Orsett Golf Club

We played this course last Wednesday as a 4-ball in very windy conditions and took advantage of the 'Winter Warmer' offer - £30 per player including 'light lunch'. An excellent day. The course was in very good condition and the greens quite quick. Also, there was a lot of run on the fairways which helped when using long irons into the wind. I found that there was a strange metamorphasis after the 13th hole. The course changed from a heathland type to a parkland set-up - all very good, but seemed a bit odd. This didn't detract from our pleasure, but just semed odd! The reception that we had was excellent (the staff in the pro-shop were very helpful) and the members and catering staff nice to us too. As for the 'light lunch', the burgers were heavyweight.

Play this course in the summer from the back tees and it is...... difficult. This is an Open Qualifying Course and when it is set up for this come July, the rough is penal to say the least. For anyone scared of water you will be relieved to know that there isn't any, the course having a links feel to it. Couple the wind with the rough and you have the ingredients of hell for the likes of us mortal golfers. The course is laid on sand, so the drainage is superb and it is seldom closed, even for the worst of the winter weather. The stroke index 1 is the 9th, although I feel the 17th is the hardest hole, two big hits are required to get to the roller-coaster green. With the rough cut down and from the forward tees,it doesn't play anywhere near as hard, but it is always in excellent condition.