Nuneaton Golf Club Feature Review

Review by Golfshake Ambassador Mel Davies

Nuneaton Golf Club is Highly Recommended on Golfshake and offers its members and visitors a beautiful, mature parkland golf course that was first established in 1906 as a nine-hole layout before it was extended to 18 during the 1960s.

Regarded as a standout in the Midlands, Nuneaton is located just a short drive from both the M6 and M69, which makes it very accessible from all directions. 

Pre-Round Thoughts

I’ve heard many great things about the course over the last few years, so was really excited to get the chance to play here. The drive into the venue is a very pleasing start to the visit as straight away you can see how great the whole place looks.

I was greeted with a very warm welcome in the pro shop and also from Marc Valentine (General Manager) who came to greet us on the first tee.

There is a practice ground, chipping area and putting green all nearby and the well stocked pro shop is also on route to the first tee.

Front 9 Overview

The round commences with a nice downhill par 4 that is quite generous off the tee but still has bunkers well placed (as I found out) giving the hole some protection.

You then have a par 5 followed by another par 4 and straight away you can see where the course gets its protection as trees line the fairways and both holes are doglegs which is a real feature on this course. Next up is the first par 3 which is a mid iron with once more great bunkering, which is also a big presence all round the course. You then get two more par 4s where accuracy off the tee is paramount. Another longer par 3 then awaits where club selection is very important as bunkers await front left and back right.

The front 9 finishes off with two more par 4s with the 8th sweeping right and the 9th gently left and all uphill. 

What I do tend to like is when the front nine takes you back to the clubhouse as you can replenish your refreshments.

Back 9 Overview

As per the opening hole, this nine starts off with a great par 4 downhill but like every tee shot here accuracy off the tee is in demand.

You then have a great par 3 with bunkers left and right and a hedge left which requires a flop shot over if you are too far left off the tee (which again I found out).

You then have three tough par 4s that require well placed tee shots as they are all doglegs, first to the left, and the next two to the right. You can take the “Tiger line” on 14 over the corner but beware as there is a little pond awaiting any shot too far right and without the adequate carry.

Next up is 15 and the real jewel in the crown. Par 4 with only an iron needed off the tee as water is left on the corner of the dogleg and a ditch runs straight across the hole. If you get it in the right place it only leaves a wedge into a green with a tree and bunker short left ready to grab any shot offline. This truly is a fantastic hole and you can see why it is the “Signature Hole” here.

16 is the second of three par 5s and a well hit drive will leave some with the chance of getting on or close in two, but as with all the holes bunkers and trees are ready to gobble up any shots leaking off the fairways.

The penultimate hole is the last par 3 and the shortest but again don’t be fooled as a very narrow green is your target and bunkers await front left and right and the green is also cut into a backdrop of trees meaning there is no bailout off the tee. 

The last hole is the third par 5 that sweeps to the right meaning only the longest will get to see the green for their second shot. A great finishing hole to an absolutely stunning course. 

Post-Round Thoughts

The 15th is the real showpiece hole with the water, fountain, bridge over the ditch and a superb green perched round the corner surrounded by trees. 

For me there are a few standout features here, the teeing areas are some of the best I’ve witnessed, the mixture of holes and the fact that every hole seemed different also adds that something special for me. Bunkers are all very good and well placed and the greens on the whole are small but quite tricky and a really nice pace too. 

The condition of the course (especially at this still early stage of the season) was amazing. Lovely definition to each hole, rough not too penal especially as when you’re offline you are normally in the trees anyway. Greens were as good as you’ll find and having spoken to Marc with all the investment in new machinery it’s only going to get better, which is great news for members and visitors alike.

Verdict

Nuneaton shows me that not every course has to be 7,000 yards long to be challenging yet at the same time playable for all levels of ability. I personally think you’ll struggle to find many courses with such variety and quality of holes. A really memorable and thoroughly enjoyable experience and I for one will definitely be returning.

Overall Rating - 10

Course (Conditions) - 9

Course (Hole Variety/Layout) - 10

Course (Green Condition) - 9

Course (Challenge/Difficulty) - 10

Club Facilities & Clubhouse - 9

Practice Facilities - 9

Friendliness/Hospitality - 10

Pace of Play - 10

Value For Money - 10