Type of course? Heathland

Pleasant staff? Very nice

Best hole? 6th par 3. Oh the frisson of excitement as you decide to take on the lake.

Après golf? Frites kindly donated by another competitor friend as we’d forgotten to order. Delicious.

Nice round? It was a County competition and it poured from beginning to end. It was like the end of times. We were soaked to the bone after two holes. It was great.

Special memory? Seeing the group in front of us and the group behind us quit at the same time.

Must play again? Absolutely. Even in horrendous conditions, it was obvious it’s a fantastic, varied course. Hopefully next year.

Type of course? Difficult big girl heathland course

Pleasant staff? Very nice chatty starter

Best hole? None stood out. They’re all great/horrible.

Après golf? Quick drink outside before our round, and then we just wanted to go as the clubhouse isn’t particularly inviting.

Nice round? It’s a very tough, busy course, so there was a lot of waiting around for the chaps in front to find their balls in the heather and that’s enough to put me off a course.

Special memory? On the 18th par 5, yelling at the group behind us who teed off while we were waiting for the group in front to play their shots and just missing us. And then being yelled at by the group in front, as we didn’t expect my second shot to get on the green while they were still on there.

Must play again? No. The course is great, but it’s just too punishing for 12 handicappers.

Type of course? Parkland

Pleasant staff? We didn’t really deal with anyone – the electricity was off, so we were told to tee off whenever we could and the alarm was screaming as we finished, so we went home.

Best hole? I really liked the 9th par 5, up and down with a stream at the bottom. Probably because it was more typical of a downland course.

Après golf? We fled the alarm, sadly. It would have been nice to see if the clubhouse was more attractive inside than outside (see photo).

Nice round? It was very hot and I lost the will to live from holes 10 to 12. Charlotte played a stonker (40 points). 

Special memory? Hitting the pin with my chip on hole 14 for an almost-eagle, leaving me with a tap in for birdie. And my faith in golf was restored.

Must play again? Although it’s a parkland course, there are some great holes on this course that I’d love to play again – especially on the back 9.

Type of course? Downland/parkland Peak District-stylee

Pleasant staff? Yes

Best hole? I loved the SI 18 5th. It’s a short downhill par 4 with a dogleg left, so it’s all about picking the right line and you might end up very close to the green. We went too far right with our drive and underestimated the roll (or overestimated our ability to get the ball to stick) with our approach shot and both ended up in the mess at the back. The kind of hole you’d love to play again to get it right.

Après golf? Avant golf was two MASSIVE sausages in a medium size roll in the disappointingly soulless clubhouse.

Nice round? A bit slow for my liking as we got stuck behind a fourball from the 7th, but at least there was enough shade to keep us cool on the hottest day of the year.

Special memory? Walking up the fairway on the 15th and seeing what looked like dunes – on closer inspection it was just little mounds with tufty grass, but all of a sudden if felt like we were on a links course. Also an excellent strategic hole.

Must play again? Yes. The course is quirky, very varied, a lot of fun, with beautiful views and so lush for this time of year!

Type of course? Parkland
Pleasant staff? Very
Best hole? The 5th par 5. It’s quite short at 439 yards, but there is water on both sides and the entrance to the green is extremely narrow, with a long bunker on the left. You really have to plot your way carefully. I escaped with a 6 for 2.
Après golf? A socially distanced drink on the outside terrace with our playing partners.
Nice round? It was a County competition and I played my little socks off – 5th best score out of 68 players, so yes. And it was great to play in a competition away from my home course for the first time in 10 months, all my regular Opens and other competitions having been cancelled in 2020 because of Covid-19.
Special memory? Losing my ball in a ditch on the first hole with an over ambitious second shot, when I had decided beforehand that I would definitely, definitely play safe and lay up.
Must play again? No. It’s a remarkably unremarkable course.