Another Walk Spoiled (Kingsway Golf Course, Linconshire)

Member Name: DavidJWest

Product:	Kingsway Golf Course, Linconshire
Date:	05/03/02 (145 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, Good for beginners

Disadvantages: Only 9 holes, No par 5's

I have grown quite attached to this piece of grassy and wooded field as I used to play golf here from an early age. Well as attached as you can get to a golf course. If you would like to have a look for yourself then go to www.getmapping.com and type in the postcode DN15 7ER. See how green it is?

I lived just around the corner from here, and regularly explored the course, finding golf balls to sell to my dad and other grown ups who would play the silly game.

Then, after caddying for my dad a couple of times, he paid for me to have golf lessons from the resident pro Chris Mann.

It wasn't cheap from what I remember but I learned some useful tips over the 4 or 5 lessons I had and they help me in my game even today, poor as it is.

This course is owned by the local council so it isn't the best course on earth but respectable enough.

After driving into the grounds you park your vehicle in the ample car park and proceed to the small club-house. There are a few snacks and beverages to be had, no alcohol or food but there is a decent pub just down the road if you need more sustenance before setting off on your round.

Green fees are cheap, under four pounds even at weekends, I advise playing during weekdays if you can as it gets very busy, as do most courses today. Before teeing off on the first you do get to practise on the putting green, there is no driving range as such, just a piece of unused field between the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th holes.

The course is generally flat with a few trees here and there and very sheltered and secluded with embankments on three sides and trees on the other.

The first tee is quite open with a medium length 160 yard par three. It's deceptive though with a steeply raised green, you really need a couple of clubs more than you think to reach it. Don't worry about going long here as the back of the green slopes up steeply. The left hand side is not the pla
ce to be though with deep rough and trees, the right is more forgiving!

The second hole is slightly longer but very steep uphill meaning you need a very good tee shot to reach the green. A thickly wooded area means you should avoid pushing the ball to the right and there is also a bunker protecting this side of the green. It is a leap of faith aiming at the flag as you often can't see it due to the slope, the green itself being flat.

At the top of the hill which I reckon is around 200 feet high, you should look back and enjoy the poanoramic view of the rest of the course. You can see as far as York Minster from here on a clear day.

Onto the third after a scramble down the hillside through the previously mentioned thicket. The third is long, a 200 yard par three with a slight dog-leg to the right as a line of hawthorn bushes sticks out onto the fairway. Not all that hard a hole if you get hold of the tee shot, a wood is recommended here.

The fourth is a short par three at around 140 yards but look out for the bunkers guarding both sides of the green. Careful not to overhit your shot as you will end up in the embankment at the back of the green, out of bounds, sorry try again!

The fifth next, most daunting hole as it is the longest at 375 yards and a par four. Invariably you will be teeing off into a stiff breeze here, wide fairway but a nasty dyke around 220 yards to watch out for. This hole is also prone to flooding so careful in wet weather.

Approaching the green you just need to avoid a small bunker to the right of the green, other than that it's simple.

The 6th hole used to be a par four 270 yards but they shortened it to a tough 225 yard par three, I find it tough anyway! There is a very big bunker on the left and the green feels very small as thick woodland hems it in.

The next hole is my favourite, a short 120 yard par three is the 7th. The fairway is perilously narrow
though with massive pine trees on either side, you must be straight here. The green is also very narrow and stepped, a big bunker down the entire right side here so be careful. Also watch out for small boys running onto the green and nicking your balls, not me honest!

The 8th can be tricky, the tee shot is key but very demanding. From the tee you will see a small gap but you should aim over the tall tree to get the correct line into the hole. A 280 yard par 4 it is easy if you get a decent tee shot.

Just look out for the large buker on the right of the greem, if your tee shot is a bit pushy then you may have to come in over this crater.

Finally the 9th hole, a nice looking par three of an average 170 yards, a well-struck 3 iron should see you on the green but there is a small copse on the right to watch for and a ditch going near to the fairway on the left. Look out for squirrels around this area too, I have yet to have a ball stolen by one, if you watched Caddy Shack you will know what I mean!

Overall a course which is good for beginners but is tricky to play to par with the number of moderately difficult par 3's. It's a par 29 but I have yet to beat 40, despite 20 years of trying! Not in brilliant condition, the greens are OK but can be very fast in dry weather, definitely practice your putting before playing.

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