Stuff the stuff shirts, let's get out with the hoi polloi and give it up 
for the best municipal in Britain.

I suppose we have to discount courses St Andrew's at the outset but in 
the Leeds area we have a couple of classics. None more so that City of 
Wakefield, at Lupset.

Built around a country mansion, established in the 30s it has a great 
layout and at 6319 off the whites is nothing to be sniffed at.

The layout tests all parts of the game with tee shots towards fairways 
going right to left, left to right and straight. Many a hole has tricky 
established trees and bushes which catch out an off line shot but has 
generous fairways and reasonable rough to keep the games moving on.

Two par 4s over 400 yards and three par 5s over 500 (including one at 
575 with a cheeky ditch to test a good 2nd shot - well it caught me out 
anyway so I obviously didn't hit it good enough!) Combined with two very 
short par 4s to tempt the overstretchers and dreamers at 286 and 264 yards.

Nothing is tricked up and the course protects itself with large well 
shaped undulating greens, quality heath/parkland fairways, sensible 
bunkering mounds and hollows.

The quality of the greens and bunkers is far better than average for a 
muni and the clubhouse is welcoming with a range of cheaper than pub 
price beers. With no burnt out cars, horses or dog walkers around, what 
more could a society, casual or serious golfer want!

What's the best round your gaff?

-- 
Durram

"Durram"  wrote in message 
news:g21p3m$gep$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>
> Stuff the stuff shirts, let's get out with the hoi polloi and give it up 
> for the best municipal in Britain.
>
> I suppose we have to discount courses St Andrew's at the outset but in the 
> Leeds area we have a couple of classics. None more so that City of 
> Wakefield, at Lupset.
>
> Built around a country mansion, established in the 30s it has a great 
> layout and at 6319 off the whites is nothing to be sniffed at.
>
> The layout tests all parts of the game with tee shots towards fairways 
> going right to left, left to right and straight. Many a hole has tricky 
> established trees and bushes which catch out an off line shot but has 
> generous fairways and reasonable rough to keep the games moving on.
>
> Two par 4s over 400 yards and three par 5s over 500 (including one at 575 
> with a cheeky ditch to test a good 2nd shot - well it caught me out anyway 
> so I obviously didn't hit it good enough!) Combined with two very short 
> par 4s to tempt the overstretchers and dreamers at 286 and 264 yards.
>
> Nothing is tricked up and the course protects itself with large well 
> shaped undulating greens, quality heath/parkland fairways, sensible 
> bunkering mounds and hollows.
>
> The quality of the greens and bunkers is far better than average for a 
> muni and the clubhouse is welcoming with a range of cheaper than pub price 
> beers. With no burnt out cars, horses or dog walkers around, what more 
> could a society, casual or serious golfer want!
>
> What's the best round your gaff?
>
> -- 
> Durram

The best municipal golf course I have played is Thorpe Wood at Peterborough.
It is Par 73, 7086 yards.
It is not expensive at £14.60 (£9 for Seniors)
It is sometime since I played the course and cannot remember how I played.
This course is, I have been informed, considered to be the best municipal 
course in the country. I expect similar claims are made for other courses.
It was designed be Peter Allis And Dave Thomas.
It was played by Ian Woosnam and Laura Davis a about five years ago both 
took above par for their rounds

Denis

Durram wrote:
> 
> Stuff the stuff shirts, let's get out with the hoi polloi and give it up 
> for the best municipal in Britain.
> 
> I suppose we have to discount courses St Andrew's at the outset but in 
> the Leeds area we have a couple of classics. None more so that City of 
> Wakefield, at Lupset.
> 
> Built around a country mansion, established in the 30s it has a great 
> layout and at 6319 off the whites is nothing to be sniffed at.
> 
> The layout tests all parts of the game with tee shots towards fairways 
> going right to left, left to right and straight. Many a hole has tricky 
> established trees and bushes which catch out an off line shot but has 
> generous fairways and reasonable rough to keep the games moving on.
> 
> Two par 4s over 400 yards and three par 5s over 500 (including one at 
> 575 with a cheeky ditch to test a good 2nd shot - well it caught me out 
> anyway so I obviously didn't hit it good enough!) Combined with two very 
> short par 4s to tempt the overstretchers and dreamers at 286 and 264 yards.
> 
> Nothing is tricked up and the course protects itself with large well 
> shaped undulating greens, quality heath/parkland fairways, sensible 
> bunkering mounds and hollows.
> 
> The quality of the greens and bunkers is far better than average for a 
> muni and the clubhouse is welcoming with a range of cheaper than pub 
> price beers. With no burnt out cars, horses or dog walkers around, what 
> more could a society, casual or serious golfer want!
> 
> What's the best round your gaff?
> 
Sorry to disappoint you BFG, but your choice loses out because the 
course is overplayed, & can be shoddy near the end of summer. Also prone
to flooding.

The best Muni is without doubt, Bradley Park Huddersfield. Even some 
well know clubs aren't a patch! Good layout, great variation in holes, & 
greens that play well all year.

Chris Booth

Chris wrote:
> Durram wrote:
>>
>> Stuff the stuff shirts, let's get out with the hoi polloi and give it 
>> up for the best municipal in Britain.
>>
>> I suppose we have to discount courses St Andrew's at the outset but in 
>> the Leeds area we have a couple of classics. None more so that City of 
>> Wakefield, at Lupset.
>>
>> Built around a country mansion, established in the 30s it has a great 
>> layout and at 6319 off the whites is nothing to be sniffed at.
>>
>> The layout tests all parts of the game with tee shots towards fairways 
>> going right to left, left to right and straight. Many a hole has 
>> tricky established trees and bushes which catch out an off line shot 
>> but has generous fairways and reasonable rough to keep the games 
>> moving on.
>>
>> Two par 4s over 400 yards and three par 5s over 500 (including one at 
>> 575 with a cheeky ditch to test a good 2nd shot - well it caught me 
>> out anyway so I obviously didn't hit it good enough!) Combined with 
>> two very short par 4s to tempt the overstretchers and dreamers at 286 
>> and 264 yards.
>>
>> Nothing is tricked up and the course protects itself with large well 
>> shaped undulating greens, quality heath/parkland fairways, sensible 
>> bunkering mounds and hollows.
>>
>> The quality of the greens and bunkers is far better than average for a 
>> muni and the clubhouse is welcoming with a range of cheaper than pub 
>> price beers. With no burnt out cars, horses or dog walkers around, 
>> what more could a society, casual or serious golfer want!
>>
>> What's the best round your gaff?
>>
> Sorry to disappoint you BFG, but your choice loses out because the 
> course is overplayed, & can be shoddy near the end of summer. Also prone
> to flooding.
> 
> The best Muni is without doubt, Bradley Park Huddersfield. Even some 
> well know clubs aren't a patch! Good layout, great variation in holes, & 
> greens that play well all year.
> 
> Chris Booth

I remember playing there when I first started some years ago but getting 
bogged down up to my shins in mud - maybe I was heavier then or maybe 
the ground has firmed up!

Which is your favourite hole? Is it the down hill one overlooking the 
motorway? I'm afraid I can't clearly remember many more apart from a par 
3 across a pond and one uphill with electric cables.

I do however remember the Budweiser on draught and the Cumberland 
Sausage and Mash after a particularly wintry early morning round :-)

I agree though, it is good layout, we'll have to have a cheapo knock 
sometime this summer - got to be worth the green fee.

-- 
Big Double D, the BFG :-)

Denis Cary wrote:
> 
> "Durram"  wrote in message 
> news:g21p3m$gep$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>
>> Stuff the stuff shirts, let's get out with the hoi polloi and give it 
>> up for the best municipal in Britain.
>>
>> I suppose we have to discount courses St Andrew's at the outset but in 
>> the Leeds area we have a couple of classics. None more so that City of 
>> Wakefield, at Lupset.
>>
>> Built around a country mansion, established in the 30s it has a great 
>> layout and at 6319 off the whites is nothing to be sniffed at.
>>
>> The layout tests all parts of the game with tee shots towards fairways 
>> going right to left, left to right and straight. Many a hole has 
>> tricky established trees and bushes which catch out an off line shot 
>> but has generous fairways and reasonable rough to keep the games 
>> moving on.
>>
>> Two par 4s over 400 yards and three par 5s over 500 (including one at 
>> 575 with a cheeky ditch to test a good 2nd shot - well it caught me 
>> out anyway so I obviously didn't hit it good enough!) Combined with 
>> two very short par 4s to tempt the overstretchers and dreamers at 286 
>> and 264 yards.
>>
>> Nothing is tricked up and the course protects itself with large well 
>> shaped undulating greens, quality heath/parkland fairways, sensible 
>> bunkering mounds and hollows.
>>
>> The quality of the greens and bunkers is far better than average for a 
>> muni and the clubhouse is welcoming with a range of cheaper than pub 
>> price beers. With no burnt out cars, horses or dog walkers around, 
>> what more could a society, casual or serious golfer want!
>>
>> What's the best round your gaff?
>>
>> -- 
>> Durram
> 
> The best municipal golf course I have played is Thorpe Wood at 
> Peterborough.
> It is Par 73, 7086 yards.
> It is not expensive at £14.60 (£9 for Seniors)
> It is sometime since I played the course and cannot remember how I played.
> This course is, I have been informed, considered to be the best 
> municipal course in the country. I expect similar claims are made for 
> other courses.
> It was designed be Peter Allis And Dave Thomas.
> It was played by Ian Woosnam and Laura Davis a about five years ago both 
> took above par for their rounds
> 
> Denis
> 

Wow! Sounds like a cracker, and at a great price too. Maybe if the South 
win one of these days they might consider taking us poor Northern folk 
down there for a meet ;-)

Allis and Thomas did Oulton Hall, Rothwell, near Leeds but that has now 
been taken over by DeVere so may not be a municipal anymore. I used to 
play there a lot and the layout was great but like some of the other 
Leeds Munis was greenkept on a 'piece work' basis - the more the better 
- and was never really looked after. Poorly kept bunkers, no rakes, with 
patchy and overlong greens. I'm sure the cutting blades were still down 
as they drove the mower between courses!

Maybe Mr Allis should get back to some course designing, sounds like he 
has an aptitude for it.

-- 
D

"Durram"  wrote in message 
news:g23aeq$iln$1@registered.motzarella.org...
> Denis Cary wrote:
>>
>> "Durram"  wrote in message 
>> news:g21p3m$gep$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>>>
>>> Stuff the stuff shirts, let's get out with the hoi polloi and give it up 
>>> for the best municipal in Britain.
>>>
>>> I suppose we have to discount courses St Andrew's at the outset but in 
>>> the Leeds area we have a couple of classics. None more so that City of 
>>> Wakefield, at Lupset.
>>>
>>> Built around a country mansion, established in the 30s it has a great 
>>> layout and at 6319 off the whites is nothing to be sniffed at.
>>>
>>> The layout tests all parts of the game with tee shots towards fairways 
>>> going right to left, left to right and straight. Many a hole has tricky 
>>> established trees and bushes which catch out an off line shot but has 
>>> generous fairways and reasonable rough to keep the games moving on.
>>>
>>> Two par 4s over 400 yards and three par 5s over 500 (including one at 
>>> 575 with a cheeky ditch to test a good 2nd shot - well it caught me out 
>>> anyway so I obviously didn't hit it good enough!) Combined with two very 
>>> short par 4s to tempt the overstretchers and dreamers at 286 and 264 
>>> yards.
>>>
>>> Nothing is tricked up and the course protects itself with large well 
>>> shaped undulating greens, quality heath/parkland fairways, sensible 
>>> bunkering mounds and hollows.
>>>
>>> The quality of the greens and bunkers is far better than average for a 
>>> muni and the clubhouse is welcoming with a range of cheaper than pub 
>>> price beers. With no burnt out cars, horses or dog walkers around, what 
>>> more could a society, casual or serious golfer want!
>>>
>>> What's the best round your gaff?
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> Durram
>>
>> The best municipal golf course I have played is Thorpe Wood at 
>> Peterborough.
>> It is Par 73, 7086 yards.
>> It is not expensive at £14.60 (£9 for Seniors)
>> It is sometime since I played the course and cannot remember how I 
>> played.
>> This course is, I have been informed, considered to be the best municipal 
>> course in the country. I expect similar claims are made for other 
>> courses.
>> It was designed be Peter Allis And Dave Thomas.
>> It was played by Ian Woosnam and Laura Davis a about five years ago both 
>> took above par for their rounds
>>
>> Denis
>>
>
> Wow! Sounds like a cracker, and at a great price too. Maybe if the South 
> win one of these days they might consider taking us poor Northern folk 
> down there for a meet ;-)
>
> Allis and Thomas did Oulton Hall, Rothwell, near Leeds but that has now 
> been taken over by DeVere so may not be a municipal anymore. I used to 
> play there a lot and the layout was great but like some of the other Leeds 
> Munis was greenkept on a 'piece work' basis - the more the better - and 
> was never really looked after. Poorly kept bunkers, no rakes, with patchy 
> and overlong greens. I'm sure the cutting blades were still down as they 
> drove the mower between courses!
>
> Maybe Mr Allis should get back to some course designing, sounds like he 
> has an aptitude for it.
>
> -- 
> D
The course is always in first class condition except for the first green 
which is a par three hole. Some of the users do not have (being generous) 
pitch hole repairers and son there are some marks. But all repairable and do 
not interfere with ones game.
If you look in the internet under "Thorpe Wood' you con see that there is 
another course almost attached. This course is rather short but is always in 
first class condition. It can however flood during winter wet weather.

Denis

On Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:38:01 +0100, Durram  wrote:

>Allis and Thomas did Oulton Hall, Rothwell, near Leeds but that has now 
>been taken over by DeVere so may not be a municipal anymore. I used to 
>play there a lot and the layout was great but like some of the other 
>Leeds Munis was greenkept on a 'piece work' basis - the more the better 
>- and was never really looked after.

I played Oulton a couple of times just before it changed hands. A
really nice course wrapping around a hill. The last round was the week
before it changed hands, and the staff told me the round would be
quadruple the price next week.

The greens really were pretty poor though, Oulton looked like it would
really benefit from some serious cash being spent on it, and that
wasn't likely to come from Leeds council. Shame really.

Has anyone here played Normanton golf club (which is actually in
Wakefield)? Looks nice from the quick glance I took around it.

Bob Moore wrote:
> On Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:38:01 +0100, Durram  wrote:
> 
>> Allis and Thomas did Oulton Hall, Rothwell, near Leeds but that has now 
>> been taken over by DeVere so may not be a municipal anymore. I used to 
>> play there a lot and the layout was great but like some of the other 
>> Leeds Munis was greenkept on a 'piece work' basis - the more the better 
>> - and was never really looked after.
> 
> I played Oulton a couple of times just before it changed hands. A
> really nice course wrapping around a hill. The last round was the week
> before it changed hands, and the staff told me the round would be
> quadruple the price next week.
> 
> The greens really were pretty poor though, Oulton looked like it would
> really benefit from some serious cash being spent on it, and that
> wasn't likely to come from Leeds council. Shame really.
> 
> Has anyone here played Normanton golf club (which is actually in
> Wakefield)? Looks nice from the quick glance I took around it.
> 

Not played the new Normanton course myself but played with someone who 
had and we spoke about it the other day coincidentally. He told me I 
might need oxygen going up and down some of the holes after the 13th.

Durram wrote:
> Bob Moore wrote:
>> On Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:38:01 +0100, Durram  wrote:
>>
>>> Allis and Thomas did Oulton Hall, Rothwell, near Leeds but that has 
>>> now been taken over by DeVere so may not be a municipal anymore. I 
>>> used to play there a lot and the layout was great but like some of 
>>> the other Leeds Munis was greenkept on a 'piece work' basis - the 
>>> more the better - and was never really looked after.
>>
>> I played Oulton a couple of times just before it changed hands. A
>> really nice course wrapping around a hill. The last round was the week
>> before it changed hands, and the staff told me the round would be
>> quadruple the price next week.
>>
>> The greens really were pretty poor though, Oulton looked like it would
>> really benefit from some serious cash being spent on it, and that
>> wasn't likely to come from Leeds council. Shame really.
>>
>> Has anyone here played Normanton golf club (which is actually in
>> Wakefield)? Looks nice from the quick glance I took around it.
>>
> 
> Not played the new Normanton course myself but played with someone who 
> had and we spoke about it the other day coincidentally. He told me I 
> might need oxygen going up and down some of the holes after the 13th.

More so than Mytton Fold ?  (And what did you score on the 6th...)

John Laird wrote:
> Durram wrote:
>> Bob Moore wrote:
>>> On Tue, 03 Jun 2008 12:38:01 +0100, Durram  wrote:
>>>
>>>> Allis and Thomas did Oulton Hall, Rothwell, near Leeds but that has 
>>>> now been taken over by DeVere so may not be a municipal anymore. I 
>>>> used to play there a lot and the layout was great but like some of 
>>>> the other Leeds Munis was greenkept on a 'piece work' basis - the 
>>>> more the better - and was never really looked after.
>>>
>>> I played Oulton a couple of times just before it changed hands. A
>>> really nice course wrapping around a hill. The last round was the week
>>> before it changed hands, and the staff told me the round would be
>>> quadruple the price next week.
>>>
>>> The greens really were pretty poor though, Oulton looked like it would
>>> really benefit from some serious cash being spent on it, and that
>>> wasn't likely to come from Leeds council. Shame really.
>>>
>>> Has anyone here played Normanton golf club (which is actually in
>>> Wakefield)? Looks nice from the quick glance I took around it.
>>>
>>
>> Not played the new Normanton course myself but played with someone who 
>> had and we spoke about it the other day coincidentally. He told me I 
>> might need oxygen going up and down some of the holes after the 13th.
> 
> More so than Mytton Fold ?  (And what did you score on the 6th...)

I doubt it :-)

Moses designed that course, but then again maybe not, he only went up 
and down the hill twice - not six times!








































5

:-)

"Durram"  wrote in message 
news:g21p3m$gep$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>
> Stuff the stuff shirts, let's get out with the hoi polloi and give it up 
> for the best municipal in Britain.
>
> I suppose we have to discount courses St Andrew's at the outset but in the 
> Leeds area we have a couple of classics. None more so that City of 
> Wakefield, at Lupset.
>
> Built around a country mansion, established in the 30s it has a great 
> layout and at 6319 off the whites is nothing to be sniffed at.
>
> The layout tests all parts of the game with tee shots towards fairways 
> going right to left, left to right and straight. Many a hole has tricky 
> established trees and bushes which catch out an off line shot but has 
> generous fairways and reasonable rough to keep the games moving on.
>
> Two par 4s over 400 yards and three par 5s over 500 (including one at 575 
> with a cheeky ditch to test a good 2nd shot - well it caught me out anyway 
> so I obviously didn't hit it good enough!) Combined with two very short 
> par 4s to tempt the overstretchers and dreamers at 286 and 264 yards.
>
> Nothing is tricked up and the course protects itself with large well 
> shaped undulating greens, quality heath/parkland fairways, sensible 
> bunkering mounds and hollows.
>
> The quality of the greens and bunkers is far better than average for a 
> muni and the clubhouse is welcoming with a range of cheaper than pub price 
> beers. With no burnt out cars, horses or dog walkers around, what more 
> could a society, casual or serious golfer want!
>
> What's the best round your gaff?
>
> -- 
> Durram

I have played many an enjoyable round at Wakefield Muni and apart from 
15th?, not too taxing on the old heart.  A very friendly bunch of members 
too.

Middlesex has quite a lot of municiple courses or courses where the council 
owns the land and the club has to allow unrestricted pay and play on certain 
days of the week.

My favourite Pay and Play course is not a muni but also not too far away
:
::
:
Wentworth