Tadmarton Heath
The Club itself is delectable with the olde-worlde buildings comprising of a pro-shop, changing rooms, clubhouse and offices. The courtyard layout creates a lovely atmosphere as you arrive at the club.
At less than 6,000 yards (par 69) this is not a long golf course but is unlikely to be overpowered. There are times when you are able to open your shoulders but for the majority of the time accuracy from the tee is the most important element, especially on the much tighter (and better) back-nine. The course features in our best golf courses under 6,000 yards.
You never feel far away from home at Tadmarton Heath. The round starts with a couple of low-key sub-350 yard holes that initially takes you away from the clubhouse before bringing you straight back. You also return after the cunning 7th – a picture perfect par three if ever there was one. In between you a play four holes that are good without being exceptional, save for the approach to the sixth which has a wooden railway sleepered bunker encroaching into the green on the right.
Things really get going from the eighth; a hole where the viciousness of the green isn’t evident from the fairway. From here on in is what I will remember Tadmarton Heath for the best. There is more of a heathland feel to the last ten holes, gorse adds to the strategy at many of them but most importantly it is the greens that have much more interesting positions and undulations.
The 9th, 10th and 11th is a fantastic run of holes as is those that make up the closing five. I didn’t care much for the 12th and 13th but they are far from weak holes and give the course a bit more room before the finale that is played through quite narrow, gorse-lined playing avenues.
If I had to pick a favourite hole on the course it would be the short 10th. It is played over a mass of heather, gorse and sand with a really sneaky green. It sums up the best of Tadmarton Heath in its 114 yards; fun, tricky and gloriously beautiful.
Admittedly I wouldn’t want to play all my golf at Tadmarton but I thoroughly enjoyed a round here and would return because it’s such a lovely place to play.
