The Players Club

You really have to hold your nerve here – water is seemingly everywhere, cropping up on all four short holes and twice on the par-3 3rd. The par-5 15th is flanked by two lakes and is another stunning hole.If you’re looking for a top match play venue, The Players Club Golf Course will definitely do the trick. With so much trouble around, usually in the form of sand and lakes, the wheels can fall off at any time. The Players Club is one of the best UK golf courses to emerge in the last few years. It may have opened as recently as May 2002, but it is maturing fast and its reputation is spreading far beyond the west country which, let’s face it, isn’t exactly blessed with too many prestigious golf courses.

You can sum up The Players Club in two words – long and challenging. But probably best not to tackle it off the back tees (7,600 yards) as it’s hard enough for the majority of golfers without doing that. The bold, brash Bristol layout is the ultimate in golfing challenges – not only is it ultra-long but it’s strewn with hazards. The short holes are pretty impressive too with most by water. If you’re after an easier test try the neighbouring Stranahan layout which opened at the end of last year.

The Players Club Golf Course is a 18-hole championship golf course situated just one mile from junction 18 of the M4. It only opened in 2002, but one of the striking features is its maturity with woodland, lakes, trees and gorse coming into play.

At more than 7,600 yards off the back tees, it's the longest golf course in the country though from the front markers it dips below 6,000 yards. Six sets of tees will ensure that, whatever your handicap, you'll enjoy your round. 

Stay & Play: The Compass Inn and Chestnut Farm B&B are both nearby while there's a Travel Inn at Emerson Green.

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

• 5 out of 5 Golf for all 06 April 2015

  By Jontov

  I rarely play the codrington layout ,even though it is a fantastic course.at 70years it is just too long for me,the stranahan suits my age and game perfectly.par 68 good greens,3 par 5s 7par 3s 8shortish par 4s,easy to get round in under 3hours.ideal for ladies and seniors jontov.

• 3 out of 5 Not up to much 07 August 2014

  By Jono

  I played the course two weeks ago and was really looking forward it and expecting something on the lines of the Belfry/Celtic Manor 2010 courses. Oh how wrong I was and to be honest the course although long was really poor condition. I noted several of the greens be very patchy with damage especially on the fourth. One of the members said that the two holes from the original layout had been sacrificed to create the new rubbish par 68 course hence the 2nd and 7th holes are really very poor in both design and quality. They claim the greens are 9+ on the stimp reading which I seriously doubt unless you have a downhill putt. As for the bunkers very poorly maintained don't dare going in them because they are full of big stones. Also For anyone to say this is one of the up and coming best courses in the UK simply does not know what they are talking about or has never played anywhere decent Cheap in design, Cheap in quality Stick to the old classics and don't waste your money.

• 2 out of 5 Disappointing course 24 July 2014

  By Me

  I played the Codrington course at the Players recently and was disappointed with the quality of the course. Having gone on the website and looked at the course overview i was expecting a much better course for the £36 green fee. There was no yardage planner booklet available to buy at the club house as this would have been very helpful for the first time visitor. The 3rd hole was not anything like as spectacular as i was expecting, it is just two decent shots over water and a number of holes between 4 and 9 were just straight and unimaginative. I would recommend the Bristol and Clifton or The Bristol where you can get a better challenge with a greater variety of testing shots and it is a lot cheaper.

• 4.5 out of 5 Golf For All 17 October 2012

  By Anonymous

   Fantastic main championship course with lots of great shots to be hit, great quality large undulating greens. A brilliant 9 hole par 3 practice course with water around the small but high quality greens, great fun but take extra balls with you!!  Finally a great shorter second 18 hole course with smaller  harder to hit greens than the main course but they have subtle and in some cases very unsubtle breaks on them (2nd green is a real fun puzzle).  Great course for beginners and good test for the better golfer too! .Friendly welcome in the clubhouse with good value basic golfers food on offer. Overall very worth a visit.  Outstanding value with the stay and play package we used. The hidden gem is the memorabilia on the walls all around the clubhouse - impressive stuff!

• 1.5 out of 5 a joke 02 October 2011

  By PETER O

  Played on a County Card on Friday 30th September 2011.  Tee-off time was booked for 8-06 but no staff available until 8-o'clock when a surly professional turned up; when asked where the first tee was, he just pointed over his shoulder. No catering available, couldn't even get a drink after we had finished.  What a joke!

• 2.5 out of 5 PLAYERS 03 April 2009

  By Meagain

  A nice course but the staff are truely awful very rude.  They got a pro who thinks he's it.  Thats why hes selling mars bars in the shop and WATCHING the golf on the tv.  Id take a trip to Machynys over Players any day.  No comparisons.

• 4 out of 5 Klaw 15 February 2009

  By klaw

  I played the course in October 2008 and loved it. Greens and fairways were in great condition. Food in the club house was spot on. Also played the par 3 Water Garden course, its a great laugh but be warned you may loose a few balls. Will definately return.

• 4.5 out of 5 The Players Club is Amazing 28 February 2008

  By xiiipaul

  I expected to be greeted with stuffiness at such highly rated club but what a suprise. Absolutely no airs or graces, its a golf club for golfers golf attire on the course but in the clubhouse jeans and trainers if you want! The course is an inland american style links with water on 14 holes and at 7600 yards off the back tees it is a monster. Howevewr we played the yellow tees but at 6400 yards that is the length of many clubs competition course, and this provided a wonderfully challenging game although still fair. Good shots rewarded, bad shots punished. Despite its length distance off the tee is not key, shot choice is tested throughout the round. The icing on the cake is the quality and design of the greens....wonderful for a bargain £35 with the 2 for 1 voucher. This is a must play course.

• 4.5 out of 5 WOW!! 21 August 2007

  By chris boulton

  what a courses long!! try it out the greens are awsome and fairways too its a must try trust me

• 4.5 out of 5 A Great test of golf but fun too!!! 20 August 2007

  By Anonymous

  From the moment my wife & myself walked into the Pro shop and were warmly greeted, I felt we would have a good day. The Pro was quick to point out the layout and features of the course and club house, which are excellent but not ostentatious. The course is a fairly open layout in an American style. It allows you room to swing your driver from the tees but you need to plot your approach into the greens. Having the course plan is essential if you are going to score well. There is a mixture of holes from one of the longest par 5s @ 638yds from the white tees (the championship tees are a further 60yds)to the 306yd dog leg par 4. Each hole is different and requires thought. Although the course on paper is long you do get a fair bit of run from the firm and well cut fairways. The greens are also firm but take a well struck ball and hold, they are quite undulating and laid with the finest grass enabling you to get the best from your short game. The round finished as it started with a great selecting of holes, the 15th par 5 @ 557yds with a huge pond and a green surrounded by 6 bunkers, the 16th par 3 with water all along the left, a short 305yd par 4 17th and a classic uphill medium par 4 18th. After our round and a tasty lunch in the club house we tried the Par 3 course, this has a selection of holes ranging from 57 to 109 yds. But don't be fooled by the distances. Each one has water in front of the green and behind it on some holes. The greens are small and require a full selection of short pitch shots. We found this great fun and a way to get rid of some of those old balls that hide at the bottom of every golf bag. A great days golf.

• 5 out of 5 STUNNING 20 June 2007

  By Anonymous

  I'd read some uncomplimentary reviews of the Players Club, so when my brother, a mate and myself visited, we were unsure what to expect. I'm glad to say that the drive into the course gave us some tantalising views of a number of holes and after a warm welcome in the Pro Shop and a warm up on the range, we headed to the 1st tee. We played the course from the whites, from where it measures 6847yds , but if you're a glutton for punishment, there are 3 further tee choices which take the course up to 7607yds. From the off, this course is a stern test and on a very windy day like we had, it's a real battle to put together a score. There are a number of holes with big carries over water, the stunning par 4 fourth hole has two of them and your ball striking skills are put under pressure before you even reach the large undulating greens. We walked off the course feeling almost relieved to have finished, but all in agreement that the course is a real belter. It was in superb condition from tee to green and offered superb facilities, including an excellent real grass driving range and excellent clubhouse. It's also great value for money at £35 on 2-fore-1's.