Chesterton Valley Golf Club

I have been a member here just over 12 months and the course is in the best condition I have seen in this time. Took friends from another course Enville and if anyone has played Enville will know how good both courses are and commented that the greens were better at Chesterton, I know this is not always the case and the sand in the bunkers could be better but if you have not played the course recently get out there and for £16 mid week and £18 weekends you won't be disappointed.

Just love this course, played it several times over the last few years Quite short - at about 5500 yards off the yellow tees but that suits my game. Greens and Fairways always appear in excellent condition and the course is never usually too busy. There seems to be an ongoing programme of improvements happening, not that there is any wrong in my opinion. Course sits on sandstone so drains excellently. It really is a course of two halves, the first nine, with the exception of hole 1, is relatively flat, with the back nine very hilly as one plays back and forth across the valley. Last time I played, early morning mid week, the pro suggested I start on the back 9 to avoid a group that had started - I had the entire back 9 in front of me all to myself - fabulous. I actually prefer playing the back 9 first as it means you tackle the hilly bits when you have a bit more energy. The club house is quite tiny and whilst it has a bar it only offers pre-packed sandwiches and pasties for food. I notice on the score-card that the artists sketch of the clubhouse is somewhat extended, so maybe they have plans for the future. Club website doesn't really sell what a wonderful little gem of a course this is. Wish they did proper membership (full 7/5 day membership) rather than the type they do offer which is where you pay about £100 a year and get about £3 off a round.

Played in a Society event at Chesterton Valley yesterday, and must say how much I enjoyed the course and the day. The course is pretty short, but that has its own challenges, especially on a few dog-legs. The greens played really well and seemed pretty constant paced. Some of the bunkers had more sand than others, but tough luck if you don't like that, stay out of them :-) Some of the tee boxes were rather hard and getting the peg in difficult, but it was a baking hot day, and if that was my biggest gripe it says a lot. There isn't any proper catering at the course, but there is a great little pub (The Folley) just down the road which does lovely grub. The drinks at the club are well priced and nice and refreshing after completing the tricky 18th (keep to the right of the fairway) Would I go back, too true I will, I may even try to get there again later this year, despite being 100 miles from my home.

As previously mentioned by other players', this course wouldn't be deemed overly difficult for the more advanced golfer. However this course is still suitable for all abilities as it is a delightful course to play on. I played this course late october 09, and for the time of year the course was in a magnificent state. I was shocked by the firmness underfoot which you must credit to the drainage they have at Chesterton. Greens and fairways were impeccable, friendly faces all the way round the course and for the price of £15.50 you will not get a better deal anywhere in the region.

I love this course! Yes - it is not the most challenging in the world - but who wants to play the Belfry every week? Yes - it could be longer and play harder Yes - it could have more adeqaute facilities. However - it allows me to play 18 holes in 3.5 - 4hrs dependant on other players, and have a decent pint afterwards. It is always playable even in the most horrendous weather, I have played through thunderstorms, hail and snow. But the best thing about this course by far is the playability of it. If you play really well you can go round even par. However as with every other course, if you make a mistake, slice it, choose the wrong club, etc, you are in trouble. The team at the course are friendly, they are improving the standard of the greens (although they were good before) and making them smaller and more difficult to play into. A couple of the par 3's are very challenging and as difficult as I have seen on much more expensive courses. In short - in life you tend to get what you pay for, on this course you get a whole lot more.

Only completed the 18 at Chesterton less than 2 hours ago but had to add my views . This course is in close proximity to Shifnal, Worfield and Patshull Park and is the cheapest to play of the four but is certainly a little gem. £15.50 for a midweek green fee is great value for a course in such great condition. A par 3 opener over a valley kicks off the front 9 as the course winds round the Shropshire countryside. The recent heavy downpours did not affect the course except for one puddle in a bunker on the 18th - a testament to the course's drainage. Some cleverly placed bunkers really make you plan your way round and helps to compensate for the shorter yardage of the course compared to most (5500 yards off the yellows). The course has four par 5's - the longest being 444 yds - and five par 3's including back to back par 3's on holes 16 and 17. It is a very hilly course - we were held up on the back 9 by a fourball but were almost glad to have the delay to help catch our breath inbetween holes. My dad and I loved it and will certainly play here again

Been a member here for 4 years now im not a very good golfer just really enjoy he game ,ts run by a friendly bunch and ll members are a joy to play a round of golf with have made many good friends since i,ve been playing in the comps and the course is being improved on a regular basis so if you everget the chance get down there and play it you won,t be disappointed

Played the course in November. The course is very pretty & due to the steep gradients drains superbly. If you need a confidence boost on your golf play here. By far the easiest course I have played. O.A.P's are a plenty on this course. Very slow play. The par 5's are really par 4's. 3 of the par 4's should be par 3's. Par for the course should be 66, not 71!!! Car park is a dirt track - 'clubhouse' very average.

I played this course almost by accident following a diversion to my intended route which took me close to the course. Having established that £15.50 was the fee for a round I felt this was worthwhile. There had been plenty of rain preceding my visit but the "official" description of the course as draining well was a little optimistic. There does seem to be a real problem with their concept of a par 5 since even from the back tees only 1 of those so described is over 465 yards and from the yellow tees all measure less then 450 yards. Unusually there is no indication of a SSS on the card. A great deal of effort has clearly been put into the changes from the original 9 hole layout and with a more realistic assessment of the appropriate par figures there would be 6 par 4's over 400 yards which would be a challenge. The greens are extremely large so the owners have a deal with a local supplier of fertiliser to maintain their condition which was commendable. Perhaps because of the recent weather or maybe because the green staff are sadists I shall probably remember the course best for a couple of pin positions which required my ball to defy gravity. This course does not pretend to be a particularly challenging layout but for the amount charged is good value. The professional was happy for me to play from whichever tees I wished which as a visitor is always greatly appreciated.

I play this course quite regularly and it's well worth the green fee. Not long, but quite challenging, and the course is usually in great condition. Clubhouse could do with being a little bigger though, and i can't help feeling that if proper catering were available it would be even more popular. But all in all, a little gem!

Played the front nine 12/12/07 and really enjoyed it. excellent drainage no temp tees or greens. For novices (started playing 3 months ago) like ourselves the tee off on the first (across a valley) was a little scary, the rest of the front nine was nice and challenging, after speaking to other vaslty more experienced first time visitors in the club house after, they also agreed that it is an excellent course for all abilities. The following week returned to play the back nine, even harder, but just as enjoyable. you can tell how good the gound is as the golf carts are still wizzing round. Cant wait to play all 18 inone go, (wife permitting). all this for only £16 per round, Would recomend this course to anyone.

Having played Chesterton Valley for the first time almost a decade ago I thought it only fair I go back and give it another shot. This I did for the princely sum of £15.50 found myself asking, 'do I really like this course?'. The course of old has been banished to distant memory with only the 'scars' of previous teeing grounds apparent, cut into the hillsides and the odd raised tee within a present fairway or old green location. I'm not sure when the course was re-routed but given that many of the trees that have been planted to separate the fairways are now no longer saplings I'll hazard a guess it been a fair while. From what I can remember of the old layout the alterations to it have been in the most very successful, and it felt have served to reduce the need to traverse the valley the course lies within and gets its name, quite a bit - don't get me wrong, there are some steep climbs and the £15 charge for a buggy at times seemed like it should be a no-brainer - however many of these ascents are present within the latter part of the back nine and shouldn't pose a threat of bringing on cardiac arrest. The real reason for that is that the course is short, really short with a par score that flatters you into believing you've played sometimes better than you actually have. For instance I like the idea of having at least one hole on a course that allows you to open your shoulders and go for the green. Did I say one? Ok maybe two. Chesterton gives you not one or two or even three opportunities but an amazing five chances of driving the green with holes #2, #5, #6 (would've been better as a long par three), #10 and #13 offering up the possibility of birdie or better. Ok, so the card says #5 is 342yds from the yellows but I can only assume that is measured to the corner of the dogleg and then into the green - cut out the dogleg and hey presto you've knocked 40 or 50 yards off the hole distance. Obvious yes but there are too many occassions where in order to glean a few extra yards, whoever it was that was charged with measuring the course must've stretched the limits of where the dogleg apex should be. You then get to the par fives - four in total - erm well actually no, only one of any real merit as a par five and that is #15 which for some reason seemed shorter than when I'd played it all those years ago. #11 is a probable only due to the uphill approach to a green which reminded me a little of the 'Himalaya's' at St Andrews such was the severity of the undulations. If anything the par threes make the course with all of them requiring a dose of respect, particularly #12 for its drop offs around the green and #16 for the interesting feature of a wall of cut down 'telegraph' poles in front of the green and an awsome green which needs you to find the right portion or you're definately in three putt territory. It's the heavily undulating greens here that make the course, requiring you to take time over your putt's line and weight. Don't expect lighting fast greens however as too high a measure on the stimpmeter would make them almost unplayable. At time of playing they were showing some signs of distress with what seemed like fusarium taking hold in places, and whilst a majority were running true some were so spongy that getting a decent run was nigh on impossible. The fairways were well kept and very W-I-D-E and the bunkers seemed as though they'd recently been re-filled with sand - some could've done with some maintenance as the faces were shot. The tees unfortunately were very poor and seemed 'washed out' when compared with the rest of the course. My favourite hole would probably be #17, a lovely picturesque par three, framed by pines and four bunkers which foreshorten the hole. The clubhouse whilst basic offers enough to rejuvinate you after a round and it would appear from the scorecard that plans are afoot to extend it into something very impressive. So in answer to my initial question, yes I do like the course. It offers an opportunity to boost your confidence and shoot a good score, but I'd prefer it if it was truer to itself and had a more realistic par of 67 and not 71.

Had best round fo golf around this course.I have only been playing for 6 months and hit 97.This course is good value for money and great place to play.

This course in an absolute gem, plenty of character, a good mix of par's, great scenery and in super condition. Some hole are very very hilly but don't let this put you off as the course is relatively short aprox 5600yrds off the yellows (seems a lot longer). This is the one of the best golf courses in the Midlands / staffs / shropshire. Go play and enjoy

PLAYED 16/11/05 COURSE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION NO MUD AS DRAINS VERY WELL, ONLY A SHORT COURSE AND VERY EASY AS LONG AS YOU DONT STRAY OFF FAIRWAYS YOU SHOULD HAVE A GOOD SCORE AROUND THIS ONE ALAN (WALSALL)

After playing this course several times over the last 12 months i think they have nearly got the cousre where they want it i think this course is quality i.e Fairways and greens, the main bonus to this course is that juniors play free with 2 adults which is great so paying £17 and encouraging your kids to play is great,we all know this sport can be very exspensive for parents but this course i say play it. No slow play on here. No idiots shouting or wrecking the greens all players here respect the course 100%

Played the course on 12th April 2005 for the Banks Bitter Bowl along with many like minded golfers and a very odd assortment of "PRO'S".Alas my score was nothing to brag about! The Course was obviously presented in its Sunday Best and although two newly laid Greens had not quite knitted correctly it could not be faulted,all Fairways and Greens where of a very good standard and you could tell that somebody cares.It is a very interesting course with many holes that cause the average golfer to at least take time to think, and whilst doing so admire the views down the Valley. As mentioned in previous comments the Clubhouse is not what you would call grand but is adequate but would really benefit from some proper catering.(Don't we all want a Bacon Buttie before teeing off? and a bowl of chips afterwards). Anyway after seeing some of the adverse comments on the site from 12 to 18 months ago I thought somebody ought to put the record straight as well as thanking the organisers of the B.B.B. for all there hard work,I had a really nice day out and would be happy to recommend the course to anyone.

The course was not of the standard of last year. The fairways and greens were so dry. An example being of bouncing a golf ball by hand and the ball bouncing well above head height. The course design is really good, but the maintenance is not. I will not be in a hurry to play the course again.

PLAYED ON THE 4/12 AND THE 5/12/2003.FOUND THE COURSE TO BE SHORT BUT STILL VERY TESTING, SOME GREAT HOLES AND THE GREENS WERE IN SUPERB CONDITION.ONLY A COUPLE OF THINGS TO MENTION THAT WE FOUND 1)CLUB HOUSE WAS QUITE SMALL. 2)NO BALL WASHERS ON EACH HOLE ( TIME OF YEAR THE BALL WAS REALLY DIRTY ) 3)NEED LITTER BINS ON EACH HOLE . OVER ALL WE HAD 2 GREAT DAYS THERE AND WOULD RECOMMEND THIS COURSE TO ANYONE TO TRY.A BIG WELL DONE TO THE GREEN STAFF FOR KEPING THE GREENS IN TOP CONDITION

I thought it was a very good value course that is challenging on some holes. Hilly but not that long. Brilliant course in whatever weather and a lovely welcoming clubhouse.

A great course to play, not too long but the green and fairways were kept in very good nic. Not too many testing holes on the course if you hit the ball straight, if you don't you are in trouble. A nice little club house which was very welcoming, overlooking the 18th green.

Visited the course on Monday 19th May, after immense amounts of rain, drained superbly with no surface water and the fairways and greens were in fantastic conditions, one of my favourite holes is the 18th which as a junior is very testing, forget woods on this course accurate irons is the way to a good score, a lovely course so close to home and one that I am sure we hold more rounds from me in the years to come. A great course and a great challenge for myself as a 16 year old.

found it a very short course with fairway bunkers very deep a very hilly course quite challengeing for its size not bad for a new course found the 17 diserpointing tho needs something done to it as i did a pitch and roll with a 7 iron and nearly hole in one it but not a bad place

A great little course that is definately worth a visit. It is not overly long, but will test all facets of your game. The greens are large and were in excellent condition when I played and by all accounts putt well all year round. There are several memorable holes, the Par 4 3rd, Par 3 13th, Par 4 14th and Par 5 15th are the best. The Par 3's are all decent holes, whereas each of the Par 5's are reachable in two providing you find the fairway. Good value at £14 for the round.

One of the best young courses I have played. Not a particuarly long course, but enough problems to cause you think on every shot. Extremely large greens,and well cultivated rough. Nice clubhouse. Could do with being slightlly larger, but overall a great course, with friendly staff