Blakes Golf Club

I was a member at Blake’s around 18 years ago when this course was in tip top condition everywhere, but I was shocked to see that whoever owns this course now really has very little interest in it anymore.
Tee blocks are scraggy, and the fairways looked like they hadn’t been mowed in a few days. Clumps of clover and weeds all over the fairways, where in some places you couldn’t tell the difference between rough and fairway.

Greens were ok, but I’ve played on better public course greens to be fair.
Refugees from the hotel opposite having a pic-nic on the 14th and allowing kids to run and play on the fairway and Green says everything you need to know about Blake’s!
I wish I had paid £2 more per player and played a proper club like Theydon Bois, where the Green staff clearly take pride in their work and prepare a course as it should be.

Clubhouse inside looks dated, and I’m sure it’s the same carpet from 18 + years ago.
Happy to say that I won’t be going back again, but if you are not too fussy about your course £18 pp is probably up your street.

You will not find a better course for the money within this proximity to London. It's cheaper than an hour at the Greenwich golf range!

I played Blakes last year and have to say the improvement in the greens is immeasurable. They were genuinely running like a course you'd pay 3x-4x the price for.

If you're after a cheap round to practice or dust off the winter cobwebs, you'll be hard pressed to find anything better.

Great value for money fairways were possibly a little long but all in all was great

I've been a visitor to Blakes for a number of years and witnessed it go from good, to not so good a few years back. After a bit of a break, I've recently been back a few times and am pleased to report that the place is now back on form. With most courses closed on Sunday due to the biblical downpours, Blakes, which drains very well, was open and was well worth the trip. Considering the recent weather, the course was in amazing condition, completely playable with just a few understandably present puddles but it wasn't anything like a muddy quagmire that I suspect most other places in the area would have been. We timed it perfectly weather wise and enjoyed a lovely few hours in the post apocalyptic sunshine.

The course is a decent test with a semi-links layout, bunkers were understandably not really in play but they're well placed, greens were pretty good; again considering the recent weather, plus fantastic views of the Essex countryside to enjoy, (including glimpses of the local steam railway, the sound of who's trains accompanies you round). At £20, an absolute bargain.

Honourable mention to the fantastic club sandwich and decent pint of Guiness pre-round; thoroughly recommended.

Usually in really good condition. Good level of challenge, greens are well kept and the staff are friendly. One of my favourite courses to play. If I lived closer, I would join.

Great value for money course in good condition considering the weather we have had, only downside was no grub until 9 on the weekend

We were booked in a 1pm tee off time but due to several reasons we were late and they accommodated us ..we were last out which meant we were not pushed ...as it was our first time the pro shop showed us the layout from Upstairs and explained the layout ...some challenging holes ..especially the eighth....luckily I took a photo of the layout from the notice board ..if not I think we would have struggled to find our way round ..14th to 15th must be 400 yards to walk. ..enjoyed it..perhaps as we went out last ...Will return and play sometime..enjoyed it ..

Played on a Sunday afternoon, despite wet weather in the UK the course and greens hold up ok. Only negative was pace of play, we played as a 3 ball and were held up behind a 2 ball who wouldn’t budge for most of the round. Overall well worth a visit.

Really fantastic links style course with stunning views all around. The greens were amazing too.

Very friendly & helpful staff.

The course is great a little hard when you are just starting some long holes. Definitely be going again.

For the wet weather we have been having the course was surprisingly playable with the buggy paths more like rivers the actual course was in great shape. With only a few low lying areas getting boggy. Hats of to the green keeping staff for making buggy’s and electric trolleys stick to the cart paths, that is going a long way to keeping the course playable.

Course has some nice holes and is well kept but the pace of play kills it, played 10 holes in 3 hours and was then rained off. Waiting on every tee ain’t great so u wouldn’t come back here on a weekend.