We are extremely lucky at Tadmarton since the character of the course changes with the seasons and one can never tire of the different challenges it presents.
Course Information
About The Course
The unwatered fairways are hard and running in the summer, making accuracy and distance-control the priority. The unpredictable bounces and abundance of gorse test the golfers’ course management to the limits. The small greens can be very difficult to find and hold, always rewarding the successful player however, with a genuine birdie opportunity.
Situated on top of a hill at 650 feet, wind is invariably a factor when playing here and the prevailing westerlies can make the many long par fours difficult to reach in winter. An Iron Age fort on top of the hill comes into play on several holes providing two blind tee shots.
Thanks to the free draining nature of the sandy soil and meticulous grooming with the fleet of market leading machines, the course is always presented at its best. The club’s investment in top quality maintenance equipment through a leasing plan ensures that the best and most modern equipment is available when required.
Carl Mason, the all-time leading money winner on the European Seniors Tour, with 25 wins and two European Tour titles to his name, has been a member of Tadmarton Heath for many years. He knows the benefits of playing year round on a testing course: “Playing as a member on Tadmarton Heath’s excellent all year round golf course has given me the inspiration I needed to compete successfully on the European Seniors Tour,” he said.
The course is a classic heathland layout with no shortage of gorse and broom. The free-draining sandy soil ensures it is playable throughout the year and the small, testing greens have always been highly regarded. In the summer the premium is on accuracy and when the fairways firm up, the heathland offers a unique challenge. Situated on a hill the wind is always a factor at Tadmarton, notably in the winter when the long par fours are a stiff test for even the longest hitters.
One of the best clubs in the region is getting even better. As Tadmarton approaches its 100th anniversary it has been the perfect time to take stock and look forward. A number of strategic changes are being made to the course so that it continues to challenge even the most capable players. Under the careful eye of course architect Ken Moodie, bunkers have been added, mounds created and several greens extended. We are in the final year of our bunker programme, after which all original bunkers will have been remodelled and a few more added for good measure!
Tee | Par | Length |
---|---|---|
Black | 69 | 6043 Yards |
White | 69 | 5961 Yards |
Yellow | 69 | 5699 Yards |
Red | 72 | 5525 Yards |
Blue | 69 | 3934 Yards |
Facilities
- Pro Shop: Yes
- Driving Range: Yes
- Chipping Area: Yes
- Putting Green: Yes
Services
- Buggy Hire: Yes
- Pull-cart Hire: Yes
- Club Hire: Yes
- Teaching Pro: Yes
Policies
- Walking Allowed: Yes
- Cards Accepted: Yes
- Policy Here: No
- Dress Code: Proper attire required
Contact
- Website: www.tadmartongolf.com
- Telephone: +44 (0)1608 737278
- Email: generalmanager@tadmartongolf.com
- Address: Tadmarton Heath, Banbury OX15 5HL
Green Fees
Weekday – £40.00
Weekend – £50.00
History
Leading amateur golfer Cecil K Hutchison joined forces with James Braid in 1914 to design the King’s Course at Gleneagles. Within a decade he had added Tadmarton Heath to his portfolio. The club was officially opened on the site of Holywell Farm in October 1922 with an exhibition match between Cyril Tolley, twice British Amateur champion and winner of the French Open, and Roger Wethered who went on to win the British Amateur title the following year. The annual membership was £5 with ladies admitted on equal terms.
The club prospered during the pre-war years and boasted a number of leading amateur players including John Beaumont Pease, the club president, who reached the quarter-finals of the British Amateur Championship at the age of 58. A trophy was presented in his honour and remains one of Tadmarton’s most prestigious competitions, open to leading amateurs from around the region. Like many clubs across the country the war effort meant that fairways gave way to crops during the 1940s and the US army also used the land for tank training causing considerable damage. It was a tribute to the efforts of the greenkeeping staff, aided by German prisoners of war, that play resumed on all 18 holes in 1947.
Six members of Tadmarton Heath have held the office of Captain of the R&A. They are the 2016 Captain, Mr. Gavin Caldwell and Peter Gardiner-Hill, Sir John Simon, Cyril Tolley, Lord Wardington and Roger Wethered.
The Clubhouse
The Clubhouse, first built in 1783 as Holywell Farmhouse, provides a quintessentially English country setting for a post-match meal and review of the day’s play. The bar and outdoor patio are perfect areas to relax, unwind and enjoy some of our farmhouse style food and drink whilst overlooking the signature 7th hole and, beyond that, one of the finest views of the rolling countryside that you’ll find. All areas of the Clubhouse can be used by members and visitors alike and, as we do not host external functions such as weddings, golfers and their guests have full access to the club’s facilities.
Taddy has always been renowned for its excellent catering, especially its freshly baked cakes and pastries that are simply too good to turn down. Our day-to-day farmhouse menu offers a variety of dishes to suit all tastes and appetites and our banqueting for societies, matches, social events or open competitions often receives rave reviews! If you’re yet to have the pleasure of tasting the range of perfectly cooked, hand-carved meats, sides and salads from the Taddy Farmhouse Buffet, you really are missing out…and that’s before you get to our famous Pudding Table!
At the Bar you will find a range of traditional and contemporary drinks that provide the all-important post-round refreshments. Our association with the Hook Norton Brewery, based just four miles up the road, was initiated way back in 1922 – we have been serving Hooky ever since! In the summer, our hugely popular Tadmarton Pale Ale is not to be missed! We also offer a range of lagers, cider, guest ales and spirits, including the fantastic, local Cotswold Gin, as well as soft drinks.
We also serve freshly ground coffee, so If you’re a fan of a cappuccino, have a soft spot for a mocha or need a double espresso to get you going, you can now enjoy your favourite coffee before or after your round. Our wine list has been hand-picked by our members. Our specially selected 19th hole house options, available in a delicate sauvignon blanc or robust shiraz, are always a wise order.