excellent bunkering combined with tightish fairways, doglegs & water hazards means 3 & 5 woods off the tee are generally a better option. Although just hollow tined when we visited the greens played well & in Summer they will be tough being both quick & undulating - good approach shots are the key. Three downsides we experienced. First was the fairways were very hard & 'hedge hog' wheels had been used in the (very wet) preceeding weeks meeaning well struck drives into the fairway could bounce off at sharp angles on the uneven surface. If the fairways don't soften it will become a lottery. Secondly we got caught behind some junior members who thought they were playing in the Masters so the round was a bit long. Lastly the A414 cuts through the course & racing motorbikes were a bit of a distraction. That said this is an excellent value course that requires a bit of thinking & is very enjoyable to play. I will be returning.