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Withernsea	https://www.withernseagolfclub.co.uk/
Type of course	Parkland	9 holes	Par 34
Course distance	White 6248 yds	Yellow 6072 yds	Red 5532 yds
Holes	4 x Par 3	10 x Par 4	4 x Par 5
Played:	14th January 2022
Claim to Fame: Pride themselves on being a forward thinking, friendly and efficient member owned and run golf club

For the first time in four months, I had the opportunity to play a new course. One on which my golfing prowess had never been seen before. Witherinsea as the good people of Ull call this once bustling seaside resort is now a shadow of its former self. With’ like many British resorts, has suffered from a decline in the number of visiting holidaymakers and according to the 2011 census had a population of 6159.

The golf club is a private limited company with 120 members and is an interesting phenomenon, although played as a 9 or 18 hole course it does in fact have 12 greens. The most recent green being the 7^th which was funded by donations generated by members, friends and family of a Mr Darren Hart.  The website hints at a club that is well cared for by the few for the many to enjoy. The cost of a winter or summer round is £15 and on ringing for a tee time, we were informed the money should be left in an honesty envelope within the club house. It all smacks of the good old days when honesty was the best policy. Unlike our current government minsters.

The journey from Hull along the A1033 is time consuming and takes a lot longer than you would wish for. Before hitting the centre of Withernsea a circuitous but sign posted route takes you through a housing estate and eventually brings you to the club entrance.

The website states the club was established in 1909 and is set in secluded parkland, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, offering a genuinely warm welcome with challenging narrow mature fairways and superb greens. A test for the golfer, young and old, allegedly.

In reality the course is relatively flat and crowded into two large fields separated by a deep drainage ditch but this doesn’t distract from a rather complex set up. The Club House is a series of linked off white portacabins which have clearly seen better days and on our arrival had limited entry.

The office immediately to the right of the entrance door was open but unoccupied and as per instructions entry fees were placed in an envelope, posted into a box and a self-made receipt taken. As we readied ourselves for the off, Neil Baxter the Club Chairman arrived, introduced himself and explained, the course layout, the course etiquette and the membership. A nice touch, further adding to the homely feel of the place.

As it was an early start on a  cold and crisp morning the information regarding the layout was well received, if not a little confusing. Although the website has a plan of the course, sadly this is of little use when the scorecard lacks what should be a necessity.

Today’s game saw the Friday crew continue with their fourball match play betterball and having lost the game by the smallest of margins when we last met, the Fitter and I were determined not to let history repeat itself.

The first, SI 11, 324 yard, par 4, is a slight dog leg left with an undulating fairway and shallow dividing ditch. The ditch was easily navigated although the green appeared to have a number of rabbit scrapings and with a frost covering, the ball did not roll well, the hole was halved and we were up and running. A small sign situated by the green pointed us to the 226 yard 2^nd, Par 3 SI 3 and a lovely par from my partner saw us go one up.

The 3^rd a par 4 at 400 yards SI 5 has Boom Boom on the front foot and he take the hole, all square.

Arriving at the 4^th tee par 5, SI 7 at 502 yards, confusion abounds as we are unsure where it is in relation to the 13^th. Closer scrutiny reveals numbers painted on the yellow tee markers and a nearby sign stipulates you should aim for the chequered flag!  With your second shot taken from the top of a rise, no chequered flag is in sight, so as indicated by the Wizard’s golf watch, we aim for the green ahead. As we are about to putt out the greenkeeper strolls over to inform us that we are on the wrong green and points to one 80 yards further on. Close scrutiny reveals a limp chequered flag languishing on the pole. Regardless, we putt out and class the hole as the 13^th!

As a team we also go two up in the confusion.

The 5th is halved

The 6^th is probably the most interesting of holes a long par 5 dog leg left with mature trees protecting the green from anyone who attempts to cut the corner. Three tee shots left flying over the brow look OK, until we discover a pond awaiting us all. After penalty drops and varying degrees of poor, the Fitter who has been playing steadily throughout once again takes the hole. Perhaps the new carry bag has stimulated his golfing juices!!

The 7^th par 4, 269 yard, SI 9,  once again leads to more confusion as we consider which green to aim for. The sign next to the tee doesn’t help much either and I quote

WARNING
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE SAFETY OF
THE GROUP PLAYING
AHEAD ON
7^th OR 16^th FAIRWAY
7^TH OR 16^TH GREEN
8^TH OR 17^TH TEE

The  Wizard’s watch wanted us to veer left and head for a small green resembling an upturned saucer but our collective memories from the conversation with Neil, said go right. We wrongly opt for the latter. The Wizard fires his second to within inches of the flag and would look to produce a fine birdie if it wasn’t for the fact he was on the wrong green! Regardless of local rules, which to be fair we should have read before the game, out comes the magic putter and the ball flies from green to green for a sure fire par. Quality indeed.

Searching for the 8^th tee adds further to our confusion as we trek to the 17^th tee, then onwards to the 8^th and 17^th ladies tees, followed by a hike back over the dividing ditch, finally falling upon the desired box.

On  the 8^th the Fitter provides us with a masterclass, when tight to a tree he plays his ball off the trunk and back into the middle of the fairway. That bag has given him  a new lease of life, will he play more often? Maybe!

On reaching the turn we are 3 up and sitting pretty, surely nothing could go wrong this time, could it?

At the 10^th BB decides enough is enough and fires up the after burners and before we know it, we are only one up with four to play and in fear of cocking up yet again.

At the 13^th or was it the 4^th , myself and my partner see our second shots disappear into the deep dividing ditch and as we lay flat on our stomachs in an attempt to retrieve the balls, evidence of damaged clubs rusting in the sediment reveal that we were not the first and undoubtedly will not be the last to attempt retrieval. Note to self, remember to carry a ball scoop in future!

On eventually retrieving the ball BB suggests that I have now grounded my club five times in the hazard and should pay the penalty! I respond with an exclamation of contempt, with the intent of breaking the rapport! A common phrase often used by those who lack a deep understanding of the English language but extremely effective!

Before we know it, we are back at the 15^th/6^th dog leg left par 5 and  now wary of the water we all hit right with varying degrees of success. The Fitter is once again in prime position and chasing the game BB went for the impossible second, only so see his ball fly to ‘infinity and beyond’, never to be seen again. With the Wizard now in charge, the Druid comes unstuck as he overshoots the green on at least two occasions and opens the door for the Fitter to bag yet another hole.  Think I might go to Sports Direct and invest in this magic bag of plenty.

The 16^th or is it the 7^th , who knows anymore, sees the Fitter hit his second into the green only to see it roll precariously  close to the pond whereas we lesser mortals peppered the fringe. The Fitter, happy to find his ball on the down slope then adroitly chips in for a fine birdie . That bags got more tricks than a magician’s top hat!  We are dormie two and we can’t lose.

The impact in five days, of three games of golf, a 4 mile run and a game of 5 a side had begun to take its toll on my body and although the driving continued to be decent, my fairway shots nosedived. No matter, I was sure Ali Bongo would see us through to the end. At the 17^th he drives, he fires off the fairway, he goes for the green with his third, only to see it pull left and settle high in a tree. I attempt to carry on but am no match for Boom Boom as he wins the hole. One up, one to play, it looks like we’re heading for a draw.

Strangely it’s all down to the 18^th , again! The Wizard has had a talking to from his captain and he responds confidently with the immortal words, “I won’t let you down skip”. His drive is good, as is that of the Fitterm aka The Great Soprendo and BB. I on the other hand am heading towards the out of bounds, when the golfing gods come to my rescue as I hit a bush and see the ball bounce back in play. My second is falls short of the green, BB over flies, the Fitter takes a bit too much ground and leaves a long chip in. The Wizard with the immortal words ringing in his ears, sets up for his second and unleashes his wand, the ball flies four feet vertically and returns from whence it came. Nobody comments, because as all golfers know, we’ve all been there before and will undoubtedly be there again some time soon. As I pass BB on the way to the green, he suggests that in the blog, I double underline the Wizards words. Harsh I know but who am I to refuse such a request? As everyone looks on, I chip over the bunker leaving the ball within inches of the hole. With no need to unleash the putter the game is won and we are a pair of happy bunnies, it’s about bloody time!

To summarize then, With’ greens need a cut, tee boxes are overgrown, what few bunkers that exist, are in the words of the greenkeeper, “too hard to rake” and the fairways definitely need cropping. The course is tight, it is confusing too the newcomer and with numerous warning bells to be rung and signs to be read, if there were more people there on the day, you would have to have your wits about you. If I could so humbly request of the limited company that is Withernsea Golf Club, a scorecard plan is a must as is improved signage but having said all that, it still has some delightful holes and is much more than just the two fields I portrayed earlier. A return in the summer is a must.

Next stop Burstwick.