South Winchester Golf Club

Incredibly pompous staff, not accomadating to crown members, greens often sand covered however course generally drains well all year round.

Having heard mixed things about South Winchester, I was pleasantly surprised by what I personally thought was a better than average downland course (if anyone tries to tell you it's an inland links, simply explain there's no such thing and the term was only ever a marketing man's ploy to attract more visitors). I was particularly impressed by the collection of par 3's, although a little more variety in length wouldn't perhaps go amiss. It has to be said that some of the mounding was comically artificial but that's really just an issue of style (or lack of) rather than substance. To the credit of the greenkeeping staff, the grass running up to the fairway bunkers has been kept short, meaning that wayward shots actually find the sand instead of sitting in long grass short of the traps. Furthermore, as a fairly long course the fairways have, with a few worthy exceptions, been keep in proportion. Overall, for this sort of "everyman course," it's well worth bothering with, particularly if you can avoid paying the full price.

Another rather bland inland course from the Peter Alliss/Crown Golf school. Clearly quite busy, it should I suppose be congratulated for marketing itself well. I was invited to play it (as is often the case) as part of a 'meet and greet' work related affair. If you're visiting for free, take it for what it is. Don't think about bothering to playing here if you'll be expected to part with money. You'd do far better to visit Royal Winchester down the road.

Played today for the first time. Very impressed and the course was in great nick. Not all the bunkers were stony (and, trust me, I found a few of them!) Accuracy is the key here. The rough is brutal and the fairways pretty tight. I lost five balls, and not one in the water. It was busy so I didn't hang about too long to look for them but the thick rough made it a bit nasty. When you're in, you're in... The best holes for me were the 9th and 18th - back to the clubhouse and both uphill to the green over water on the second shot - and the gorgeous 15th - the signature hole which is a bit of a nerve shredder if you have a fade. I'll be back to play this course again. For sure.

Very nice course. Good Layout. can be testing with windy conditions. Excellent fairways and greens. Rough not to testing. Agree with last reviewer about stones in bunkers. very enjoyable round and will defo return.

First thing you notice is how busy the place is. The course is nicely laid out with some interesting holes, fairways are good and rough not too severe although greens are slightly on the disappointing side, quite slow with many indentations. Bunkers are not good at all, way too many stones in them. The two memorable holes are the 15th and 18th, the 15th requiring a good and accurate tee shot over water and the 18th a tricky second shot over water into the green. The 6th hole could be made tougher by placing a tee directly behind the pond rather than the side. This course is a good test for all golfers, friendly and relaxed, you're even allowed to wear jeans in the clubhouse!

Absolutely delightful course. The people, atmosphere and staff are bloody lovely; the best I have ever seen. Needs to be a little more testing in the way of water features-but I'm thrilled to announce that I own an aquatic engineering company and will only be too glad to help the club in exchange for life membership and a marks and spencers gift voucher!!

Played the course on a very windy Sunday afternoon with a member - quite busy ! Fairways absolutely spendid - pretty tight as well. Bunkers very well placed and deep - i.e. you need to be straight. Not too much rough - thin but deep! Greens tricky!! Excellent challenge for high teens handicapers. Splendid club house. Will certainly be coming back now I know what to expect!

Excellent links course. Narrow fairways, so you must be straight. Get in the heavy rough at your peril - you won't get out. I played off of the yellows which was tough enough. You need to be a low handicapper to play off of the whites as there are long carries over waist high rough.

My golf society had a super pre-Christmas event at South Winchester - despite a minor mistake with the booking Steve Wright's attitude of "the customer is always (w)right" was first-class. The clubhouse is delightful and intimate, though we couldn't make use of the outdoor decking overlooking the lake (it was December!). The course is maturing nicely and is one of the best courses of the 1990's hereabouts. Lying in a bowl and with just one stand of mature trees it can seem too open when approaching down the drive, but the sculpted "dunes" give some holes more of an enclosed feel. I warn people off many newish courses, but not South Winchester. I expect a free green fee (for four) when Steve reads this!