The gap between the trees can get pretty tight in the summer

The course starts with a decent length par 5, thread your drive between the trees and you may have a chance to go for the green in two, if not lay up before the ditch to leave an easy pitch to a very small target. The par 3 that follows is again played between to trees, avoiding the bunkers in front of the small green.

Stay on the left side of the third fairway to avoid the bunker on the right that is not visible from the tee then a precision drive is needed on the fourth to avoid the bunkers on both sides of the fairway.

Looking back down the par 5 fifth

The fifth is a great par 5, you need to stay on the right side of the fairway to get a view of the green, the approach is played from behind a ditch, through a gap in the trees. The shortest hole on the course follows this par 5, the green is surrounded by trees while water and a couple of bunkers protect the front so hitting the putting surface is  a must for a good score.

The angle created by moving the seventh tee over to the left

This short par 3 is followed by the shortest par 4 on the course, normally a straight hole, they have added an extra tee making it a short but interesting dogleg to a green that has bunkers and a ditch in front plus trees and water behind. The eighth is a long par 4 that is made even longer if you find the fairway bunkers.

Play over the trees on the ninth or play safe

The front nine ends with a choice to be made from the tee of this short right-angled dogleg par 5, play straight down to the corner to leave a longer approach or try to cut the corner by clearing the tree-line to give yourself a chance of an eagle.

The back nine starts with a par 3 that is longer than it looks but is slightly downhill so anything coming up short may just run onto the green if you lucky. The eleventh has a raised tee where you can get take in nice views of the rest of the course with the main obstacle being the Captain’s Ditch, unfortunately the hole also runs next to the M4 motorway so a constant drone of traffic accompanies the view.

Find your way between the trees on the fourteenth

The twelfth is a pretty basic par 4 followed by an ordinary par 3, your golfing ability is tested once again on the par 5 that follows these holes where you have to clear the ditch from the tee and thread your second through the gap in the trees.

Looking back down the sixteenth

A couple of really interesting holes follow, the fifteenth is a short par 4 dogleg which requires an accurately placed tee shot between the bunker on the left and the trees on the right to have a line in to the green. The sixteenth is another dogleg where you play towards the huge bunker at the elbow of the fairway, too far and you will be in the sand, too short and you will not be able to see the green for your approach.

The branches of the large tree short right of the seventeenth are a danger on this par 3 along with the bunker left of the green while the final hole gives a good chance of a birdie if you keep it straight. The green slopes towards you on approach helping to hold a long to mid iron that may roll through a flat one.

I enjoyed the round at Theale it is not one of the best I have played but does give very good value for money along with a good test of golf.