Welcome to UK-GolfGuide's page which contains feedback from site users who have played at Five Lakes Hotel Golf Country Club and Spa.

Whilst UK-GolfGuide.com attempts to turf out the more unhelpful or just plain daft contributions, some may slip through. If you have played the course or hold a different opinion to those of the contributors, feel free to use the Add your Comments icon to provide a broader spread of views. If you have a gripe with the club then take it up with them directly - please don't use this facility for airing grievances!.

If you have played this course and would like to add your comments then feel free to Add a Report.

Paul Lynex (New Zealand) 03/01/08

I have to say that I’ve been putting off submitting this report on the basis that if I can’t say anything nice I shouldn’t say anything at all. I played the Links course in September '07 and came away very disappointed with the presentation and condition of the course.

I endorse the comments made about the Links being; flat and unmemorable, in poor condition (especially the bunkers) and poorly sign-posted. If Wernham Hogg had a golf day it’d most likely be here.

Bring your own clubs, my hire set was an eclectic bunch. Changing facilities very good (There! Something positive!)

May be a better proposition in Winter or Spring when grounds are softer and growth more lush.

Value for Money	4
Challenge	5
Off Course	6

Andrew Quigley (England) 23/04/07

April 2007 , we booked a four ball and prior to the day actually spotted some of the reviews based on the hotel and the golf course. I am very pleased to say that the course was in wonderful condition with the greens being very fast and challenging, My only negative would be the bunkers where we felt that a bit more sand in some of them would have helped. The staff within the hotel were very friendly and helpful and we would have no problem in recommending / returning to this venue.

Value for Money	8
Challenge	7
Off Course	9

Daniel Friebe (England) 02/04/07

I played both Five Lakes courses in April '07 and was very disappointed. The Links is flat, unmemorable and in poor condition; the Lakes is a potentially better track but was also poorly maintained. Perhaps most alarming is the fact that several reviewers on this site have mentioned the awful state of the bunkers, yet nothing has been done to solve the problem. Like a poor municipal.

Paul Markham (England) 13/09/06

the lakes is by far the better course , more water features to negotiate !!!

the links back nine is quite good , however the links does not seem as well maintained as the lakes , especially the bunkers which were in a terrible state .

food was good , except for luches which took forever to be served up .

rooms were clean and tidy .

Value for Money	8
Challenge	7
Off Course	9

lee richardson (England) 22/05/05

Just come back from a Golfbreaks.com-booked weekend at Five Lakes; the golf was fair-to-good.

The greens were in tip-top shape, preferred the Links to the Lakes, but both were challenging in their own individual ways, especially in the windy conditions; the Lakes is newer, broader and with more forgiving rough, the Links more mature, tighter and calling for more accuracy and "touch".

The negatives includes poor signposting throughout (from hotel to Links 1st Tee -- you can end up, Bill-Bryson-like, just wandering through a vast car-park -- then from some greens to next tee, no starter hut on either course (a real shame, as the hotel overlooks the 1st Tee of the Lakes course, with various yobs hanging out of windows, yelling out on backswing), no drinks anywhere on course, not enough ball-washers, course map inaccurate (distances, features not marked on map, etc).

Nonetheless, our group (14 - 28 handicap range) had an enjoyable couple of days golf-wise, despite the shortcomings.

The hotel, on the other hand, was a shambles; couldn't get into our room before 6pm (we arrived at 10.00am, told 4pm), restaurant booking for dinner not available before 9pm, no food in bars when coming in from course (except the sports bar, but they weren't able to serve you even a bowl of chips in less than an hour), newspaper-order didn't arrive, wake-up call didn't come through, etc, etc.

Mentioned all to front-desk, who were open and apologetic. Indded, all the staff were willing and friendly, but they were clearly under-informed, under-trained and under-staffed.

Ok, and the architecture is a sight to behold, unless you adore Neo-Industrial-Estate-meets-B&Q, somehow, I doubt this place will ever grace the pages of AD.

By all means try the golf-course, but I wouldn't recommend staying there.

May 2005

Value for Money	5
Challenge	6
Off Course	1

Einar Brekkan (Sweden) 14/04/05

We came over from Sweden for Easter golf. We were very disappointed with both courses, especially "Links". The courses are "uninspiring"; flat, no scenary, unmature and a lot of water that did not come in play and did nothing to enhance the general impression.

The layout for "Lakes" is un-English with American type target golf.

Im am convinced that there are better alternatives to visitors that plan to play golf close to Londons international airports.

Sagar Merchant (England) 04/04/05

£40 (Summer Rate) to play this course three days after they had a special offer of £25 for Bacon roll + 18 holes + Meal in sports Bar). Is it worth the extra £15 to play in early april? wed did not think so.

I loved the course layout. 6800 of the back tees ...is a tough old grind. You need to be a long driver of the ball to give yourself a chance of reaching the par 4s in two..

the opening hole 313 yards par 4 lulls you into a false sense of security.

the wind on the day we played, played a significant part as it was always blowing across and from left to right.... or against us! The greens could have been quicker but for the time of the year , they had left a bit more grass on there...

all in all a good course to play once.. but dont think will be going there in the summer. will wait for winter package in oct...

Steven Cox (England) 29/07/04

Played the Lakes course on 29/07/04 sun shining (30'c) & a small breaze. i would say that is one of the best courses I have played.. there is nothing i can say that is bad on the course, condition was superurb, everyone from the person running the pro shop, the resturant, to the green staff, made us feel welcome.. A top course, can't wait to play it again...

Matthew Winfield (England) 05/05/04

Just come back from a weekend in Essex/Suffolk and played both courses in one day. We started off on the Links (why it's called this I'll never know), the course was in decent condition apart from the bunkers, which to be fair to them they did warn us that they were going through maintenance. It's a nice warm-up course, not that long and a lot of adjoining fairways so you can really spray it around and get away with it!!

We played the Lakes in the afternoon and what a contrast. The greens for early May were spectacular, very true and reasonably quick. The course is a good challenge (played off whites), the fairways and bunkers are good and the rough not too punishing. Best hole in my book is the 185 yard 11th over water. We carried our bags for both rounds and being pretty flat it didn't hurt us too much. Friendly staff and decent food.

J.King (England) 16/04/03

Played Five Lakes on Saturday 12 April.

When you arrive you see a high standard hotel and you think,

this will be a nice place to play. Then you get around to the course. Oh dear!! I'd heard some good reports but something must have gone drastically wrong here. I cannot think of any course, anywhere, with worse fairways(bumpy with clumpy, patchy grass), bunkers(linings exposed) and greens(recently hollow-tined but left in a mess) than were served up here. A course in very poor shape indeed. Save your money until major improvements are made. There are many municipal courses in Essex that are MUCH better than this.

colin woodrow (uk) 24/02/03

Played the lakes coarse on saturday, reasonably nice golf coarse at £25 not to difficult the greens were nicely grassed but very bumpy. No winter tees and no hold ups. Being that it is a lakes coarse there are a lot of water fowl and some of the greens were coverd in bird crap.

James Roberts (UK) 21/11/02

I played the Lakes Course early October and having played many courses in the Essex area, i can honestly say that the Lakes Course is the best course around. The conditions and layout are super and you can see why the PGA hold the European Tour School there. I would reccommend this course to anyone and their organisation of our Corporate Day were first class.

Cyrill Rothermundt (UK) 06/08/02

Looking for a little change of scenery from the expensive and over crowded London Golf course a friend and I decided to venture to the Five Lakes Links course. We figured that the a green fee of 28 pounds that far from London would provide us with a very pleasant experience.

On the good side the round was relatively quick, and the greens rather true and fast. However, why is this called a links course? It is a rather young golf course. Apart from a couple holes that were worthy of a parkland course, the rest of them were rather unexciting and borderline acceptable. We played in the Belfairs in Southend the next day for 16.60 and though the fairways were not great it was a much more pleasant experience.

Paul Jacobs (England) 27/09/01

Absolutely superb! I have just played the Lakes Course here and I would honestly rate it as one of the best courses in Essex. The challenge of the course, the design and the overall condition of it is first class. They have just held the PGA European Tour School there so it just shows how good it must be.

A must for any serious golfers who want a real challenge.

Paul Bartley (England) 11/07/01

I visited Five lakes in May 2001, and what a weekend !!

We arranged to play two rounds of golf on both the courses, however, due to bad weather we were only able to play the front nine on the Links course ( very wet) two or three nice holes though.

Luckily Five lakes have allow me and my seven golfing mates free green fees on our next visit. I will then add a full report on the course itself.

With regards to the hotel and facilities, these are excellent and i would suggest that you stay there for a least one night.

If you wish for any additional info please contact me.

Paul

Ian Brazier () 15/11/00

I think the previous reports a tad harsh.

I played the Links course 12/11/00 and despite the terrible flooding and the massive down pour the course was still in O.K. shape. Yes at some points the fairways contain some water but this added to the game. (plus all fees were halfed!!!!)

Some highlights..... 2nd hole par4 slightly up hill and dog-leg left, excellent 7th hole par4 with a massive drop off the tee so best guesses!!!

and also the good 16th par3 avoiding the water.

Yes the conditions were hard and yes I am a novice but I found this a fair course with great facilities....

Paul Reiz () 02/07/00

Played the Lakes course on 1 and 2 July. If you are going to Five Lakes only for the Golf--don't! The Lakes course is OK --but not as good condition wise as most courses. I haven't played their Links course and to be honest if the Lakes is their premier course, I have no desire to play the Links. If you are going for golf, raquet sports, swimming, steam room, sauna, swimming, gym, food, etc--then I'd recommend it. Its a very nice, relaxing resort--its a shame the course couldn't be a little better. Specifically, the rough is brutal--grass 3 ft high where it doesn't need to be, the fairway are good enought for preferred lies--but not as consitant as one would like for playing the ball down. The greens ar OK but a little inconsistant to to holding shots and putting speed.

() 26/01/00

The hotel is lovely, the bedrooms are magnificent. The golf courses are disappointing. Perhaps I caught them on a bad day but the greens were awful and my general impression was that the courses are scruffy. I can't say that I prefer either layout as they both feel similar. At least I had a good time on the squash courts and in the pool!