Stoke Albany Golf Club

I have visited occasionally, but today was my first round here for seven or eight years. I have always found Stoke Albany a pleasant course - nothing special, but surrounded by beautiful countryside with some lovely views. The welcome is always friendly although the clubhouse is basic. There always used to be a bar area but it appeared to be shut today, so maybe the operation has been scaled back a little. The course is not long at just under 6000 yards from the yellows. A lot of par 4's under 380 yards, keeping the ball in play is the order of the day. No need for driver on many holes, which are within range of a long iron and wedge/short iron. Some thoughtful bunkering and a number of water hazards mean that it is the approach which is the key shot here - if you're hitting your irons well it is possible to shoot good scores. The greens are largely true if a little slow. Condition wise the course needs a little TLC. It appears many of the bunkers have been re-sanded of late, but the tees are a bit of a mess. Several today were in dire need of a cut. Fairways are average. All in all at £20 this is really good value. Nothing special, but always a nice change, and a club I'll certainly be back to.

What a delightful course! Played with my society in wet January and impressed to find the course open and in great condition. Also pretty flat and easy on the legs meaning you can concentrate on your golf. Not long but cleverly designed with bunkers directly in front of many greens requiring good iron play - no scuffed shots ending up near the pin like many "resort" courses. Greens in turn are well contoured with some testing pin positions when we played. Holes 9, 10 and 11 make up Stoke's own Amen Corner. 9 requires an accurate tee shot (long hitters may need to keep the driver in the bag) followed by a testing approach over water. The par 5 10th is probably the signature hole - out of bounds right, water all the way down the left and those front greenside bunkers staring at you when you eventually play at the green! Through that and a similar threat stares at you on the Par 4 11th. The par 3's are a nice variety and not easy, the testing 17th threatens ruining a good score. Closing Par 4 18th also a clever hole - a birdie or a blob equally achievable. Very friendly staff and welcoming members. A great value society day out at any time and unbeatable for the winter. Never closes and the good drainage means no temporary greens. Thoroughly recommended - we will be back!

JULY 05' Delightful course easy on the legs! Not long but some tricky holes. The 10th cost me a 7, but playing off a slightly dodgy 18HC I shot a Gross 79!! equalling my best ever. Putting is a challenge but fair. Very well kept course and friendly. Will return.

Nice open new course. Some interesting holes. Shot a 94. Negotiated the notorious lake at 10 and 11 without a problem only to go in it twice playing the 16th. Very slopey greens. I three putted several times, alas this is nothing new.

A thoughtfully designed new course which was a joy to play. Made a mess of the front nine but came back in 37 including a birdie on the 10th (Difficult?, not if you avoid OOB right, bunkers and the lake all the way up the left....) for an 82. Friendly staff, fair price for a saturday, and no queuing at all-will definitely return.

I shot a 93 on the 25/6/2000 the course itself is in prime condition. I went out in 47 and came back in 46. I neogaited the diffult 10th with a 6 but then fell victim to the 11th with a 10. This was after putting 3 balls into the lake. I finished on a high though , paring the 14,15,16 and 18th and inches away from a hole in one on the 17th with a birdy 2. But overall well worth a visit. Beware of the 10th hole.

This is a well constructed relatively new course. It is mostly open but the 10th and 11th holes require accurate play. Some water hazards to contend with. It is well maintained and has some challenging slopey greens. Good clubhouse serving an excellent carvery on the day I played. Good value for money and well worth a visit.