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Westridge Golf Centre (Isle of Wight)
by JJJJ
For a fairly small place (147 square miles), the Isle of Wight has its fair share of golf courses. So far I have taken a look at Ryde - the parkland course on the North-East coast, and 'Shanklin and Sandown' which is considered the Island's finest. This review takes a look at Westridge Golf Centre - perhaps regarded as the poorest ... nine-hole course, but featuring the best practice facilities.
The short course, which once consisted of only par 3's, has been extended - although some of the par 4's are only around 290 yards in length which means that the longer hitters will be able to drive them in one.
The best hole on the course is perhaps the second, which requires an accurate drive down a narrow tree-lined fairway. The Par 3 sixth is also noteworthy, as the tee shot takes you over a stretch of water onto a spacious green.
As I previously mentioned, Westridge Golf Centre has a wide range of practice facilities including a sixteen bay floodlit driving range which is over 300 yards in length, a practice bunker, and a large putting green.
There is a cafe / bar on the premises, although it's quite small and not particularly noteworthy.
The golf shop at Westridge is probably the largest on The Island, and features a good selection of clothing and equipment. The prices are fairly reasonable, and the shop is open seven days a week.
- Green Fees -
The course is deemed 'pay and play' which means you can just turn up and get a game without booking. This means that although you are likely to be guaranteed some golf, your round can be quite slow, as you can find yourself stuck behind a group of people who have not played the game before, and don't realise it's good etiquette to let faster players come on through.
The prices for a round are as follows -
9 Holes Weekdays - £12.50
9 Holes Weekend - £13.50
18 Holes Weekdays - £16.00
18 Holes Weekends - £17.00
The shop and practice facilities aside, Westridge is a fairly unremarkable golfing experience. Apart from a couple of decent holes, the course is unimaginatively landscaped and quite bland. This is most apparent with some of the holes where the players main view is of either the main road, or the huge Tesco Extra building which has recently been built. The course would definitely benefit from more trees being planted in order to mask the unattractive surroundings.
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Ryde Golf Club (Isle of Wight)
by JJJJ
'Ryde Golf Club' is a nine-hole parkland course situated on the north-east coast of the Isle of Wight. The course is fairly short at 5772 yards in length (par 70), yet it is more challenging than its limited distance suggests.
There are some fairly narrow holes - the 1st included, where it is easy to slice the ball out of ... bounds over the tall trees on the right. The highlight of the course is probably the short par three 7th, which involves playing over a valley with a stream, up to a small raised green. The 8th sees the player hitting back across the water up the hill to a tricky par 4.
The clubhouse at Ryde provides an adequate bar, and average food - although the interior looks quite dated and could do with a bit of a make-over.
In terms of the condition of the course, the greens are usually well kept, and the fairways are in good condition. At peak times there will be a few divots scattered around the place, but nothing out of the ordinary.
One of the main criticisms of the course is how easy it floods - It takes only a small amount of rain to see huge puddles forming across fairways and greens. This is due to the fact that it is constructed on clay rather than sand like Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club, which is located on the south-east coast.
On weekdays, Ryde costs £15.00 to play, whilst at weekends and bank holidays, it's £18.00. There are concessions however for members of other Island golf clubs.
Ryde Golf Club features limited practice facilities in the form of a couple of nets and a fairly good putting green. There isn't a pro-shop though, which is a bit of a shame, as it used to have one in the past.
In conclusion, Ryde is a nice looking course which is great to play on a sunny day. The setting is tranquil, and some of the holes will test the advanced golfer, as well as being suitable for a beginner. It's also a good place to check out the local wildlife if that's your thing - you'll often see red squirrels, herons and woodpeckers going about their business during the summer months. That said, if it's pouring down, I would give this one a miss.
01983 614809
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Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club
by JJJJ
'Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club' is an eighteen hole links course situated on the south-east coast of the Isle of Wight. The club is arguably the Island's best course, and features spectacular views across the countryside from the holes which feature raised tees.
The course isn't too long (6062 yards from white tees), but it ... is fairly difficult, with some fairways being narrow and tree-lined in their design. Many holes are flat, whilst others are located in gently sloping valleys which helps to add variety to the golfing experience. The greens at Shanklin and Sandown are generally of good quality, although they can get a bit slow during winter months
The Clubhouse includes a bar and has full catering and dining facilities. It also houses a snooker table, and drinks can be consumed on the balcony overlooking the Par 3 9th which features a carp-filled pond.
Membership of the club for men and women costs £653 per year, whilst the fees for a full time student comes to £229.00. Although £653 sounds like a lot of money, it's actually cheap when compared to the membership of some inferior mainland clubs I have played at, which charge in excess of £1000 for the year.
During the week, a round (18 holes) will cost £32, but this figure decreases to £16 if you are a member of another Island golf club. The weekend price is £40 on a (Saturday or Sunday), and junior members (under 18) pay only £14.
The club houses a well stocked pro-shop which is run by PGA Qualified Golf Professional Peter Hammond. As well as selling a wide variety of golf equipment, Peter also offers lessons starting at £15 for a half-hour session.
Overall, Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club is a challenging course which will suit a variety of players from the novice right through to the seasoned golfer. In combination with the range of facilities which the club offers, I thoroughly recommend visiting Shanklin & Sandown for a round of golf.
For more information see: www.ssgolfclub.com
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