Pine Ridge Golf Club - Est 1992

Info correct at last date played: 4th August 2000

Club Facilities

AGN Review Score 6.5

Course Card

Course Review

A very scenic public pay & play golf course, the fairway's on most holes are flat and lined with pine trees but they are very undulating with slopes going in all directions. The whole course is surrounded by pine trees but there is space amongst these trees to find gaps to recover back onto the fairway (Simon can verify this as he spent most of the time around the course amongst the trees).

The greens are undulating too and you will find some interesting putts on some holes if you are more than 20ft away. The tees on this course are amongst the best tees we have played on, they are all built-up tees with log surroundings and look great, the course is not too hilly overall but the second nine is definitely more tiring than the first.

Favourite Hole

Hole 15: 384 yard par 4.
A great looking hole from the tee. You cannot see the green as the hole bends around to the left and down to the green. A lone tree in the middle of the fairway at the bend is the only hazard on this hole unless you try to cut the corner too much and end up in the pine forest.

Once you have negotiated the tree you are left with a mid-short iron downhill approach to a green that is only guarded by two bunkers on the left and right. If played sensibly then this hole is not that difficult but we just thought this was the best looking hole on the course.

Visitor Comments

Submitted by Scott Pearson on 06/04/2001
I have been playing Pine Ridge since it first opened. Superficially, the course looks beautiful, with tall Pine Trees lining many of the fairways. Closer inspection of the course will reveal that the fairways and greens are heavily overplayed and not in ideal condition. It is a pity because the course could be absolutely gorgeous if the it was allowed to recover for a few weeks or so, but come rain or shine it remains open to all comers. (such is life at a pay & play course). The other downside of Pine Ridge's popularity is that a weekend round will take in excess of 5 hours.

Having said all of that, if you are a patient golfer, I think Pine Ridge is an extremely good test of your golf game. On the whole, the course is fairly short with a decent drive leaving you a mid to short iron into most greens. The front nine is pretty open and gives you a good opportunity to iron out the kinks in your swing before you face the much tighter and more undulating back 9. The greens are of a reasonable size and fairly receptive, and can present you with some very interesting longer putts.

In addition to the 15th hole which is just fantastic, I think the 4th (416 yd par 4 with a tree in the middle of the fairway) & the 12th (202 yd par 3 from an elevated tee) are holes to look out for. I'll also mention the 17th which is only a short par 3 over a little valley (around 110 yds), because it is always good value for a side bet on the closest to the pin!

Submitted by Joe White on 22/08/2001
I have been playing Pine Ridge regularly since it opened. I find the course to be a good challenge to us higher handicappers, but as stated in previous reviews, I find that playing at weekends the first few holes can be a pain playing the waiting game.
I have to agree that the course could do with a break from the below average golfer hacking it up over the weekends. Tee times are also kept quite tight, which does not help the queues. On saying that the course does have some lovely holes. The 4th, 8th, 13th and 15th are attractive propositions for the average golfer. And the 2nd has a very under estimated longer second shot to the green. Be warned though, sometimes club marshals rush you into taking your second shot, as though they no that 'no one' will reach the green with a 5 or 6 iron in their hands!!!

Submitted by David Howells on 18/06/2002.
Having played the course for the first time last week, I have to say it is an extremely well maintained, enjoyable course with some super holes. Some of the fairways are quite tight but the rough (pine needles) can be quite forgiving. I enjoyed the 15th both for its beauty and toughness. Although I was playing with a beginner, he managed to handle himself well and playing early in the morning meant we had time to play 2nd shots without 'tee hasslers'.
I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a testing but enjoyable round.

Submitted by David Donovan on 21/10/2002.
I have just played Pine Ridge for the first time and I would concede this as the best course I have played this year (and I've played 12 or so).It is such a bonus to play in a beautiful environment whilst enjoying the different shots you are made to play by the clever design of the course. The fairways are well drained and almost carpet like to play off. Then you also have the confidence that you can fire into the green knowing that they are are unusually very receptive.
The S.S.S. of the course does give you an indication of how the course can play. Although many of the fairways are tree-lined, none of the tee shots on the course are overly daunting. The fairways are reasonably generous,although the course does tighten up on the back nine,and accurate irons are more the call off some tees. Low - medium handicappers could score well here,provided you drive the ball straight. Most of the Par4's are reachable with a drive and a short - mid iron,and the Par 5's for the Longer Drivers offer realistic birdie opportunities.
The key to the course is without doubt staying on the fairway. Higher handicappers may find their scores going through the roof if they are not reasonably straight. Anything left or right is in the trees and inevitably you have to play out sideways,or drop. There are a couple of special looking holes in the 2nd and 15th which must rank as among the best in the South East. I would recommend this course to any golfer seeking a very good but fair test of their ability.

Submitted by Sacha Williams on 16/10/2002.
I've been playing this course on and off for the past five years and it consistently plays well. If you are a mid handicap player you will find it about right. Whilst the course is heavily lined by pine trees you will be surprised how many of your wayward shots will come back onto the fairway. Even in the trees you can find your ball easily and still have some sort of a shot. Accuracy not length is the key to a good score her. Holes to look out for are the 3rd a Par 3, elevated green, narrow fairway with a steep slope on the left. Get distance and accuracy wrong here are you might as well as throw your card away. The par 5 holes have generous width so you can blast away safe in the knowledge you have a chance of getting on the green in 2. The back nine are the hardest with fairways narrowing and the ground becoming very undulating. After the par 3 12th a great hole you face the Eiger as the 13th is all uphill and needs a good drive. The green here is the most tricky after the 17th. Book an early start at the weekends and you should get around in 4 hrs. It is expensive compared to other courses but the course is very well maintained and you can play all year round. The bar is OK but the food from the bar definitely needs improving. You can't help wondering that the club house needs to be modernised and brightened up but everyone is friendly. Best time to play is midweek.

Submitted by Alex on 2/04/2004.
I agree with the sentiments of the other reviewers. This course has such great potential but is clearly overplayed and the course suffers as a result. In the right hands this course could be the southern equivalent to Woburn instead of Richmond Park!

Submitted by Wayne Parkinson on 01/11/2004.
I play off 26 but am a good yet inconsistant golfer. Pine Ridge is the most enjoyable course I have played. It is quite long in parts with challenging par 3s. Club selection is not always easy but there is plenty of opportunity to get Big Bertha out and give it a crack. The fairways are quite wide and lined with pines (suprizingly) which means even if your aim is way off you will generally find your ball and get it back on the fairway. All in all a great course for the lower handicappers who want to have a real go at the course. Quite up and down so if you don't get around too well get a buggy!

Submitted by John Rodriguez on 24/12/2004.
I play every saturday and I find it very relaxing and very enjoyable I carry my clubs
front nine and then boggy back nine(68 years old)my preferit holes are 11, 12, & 15.
love the the place.

Submitted by Rob Lewis on 12/09/2005.
Nice course which I played many times over a number of years. The last time was over a year ago. Having turned up 10 mins before our booked tee-time we approached the starters hut to find 12 players on the first tee, the chap in front of us appraoched the hut and asked the starter if he could get a round despite not having got a pre-booked tee time. No problem!!!!!!! Hang on a second here, we are due off in 5 mins and there are still 12 guys on the tee waiting to start their rounds. We tee'd off 40 mins after our pre-booked t'time and matey boy jumped in before us. The bottom line is the t'times have always been far too tight at Pine Ridge, the course is therefore seriously overplayed. The prices continue to rise but the pleasure of playing is being eroded. I still think that the views from the 2nd and 11th tee take some serious beating, even by the more well known and costlier tracks just down the road. But after trudging off the 18th some 5 hrs 50 mins later, I came to the conclusion that enough was finally enough!!!!!

Submitted by Simon on 29/03/2006.
I have been playing the course for a number of years. Lovely course to look at and play at certain times but suffers from terrible over use, lack of sand in bunkers and rather slow, non-uniform greens. Fairways get very dry in summer. If they only closed it down for a few weeks to recover and spaced out the tee times by a few minutes it would be brilliant. Rising prices and poor greens are forcing me to seek out new courses. Spring weekdays are the best time to play when the fairways are in good condition and it's not too busy. Play at the weekend only if you have a day spare!!!

Submitted by Paul Reynolds on 28/05/2006.
Played today 28/05/2006 - first sunshine after a weeks rain. The only criticism i have is we got away 20 mins after we should have teed off. First 3 or 4 holes expect waiting to tee off as it gets busy.
I thought the condition of the course was fantastic. Greens were in fab condition, fairways were surprisingly hard considering all the rain we've had. Some testing little par 3s and some hilly par 4's make this a very interesting course. Make sure your driver is working around here, you'll need it. I've read reviews about this being the best pay-and-play course in the area. i can't argue with that. If you a have a spare 5 hours then pay it a visit - you'll enjoy it.

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