This all too brief web page is an unofficial tribute to Maidstone’s Pitch and Putt Golf Course located within the Mote Park leisure facility. I believe it is the most authoritative guide to tackling one of the hardest Par 54 courses in the world. It’s also the only one. Enjoy the course and play it in good weather, usually as part of a social event where it can be particularly entertaining. Augusta it is not, but it has its own charm and sense of theatre, particularly when trying to play bunker shots . . .

 

 

 

‘Pro Shop’ and ‘Club House’

This picture opposite shows the club house and ‘pro shop’ in the far right hand corner. In the foreground is the 18th hole shown in close up with an artists impression of what it looks like with a flag in the cup (picture taken early morning when the course was closed). In the extreme distance is the main car park for Mote Park and beyond that Maidstone Rugby Club and The Mote Cricket Club.

 

 

 

 

 

The main facilities of the Pro shop are:

 

• Equipment Hire (a deposit is required to hire clubs and balls - see below)
• Pencils and scorecards (most of the time)
• Money/Change (take some coins if you have your own kit - for 2011 deposit of £10 is required for hire clubs for single players or for a group. This changes every season - see link to document below)
• Link to document with 2011 Pricing         File: PITCH AND PUTT COURSE FEES 2011.pdf
• They don’t take cards in payment.
• Opening and closing times board
• Council toilet facilities immediately to the rear
• Additional Facilities close by are:
• A 70,000+ population County Town with all mod-cons
• An ice cream and cake shop
• Council leisure centre
• The lake itself and the Local miniature railway (good for kids when open)

 

A few Administration details

 

The course opens around the Easter Bank Holiday break and stays open until the end of September closely following school and bank holidays for weekday openings. Broadly speaking, play begins around 1030 each day dependent on the arrival of the person running the pro-shop. Sometimes the flags are out, sometimes not. When the shop is open the flags are always in place. See the linked PDF (above) for the latest information on opening hours and prices (2011 info now available). It is not unheard of for local kids to try and get a free round but it is also not unheard of for the person running the course to leave the sanctity of the counter to pursue potential fees from those who start before they are fully open. You have been warned.

 

It is recommended that you bring your own clubs, at least one ball each and a few short plastic tees. The hire clubs are not usually in a brilliant state but will work if you are not too fussy or don’t want to carry clubs after the round. Best advice is a putter (of course) and either a 9 iron or a pitching wedge. The longest hole (6th) can play out to 100 yards depending on the pin and if there is a stiff breeze a pitching wedge will just make it. Anywhere else and using clubs bigger than these is just plain dangerous and not recommended. Take a pen or pencil and a scrap of paper each to record scores as the score cards are not always in stock (Print the one below just in case)

 

The course takes around 2 hours to play but can be quicker if not busy. Timing is everything and you need a bit of luck to avoid a large family party, sometimes leapfrogging is a good tactic and playing a hole twice later when you have created some space. Take a bottle of water if its hot!

 

The course condition is variable with the opening weekend being usually well maintained with the grass perhaps on the long side. As the season moves on and if its particularly hot, the course and greens will dry out and can get quite bare. This creates putting conditions which are the stuff of myth and legend. And tantrums. The greens take on the quality of Formica and it is virtually impossible to stop the ball on the smaller greens. Anyone putting down hill will curse the ball as it picks up speed and rolls off into the bunker below the green, with the putter having hardly touched it. It is a test of nerve, patience and temper control as well as golf. On the flip side, if the council haven’t cut the grass for a couple of weeks it can get very long indeed and this creates the opposite challenge with putts all holding up. Now for the bunkers which warrant a special mention. They are definitely bunkers (there aren’t that many to be fair) but what they lack in size they make up for in sheer vindictiveness. They have been hollowed out to the point where the lips overhang and balls happily lodge in inaccessible corners. There is also very little sand to speak of so traditional bunkers shots by good players are a joy to behold as the balls fly out and miss the green by 20 yards. Smart players always play out sideways. Sometimes they can putt out!

 

Playing the course

 

It goes without saying that the following guide (compiled by Alzza) should be taken with more than a large pinch of salt!

 

To help put your thoughts with the Mote Park Pro’s and assist in your playing enjoyment I have included two additional aides. One is a high quality scorecard (below) which spent many beers in development and was published just too late for Grayzza’s 40th Birthday bash in early 2007. While the graphics fall somewhat short of a golf pro’s course guide (thanks Alzza) it gives a fair indication of the layout, although of course shopping trolley hazards are not permanently located.The second is Google Maps satellite image of the entire course courtesy of Alzza. Updated 26 May 2011.

 

1st Hole (58 yards) - Nerves of Steel

 

A tough opener and a  short hole but with two bunkers eager to trap the rusty golfer. Prepare to be laughed at as you top your first tee shot into one of the concrete bunkers or hit the fir tree on the 17th.

 

Take a 4.

 

The 2nd (43 yards) - Gently does it

 

The shortest hole on the course. Don't be fooled though as many over-hit their shots (which brings the bunker into play) or scuff them in the long grass. Additionally, the Green is always covered in bits of tree.

Take a 4.

 

The 3rd (52 yards)

 

No bunkers here. A slightly sloping green is all that stands between you and glory!

Looking for a 3.

 

The 4th (86 yards) - Dicers and Slicers

 

The second longest hole. Get ready to throw caution to the wind as a long narrow fairway means a bit of tree hopping could be the order of the day. Beware the picnickers which reward the hook and the big tree which waits for the slice. A sloping green also adds to the fun. If you make the distance a four should be achievable otherwise it could be a round killer.

Happy with a 4.

 

The 5th (71 yards) - A Tale of Two Trees

 

Avoid the tempting right-angled slice into the adjacent tree and get lucky with the large one guarding the green (or keep the ball low) and this should provide a good chance of a three.

Possible 3 but ok with a 4.

 

The 6th (96 yards) - The Big Hit

 

This is what you’ve been waiting for. The chance to actually swing nearly 100% for reasonable golfers with proper clubs, which means wild swings and Herculean efforts using the hire clubs. Just a bit short for a full blooded pitching wedge it is nevertheless deceptive and when the wind is blowing it can be more like a 9 iron. Many have gone for the ‘big-one’ only to slice horribly, experience a teddy topper or just hit a bad shot. Almost everyone underestimates it and goes short. With the green sloping left to right a decent chip still doesn’t guarantee a 3. Or even a 4. No bunkers, so no excuses.

Take a 4 and be happy.

 

The 7th (85 yards)

 

After the exertions of the previous hole this is the first uphill shot and affects the Pro’s in one of two ways. Thinking a medium hit will suffice they almost certainly scuff it short or, having hit short on the previous hole and seeing the spurious ‘protection‘ of the bank beyond the hole, an almighty smash is delivered. Almost certainly this will be a heavy hit bringing prams, dog walkers and runners into range using the path on the top of the bank. Short is better than long as the green drops away and in summer will be impossible to keep the ball on the green

4 is good.

 

The 8th (86 yards)

 

First of the downhill shots towards the lakes, this rewards the more violent hacker as most hits are short or topped (really short). With a bunker short and long this is a good time to get accurate. Most people settle for a short hit right allowing some sort of chip shot. The green slopes away so anything brave will mean a nasty put back up the green. The bunkers are to be avoided at all costs.

Take a 4 if short. Pin-high gives a good chance of a 3. Fortune favours the brave!

 

The 9th (71 yards)

 

One of the shorter uphill holes on the back nine, this is relatively straightforward, bar the bunker. If the grass is long hit at the green as landing on it will do no harm. However, if its hot, the grass is long and you land ‘long’ then expect a glorious roll off the green for anything but the luckiest long putt. Go easy and a three is possible, 4 not a disaster.

 

The 10th (76 yards)

 

A nice downhill swing will take you to the right side of the green (for some reason its always right). The right side bunker hardly ever comes into play but a topped shot is likely to bring the left (far) one into contention and this is a doozy! A proper ‘round-wrecker’, be gentle and keep the second shot on the green to score well. A 4 is good, a 3 is only possible with a decent drive.

 

The 11th (80 yards)

 

This hole provides the first real temptation to hit too far with the pedestrian path well in range, so caution is advised particularly for those using pitching wedges or bigger. Some of the people walk very big dogs on this path and the temptation to have a go should be tempered with that knowledge! Anyway, the hole itself is straightforward and a gentle hit to the left side will keep the bunker and trees out of the way. The green slopes less and putting is easier here. A ‘makeable’ 3 here, a 4 is a wasted opportunity.

 

The 12th (80 yards)

 

Similar to the 10th, another hole from an elevated position which should allow better players to get the ball in the air. Unfortunately this will not help those who land it on the green as it will bounce right on for at least 20 yards. ‘Shortish’ is okay and straight is rewarded for a change. 3 is very good but no chance if hit long due to the bank at the rear.

 

The 13th (79 yards) - The Bank

 

For some reason the bank and trees to the left and short of the green make this hole one of the hardest, as shots seem to be drawn to it even from better players. With the need to get the ball in the air, expect lots of ‘tops’ and ‘knifed’ shots and watch out for the pedestrian path and the dogs. The green is not too tricky but can often be in poor condition so putting remains a test. A 3 here and you are playing exceptionally well. 5’s are not uncommon so take a 4, relax and enjoy the weather (surely you’re not playing in the rain?).

 

The 14th (76 yards)

 

Second to last downhill hole and fairly unremarkable with, for Mote Park, a generous green, which plays well when in good condition. As for all the downhill holes, the grass beyond them is very long and often bushes and low trees are in play, so don’t over hit it or you will card at least a 4.

 

The 15th (81 yards)

 

Longish hole uphill rewards a steady hit, short not being the end of the world. The green slopes towards the tee so expect the ball to run off in the summer and even a green-bound shot to be in the fringe at best. Bunker at the back, but no real bother.

Par 3 on the cards for those who can get the length right.

 

The 16th (66 yards) - The Ferns

 

The Fern hole! Steer the ball between the trees or lose at least two shots digging it from the base of the tree while you chew the ferns around you. Not too tricky if you avoid this obvious hazard. But few do.  This is why it’s a good idea for at least one of you to carry a spare ball!

4 is a good result here.

 

The 17th (60 yards)

 

A fairly comfortable and short hole that rewards a straight and longish hit. Short is not great and the green slopes away from the tee making short chips problematic. Also you need to try to avoid the bunkers at the back of the Green and the tree to the left. A big hit hear is over the path so its tricky. Likely that here is the last match play that matters. Try to wrap it on this one as the 18th can be disastrous. 3 is possible but not common.

 

The 18th (51 yards) - And finally

 

This is the one that usually determines who’s buying the first round. A tricky little chip with a long thin green that runs away from you. A 3 here is an excellent score. Many shots are duffed short into the long grass and this means a 3 requires a miracle. A more solid connection gets you on the green, but often long, typically leaving a 15 foot putt to close out the championship. At this point you will have been playing for 2 hours and I promise you a 4 will probably be a lucky escape!

 

Enjoy!

 

MOTE PARK PITCH AND PUTT GOLF COURSE

Unofficial Mote Park Scorecard

 

Satellite Image of the Mighty Course with Tee locations marked (Cheers Google Maps)

 

Google Map of Mote Park and facilities

Useful links in relation to Mote Park

Maidstone Council Website (link to Golf charges document)

 

URL: http://www.maidstone.gov.uk/leisure_and_culture/parks_and_open_spaces/parks_and_open_spaces_-_inform/mote_park.aspx

 

Visit Maidstone  Website

 

http://www.visitmaidstone.com/site/things-to-do/mote-park-p12581