BARNHAM BROOM FEEDBACK

Wednesday 13th Feb......... we need to arrive at least 2 hours before our scheduled 1 o’clock tee-off time, in order to get settled in. Drive into car park, not many cars here, where do we go? Let’s try these double doors, looks like an entrance. No-one in here. Go thro’ into the building--- there’s a restaurant, here’s a bar. “Down there and turn left” says the barman. Ah, here’s reception. A pretty smiling face gives a cheery “Good morning, how can I help?” “Your room is just across the courtyard and to the left. I’ll just check to see if it’s ready”.. The room looks fairly standard, but somehow has a ‘better’ feel about it.

Let’s get our things out of the car...back past reception and thro’ the main door where we should have come in and out to the main car park, so it’ll be easier if we move the car from of the overflow car park, which is on the other side of those smart looking tennis courts. Time to explore......past the restaurant into the sports bar thro’ to the leisure centre, there’s a gym, and a decent size swimming pool. We’ll pop into the golf shop to check it’s still ok for our 1 o’clock start. “Yes, that’s all been booked for you. You’re on the Valley course, and the 1st tee is along that path down there.” Back to our room for a cuppa, and get ready.

Ready to tee-off...bound to make a mess of the first drive; ‘whack’-- that’s quite good actually. Hmm, seven each for the first hole, only to be expected; it’ll no doubt get better.........3rd fairway—why do they always put a stream where my ball lands?.............9th tee--- not much room between the trees; will probably hit at least two of them. The greens are in pretty good nick considering the time of year, and they’re quite fast.........13th tee, the sun is disappearing..................15th tee, it’s getting a bit misty.............16th tee, can’t see far in this thick mist; the green must be in that direction........17th tee, we’ll ask these two following us where the next green is. They’re members, so maybe we can play the last two together; ”Please do!. The green is beyond that stream at the bottom of the hill, you can just about see it” Hit the ball and try to find it when we get down there. The last green is impossible to see even from 50yds, so just pop the ball up and hope.

My legs ache; let’s relax in the pool. “Your room number please? Here are a couple of towels for you, just leave them in the container when you are finished”. The water’s just the right temperature, and with a limit on the number of people in the pool, there’s plenty of room. A few minutes in the steam room, then the sauna, back into the pool. Time to go back to our room and a nice hot bath.

Ready for dinner.....to the restaurant.... “Good evening; your room number? Is this table alright for you?” There’re about five choices for each course. I’ll have the soup, and the lamb dish looks interesting. Ahh, I enjoyed that. No room for a dessert, but we can flop down in the lounge with our coffee brought to us.

Thursday 14th........Put the kettle on. A nice hot shower to start.. The mirror, which takes up the whole wall over the handbasin, is getting nicely steamed up, except for the large heated area in the middle, so I can easily see to shave.

Breakfast time....several fruit juices, cereals, and other goodies to start....”Good morning, would you like a cooked breakfast?” It’s all freshly cooked, the eggs are just as they should be, the tomatoes are cooked properly, and we’ve got the fried bread we asked for even tho’ it’s not on the menu.

It looks breezy and cloudy outside, better wrap up well. There’s time to loosen up with a bucket of balls on the driving range before our 11 o’clock start on the Hill course. After notching up another terrible score, a light snack in the sports bar, then into the pool, more steam, a sauna, another swim. There’s a special Valentine menu tonight at no extra cost, and a red rose for the wife.

Friday 15th.....We’ll settle up after breakfast for any extras we’ve had ,...couple of bottles of wine, and snacks in the bar, and yes, we can still use all the facilities after our golf, as long as we’re out of the room by 11.

Back to the Valley course for our final round. There’s the threesome who were in front of us yesterday. “ You go on ahead, we’re not quite ready” They all seem to be nice and friendly round here. It’s cool but not so breezy today, but despite having already played this course, our score hasn’t actually improved. Never mind, it’s been tremendously enjoyable. By the time we’ve finished, our aching bodies can just about make it up the sports bar for a late lunch before setting off for home.

A brilliant break at a super venue.

Glenister Thom