We put DeVere Wokefield Park to the test.
This used to be my home course when I started playing golf. This is where I spent most of my spare time so I have a soft spot for this course, but it really is a great course that will test all aspects of your game.
The course itself is just under 7,000 yards with a Par of 72. It has two very different nines, the front more tree, parkland feel to it and the back a little more open. It definitely favours players who see things right to left (probably why I like it) but don’t let that put you off it will require all sorts of shots.
So let’s get into it. The opening tee shot is slightly uphill, left to right with bunkers on both sides of the fairway at around 200 yards. You can cut the corner with a good drive which will leave a short iron or wedge into a narrow green. This will test your short game right from the start. You then have a choice on the second, a long iron into the widest part of the fairway or if your a big hitter attempt to drive the green at 285 yards. This green is protected by a bunker which is huge. Getting on the right level of this green is a benefit. The first par 3 is a relatively easy one, a huge green to hit with a large bunker guarding anything short. As you cross the road to the first par 5 you will have been well introduced to the course.
The 4th is the first water hole and there’s plenty of it down the right hand side, but a good drive should see you short or left of it, you’d be very hard pressed to find water off the tee. The fairway undulates upto the green but you shouldn’t find trouble unless you go right. Like the 3rd hole the green here is vast. The par 4 6th gives you another option off the tee – driver or mid iron, for me its a driver leaving a chip into the green, this hole is definitely a green light for a birdie.
The 7th is a real challenge, lots of water and lots of options. A good drive over the bunker on the right leaves you with the option to attack the green from around 240-250. If you pull your drive its a 3 shot play but the lay up options are again tricky as water is in play left and cutting in from the right. A 3 tier green sloping back to front awaits you, par is a good score but get your tee shot away and in good shape a birdie or eagle is very possible – a great hole!
The par 4th 8th is risk & reward, drivable but you need to be accurate as a big tree protects the majority of the green. The percentage play is a long iron down the left which opens up the green for your approach. Onto the next par 3 and its a visually great hole. Different levels on the green, well protected by the bunkers. The 9th is a dog leg right, for the bigger hitters you can attempt to cut the corner over the water which leaves a short iron into the green or its a couple of long irons off the tee and into the green.
You then have a long walk to contemplate your opening nine. A quick stop at the halfway hut and you’re into the back nine.
The elevated tee on the 10th looks down over the left to right fairway, a couple of bunkers await anything wayward off the tee. You want a short iron into the raised green and don’t go long as there is water waiting. Onto the long par 4 11th. A good drive and iron into the large and undulating green does give you a birdie opportunity but par is a good score on this hole.
A short walk round to probably the signature hole the 12th. I say probably as it depends on which tee box is in use, we used the one set over the water which is daunting, the other tee boxes feel like there in the 14th fairway. The par 3 is set on a large semi island green. It shouldn’t be a difficult hole but it usually plays into the prevailing wind making club choice critical. After you’ve navigated this hole a dog leg left to right hole gives you a couple of options. Go over the deep fairway bunkers to the right of the fairway and its a wedge in, but get it wrong OOB is all down the right side, those fairway bunkers are deep.
The par 5 14th has plenty of challenges. Dog leg left to right, water guarding anything short if you try and cut the corner and bunkers straight for anything slightly long. Its probably not a par 5 you would hit driver on. Its then a good long iron to leave you with a short iron in to the complex green, a challenging hole but birdie is definitely on the cards.
The 15th is another right to left hole, again options off the tee I cut the corner with a good drive that leaves a wedge into the green. Just don’t push anything too far right or its 3 off the tee. The 16th is a great par 4, uphill tee shot which does require some accuracy will leave a blind mid/short iron in, aim for the house! The final par 3 follows (the easiest hole on the course), a short iron or wedge to a large green sets you up for the final hole.
Now 18 is an uphill par 5. The tee shot poses a question as a large tree dominates the view which is just behind a ditch which runs across the fairway, OOB down the right. Get a good tee shot off over the ditch and your green lighted to attack the green. I play this hole as a three shot approach. Another large green awaits the final shots of the round, then a fist bump or hat tip then its off to the 19th for a socially distance beer.
How did we score it?
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Variety of holes | 7/10 |
| Experience | 7/10 |
| Design | 8/10 |
| Value for money | 7/10 |
| Uniqueness of venue | 6/10 |
| Total | 35/50 |
In summary:
As I said at the top I’ve played this course a lot, it struggles with slow play and that was the case on this round, mainly because its a hotel course which is why the experience score is only 7/10 you get a lot of ‘first time players’ which is great but it causes slow play unfortunately. They’ve completed renovations now of the driving range to a 15 bay fully floodlit facility which was really needed. The course itself was in good condition, a little wet under foot in places which is normal here and it has a wide variety of holes. They’ve removed quite a lot of trees particularly around 6,7,8 and 9 which I felt was unnecessary and takes something away from the 9th in particular.
Which nine is better?
The front nine gets the nod for me it just has that little bit more for me, slightly tougher yes but if you get through the front nine with a decent score it will set you up well for the back nine. Value for money at £30 a round its pretty good and you’ll struggle not to find a tee time.
It’s a good course and worth playing if you’re in the area. If you need a playing partner drop me a note!
Jeremy
Nine Hole Golf 