Fairthorne Manor Golf Club

I only played the front 9 and as far as I'm aware these holes were built later than the back 9. I say built, more of 'old field mowed to differing heights'. But starting with the positive, it is set in lovely countryside and is well laid out. Some carefully planted trees give the odd challenge to the wayward swing and the occasional bunkers have been added to just the right spots. Now, coming back the the quality - there is work required here. The greens are some of the poorest I've seen and it does smack of someone wanting more holes on their golfcourse and saying "That field will do - Here, have a mower." The whole place is field grass with the only difference between the fairway and the green being the length. All the tees were springy wet-weather matts - no provision for anything else. The bunkers were sprouting weeds so I imagine someone just dug a hole and dumped in the sand, no rakes were provided either. I think given a few more years and some TLC it could be very nice - but it requires investment. On the way out we looked at the back 9 which looked much better established (I think it's been there much longer).