GRANGE PARK GOLF CLUB (THE ROLLING HILLS OF ROTHERHAM)

GRANGE PARK GOLF CLUB	https://www.grangeparkgolfclub.org/
Type of course	Parkland	18 holes	Par 71
Course distance	White 6607 yds	Yellow 6279 yds	Red 5199 yds
Holes	3 x par 5	11 x par 4	4 x par 3
Played	28/07/20
Claim to fame: A challenging and picturesque 18 hole, par 71 parkland course
After the disappointment of my game at Brough it made a welcome change to play The Grange Park Golf Course with amiable, polite and pleasant participants. Today’s game saw me and Nigel up against Steve and Frank. Steve the co-owner of the course is the epitome of an honourable entrepreneur, beyond reproach, always cordial, but with a clear head for business. Frank is an octogenarian with a 13 handicap who has been retired from work all of three months! As a friend of my stated after the game. “I wish I could just go round in his age!” Coming off the M1 at Junction 35 signposted Rotherham, the course is a mere 2 miles along the A629. A sharp right takes you directly into the grounds. Advertising hoardings indicate the Pete Cowan Golf Academy directly to your left and the road down to the clubhouse is long and uneven but with trees lining either side. As you progress towards the heart of the course, you get a great view of the par 5 8^th on your left, the green of the 7^th to your right, followed by the 1^st fairway. Arriving at the club house the construction is reminiscent of a 1970’s council build, brick built, flat roof and a certain lack of finesse. Further investigation reveals that the course was initially owned by Rotherham County Council, designed by Fred Hawtree and opened in 1971. The Hawtree Company are best known during this period for the renovation of Royal Liverpool and Royal Birkdale. In 2005 Steve and his partner took over the running of the place and have developed it over time, by investing in appropriate course technology, club house re-design and events management. Internally a small reception and pro shop lead to a spike bar adorned with signed memorabilia from such greats as Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. The furniture in here appears to be a hotch-potch of styles, ranging from, two large leather clad armchairs either side of a piano, to upright high back wing chairs, bordering weather-beaten mahogany effect tables. Passing by the traditional locker rooms, a hallway leads to a large function room and attached to that is the pièce de résistance a 250 place marquee with stunning views of the Yorkshire Dales and beyond. The business partners however do not intend to sit on their laurels and wish to develop the grounds even further with housing and lodges strategically placed to ensure the occupant has the best possible views. Depending on where you stand on the course there are views of rolling countryside, the seven hills of Sheffield and The Peak District National Park all of which will no doubt attract potential buyers. Many amenities are also in easy reach, not least of all Meadowhall Shopping Centre, for those who want to shop, instead of play golf . The quote above the spike bar however, says it all for me, “To golf or not to golf, what a silly question.” With 40 mph winds forecast, it was clear that this would have an impact on our game today. Nevertheless, we all started out confidently. The 1^st a 421 yard par 4 SI 5, off the white tees, was allegedly, once considered, the most difficult hole in Yorkshire. Off the yellows it wasn’t too bad, with a gently rising slope followed by a dip and ditch protecting the front of a green surrounded by thicket on the other three sides. Immediately we were one down, as Frank showed us the way with a consummate par. The fairways were well cut on the day, although the greens felt a tad slow, but that might be due to my inability to gauge putts. As with all clubs in this current crisis the bunkers were GUR (Ground under repair) and looked it, a free drop was therefore given for all who had the misfortune to end up in one. I have it on good authority that when government constraints are eventually lifted, the management have procured 100 tonnes of sand to ensure that quality bunkers come back into play. By the time we reached the 5^th tee we were two to the good but not without a little controversy. After the 4^th at 409 yards par 4 is SI 1, a dog leg left with fairway sloping right to left, Nigel claimed the hole with a 5/4, at which point Frank considered that if Nigel gets a shot, then so should he. Having chosen sides at the first we had inadvertently forgotten to agree on the rules of play for the day. A quick explanation ensued and all parties were happy to move on. The next two holes were halved and we eventually reached the 360 yard par 4 7^th SI 11, which must be considered as the only hole on the course that does not fluctuate in any direction. It is also probably the flattest part of South Yorkshire. Nigel took this one and we quickly crossed the road onto the par 5 8^th SI 5 at 505 yards, downhill all the way and thankfully with a backwind. Frank parred it without breaking sweat. The journey from the 8^th green to the 9^th tee would have been confusing if it were not for Steve who obviously knew his way round. As we meandered through a forest, trail, he went round the edge of the copse to meet us as we emerged. I hadn’t seen a direction sign anywhere, but it doesn’t mean there wasn’t one there. As we walked up to the 9^th tee I noticed a large amount of rubbish stacked to one side which immediately made me think in this current climate, of fly tippers! With all bins out of action, as per government requirements, this was the flotsam and jetsam gathered by the grounds staff for removal later in the day. It is a shame that such a quality course can be marred by the detritus left by players and walkers alike, for the course also has a public footpath cutting through it. Take your rubbish home folks, you are not keeping another human being in a job by leaving it for others to pick up and just think of the effect you are having on the wildlife. At the par 4 10^th SI 14 at 336 yards it was left for Steve and I to compete for the hole, as the big hitters had seen the wind grab hold of their shots and place them into the deep rough on the side of the hill. Leaving the 10^th then Nigel and I were sitting pretty, 4 up and cruising! That is, if your definition of cruising, is hitting outward bounds, deep rough and trees. The 11^th dog leg right at 314 yards SI 16 is downhill all the way with out of bounds skirting the left hand side of the fairway. As I had the honour and hit a decent drive, Nigel went for it in one. Boom, it flew and flew and flew! Immediately followed by a provisional for it was out of bounds. Frank came up short and Steve followed in my footsteps. I faltered, Nigel faltered but the opposite pairing didn’t and they clawed one back. Quickly followed by another at the 12^th. Nigel pulled one back for us at the 13^th but that was the last we saw of our winning ways. The 14^th 460 yard par 4 SI 2 is a peach of a hole. Starting on the flat it turns gently right sloping down and revealing a view, not only the 14^th green but also the 17^th green split by the 18^th tee box. Very pretty indeed. As the holes came and went our competitors went from strength to strength, where as we/I faltered. A memorable quote from Frank came at the 15^th, as I chipped uphill to fall short yet again, he strolled past on his way to a bogey and commented, “Not enough pudding!” I think he was talking about the strength of my shot but if you place a comma between enough and pudding it takes on a totally different context! At the 17^th dog leg right par 4, 349 yards SI 10 we were still 2 up. Drives to the centre of the fairway for me, Steve and Frank, providing clear shots to the green. Nigel found the nasty long stuff off the tee and that was the last we saw of that ball. With only a two-foot putt and an opportunity to half the hole we were going to win the game, I couldn’t miss, could I? Oh yes, I could and did! The 18^th hole then 364 yards par 4 SI 6, uphill all the way. The club website states each hole has its own challenge but beware the 18th – it has spoilt many a card!! And it did. Decent drives all round and then I went to pot. Unlike the other three, who were stood at the pin thanking each other for the game, I was still trying to chip onto the elevated green. As Frank moved off, he said he had enjoyed the game, which doesn’t surprise me as he had parred the last three in a row to ensure a well-earned draw. The rolling peaks and troughs of Rotherham then provide a stimulating course with varying demands on every hole and although hilly it does not in the slightest way feel taxing. For the weekday non-member the fee is exceptionally good value for money at only £16 per head. Highly recommended and well worth the car journey, regardless of your start point.