To properly review this
superb venue, not only did I play the golf
course, I had the good fortune to spend the
night in the hotel and eat in the restaurant.
I didn’t get the opportunity to get my nails
done or have a facial due to the spa being
fully booked, but then again, it most probably
would have been wasted on me!
The hotel is located just off the A34, just
a few miles from Bicester itself. Upon arrival,
the reception team were friendly and helpful.
In fact throughout my stay, everyone from the
club made me feel welcome and relaxed.
The hotel is stunning and the significant
investment over the past few years has reaped
rewards. The rooms are spacious, well furnished
and sumptuously designed. My room had a lounge
area with a four poster bed, great for a romantic
weekend away!
My colleague and I ate in the hotel’s restaurant
and enjoyed an excellent meal. The salmon and
the fillet of sea bass proved to be very good
choices, whilst my colleague chose the terrine
of ham and the steak medallions. Breakfast
in the morning was equally impressive, a full
cooked breakfast setting us up nicely for our
round of golf.
The spa facilities are state of the art, including
a huge pool, two Jacuzzis, steam room, a wet
and dry sauna and an impressive gym which must
rank as one of the best I have ever seen.
But we were here to play golf. No treadmills,
pedicures or sit ups on this visit I’m afraid!
The golf course is comparatively short at
just over 6,000 yards, but has testing fairways
and strategically placed bunkers. It is a mature,
traditional parkland course with a good amount
of water (which I discovered on a regular basis!)
There are a good number of different and challenging
holes on the course, and I found the back nine
particularly challenging.
Hole four is a very challenging long par four,
with water on both sides, requiring a good,
strong drive and then a long shot over more
water. The eighth is a picturesque par three
(again over a lake) which poses more than a
few questions over club selection. Overall
the greens were excellent and the bunkers well
maintained. A great course adding to a wonderful
visit.
