Driving in through the gates you are met by a truly stunning medieval building that is set in some 365 acres of woodland, parkland and pristine gardens. A more idyllic spot you could not imagine! As you walk through the front doors you are greeted by the welcoming smell of log fires which immediately took me back to my uncle’s farm in Tipperary, Ireland; one of my favourite places as a kid!
After checking in we were shown to our accommodation which was situated just beside the main building. The charming old Mews cottages have been transformed into some of the most stylish and comfortable accommodation you could possibly imagine. Exposed Oak beams, stylish furnishings, roll top, infinity or jacuzzi baths and state of the art facilities are all available and while this may sound strange, the bathrooms were the coolest thing about the whole place! Although I am usually in and out of the bathroom in a matter of minutes the roll top bath and rain shower with its side jets convinced me to draw out my preparations for the evening ahead!
The view from the 8th tee. This fantastic hole is a real birdie chance. You don’t have to be mega long to reach the green and even if you can’t reach in one a well struck drive will leave a simple pitch shot to the green. WARNING: Miss left and you can kiss goodbye to your golf ball!
When we were all ready we headed into the main hotel for our dinner, which we didn’t expect much from as it was part of an impressively cheap deal. What we got was three courses from the Michelin Star Bybrook Restaurant…a serious turn up for the books! All four golfers were amazed by the quality of the food on offer and we even got a complimentary amuse bouche! A unanimous decision was made that this was by far the best meal any of us had ever had on a golf break and four massively satisfied golfers jumped in a taxi to Bath…arranged by the hotel of course!
As we had booked our golf break on a Sunday and Monday the nightlife in Bath wasn’t exactly rocking but as it is a student town it wasn’t impossible to find a watering hole for the night! After blowing the froth off one too many beers and some standard golf break tomfoolery we got a cab back to the comfort of our rooms and got our heads down in preparation for our second game of golf at the Manor House Golf Club. That wasn’t before we had enjoyed a hearty cooked breakfast of the highest order…again included as part of our package.
The approach to the 12th green. Playing from the tee you will need to be careful not to run out of fairway. The big hitters may fancy taking on the green in two. Although the yardage suggests this should be an easy task the elevated green and fiendish bunkers make this a risky shot. Only the heaviest of hitters should take this on in two as birdie is a real possibility if you elect to play this as a three shot par 5.
Staying at the Manor House means you can get transported to the golf course via a complimentary ride on a golf cart but seeing as we were departing for home following our round we decided to drive. Our first round had been on the Sunday morning before we checked into the hotel and had decided not to book buggies…BIG MISTAKE! One of the key features of the golf course is the dramatic elevation changes that are particularly prevalent on the par 3s…the best holes on the course! The 2nd and the 17th in particular are great fun to play and will certainly test your ‘feel shots’ as it is difficult to select the right club. Other outstanding holes are the long par 4 5th, the short par 4 8th and the par 5 12th. Standing on the 8th tee you are presented with tee shot played some 100 feet above the level of the fairway and green and if you have the length this hole should really only represent an extended par 3…out of my fourball there were 6 birdies at this hole over the two rounds!
The back nine is a tad stronger than the front and the closing hole is a lovely way to finish the round. This is one of the most picturesque holes on the course and the water feature to the right of the green adds an element of charm to the hole. I would imagine playing the course in the summer would be fantastic as even in late October it was in fantastic condition…a few patches of sand here and there to help with draining were the only negative points we could find and sitting out on the terrace with a beer in tow would be a great way to sign off on your Manor House golf break…unfortunately we had to take shelter in the clubhouse as the cold weather is setting but this was no great hardship as we were well looked after…the food in particular was a strong point.
The view of the 18th from the clubhouse terrace. This closing hole can throw up the odd birdie but be warned…the approach shot is very tight thanks to the bunkers on the left and the water lurking on the right; especially when the pin is placed at the front of the green. A par here is a welcome end to the round!
All in all a weekend golf break to the Manor House Hotel and Golf Club is an outstanding option when you consider the standard of the accommodation, the enjoyment to be had on the golf course and the quality of the food and service all comes at an impressively affordable price. We paid £109 per person for the experience and, to be honest, wouldn’t have batted an eyelid if that price had been doubled. Manor House is comes highly recommended from these four golfers!
For information on English golf breaks and other UK golf holidays please visit www.yourgolftravel.com or call 0800 043 6644.
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