The Wiltshire Hotel, Golf & Country Club - Lakes Course

First time at this interesting and enjoyable to play course. Lots of water (as the Lakes title suggests) presenting plenty of challenges to the average player. Probably didn't play it at its best as the recent weather had kept the green keepers off the course and they were still playing 'catch up' when we visited. However its a course I would be very happy to visit again and at the green fees we paid, was good value for money. The receptionist/barman and the greenkeeper we met were very helpful and engaging, there appeared however not to have a 'pro shop' and the hotel rooms side of the complex was block booked so access to the facilities was a little convoluted.

Was created at the front door by what looked like a bouncer! Was told to go around the back as front door is only for immigrants now! Staff didnt know how to access the computer, so nearly missed our tee time. Then we finally tee off straight down the middle, but took us 5 minutes to find the ball as it had plugged! The whole day was like this, very disappointing as this was a great course but not anymore

Course should have been shut, lost three balls in centre of the fairway Because they were getting plugged and impossible to find.

Also I think that the hotel was full of migrants one of which seemed offended when I beeped my horn as he was standing in the middle of the road impeding my exit. Quite intimidating.

Reserved buggies but too wet for them . Allowed to play. More signage required from green to next tee.

Bar open for coffee only. No beer on tap. Kitchen closed so no food

Very poor course with long grass on the fairways, mud everywhere except the greens which should have been called browns. Not many golfers playing the course now that the hotel has been repurposed for Asylum Seekers. We will not play here again (£25 each!!).

Good condition

Well layed out

A good challenge

Will be back

No pro shop

But worth a round.

Nice fairways

Some great shaped greens

Course was in pretty decent condition, given the awful weather we’ve had. Felt like £20 was fair reflection and worth the money. The hotel had turned into asylum seeker hotel and can’t even get a drink. Asked one the staff to get off seat to get us one and said yes 1 min and never lifted his head again.

After reading some of the other reviews after already booking, I was a little sceptical. On arriving for the first time, it is not obvious where to go to sign in (some signage at the front near the car park would solve this issue). There was no pro shop or anywhere to buy snacks or drinks to take on the round. Once we arrived at the first tee, it was clear that the course was in excellent condition for the time of year. All greens were well kept and fairways were good. The course was not too busy and we were waved through by a slower group which meant pace of play was excellent throughout. The best 18 hole course I've played for under £20.

Where to start? Zero signage in the car park as to where to go to check in or where 1st tee was. After being redirected twice I finally found the tee box or weed mound. Thought maybe it was just the first tee but no such luck. Fairways were just as long as the semi rough or rough so no idea where fairways begin and end, luckily you can see where the greens are and that’s were the good news ends. The greens( weed patches and bare soil with mud and holes everywhere) and luckily for me with an empty course I got to put all the flag sticks in so I could actually see where the holes were( I teed off at 1130). No pointers for the next tees and info boards on the weed mounds were pointless as you couldn’t see the info due to them being bleached by the weather. Cannot believe they charge £20to play on this course……. £5 is too much, will I be back? Would rather spoon out my eyeballs with a rusty fork.

The potential of being a superb golf course.

Greeted by a sign saying entrance is around the back. The back entrance is a corridor which serves as the pro shop and sign in station. Given a score card a smile and nothing else. I’m not an especially chatty person but I do like to find out conditions, any tricky holes or navigation points on a course I’ve never played, it was clear the receptionist wasn’t a golfer or had any interest in having a conversation.

Course was soaking wet, there is a lack of drainage that really takes away from the feel of the course and impacts play negatively. However the greens were bone dry, which didn’t help the putting surface. This was unevenly cut causing a putt to resemble a ball rolling on an actual pebble beach.

Biggest problem was the signage. Four times I found the wrong tee, and twice almost teed off on the wrong hole because there was no hole number at the tee box. The shambles welcome and a couple wandering over when I was on the first asking where the 15th was gave me enough warning to ensure I was on the right track. Luckily my gps watch gave me enough information to tell me I was in the wrong place but some signs telling you where the next tee is would be an easy fix.

Afterwards had a pint in my socks as the bar doesn’t allow spikes and the car park is too far to care about the sock stink. I was alone in the bar, it’s a pretty big place but did seem odd that it was empty. The kitchen was closed so no cheesy chips for me.

The whole feel of the place seemed like it was new owners just starting to learn the ropes themselves. Plenty of staff not many guests. At one point you walk past a large indoor swimming pool, again empty. Playing the 13th I noticed 2 staff members out for a walk on the course, lovely to see. However, they got to the 13th green before me picked up my ball and started rolling it around the green, when I got close enough to say something they dropped the ball and scurried off with a wave suggested as an apology. Perhaps the golf here is low on the agenda for the owners and staff.

This golf course could be a diamond in Wiltshire’s beautiful countryside. As it is, however, it remains uncut, buried in mud and run by hoteliers who don’t want to be a diamond mine.

At the price of £17 a round I would play it again and hope for drier conditions.

I can’t complain for £20 - lovely course. Pretty good condition for the time of year. It’s been 2 years since I played this course and I’m not sure what’s happened to the hotel but it used to be lively - it’s the opposite now. No reception area, no pro shop anymore, no food in the (empty) bar - drinks only.

Hardly anyone on the course. A real shame as it’s a great course but it looks like it’s on the verge of closing down.

You won’t be disappointed in the course for £20 if you’re a casual player. The course has some lovely holes too, but off the course it’s really gone downhill

Played today excellent course will be back, great value for money only negative would be needs to more clear where tee is for each hole

Booked at late notice; golf shop shut on arrival and had to report to hotel reception to get scorecard and notify of our arrival. Told we MUST wear a paper wristband when playing as paying guests. Why? Because management says so !!!

Didn’t stop for a drink, went to pub instead

Despite the mixed recent reviews, we played here for the first time this weekend. The course far exceeded our expectations! Excellent layout, with some challenging holes. Greens were in decent condition, with some very quick, even in November. The course was lush with the recent rain and mild conditions. Excellent value for money and would happily play here again.

Would have been excellent all the way but 3 weeks ago they treated the greens, and unfortunately it looks like they haven’t been touched since, but much better price so value for money!! Just sort the greens out and we all might join as we live the course and layout

Visited the Wiltshire around 2 months ago and gave it 4 stars, however this time left rather impressed at recent developments on the course, one member told me they held a European Junior day the week before and it was easy to see this was true. For £25 will definitely be back, I just hope they keep the pricing the same.

The course was really good, especially as they hollotined the greens but you wouldn’t have know as they rolled really well and true. Unfortunately at £50 a round just a little too steep, especially when the staff are rude as they’re only interested in the hotel customers. Shame because if there was more care the course would be rammed, but it was empty!!