Loughgall Golf Club

Date played: Friday, 23 March 2007, 10am
Weather: Mild, cloudy.

Parkland, 18 holes, Par 72

Opened in around 2001 but set in mature surroundings it’s the best council-owned course we’ve played to date. It’s part of the Loughgall Country Park and also in the grounds of the park are a football pitch, picnic area, playground, fishing and walks through the surrounding woodland.

We chatted with the lovely Nicola in the shop before our round – we like it when people are happy to have a bit of yarn and Nicola was one of those people. After our round we went back for more chat and found out that the land probably belonged to the Cope family and she told us some gossip about some trees which were cut down at the 8th!

We liked this one so much we might go back to it in the summer.

Green Fee: £15.00 weekdays, £17.50 weekends and bank holidays. Accepts Open Fairways.

Pro shop:
Seemed to be plenty of the usual paraphernalia. We usually only visit the shop to pay out green fees and return our cards.

Clubhouse:
They don’t have a clubhouse but The Famous Grouse is just up the road.

Changing Facilities:
There are football changing rooms but we did not use them.

Fairways:
It was soft underfoot but with very few soggy patches. The rough was shorter than many other courses we have played. The fairways looked well maintained. Should play well in the summer months.

Greens:
In very good condition. One or two temporary greens in use, also in good condition. Felt a little bit on the slow side (left many putts short) but may play faster in the summer months.

Thomas says:
I had a great deal of fun playing this course. In fact, I was liking it so much I was surprised when I reached the 18th, then disappointed that my round of golf was over so soon. Of course, it helped that I was having one of my better rounds.

The course felt nice right from the first tee and we weren’t disappointed the rest of the way round. It’s not a demanding course but there are some tricky holes with well positioned water hazards, bunkers and some tough slopes to negotiate. A couple of the par 4s would be driveable for some, but you better be accurate. Most of the fairways are wide open, but the occasional imposing old tree will get in your way here and there. Should be a visual treat in the summer.

We were initially hampered by two slow players in front of us but they soon let us through – in fact it was those two guys who told us it was a council course. We were already impressed with course by then and this made us rate it even higher.

The blurb on the well-produced free map of the course says: “If your goal is a golfing challenge in appealing surroundings at a reasonable price, then you will have found it at Loughgall.” I tend to agree.

Clive says:
What impressed me most were the little lakes – many of them tantalisingly near the green. I hit two lovely shots at these greens and was really pleased with myself.

When playing a new course I tend to do better than when I am at home. When you don’t know much about a hazard, then it doesn’t bother you. I liked the well shaped fairways, and the course had a very well established look. In the spring and summer the mature trees, which surround the course, will add to the difficulty in making a decent score around Loughgall.

After a thousand years playing golf I am still a 21 handicapper, but today I went around in about 90. I was pleased with myself! And finally, it was great value for money. Marks out of ten – 8.