Hazelwood Golf Club - Middlesex

Hazelwood is a fairly short 9 hole course with water on a few holes, the course was a little water-logged when we played it but the greens were not in too bad a condition. There are good practice facilities here and the clubhouse is quite nice too, apart from the single shower in the changing rooms.

Richings Park Golf Club - Iver, Buckinghamshire

I have visited Richings Park before and have been back a number of times, the course is set in 210 acres of mature parkland, most of this looks beautiful, the first few holes though are a little plain with young trees that are still very small.

The rest of this course has some magnificent old trees, lakes and small brooks, the greens are USGA spec and the ball rolls well on the putting surface. The fairways and teeing areas are all well managed with some large bunkers along some holes with nice soft sand in them for a change. Overall a well managed course with some great looking holes after the first few.

Flackwell Heath Golf Club - High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Flackwell Heath is a nice tree-lined course where the first twelve holes are set in hilly woodland, you really must hit the fairways otherwise you are going to lose balls. The last six holes are more open and forgiving.

Datchet Golf Club - Berkshire

The first two holes at Datchet are a little short for par fours but after that the holes lenghten and the course looks in good condition with quite a few well placed bunkers.

I enjoyed my round here with the double set of tee areas providing a slightly different nine holes second time around, although the course looks like it could get quite crowded if a lot of 3 or 4 balls went out.

Hounslow Heath Golf Club - Middlesex

Hounslow is a parkland course in a conservation area that has a nice variety of trees and two rivers run through the course. The 14th-16th stretch of holes are very well thought out and quite picturesque.

The 14th is an odd hole, a short dogleg par 4 that should be easy but, there is a local rule on this hole that states you cannot play for the green until you pass the post that is on the right hand side of the fairway about 180 yards from the tee, any ball on the right hand side of the post before you pass it is out of bounds. This hole needs an accurate iron off the tee to be in a position to go for the green.

Little Hay Golf Club - Hertfordshire

For a Public Pay & Play course Little Hay is a very good golf complex. The course itself was in good condition, greens are good and undulating in parts. The fairway's were cut a little long for June but were not too bad, some of the holes are very hilly in places with blind tee shots on a few of them.

Meyrick Park - Bournemouth, Dorset

Meyrick Park was the first municipal course constructed in England and it looks like it has matured very well. The condition of the course was very good with quick, true greens, which is a credit to the green staff considering this is probably one of the most popular courses in the area.

A solid shot is required right from the start if you are playing the first as a par 3, otherwise play it as a par 4. On the second keep the ball right of the fairway and you should be left with a short pitch into the green. If you are not long off the tee then play the third one shot longer than the card suggests this goes for the fourth hole too.

Be mindful of the slopes on the seventh followed by a sub 200 yard par 3 where you must hit the green and make sure you reach the flat area on the ninth otherwise the approach will br tricky.

The back nine starts with a par 3 that looks shorter than the card suggests, but trust in the yardage and you should be fine. After the last par 3 on the course, the twelfth, comes a chance to really fire your drive down the fairway, stay out of the bunkers and don't go long on your approach and you could walk off the thirteenth with a birdie.

"There is no finer golf hole than the fourteenth at Meyrick Park", stated Henry Cotton, well we beg to differ, it is a fine hole, avoid the bunkers and be sensible with the approach by laying up and you will think this hole is quite simple. Out of the closing hole the seventeenth is the trickiest, once again the main aim is too avoid the bunkers from the tee to leave a short pitch to the green.

A great municipal course with good 19th hole facilities, no wonder it is one of the most popular courses in Bournemouth.