THE OAKLEAF GOLF COMPLEX (A JEWEL IN THE CROWN)

THE OAKLEAF GOLF COMPLEX	https://www.great-aycliffe.gov.uk/oakleafgolfcomplex/home/		NEWTON AYCLIFFE
Type of course	Parkland	18 holes
Course distance	White 5487 yds	Yellow 5063 yds	Red 4655 yds
Holes	3 x par 5	9 x par 4	6 x par 3

Claim to fame: Ranks highly among the municipal golf courses in the North East
When going on holiday or visiting distant friends and family my infatuation with golf and golf courses is beginning to impact on what we do. If there is a golf course in the vicinity of our stay I will try and get a game in. Thankfully, Mrs Wormburner doesn’t seem to mind, if, the hotel we are staying in has a spa/pool and is preferably in a warm climate. On this particular occasion the course was a 6 minute car ride from our hotel and I opted to take on this small but classy course as Manchester City opted to thrash Watford in the FA Cup Final. This says a lot about how my priorities have changed for in the past it was always football first and everything else second. Turning off School Aycliffe Lane, the Oakleaf Sports Complex lives up to its name. This is a new town that clearly considers the health of its 27000 inhabitants as a priority. The complex has on offer a myriad of traditional sports ranging from Archery to Squash and includes a number of exciting activities such as acupuncture, sports massage and sound bath therapy to name but a few. The drive through the complex takes you past the sports fields, the rural walkways, the leisure centre, the entrance to the caravan park and eventually down past the driving range to the golf shop entrance. The first thing you notice about the entrance is its uncanny resemblance to a primary school. A double domed structure protected by a 6 foot gated green fence. Entering the off-cream shop entrance there was a distinct smell of smoke pervading the atmosphere, I looked for the proverbial bike shed but couldn’t see one anywhere and therefore had to assume the smell was emanating from the assistant behind the counter. I made the assumption, rightly or wrongly, that Smokey Joe was not the Pro but he was very pleasant and informative, not only did he give me the round for the twilight fee of a remarkable £8.50, he also went on to explain the best route to take around the course and drew helpful directions and hints on the course card map. Coming out of the shop, the first tee was only a matter of yards from the door but also, only a matter of yards from Platform 1 of the local train station. Pacer train passengers on the Northern Line commuting between Saltburn and Bishop Auckland have a clear view of the course and with the first fairway running parallel to the rail line, undoubtedly a number of train drivers will in their time, have involuntarily ducked the odd wayward drive. Having recently played a municipal course in Hull and now this one I can quite honestly say there was no comparison, although a tight small course it was brilliantly manicured and a credit to the Greater Aycliffe Council who maintain it. The scorecard is the most detailed I have ever come across as it not only outlines the local rules, but it also has detailed information on every hole and states the following: “This hazard notification has been developed with the average golfer in mind. Do be aware that golf club and ball development has made it possible for better than average players to hit a golf ball above average distances. It is expected that golfers of above average ability will take additional care when playing their golf ball and ensure that they do not endanger fellow golfers or the public.” As the course appeared empty, I didn’t really have to take a great deal of notice of the information provided but I could imagine that on a busy day, health and safety would need to be paramount. It did however make me think about investing in golf insurance and for as little as £17 a year a package can include up to £5 000 000 Public Liability cover for damage caused by mishit shots and £500 cover for your golf equipment against theft, loss and accidental damage. You only have to consider the case of Corine Remande to know it’s worth your while. Corine was hit in the eye by a tee shot from American Brooks Koepka at the 2018 Ryder Cup. Blood was described as gushing from her right eye and a scan revealed her eyeball had exploded on impact and her socket was fractured, causing her to lose sight in that eye. She is now in the process of suing the tournament organisers as no warning was given from officials before the ball hurtled into spectators on the sixth hole. At Oakleaf three committed green keepers tend the fairways, the greens, the tee boxes, the bunkers and the ponds to the highest of standards. The holes may be short in length, but with no less than nine dog legs of varying degree their design and upkeep make you think twice about your shot choice. As do the small greens that are neatly tucked away around the course boundary As I wandered lonely as a single golfer, I could hear voices from all directions but never really observed their source, which says a lot about the positioning of trees and shrubbery. Other sounds which attracted my attention were the noises of sheep baaing, rabbits snuffling, wood pigeons cooing, pheasants crowing, trains chugging and every now and then the rumbling engine of a Greater Aycliffe Council van as the greenkeepers kept a watchful eye on the people playing the course. The first hole a Par 5 dog leg left, SI 16 at only 432 yards is a gentle introduction to the rolling hills course. Both the 2^nd and 3^rd holes are on steep rising undulating inclines and the Par 3 4^th SI 18 at 160 yards drops steeply to the green therefore there is definite need to under cook your choice of iron or the ball will quickly disappear into the out of bounds beyond. The Par 3 9^th SI 8 at 198 yards is hit from an elevated tee and the green nestles at the bottom of a sloping right to left hill side which provides the natural slicer every advantage to reach the green but be aware of the trees that follow the course down the right hand side. The 10^th, SI 11 is another Par 3 you have to be wary of, at 217 yards it has a small window of entry to the green, anything to the left will find a thicket and anything to the right will be impossible to find as it buries itself into a coppice with deep undergrowth. Here’s a tip for you, don’t make the mistake of hunting for a ball in terrain you know nothing about, or you might end up sliding into a muddy ditch just like I did! The 14^th par 4 SI 9 at 310 yards is a blind shot over the brow of a hill. There is a sighting pole on the ridge, but it may be difficult to see as it is enveloped by a tree! The 17^th hole a dog leg left is by far the most bizarre that I have ever played. SI 3 and 309 yards long it initially runs parallel with the driving range. Focusing on a straight a drive down the middle, sets you up nicely for the second shot however it doesn’t set you up for what your about to see. Firstly, as you walk the up the fairway towards your ball, it suddenly becomes very evident that you could well be in great danger for it is absolutely covered in wayward balls that have come from the driving range. Reaching your drive you look left to be confronted by a wall similar to that found in Game of Thrones, it is almost sheer and rises 20 feet from the fairway. The hazard notification for this hole states it is a steep track to the green and there is a risk of buggies overturning, not arf! The 18^th Par 3 SI 15 at 148 yards traverses along the other side of the golf range and again is spotted with range balls but thankfully not as many as the 17^th, nevertheless on a busy day it would be a dangerous place to dally. This course does truly live up to its claim to fame and is a credit to all those involved in its maintenance and upkeep. A veritable jewel in Greater Aycliffe’s crown.