The Quarries of CLEEVE HILL: CDP Engaged

[Thomas Dai]

Worth a watch and a listen - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=euauS8ZyFxY
Atb

[Thomas Dai]

Cleeve Hill GC just gets better and better.
The evil but wonderful 13th green, the green that sits inside the ancient Iron Age hill-fort ramparts and overlooks from on high the Severn Valley, Cheltenham, The Malverns etc. Gorgeous.
atb

[Sean_A]

The 2022-23 Winter Tour has been in the main relegated to playing a few courses, but many times. Cleeve Hill has been the main target of the Tour. The new management have improved the greens immeasurably in the past few years and the course is in excellent nick this winter. Please see updated tour.

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,49796.msg1128469.html#msg1128469

Other stops on the 2022-23 Winter Tour

Minch Old
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48765.msg1100536.html#msg1100536

Welcombe Hotel - no photo tour

Painswick
https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,51629.msg1181534.html#msg1181534

Future Tour Stops

North Berwick
Formby
West Lancs
Hillside
Sandiway
Southport & Ainsdale
Kings Norton

Ciao

[mike_malone]

Sean,


Love to see your comparisons of Formby, West Lancs, Hillside, and Southport and Ainsdale.


I played them all last September and enjoyed each but would be hard pressed from one play to rate them. I did enjoy West Lancs the best but I can only say because it seemed simpler.

[Mark Pearce]

Sean,


Love to see your comparisons of Formby, West Lancs, Hillside, and Southport and Ainsdale.


I played them all last September and enjoyed each but would be hard pressed from one play to rate them. I did enjoy West Lancs the best but I can only say because it seemed simpler.

I have only played two of those (Formby and West Lancs).  And like you, only once, so I wouldn't want to rate them.  But West Lancs was a surprise to me.  It doesn't get a great deal of attention here but I really, really enjoyed it.

[Sean_A]

Sean,

Love to see your comparisons of Formby, West Lancs, Hillside, and Southport and Ainsdale.

I played them all last September and enjoyed each but would be hard pressed from one play to rate them. I did enjoy West Lancs the best but I can only say because it seemed simpler.

Formby has always been my clear favourite of this lot. Although, the small footprint, intimate S&A holds strong appeal. It was heavily over treed when I visited. I am happy to say that problem is largely resolved. Somewhat similar to Formby, S&A has a highly entertaining variety of holes with some standout old school features. I am impressed. But hey, they are all good courses.

I took the train from Liverpool to Southport. It was lovely to see all the courses spread along the tracks.

Ciao

[Sean_A]

The 2023-24 Winter Tour stopped at Cleeve. I had a discussion with a chap working at Cleeve about the bunkering. There is talk about removing all bunkers. Quite a radical move, I think as a way to cut the maintenance budget.

Previous stops on the 2023-24 Winter Tour

Huntercombe

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,32228.msg1651016.html#msg1651016

Planned Stops

Minehead
Westward Ho!
Notts
Goswick
North Berwick
Renaissance
Kilspindie

Ciao

[Niall C]

Planned Stops

Minehead
Westward Ho!
Notts
Goswick
North Berwick
Renaissance
Kilspindie

Ciao

Have you scrapped the islands tour ?


Niall

[Sean_A]

Planned Stops

Minehead
Westward Ho!
Notts
Goswick
North Berwick
Renaissance
Kilspindie

Ciao

Have you scrapped the islands tour ?

Niall

No, just hoping for summer weather 😎.

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

The 2023-24 Winter Tour stopped at Cleeve. I had a discussion with a chap working at Cleeve about the bunkering. There is talk about removing all bunkers. Quite a radical move, I think as a way to cut the maintenance budget.

I’ve had the same chat likely with the same person and am far from convinced that sand bunkers, and there aren’t really that many, are irrespective of maintenance budgets even needed there.
Atb

[Sean_A]

The 2023-24 Winter Tour stopped at Cleeve. I had a discussion with a chap working at Cleeve about the bunkering. There is talk about removing all bunkers. Quite a radical move, I think as a way to cut the maintenance budget.

I’ve had the same chat likely with the same person and am far from convinced that sand bunkers, and there aren’t really that many, are irrespective of maintenance budgets even needed there.
Atb

I don’t think bunkers are needed, but several well placed bunkers would make for a better, more interesting course. For instance, losing the bunker on 1 makes that a much easier approach. Same for the left bunker on 2 . Same for the right bunkers on 4 and 9. Same for the front bunker on 17. Some fairway bunkers would help with the aesthetics. It’s not a bad thing for gravity golf to have some pathways cutoff.

Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

With sheep roaming Cleeve and dogs being walked there are always loads of four-footed prints in the bunkers. Sometimes something foul and smelly produced by both too.
Atb

[Sean_A]

With sheep roaming Cleeve and dogs being walked there are always loads of four-footed prints in the bunkers. Sometimes something foul and smelly produced by both too.
Atb

So move the ball just as one does for the rest of the course.

Ciao

[Tony_Muldoon]

Mmmmm bit worrying.   At our BUDA visit it seemed like with the refereshed clubhouse and increased standard of maintenance thnkgs had made a turn for the better. 


If they are still looking to save money it just shows how few golfers 'get' anything other than what the see on TV, as desirable golf courses.

[Sean_A]

Mmmmm bit worrying.   At our BUDA visit it seemed like with the refereshed clubhouse and increased standard of maintenance thnkgs had made a turn for the better. 


If they are still looking to save money it just shows how few golfers 'get' anything other than what the see on TV, as desirable golf courses.

My biggest concern is that should the tenants change their mind, the Trust may not allow bunkers on the land once the current bunkers are removed.

Ciao

[Niall C]

Would grass bunkers not be better both from a maintenance and visual/aesthetic aspect anyway ?


Niall

[Sean_A]

Would grass bunkers not be better both from a maintenance and visual/aesthetic aspect anyway ?

Niall

If it’s not financially feasible to keep some bunkers you could be right. That said, the current bunkers are dicey; poorly maintained, which makes them the hazard many here want to see returned to golf.

Ciao

[Simon Barrington]

If you love Cleeve Hill, and like a quirky challenge this event "The Old Tom One" looks a fun event (apologies if already shared elsewhere on here):https://www.golfgenius.com/register?league_id=10178213073261695888

[Sean_A]

If you love Cleeve Hill, and like a quirky challenge this event "The Old Tom One" looks a fun event (apologies if already shared elsewhere on here):https://www.golfgenius.com/register?league_id=10178213073261695888

Cleeve Hill is changing. I looked into this event several weeks ago. I was sticker price shocked.

Ciao

[Simon Barrington]

If you love Cleeve Hill, and like a quirky challenge this event "The Old Tom One" looks a fun event (apologies if already shared elsewhere on here):https://www.golfgenius.com/register?league_id=10178213073261695888

Cleeve Hill is changing. I looked into this event several weeks ago. I was sticker price shocked.

Ciao

Perhaps a little at the edges.
I guess this is the double-edged sword of a "best kept secret" not being so anymore, but that had to happen to save the course's future.
The winter morning (pre-April) Green Fee is £35 (presumably more in May?), plus a bacon roll, BBQ afterwards, plus prizes & a fairly unique event makes the £60 non-member fee not unreasonable.
Organised events are not for everyone, happily its still possible to play Cleeve for £20 post 1pm until April, so perhaps that's the way to enjoy this special place.

[Sean_A]

Well well. Hasn’t Cleeve hit the big time. I see CDP have been appointed by the club.

Ciao

[Robin_Hiseman]

Well well. Hasn’t Cleeve hit the big time. I see CDP have been appointed by the club.


Ciao

Well, at least they won't be cutting down any trees.

[Thomas Dai]

Interesting times ahead on ‘the hill’. Looking forward to seeing how things develop.
Atb

[Sean_A]

Well well. Hasn’t Cleeve hit the big time. I see CDP have been appointed by the club.


Ciao

Well, at least they won't be cutting down any trees.

One would hope a few trees go by the 4th tee, but not THE tree.


Ciao

[Thomas Dai]

Well well. Hasn’t Cleeve hit the big time. I see CDP have been appointed by the club.
Ciao

Well, at least they won't be cutting down any trees.

One would hope a few trees go by the 4th tee, but not THE tree.
Ciao

Ah yes, the trees by the 4th tee do overhang the tee. Mind maybe the 4th tee won’t be there in the future!?
Atb