Delapre Golf Course Review
Originally written and reviewed for the first time in September 2018, updated and remastered April 2020
Delapre Golf Course
Played and Reviewed – Saturday 1st September 2018
Address – Delapre Golf Centre, Eagle Drive, Northampton, NN4 7DU
Course Information and Stats
Delapre Golf Club is situated on a huge
260 acre site just off the A45 in Northampton and in close proximity to the
Abbey grounds. The main course itself (the Oaks course) is a classic public
parkland golf course, they also boast two 9 hole par 3 courses. Previously
owned and run by the council now it is owned by new ownership and they are
making their mark on the course making changes from the first time I played
here in April 2013.
Upon arrival
Having played this course consistently from April 2013 until November 2015, I was very eager and keen to see what developments, if any, had taken place. As I arrived and drove through the main gate, past the Jack's Par 3 course the conditions were superb with a very bright and sunny day in which to play, the course and all the memories of playing here all came flooding back.
The car park and surrounding areas had not improved but the parking is
very ample and possibly too big for the demand of the club. Walking
to the club house to pay for my round the putting practice facility, chipping
area were very well kept and extremely well used. Having looked in the club
house and facilities little had changed in this area but they were busy and
well used and kept really clean and tidy I was served by a chap behind the
counter who was very friendly and explained that I could get out at any point
as I had arrived before my designated tee time. At this point I was
thoroughly looking forward to getting out to the 1st tee to see what the
developments of the course were for myself.
Delapre Stats
From the longest tees (White), Delapre’s Oaks course
runs 6,299 yards. The course consists of four Par 3 holes, thirteen Par 4 holes
and one Par 5 hole. I played off the yellow tees which measured at 5,947 yards.
Signature hole – 13th Hole – 413 Yards Par 4
For me the most
attractive hole on the course because of the views of the course and town
itself from the tee box. Tee shot needs to be hit straight, head left and you
end in heavy rough, right is fine but you need to find the fairway and ideally
be in line with the fairway bunkers. Second shot takes on a ditch which is more
mental than a hazard. Two good shots and you end on the green. Too long off the
second shot and you will be out on bounds and in heavy rough. On approach to
the green the greenside bunkers come into play with them situated Putting green
is relatively straight forward with little movement similar to the majority of the
greens on the course.
Best Par 3 – 5th Hole – 168 Yards
The first of the Par 3’s on the
course is a great challenge from the first shot. Club selection is key (I know
that is the case for every shot) but the ideal is a good first shot lands you
on the green. Too short and you are in danger of finding bunkers. Although
there is no water the green is surrounded by a ditch so finding the right
length is important. Push the ball to the right and you could find a bunker
there as well. A good challenge for the first of the short holes on the course.
Best Par 4 – 17th Hole – 430 Yards
The penultimate hole on the course
and for me the best, but most challenging, Par 4 on the course. From the tee
you need to keep the ball straight. Push the ball to the right and the 10th
fairway is where you may end up. Too short and you fall short of the ditch,
which again is a mental challenge more than one of distance. A good tee shot
will find the generous fairway. The second shot is pivotal to the hole as to
score well you need to take it on but the green is situated on an island with a
ditch round it. A poor shot to the right and you find the ditch that follows
the fairway all the way down the right hand side. Leaving the ball short is not
a bad option and chipping well to make par is hardly a bad way to play the
hole.
Best Par 5 – 16th Hole – 485 Yards
This is the clear winner as it is
the only Par 5 on the course however don’t let that deter you. It is a good Par
5 hole in which to take on. Off the tee the first issue is being long enough to
reach the narrow fairway – too short, left or right and you find the long grass
making the next shot choice trickier. A good tee shot will position you in good
stead to take on the ditch however there is a dilemma to face. Do you play the
course and follow the fairway round to the left hand side or do you take on the
green which is surrounded by Willow trees. From there is it relatively straight
forward home with two green side bunkers just shy of the green and one to the
left hand side.
Birdie Time – 3rd Hole – 322 Yards
Following a relatively straight
forward start to the round the 3rd hole is one that is if played properly is a
real opportunity to make birdie. Like most shots in golf being accurate is
important and this drive ideally needs you to play the shot with some fade in
order to end up on the right side of the fairway, this with a slope to the
green gives a great chance to set up a chance for being on the green in two
shots. Too far left off the tee isn’t a bad shot, as you will probably still
end on the fairway but leave you with a lot to do from the angle to the second
shot. Too far right and you will end up in thick rough surrounded by trees
making a second shot tricky. Following a good drive the second approach shot is
not too tricky with the only hazard being a bunker just to the left of the
green. An ideal chance to get the round moving in the right direction.
Bogey Beware – 10th Hole – 393 Yards
A tough way to start the back
nine with the 10th on the Oaks course. It is one of the only holes on the
course where you can’t see the flagstick from the tee which makes it tricky as
does the fairly tight fairway. A good straight drive should leave no real
problems but in terms of accuracy, however as it is an uphill blind shot it is
only you approaching the ball that will tell you how you have done. Inaccuracy
will end in a lost ball to the left and very unforgiving thick rough to the
right. The thick trees to the left and rough to the right follow you along the
hole making approach shots more important. When you get around the green it is
surrounded by bunkers to the left and the right all of the above and it being
one of the longer Par 4 holes on the course it makes it one where a bogey could
easily be recorded on the card.
Post round thoughts
On what was a lovely day in terms of conditions I
was slightly disappointed by the lack of progress made on the course from the
last time I played it until now. The round was played in a good time with
golfers on the course allowing me chance to play through particularly earlier
on in my round without any issue. However in terms of the costing it still
remains a good financially viable place to play a round of golf and offers good
value for money. I am glad I went back and played it as my first golf course to
review as it is the place I played my first round however it is only when you
play other courses you appreciate how good some courses are. I would stress
that every golf course has merit but this is one that will be lower in the
rankings than the majority of others.
Course Rating by numbers – 57/100
Course Design and Test 4 (out of 10)
Landscape and Scenery 6 (out of 10)
Fairway Condition 3 (out of
10)
This
is where the course really does fall down for me. At times throughout my round
measuring whether I had a ball in regulation was tough to see, with this most
apparent early on where distinguishing patterns in the cut from fairway and
rough was tough. Considering the time of year the round was played the fairways
looked poorly kept and could have been better looked after. The condition of
some of the fairways themselves was very uneven and flat. Not all of the
fairways were poor with the highlights being the ninth and eighteenth.
Green Condition 8 (out of 10)
Although
the fairways scored badly the greens were a particular highlight of the round
with all them looking green and well kept. The majority of them were smooth and
relatively flat making putting easier than on other courses. Some fringes and
grass around the greens gave distinction but on the whole the greens were well
maintained and looked after.
Hazards 3 (out of
10)
The
course has very little in variation of hazards with the prominent ones being
ditches, mainly off island greens but with the odd one in the middle of the
course as well and bunkers which can not be penalised because you have to use
what you have available to you. However the bunkers were full of rock hard sand
which looked very orange showing a poor quality of sand. A lot of the roughs
were unkempt and made finding balls tricky and the island ditches were also not
well maintained.
Practice Facilities and Amenities 7 (out of 10)
You
would struggle to fault the facilities at the course as they have a good
floodlit driving range with bays, a good putting area which is well maintained
and used and even the option of a chipping and short game practice as well. For
what they have it is very good. In poor weather there is not an option for
simulator play and no practice facilities for bunker game but a good set of
practice facilities.
Clubhouse & Overall Cleanliness 6 (out of 10)
Pro-Shop 7 (out of 10)
Access & Parking 7 (out of 10)
Ample
parking for the golf course and the access to it is very good off the A45 with
good signage also. Although it does have a lot of space for parking it is not
the most secure as it is an open space for parking for golfers predominately
but walkers as well.
Value for Money and Experience 6 (out of 10)
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