Playing off the Yellow tees, Birchwood played fairly short compared to some parkland courses. Due to the tees being forward a little, it made a lot of holes play quite short and the Par 5’s for big hitters, could be reached in two shots. 

However what it lacked in yardage, it made up for in course management. Picking the right club off the tee was crucial as there were hazards in play on a lot of holes. Taking a driver on every hole wasn’t the right idea for a lot of players. The greens were small and undulating and protected by a number of bunkers which made approach shots tricky and again club choice was critical.  Putting wasn’t straightforward due to a number of sloppy putts but the greens needed a cut and therefore pace was difficult to judge as they were fairly slow throughout the round. 

Condition of the course was overall fairly good, the fairways were cut short and the tees was presentable despite a few patches, but that could have been due to the hot weather recently. The tees also had a picture of the hole, which is massively helpful if you had not played the course before.

Navigation around was quite tricky as the course is split into two sides either side of a main road. During the round you are required to cross the road four times. However, the course was well signposted directing you in the right direction.

A 14 handicapper – ‘ A course to be planned out for all types of golfer. It is certainly not just a big hitter’s course. The round was very pleasant, and the Pro Shop was incredibly friendly and helpful’.