Enjoying a round of golf at Bowood Golf Club

A guest blog by Pete Hopwood

Over a weekend in June, I had the great pleasure to play the 18 hole Bowood golf course. Set in lush parklands, it is an architect designed championship course. For those not playing golf there is a superb alternative with the Bowood Spa and Leisure providing a relaxing area to rejuvenate. This is what my wife, Theresa, took full advantage of while I was playing!

The staff in the pro shop were very helpful with fitting my booking in, for what was obviously a very busy time for them. And so, to the golf…

The course is beautiful and characterised by nice wide fairways, which on the day I played, were diagonally cut and in great condition. On each hole, there are large deep bunkers most noticeably at the sides of the fairways both at average tee off distance for that hole and then down the sides to the green itself, where they guard the greens, waiting to trap the unwary golfer who may play up slightly short. In quite a few of the bunkers, and I had first-hand knowledge with some of my more wayward shots, you will see deer hoofprints. There is even a local rule saying you can move your ball if it is in a hoof print! 

There are a lot of areas of woodland with both deciduous and conifer trees and also lakes, one of which attracted one of my shots like a magnet!

The first hole is the longest on the course and at 592 yards and is a very good par 5. On the left is woodland with large bunkers at the side of the fairway on the right at about 200 yards to trap you. Once you reach the green it is in great condition, as are all the greens on the course.

The 2nd hole is perhaps the most picturesque as you tee off into a small valley with the green situated on a dog leg to the right. Woodland to the right needs to be avoided so a nice central shot is definitely required! Once you have completed the hole and played the short third you need to be on your mettle to get to the fourth. It is a short walk through a wood and not the tee beside the third green, which is in fact the sixth tee, and guess what mistake I made! 

All the holes up to the 9th have their challenges, but on the 9th itself there is a large lake to the left with the green itself obscured by elevated land on the right and then surrounded by bunkers when you get to it. 

One great feature when you start the ‘back 9’ is the ‘halfway house café’ which is, as it sounds, a little café just before you tee off on the 10th selling all manner of refreshments. 

The 12th hole has a feature I have not seen before with two separate lines of bunkers completely circling the approach to the green. You need to be extremely accurate with a high pitch shot approach to miss those!

The 16th and 17th holes traverse the Queenswood Lodge which is a lovely old manor house that is rented out on a private basis as part of the hotel facility. 

The 18th takes you back to near the café on the 10th which is most welcome after a challenging game of golf!

The whole day was finished off by a nice meal in the Bowood brasserie together with a pint of my favourite ale!

I certainly enjoyed my visit to Bowood which has all the elements for an interesting and challenging round of golf.