Stinchcombe Hill Golf Club

Eenvoudige makkelijk toegankelijke en ook wel goedkope golfbaan. Vriendelijke ontvangst bij de balie van het clubhuis. Onderhoud van de baan kan beter, greens zijn niet overal mooi glad en daardoor rollen de ballen natuurlijk minder goed en recht. Er is geen driving range, in plaats daarvan hebben ze kooien met netten opgehangen waar je tegen aan slaat. Zie foto.

Stinchcombe Hill was a real surprise. It doesn’t get much buzz compared to Cleeve or Minch, or even nearby Painswick - but make no mistake: it’s a quality golf course. The greens were by far the best on our tour, running true and at a good pace. I would even deign to say they were the best greens we’ve seen in three tours to the UK and Scotland. Of course, due to the weather the greens weren’t soft or receptive, so it was all bump and runs, which I really enjoyed. We played a four man scramble and shot -5, which we were proud of and it was all smiles as we enjoyed a Guinness, sausage baguette and chips. Now, for the golf club. The first standout stretch of holes is from 5 through 9. Running along a ridgeline, with some really good and challenging green complexes. The 5th has a green perched off axis over a steep drop-off which makes for an exciting approach. The 6th is a short shot but well protected green. Hit it long and you’ll end up on a shelf style backstop. The 9th is a 147 yard par 3 with a well bunkered green that is located in a far corner of the common with (again) fine views. The second fine stretch is the closing three holes, each of which can be opportunities to make a good score, or mess up your card. The course, in general, flatters those who can be a bit wild with driver and this is what helped us get to below par. It is not without teeth though. With some strong bunkering protecting the greens, making the par 3’s especially quite challenging: you need to carry the front bunkers and somehow stop the ball on hard greens. My personal highlight of the day was a full 18 holes of putting really well. The greens really suited my putting stroke and style and I really “rolled the rock”. Shot of the day was a blind (tree) 85 yard steep uphill approach shot to the 16th green, managing to hold the green getting us an easy par. Although I found the overall experience of Minchinhampton more unique, I would prefer to be a member at Stinchcombe. I would simply love to play that course every week. In closing: I recommend anyone visiting the area to play at Stinchcombe Hill, handicap 24 or better. Although a 36 range handicapper who can hit a ball 150 yards, could also play there. One note of criticism: some of the par 4 holes on both front and back 9 could be described as a bit ‘sameish’.

Prachtige oude weidse parkbaan op een heuvellandschap. Erg lange holes, vooral de par 4’s. Brede fairways maar als je in de rough beland kun je in de problemen komen. Daardoor best tricky.

Set on the edge of the Costwold hills at altitude, this course offers spectacular views of the surrounding area.

The course is nice and open with not too many hazards However, if you do stray off the wide fairways you will find yourself searching in long grass for your ball (our group lost several balls to the rough) and if you do find it, then the shot to get it out will be a testing one.

Being on the hilltops, the course is free draining making it playable all year round.

Whilst Stinchcombe Hill is a perfectly reasonable course, there are a number of other hilltop courses in the area which should probably be played in preference to Stinchcombe if you are only in the area for a short while. Arguably the most impressive of these is Cleeve Hill, which is similar in nature to Stinchcombe Hill but just a bit better in every aspect. There is also Painswick golf course nearby, which is one of the quirkiest courses in the country and well worth a visit (avoid Painswick after prolonged heavy rain as it doesn’t hold up as well as the other hilltop courses in the area).

Getting to Stinchcombe requires navigating a winding road with its share of potholes, but once you're atop the Cotswolds escarpment, it's all worth it. The course, rich in over 130 years of history, perfectly balances old-world charm with modern challenges.

On clear days, the views are outstanding, spanning the Cotswolds, Bristol Channel, and Welsh mountains. The compact clubhouse offers all the essentials: a welcoming bar, restaurant, changing rooms, and an expanded pro shop that's now twice its original size.

Course-wise, Stinchcombe Hill has a mainly flat layout with a few subtle climbs. The well-kept greens are fast and a joy to play on, though summer players should watch out for the challenging thick rough. Signature holes, like the 5th and 16th, add unique character to the play.

In short, Stinchcombe offers a blend of traditional design with modern challenges, making every round here memorable.