Welcome to UK-GolfGuide's page which contains feedback from site users who have played at Benton Hall Golf and Country 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!.

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

Garry Peck (England) 07/11/07

Played today (07/11/07). Course in fantastic condition, fairways and greens A1. Only 1 winter tee and that was on the par5 (15th) and the mat was placed right behind a rather large oak tree.

The 16th is an amazing hole, 175yards par 3 to a green surrounded by water, how often do you ever lay up on a par 3 !!!!!!!!!

Good layout but some fairly long walks between holes.

We played a fourball and the guy who plays off scratch went round in 77 and the rest of us are high handicappers and all thought it was a good challenge without being overly hard. Plenty of holes to open the shoulders with the driver but also plenty of holes that require a lot of thought. An excellent mix and a course I will definately be playing again.

Gripes ? No driving range altho it does have to warm up nets beside the putting green. Have read previous comments and unfortunately agree that they seem to be becoming more "health club" orientated, the car park has been expanded to where they were going to put a driving range.

All in all an excellent course for all standards of golfer and worth the £28.

Value for Money	8
Challenge	9
Off Course	6

Ricky Hever (England) 15/10/07

After playing the course on the 14/10/07 for our clubs last society day of the year, I must say they saved the best till last.

Benton Hall is both a challenging course for low to high handicap golfers. The round starts off with a long par 5, and it’s not long before things begin to become very difficult with the tricky 4th hole. A tough elevated green which is approachable only via a tight fairway which is lined by trees on the right hand side along with OB and if you steer too far left you’re second shot becomes virtually impossible to attack the green.

Throughout the course the scenery is beautiful with the Blackwater River weaving through many of the holes. Holes are well maintained, with good tee positions, many of the mid to back 9 holes need perfectly positioned approach shots. Concentration and course management required throughout the course.

Overall well worth a visit!

The only negative points:

Practice areas could be improved.

Tee of areas are not even on many of the holes.

The course was a little busy for my liking.

Value for Money	9
Challenge	8
Off Course	10

Tony Freeburn (England) 09/08/06

Played the course last weekend, and would agree with Martin Eady's comments.

The course itself was good to play, and surprisingly green considering the recent weather. The tees and greens, in particular, were in exceptional condition !

It is a shame that there are no practise or warm-up facilities on a course like this, especially as the website still says they have a 20 bay driving range !

Value for Money	6
Challenge	7
Off Course	3

Martin Eady (England) 13/06/06

We played a society day at the end of May and it was the first time I had revisited the course in about a year.

Insofar as the course conditions are concerned there is not much to add to my earlier comments when I played in 2003. The "bland" par-4 thirteenth is now a challenging and good par-3, whilst the rest of the course continues to be maintained to a very good level.

However what I am disappointed about is the fact that a fitness centre is taking over all the ancilliary elements of the golf at Benton Hall. The pro-shop which was once a large and well-stocked affair is now just a third of the size and caters mainly for the psuedo-golfer (i.e. predominately clothing). The driving range is no more - replaced, so I was told, by a swimming pool! A couple of driving nets have been brought in instead. Hmmm!

The practise chipping area and bunker have disappeared too, although the putting green has stayed.

The bar is still a comfortable and enjoyable experience though, but it does make you think what will be next to go. I only hope they have the sense to retain the quality of the course, which is still one of the best in the area.

Value for Money	7
Challenge	6
Off Course	3

Matthew Baty (England) 24/09/04

Without a doubt my favourite course, and a consistant source of soul searching, and obsessive practice! It's one of those places that know's it's not Augusta, and doesn't try to be either. Just great golf, well priced and a course that tests the best and rewards the worst. I've played there 4 times now, and everytime I enjoy it that little bit more. Each hole throws up some questions, be it the 'up and down' 12th and 13th, or the really testing 8th and 14th. The 16 is also an endless source or amusment as you try and pick the right club to carry 165yrds over water to a fairly small green. The clubhouse is comfortable, the food and beer well priced, and the staff seem to enjoy their job. As a visitor, some club pros look you up and down to pick apart your dress, but at Benton Hall, they politely remind you of the code when booking to avoid embarrassment. It is not a course for those lacking a cool head though- the back 9 are particularly unforgiving and the 15th tests the very best with it's tree placements. Definate thumbs up!

Colin Rider (a senior member of Purs Foods Golf Socie () 27/04/03

A nice days golf for any society we started with 9 holes on the par 3 course. A light lunch, followed by 18 holes on the main course which was in good condition (25/04/03).The course has a few blind shots and some of our member felt that some tee shot were a bit tight.The course needs to be played with a fair amount of thought although our hit it and see players still enjoyed their selves. I would recomend that should you be playing a competition here try to play the course beforehand as our winner for the day did.

Martin Eady (Essex) 21/02/03

We played this course just after a very wet spell. Most other courses in the area have been waterlogged but Benton Hall was in very good shape considering.

We have played here a few times before and knew that it was a very interesting and mature course. It is predominantly designed through tree-lined fairways and disected by the river. The surprisingly good conditions made it a most enjoyable day.

Only the 12th and 13th could be considered bland as they are short uninteresting par-4s. All the others have a good degree of character and are memorable well after the event.

The 16th is a great par-3 hole over 190 yards with water in front. Hitting the green is a big achievement.

2Fore1 vouchers made this course very good value and the bar/restaurant and hospitality are excellent.

We will be going back.

James Thurgood (Tiptree, England) 07/01/02

I am 18 and looking to start golf after a prolonged ankle injury due to football (familiar it seems to most young golfers!). My girlfriend and I turned up and wanted information about clubs, tuition and the like.

I obviously wasn't looking to buy there and then, yet the man we spoke to went into detail about the do's and don'ts of what to buy and how much to spend. At the end he didn't try to sell me anything and instead suggested I had a couple of lessons before deciding.

If this wasn't good enough service (bearing in mind this took over 40 minutes) he then, sincerely said, if I had any more questions or found a set of clubs he would give a 'yes' or 'no' to them.

I found this wonderfully refreshing and if anyone knows the email address of this place would they please send it to me.

I think the last time I had service like that my dad was looking to spend a large amount on a car so it was expected!

James Thurgood

Tiptree

R Haley (UK) 20/08/01

What a fine course and at £20 at the weekend for a green fee, great value. As with other Clubhaus courses I have played, the greens, tees and fairways were in great condition as all are irrigated but unlike Duke's Dene and the Essex G&CC more effort went into the course design than the clubhouse. The layout is great fun whilst not overly long it is very testing with good use of the River Cam (I think), mature trees and the little elevation that Essex has to offer in these parts.

Clubhouse is top quality without being oustentatious and the staff were very friendly. Course is about 7 years and is unquestionably the best new course in Essex and one of the better courses in general.

I'll definitely be back soon and as a serial golf course philanderer, that's praise indeed.

eddy Nieuwenhuys () 27/04/99

we like to play the 13th of may at 10.30 sharp, with three people.

Kind regards,

Eddy Nieuwenhuys