The pandemic delayed our first visit to Coventry by two years.
As I had only played here once before, on a mediocre winters day three years ago and I couldn’t remember it that well. Martin Sutliff, the most welcoming and seemingly omnipresent club professional, arranged for me to play with two members, Tim and Barry, in the midweek Stableford on Wednesday afternoon. They were a joy a play with. We started at 3.45 and by 7.0pm we were sitting on the sun-drenched balcony with a beer, overlooking the course.
I am so pleased I had the opportunity to play because I decided to use the white tees yesterday rather than the yellows. At 6,590 yards the course was running freely and deserved to be appreciated in its entirety.
Designed on its present site in 1912 by Tom Vardon, aided by his brother Harry, the layout has now matured into a truly beautiful parkland, progressively updated to cope with modern golf. The splendorous mix of mature, deciduous trees, interspersed with Scots pine, put a smile on your face as you walk round, even if the golf is not matching the quality fo the award-winning environment.
Few parkland courses have such variations. With paths leading over bridges atop the River Sowe and stunningly well maintained water features at the side of greens, the voyage of discovery when playing this course for the first time is a memory to treasure. The only disappointment was the end of the round; I could have cheerfully gone round again! From the reaction of all the players yesterday, they felt exactly the same. No wonder this is used as an Open qualifier.
The layout was complemented by the presentation. With only one cut of low rough under all the trees between fairways, the ball was readily findable and playable; a most sensible approach to course management that enhances both speed of play and enjoyment of the experience. Coupled with this, the greens were fabulous! Firm yet receptive, they were very true and needed brave reading of the right line to achieve a birdie.
There was nothing I would change about our first visit to Coventry and my quest today is to negotiate for our return next year.
It was good to see many Teetours members who I have missed over the last two years of upheaval. The Leisure Boys were out in force with two teams less Kim Hughes - a good golfer and a lovely man who will be sadly missed at these events; R.I.P.
Thanks go to Jack Clemson who kindly stepped in at the last minute to fill a gap in John Quinn’s team. Don’t be a stranger now you’ve found us Jack - something that goes for several other Teetours virgins making their debut.
- Gerry Latter and Alister Grimsly were nearest the pin on two totally different par 3’s
- Phil Terry butchered the par 5 13th to take longest drive.
- With four teams on 89 It came to a back-3 to determine that Trevor Williams team came 5th
- Another count back on 92 meant Martin Dunn’s team were just edged into 4th by Dave Middleton’s
- Derek Pedley’s team posted a very good 94 for 2nd.
- Having altered the format slightly to include all four scores on the eighteenth, someone remarked that it had the possibility to produce a sneaky 100 somewhere. That sneaky 100 came from regulars Dave and James Rogers Lew Bull and John Conlon who posted 11 points on the 18th and a couple of two’s for good measure on 7.
