Telford Golf Hotel

Information

Course Name: Telford Golf Hotel

Location: Great Hay Drive, Sutton Heights, Telford, TF7 4DT United Kingdom

Date Played: July 2022

Course Type: Parkland 

Introduction

The Telford Golf Hotel is part of the Q Hotels chain which includes Slaley Hall and Forest Pines. The course was originally designed by Brian Griffiths and John Harris and was apparently the venue for Ian Woosnam’s first professional victory.

This wasn’t my first visit to Telford Golf Hotel, however. My last visit took place on my birthday (November) some years previously. I ended up walking off the course a few holes because the course was in such poor condition. It was like playing golf in a marsh!

I pointed out to the golf shop that the course really ought to be closed considering the state it was in. Their reply was it would need to be closed for 6 months each year then!

I was hopeful the condition would be significantly better in the summer as I had good memories of my previous summer visit here.

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Telford Golf Hotel

The Layout

Like a lot of hotel golf courses, there are two loops of nine starting and finishing at the clubhouse.

Probably the standout holes on the front 9 would be the 1st, 2nd and the 8th.

The opener plays slightly downhill and doglegs slightly to the right. You’ll need to avoid the trees on both sides and there’s also a fairway bunker to catch your attention on the left. If you can lay up short of the bunker or fade one onto the fairway and you with an approach to a well sits facing you.

Second is a par five where you see off across a little of a valet. There is a penalty area to the right and a bunker to the left for you to avoid off the tee. Long it is my hand to their chances of reaching the green or you can opt for a hybrid and wedge to get regulation.

A par-3 and then a couple of fairly straightforward par-4s take you to the 6th which is a par-5 that sweeps around left-to-right and has a large bunker protecting a quite slopey green.

You need to position your tee shot on 8 to avoid the ever-present trees and the fairway bunker because your second shot is going to need to negotiate a large tree and water hazard that protects the green. You should be well satisfied with a par on this hole. 

The 9th takes you back uphill to the clubhouse and will be a tricky par for anyone who doesn’t strike the ball well.

Onto the back 9 and another hole that I liked. Played downhill and doglegging slightly left with a fairway that slopes left to right. Out of bounds left if you overdo a draw.

My favorite hole is probably the 15th. It is a short par-4 that doglegs right around a penalty area. You have to decide how much you want to bite off the corner. Lay up with a long iron, attack with a fairway wood or maybe even driver?

The 17th is also tricky. With trees and a water hazard to be avoided should you lay up off the tee? Your second will then be played uphill before your approach to the bunkered green with plenty of slope.

Telford Putting Green
Telford Putting Green & Range

Condition

I was pleasantly surprised by the condition given what happened the last time I played! There was some evidence of winter wear and tear and it looks like some drainage channels had been added to the fairways.

Greens

Greens were among the best I’ve played in ages. They ran true and were quite quick. Certainly, downhill putts could easily get away from you if you weren’t paying attention.

Bunkers

The bunkers that I did all seem to be a little too full of sand. To be honest it was actually quite awkward even to walk in the bunkers given how much sand had been applied. While there was a lot of it the sand was quite nice to play from.

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Fairways

Nice Surfaces to play from. Well-defined from the semi-rough. Starting to brown in a few places due to the dry weather but nothing too drastic. One fairway was a little messed up by our good friends the Canada geese. 

Tees

A little worn in places, particularly areas that were predominantly shaded but nice and level and trimmed to a nice height.

Telford 15th Tee
Telford 15th Tee

Challenge

Most of the holes are tightly tree-lined so you need to be hitting the ball fairly straight in order to make your score. The course is not frighteningly long certainly by today’s standards and is pretty easy walking with really only one steep climb.

The fairway bunkers tend to be of the large flat variety so won’t cause too much trouble for better players unless of course, they plug due to the amount of sand in them.

You should be tested out from a wide variety of side slopes and you’re likely to have to adjust your club selection to allow for changes in elevation.

Wisely the rough under the trees hasn’t been left too long to avoid people searching for balls no doubt. Given that you’re already in the trees I think that makes the shot difficult enough for the vast majority of golfers you don’t need to be playing from 12-inch rough as well!

Given the speed of the greens, you really need to try and place your approaches below the hole wherever possible. I think that might even include being just off the green short on one or two occasions!

Most of the greens have plenty of undulation to catch you out. The ball will often roll off the sides of the greens due to the slopes.

Off The Course

There’s a small pro shop that stocks the basics and there’s a great putting green and driving range for you to warm up before your round.

The hotel has a nice patio area for you to enjoy a drink or food when the weather permits.

If you want to indulge then you can take advantage of the on-site spa.

Telford 17th Tee
Telford 17th Tee

Telford Golf Hotel: Summary

During the summer months, the Telford Golf Hotel is a pleasant place for a round of golf. The greens in particular were excellent and will keep you coming back for more.

As I pointed out in the introduction though I don’t think the course handles wet weather too well so membership might entail muddy play for several months of the year.

If you are in the area then it’s well worth a game.

Green fees are £33 which seems decent value compared with a lot of other courses and if you are able to play later in the day the price drops as low as £21!

Related:

Check out the Telford Golf Hotels Official Website to book a tee time.

To find out more about golf on offer in Shropshire visit the county union website.

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