Welcome to UK-GolfGuide's page which contains feedback from site users who have played at Royal West Norfolk Golf Club.

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!.

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Richard Davies (England) 22/10/07

I have to agree with all the descriptions so far. Seaside golf in its purest form, the course is almost organic and its challenges vary as the weather. Beautiful old fashioned golf and a club that needs not change and a wonderful idea is that members can take their dogs out with them, and why not? The clubhouse with its beautiful panelling is like a gentlemans club and you can imagine on a cold Winters day standing next to the fire with something warming. If you love links golf then take a day to sample Brancaster, you will not be disappointed.

Value for Money	6
Challenge	7
Off Course	6

Mark Fox (England) 14/09/07

Simply fantastic, and what a challenge! All the reports I'd read beforehand about feeling like you're travelling back in time proved true. This is golf in its purest and most natural form. Forget the relatively short yardage - this course will challenge you much more than many longer courses around the 7,000 yard mark, especially when the wind is up.

The outward 9 is considerably longer than the inward 9, but the prevailing wind hinders you on almost every inward hole, thus making the second 9 more difficult. Any shot hit with too much cut will get caught in the wind and taken over into serious trouble. You really need to be able to hit the ball low on the way back, but high on the way out. The course was in perfect condition when we visited for 36 holes. Good practice facilities too. The chipping/pitching green played just like the real greens. Nice friendly pro, he was very willing to give advice and make us feel welcome. Have since seen him dispensing advice on chipping in a golf mag. You certainly need a shortgame at RWNGC!

The clubhouse is amazing - large north Norfolk windows, dark stained oak panelling, and old clock ticking. I would not wish to spend a night there on my own! What a fantastic atmosphere for a post-round meal though.

In every respect a brilliant place.

Value for Money	7
Challenge	9
Off Course	9

Alex Pinsent (England) 26/07/07

What an experience! Came to 'Brancaster' for a tournament, as soon as I arrived for my practice round I was entranced by the place, the clubhouse is quite something with the old bar area. Having to walk over a bit of the beach to reach the first tee was also a bit strange. Played the course in unusual wind, I played the longer front side into wind instead of down wind. The course proved to be a rugged links test that required all my concentration to hang on to a good score. Even with driver and 3 wood I was short on the first three holes! Favourite hole is the 9th, the hole is played over large marshland and has a giant sleeper bunker in front of the green. A fantastic course, a great experience, it felt like I was taken back in time! (Can't comment on value for money as I was playing in a tournament).

Value for Money	0
Challenge	7
Off Course	6

Andrew Gittins (Wales) 11/05/07

Incredibly difficult, unforgiving and if the wind is blowing some holes are virtually impossible.

A truly humbling but absolutely brilliant golfing experience.

Value for Money	7
Challenge	10
Off Course	3

Edward Couzens-Lake () 11/06/99

The Royal West Norfolk Golf Club at Brancaster presents true links golf as it was originally meant to be played.

A course requiring pin point accuracy at all times-not one for the faint hearted, with it's huge, deep sleeper faced bunkers on the 2nd,3rd, 4th,9th,14th, 15th, and 18th holes (the 18th, bordering the green has ruined many a potentially promising medal round!)a constant danger, you also have to take into consideration the times of the tides-the 8th for example, requires a long, straight drive over a flooded creek onto a narrow level of fairway-the green can then be reached in two (and it is a brave golfer who goes for it when the wind doth' blow!)-providing you can carry the ball over a further vast tract of flooded marsh.

Get your par 5 here-and be very proud of yourself. Yet be afraid, be very afraid-because the drive on the ninth hole requires equal courage, again, a flooded creek needs to be negotiated, as does a large bunker (yes, it'll be flooded if the tide is in) guards the green, which is on a slight plateau. A few years ago, Tony Jacklin played this hole as part of a golfing challenge-he sliced his drive into the water, said it was a practice stroke-and had another go!!! Not the sort of fair play that the local golfers, of parent or village artisan club would entertain....

The back 9 is slightly shorter than the outward 9, but is usually played into a strong westerly gale, which more than makes up for the slightly shorter walk!

Other holes to recommend are the 125 yard par 3 fourth, a (usually) 9 iron blast off an elevated tee, over a slight hollow (which includes the daunting tee for the fifth-I'll let you find out about that one for yourself!) onto another plateaued green-no tide to contend with here, but yes, the bunker is steep, deep, and sleeper faced!

A personal favourite is another par 3, the 15th, which requires an inordinant carry over light rough, then over the mother of all sleeper faced bunkers, prior to a small carry to a deceptive green.

Admire the beach as you stand on the seventeenth tee-but beware, that bunker which threatened to consume your ball from the second tee comes into play again here!

A glorious round of golf. In high summer, at around 7-8.00pm, with the tide coming in, the sun setting, and the sound of the skylarks ever-present, it presents one of the most beautiful golfing experiences there is. A masterpiece of renowned course designers Hutchinson and Ingleby, it has changed little in its 100+ year history. Sadly, its location, accessibility (the tide can flood the road for a couple of hours or so daily) nad slight shortage, yards wise, means that Brancaster will probably never be destined for a major. How it would tame the Tiger if it was!

Enchanting and thoroughly recommended.

ECL.