Billingbear Park Golf Club - Est 1989*

Info correct at last date played: 5th July 2007

Club Facilities

View of the clubhouse from the 9th green.

AGN Review Score 5.6

Course Card

Course Review

*The course was originally established in the late nineteenth century but the land was farmed during the two world wars before being rebuilt. A reasonable nine hole course that has recently added another par 3 nine. They have added a small cosy clubhouse since our last visit but alas the changing rooms do not have any showers.

The view up the fairway on the 1st hole.

The course starts off fairly easy with a couple of dead trees being the only real obstacle on the first & a danger of running out of fairway with your tee shot on the second. The par 5 third gives you a good chance at a birdie by being reachable in two and you may think you will have a chance for a birdie at the next hole too but the fourth hole has a great undulating green so you may be left with a tricky putt just for par.

Those two bunkers are very much in play.

The fifth is a tricky one, described below, but the lake does not really come into play on the sixth, it does second time around though. The next two par 3's are have no real danger around them but you may just settle for a par on the eighth as being over 200 yards long it's quite a challenge to get down in two.The last hole has a lake on the right of the green which you need to steer clear of but with a good drive you should be hitting a short iron anyway.

Don't go right on your approach to the 9th.

We wouldn't say the greens, fairway's & tees were championship standards but they were in very good condition. Overall they seem to have put some money back into the course and it has improved quite a bit since our first visit.

Favourite Hole

Hole 5:  392 yard par 4.

The 5th from the tee, the ditch is in between the two trees.

All the holes were about average, but we liked the look of this one the most. It's a dogleg left to right with a ditch running across the fairway about half way down the hole, this ditch comes into play off the tee with a decision to either lay up to it or take it on. There is a lake on the right of the green that cuts in slightly ready to catch anything short & right, don't overshoot the green either there is trouble behind too.

Visitor Comments

Submitted by Peter Caddick on 13/01/2003
The course is reasonably difficult but as has already been stated it is a bit basic. I used to play there regularly but when we discovered other courses near by that had a club house we switched to playing at those. We will still play there for a change. One thing that should be noted is that it is only 9 holes. So to play 18 you go round twice.
We use to refer to the 6th hole as the hole from hell. If you get your wood shot wrong you've pretty much lost your ball. On the left are thick woods, on the right a lake and in the middle a ditch. If can't hit a ball straight at least 120 yards then this will give you problems.
Apart from that hole its reasonably straight forward course.

Submitted by Dee Johnston on 15/03/2003.
I started playing golf at Billingbear @ 4 years ago and plead guilty to having a soft spot for it. However it is not blind loyalty that tells me that although not a massive test, is is a joy to play not only because of the continuing investment in the course as opposed to a club house but also because of the abundant flora and forna ( 1st rule of golf: remember to smell the flowers along the way ),definitely not "a good walk spoiled". I would also like to note that their is also a delightful 9 hole par 3 course which winds its way through the woods and around lakes and ponds. I would particularly mention the 4th which demands a clean tee shot as it is all carry over the lake.Get round here in 27 and you are a golfer my son.

Submitted by Ken Watson on 6/10/2003.
Dear Golfers,
I have played regularly at Billingbear over the last few years and last played there yesterday.In the recent past, bunkers have been added to increase the hazards plus the new trees will come into play in the next 5 years. Martin and Jacqui make everybody feel very welcome and the pin positions were murderous yesterday plus the greens were excellent. All power !

Submitted by Harry Kernohan on 9/01/2007.
Having noticed that all the reviews are well past their sell by date, this will bring you up to date. Billingbear now has a clubhouse which is comfortable, has friendly staff and serves good food too. All the previous comments about the course still hold true but the owners have invested time and effort into improving the condition of the fairways and the greens.
There are two alternate tee positions on the 15th and 17th. The latter having been turned into a par 4. For me the 5th is the signature hole as taking on the previously mentioned ditch gets a bit tricky dependant upon the wind. All in all the 'Old Course' provides and enjoyable round of golf and the 'New Course' is one of the best par 3 courses in the area.

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