The Manor of Groves Hotel Golf and Country Club

Played Manor of Groves with a society of 24 with handicaps 6 to 28 on a Sunday Monday break in August. Hotel, staff, accommodation dinner and breakfast above average and very good vale for a short break. After dinner drinks in what was a reception area had no atmosphere but very comfortable. Breakfast in the Club house good and value for money. Practice net and small putting green only. Played off the yellow tees, not much further forward than the white’s on most holes. Greens were true quick and with the undulations were the protection for some of the short par four’s. There were some interesting holes short sharp tree lined dog legs very pretty and a number of bland longer holes were you could spray the ball about. Depending on ability the mid low handicapper will find you’re taking 4 Iron pitching wedge to the green on quit a number of holes. For the higher handicapper this course should present a challenge. Great for a mixed ability society’s better players may not find the challenge there after.

I have started playing here once/twice a month now that my son is a member. It took me a while to get to grips with the course; some long holes, especially the back nine, where you'll need a good drive; some holes are more about where you land your ball from the tee. Overall I find this a well presented course that you can score well on - but it can also bite you with a few errant shots. One minus point, there have been rounds when we have been considerably held up by slower moving groups, particularly from the fourth to the fourteenth holes.

I was in a four ball that played the Maor of Groves on a Saturday 10th March. We used 2fore1 vouchers which for Saturdays is unusual for golf clubs to accept. It was busy with both golfers and a wedding taking place at the Manor, but the starter did his best to get everyone off on time. The par 3 1st does not help speed things along so I would suggest tee offs are 10 minutes apart. The course is tough if you struggle to hit over 200 yards as there are many holes that have hazards at this distance and this is a problem for high handicappers. On busy days moving tee boxes a little forward would help the speed of play. That said, the rough has been cut since I last played here 2-3 years ago so fewer lost balls mean quicker play. A good test of golf and course management, but make sure you bring your 'A' game.

We played this course today and it was in very good condition - greens especially true although I had difficulty reading them. This is a course that has a lot of doglegs that need a tee shot of around 200 yards, so if you like to crash a driver off every tee, this course is not for you. however, if you like to play golf, and think a bit, you will probably enjoy it.

I played this course on a Sunday afternoon. Although you don't really need to book a tee time there were quite a few groups there to take advantage of the price of £15 for 18 holes after 3pm (on Saturdays it is £19 for a round after 3pm). However, despite the number of players, we went round at a good pace. The course weaves through woodland with trees left and right on all the holes, so position and accuracy off the tee is far more important than distance. If you don't hit the fairway, you're not going to have a shot to the green on most of the holes, because you'll either have a tree in the way, be in punishing rough or out of bounds. Having said that, nearly all the par 4s are reachable with two good iron shots as long as you keep your ball in play. The teeing areas were very well kept and the greens were immaculate, with many of them multi-tiered. The ball always ran smooth and true when you were putting. I'd definitely play here again. It's a real test of course management and is an absolute steal at £15.

I played this course for the first time this week. I thought it was in very good condition, and an excellent mix of holes. Staff were very friendly, 2 for 1 vouchers accepted . £28 for 2 players midweek excellent value. The greens were very good indeed, and most of the holes required careful thought and course management. I will certainly visit the course again. Peter Brooker (Handicap 23)

Visited the course on a golf break weekend and was most impressed. This is a very interesting and challenging course. It consists of 2 distinct parts. A short but extremely tight tree-lined section, which can wreck your round, followed by a longer but more open section. Anything off-target is very easily punished as rough is extremely thick and many mature tress. Don't be put off by what appear to be a number of short par 4s. Most of these are dog-legs with well protected greens. I can also speak highly of the hotel. Staff were friendly and the food was superb. Nice pool also.

Went on golf break playing this course twice. Not long but very tight with heavy rough (wet and tough to get out of) and trees. second nine opens out and is bit longer. With all the rain this spring the course was wet and greens slow but true but the course was in good condition and well managed by the contractors. Will look forward to return in drier conditions.

Played here today in their seniors open, apart the almost continuous rain, we really enjoyed the course. The food in the Hotel (all part of the cost of entry to the competition) was absolutely superb. There was some standing water on several paths, but it had rained over night so this was the likely cause. Playing off the whites, any shot off line was sure to find the rough, which was really tough to get out of. There are a lot of ditches reachable with a good drive and at this time of year the trees are heavy with thick foliage and again this can trap any wayward shot. There are good 150 & 100 yard marker posts, but the signage from green to the next tee could be better, good greens that held a ball well. Only one hole disappointed us, the ninth, which plays down along side the entrance road to the club, we considered this could be dangerous. But overall this is a tough but fair challenging golf course. We will certainly play in this event again next year.

As said before, Staff are the most helpful I experienced. I also do not understand why you have to pay so much for a course guide. i like this course especially the old part which weaves around the former homes grounds. Very tight this part of the course and close to the road but really good on the eye. The course was starting to get boggy and the three temp greens were in action which I believe should be advised before you pay your money. The greens which were out of action were some of the best as well and this is only October. Overall Nice course but will not return in the winter but will leave it until next summer as yes use the 241 voucher.

Played this course for the first time at the weekend and I must agree with comments about the friendliness of the staff. The middle section of the course is not so friendly to a golfer with a wayward shot. Some wonderful looking holes and tiered greens make this a serious challange for a high handicapper such as myself. My only critisism was course guides available for £3.50, why can't maps simply be printed onto scorecards like many other courses, fortunatly I was playing with friends who had used the course before but there was no indication to pin location and I do like to know where my ball is meant to be going.

Played here a couple of weeks ago using 2fore1 vouchers and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Course split into two real sections old and new. The old is very tight and short the new far more open and in some parts reminded me of Penha Longa in Portugal which is a wonderful course! Greens were some of the best I have played and were incredibly responsive. Amazing amount of wildlife too which pleased my playing partner. Members were very polite and the staff in the shop very pleasant. Recommended!

Plus points are:- Very friendly and excellent club house. The middle part of the course (old?)is quite attractive. The greens were fast and in especially good condition for the time of year. £12 green fee with 2 fore 1 voucher. Down side was that parts of the course, apart from the greens, were quite wet and muddy which was surprising as we have had one of the driest autumns on record and no rain for two weeks before playing. Some parts quite open and up and down. A challenging course, nevertheless and the 610 yard par 5 last daunting for the elderly or high handicapper!

i have played this course quite a few times,it is the best course in the area,a real challenge,if your slack of the tee this course will punish you,i recommend it to anyone.k peters essex

A course of real contrasts - 09 very short & tight old fashioned holes > 350 yard par 4 and 09 new style open holes . Greens in good shape - but the course seemed a bit disjointed with a sucssesion of Long Iron of the tee on Par 04's and then occasionally a longer open hole. Two par 05 here 585yards & 606 yards make the course play shorther that the total yardage suggest. In balance a reasonable course in good condition and worth a game if your passing - but not worth travelling miles too .

Having played this course some years ago, and being very disappointed I was not impressed when a friend said come play with us a few weeks ago. This course has changed, and is still changing. very challenging but rewarding, I felt good about my game, especially when I almost crossed the water. (We could see it this time). Was good .... we're joining the club. Go on give it a try!

One of the best courses I have played. A thinking man's course, you can not "boom" your way around. Very tight for about 13 holes then opens up and ends with a 610 yard 18th!

Not in very good condition, Manors is an old 9 plus a new 9, sadly the 2 do not match and makes for a strange round of golf tight at first then open then tight.