Brickendon Grange Golf Club

We played here as a small Society and were well looked after by a Course Marshal who explained the various bells that would have to be rung when going round the undulating 6100 yard course from the yellow tees. It was in very good condition and the greens extremely fast with slopes and borrows to challenge the most expert golfers. When one got used to it, a good drive followed by a links style bounce and run well before the green would be the best way to achieve a reasonable score. The opening six holes are interesting but unremarkable and are then followed by a number of holes where carefully thought through iron shots from the tee are necessary to achieve the best position to attack the green. The closing holes are very much longer and require a well struck drive on undulating terrain and careful thought on the approach to the green. I did enjoy the round and would enjoy returning to play it again given the knowledge now gained! The food for our evening meal was very nice indeed and served in a stylish and elegant private room.

The course is well maintained, tidy fairways and smooth rolling greens. A good test of all round ability but from a personal point of view there are too many holes where a iron is used off the tee either because of short dog-legs, ponds or drainage ditches. Probably a great course for ladies and short/straight hitters.

Lovely course, tucked away in the middle of nowhere really in the Hertfordshire countryside, yet close enough to the M25 and M1 for it to be reachable. The finish is really tough, a long par 4 (one of the best holes in the area, according to the members) and an uphill par 3 18th. Generally, the club were very hospitable to our society and the greens are terrific at the moment, really quick but true and good for scoring if you putt well.

Played the course twice recently. Excellent condition and great variety of holes. Birdied the 17th on my last visit having double bogied on my first round at the club. Drainage has improved hugely over the last few years. Staff very friendly and helpful. However, whilst on the course we were told to get a move on by some stuffy members who were around 4 holes behind us. When they saw us, we were on a par 3 and had been waiting for the group in front to leave the green. When we tried to explain that we were not playing slowly we endured more abuse. I'm sure they felt they could get away with this as they saw our visitors tickets on the bags as I would have imagined that if a member had been subjected to this there would have action taken against them. On the prior visit to the club we actually had balls hit over our heads by a two-ball who decided to play through without any warning. Our club go on tri-annual golf days and had Brickendon pencilled in. We will not be reccomending the course to anyone unless the members themselves are playing another course that day! A real shame as the club could be an excellent venue but for the idiot members.

Played this course on a lovely spring day in late March 2004, have to say i thoroughly enjoyed it. Some cracking par fours and fives, many of which dog leg or have steep elevations. Only downfull would be the drainage, in some places it was still quite heavy under foot even though it hadn't rained in the area for over a week! That being said i would definately recommend a round of golf here if you are in the area. Carl J

I played this course a few weeks ago and although it was enjoyable, it was let down by the drainage. It was a complete bog. Probably o.k. in the summer though.

Played this course last Friday on a hot summers afternoon, so it was not surprising the course was busy. However this didn't stop us enjoying a very pleasant course with the best & fastest greens I've ever played. Its not a big hitters course, its all about your approach to the green and getting the ball to stick! The 17th is a beauty, followed by a short 18th with the bar in sight from the tee. Definitely recommend this course if you're happy to pay £28 midweek, though the members let the side down - come on guys try to be a bit more welcoming as I'm sure the visitors fees help you keep the greens in such good condition.

A description of the holes, if your interested .... 1st (Bayford View) 476 yards - Par 5 All the trouble is down the right hand side. Keep the ball left and this should be an easy par. Two good shots can get you fairly close as the last 130 yards is downhill to the green. 2nd (Blackfan Rise) 325 yards - Par 4 Again trouble on the right. Aim left and the natural contour will bring the ball back to the centre. A mid to short iron is then required to an elevated green. 3rd (Fanshaws) 295 yards - Par 4 Big hitters can get very close to this green. Although a good positional shot will still leave a short iron - A good birdie chance (tricky green though) ! 4th (The Rookery) 394 yards - Par 4 Tough - Even a big drive will leave a mid to long iron to the green. Up hill all the way - Any points gained on this SI 1 hole are greatfully received. 5th (Captains Drive) 352 yards - Par 4 A thinkers hole - The tee shot should be about 200 yards straight, this will then leave a mid iron over the pond and Oak to a small green. OOB left and right - watch out ! 6th (The Tower) - 177 yards - Par 3 The first par 3 and pretty straight forward. Start to get your par 3 points here as the subsequent par 3's are not as easy as this hole. 7th (Nobles Fade) - 359 yards - Par 4 As the hole name indicates, a big fade is the shot here, but watch out for the OOB all down the right. A nice hole (if you get your drive away). 8th (Crook) - 304 yards - Par 4 Get your thinking caps on again - Drivers not required - A long iron from the tee (trees and pond on the left) will leave a short iron. Birdie time again ! 9th (Juniper) 160 yards - Par 3 Mid iron to a well protected green which is considerably wider than it is in length. Get one to stay on the green and you should be well happy. 10th (Firs Dip) 323 yards - Par 4 The longer the drive the better here - Bigger hitters should be able to clear the 'dip' and see the green for the second shot. If your in the dip, although with only about 140 to go, you will not be able to see the green. Par is a very good score on the 10th. 11th (Moorhens) 188 yards - Par 3 Mid to long iron - avoid going left and a couple of points should be the order of the day. 12th (Cottons Choice) 377 yards - Par 4 A good driving hole - but do not go too far right as if you do, you will put a lot of trouble between you and the green. 13th (Langwhang) - 514 yards - Par 5 As the name states, this is the longest hole on the course. The hardest shot is probably from the tee and gaining the best position to start getting closer to the green. Get one away well and there are definate birdie chances here. 14th (White Stubbs) - 364 yards - Par 4 A chance to have a big swipe at the ball from the tee - plenty of room - not an easy green to hit though (pond left, trees right) - Par is a very good score. 15th (High Tess) - 470 yards - Par 5 The last serious birdie chance on the course. Keep the ball straight and you will be close to the green in two. 16th (Aldenham) - 401 yards - Par 4 Uphill, slight dogleg left, with trouble on the left also. To score here, stay on the fairway at all costs - Not many get on in two. 17th (Ace of Herts) - 405 yards - Par 4 'The Hole' - OOB left, OOB right, narrow fairway - other than that, this an easy drive ! When you eventually get 150 from the green, (whether from your drive, second or even your third) you need a mid to short iron over the trees and pond to an elevated green. The SI of 5 does not reflect how tough this is. 18th (The Grange) - 160 yards - Par 3 Fairly straight forward hole, but you cannot see the green from the tee as this is another uphill - Many a good round have come a cropper here at the last.

Played there a twice with the Cypriot Society & playing there on the 13th April '00. Course is always in fantastic shape, it's a course that makes you think, use all your golf clubs and have to draw & fade the ball. The 17th is an absolute beauty of a hole to play, and when you see your partners trolley, roll into the lake !! can be somewhat amusing too. Members & staff, I found very pleasant and friendly when come into contact. Don't go there enough to sample the club atmosphere and therefore comment on the social issue. Only REAL critism, is lunch on society days consists of fried eggs, fried ham & chips !! Hardly the ideal food to set you up for the afternoon round

Brickendon is an excellent course with many varying holes including Juniper a hole which features a tight par 3 overlooking the only (apparently) growing Juniper tree in this country although quite deeply wooded it is a fair course and thanks to excellent new greenstaff, Winter waterlogging is now not a problem.\r\nMembers are discerning and will constantly remind you of etiquette. They like to rush round as well which can be off putting and anyone with a 5 day membership will find it hard to play competition golf or with other members (Social aspect poor). Membership waiting time Av. 1 year