Belfairs Golf Course
Southend Golf Club, Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 4LR
Belfairs golf course is situated between the A13 London Road and A127 Southend Arterial Road. The course is signposted and easily located from both main routes.
| Score Card | ||||||||
| Mens | Ladies | |||||||
| Hole | White Yards | Par | Yellow Yards | Par | SI | Red Yards | Par | SI |
| 1 | 163 | 3 | 147 | 3 | 9 | 147 | 3 | 17 |
| 2 | 316 | 4 | 302 | 4 | 15 | 302 | 4 | 13 |
| 3 | 276 | 4 | 259 | 4 | 17 | 259 | 4 | 15 |
| 4 | 400 | 4 | 391 | 4 | 3 | 391 | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | 540 | 5 | 533 | 5 | 1 | 533 | 5 | 1 |
| 6 | 377 | 4 | 375 | 4 | 13 | 375 | 4 | 11 |
| 7 | 210 | 3 | 169 | 3 | 5 | 169 | 3 | 5 |
| 8 | 386 | 4 | 320 | 4 | 7 | 320 | 4 | 7 |
| 9 | 346 | 4 | 340 | 4 | 11 | 340 | 4 | 9 |
| Out | 3014 | 35 | 3836 | 35 | 2836 | 35 | ||
| 10 | 164 | 3 | 129 | 3 | 10 | 129 | 3 | 16 |
| 11 | 388 | 4 | 386 | 4 | 4 | 386 | 4 | 2 |
| 12 | 145 | 3 | 130 | 3 | 8 | 130 | 3 | 6 |
| 13 | 292 | 4 | 288 | 4 | 16 | 288 | 4 | 12 |
| 14 | 480 | 5 | 442 | 5 | 2 | 442 | 5 | 4 |
| 15 | 146 | 3 | 144 | 3 | 14 | 144 | 3 | 18 |
| 16 | 275 | 4 | 271 | 4 | 18 | 271 | 4 | 14 |
| 17 | 424 | 4 | 416 | 4 | 6 | 416 | 5 | 10 |
| 18 | 512 | 5 | 472 | 5 | 12 | 472 | 5 | 8 |
| In | 2826 | 35 | 2678 | 35 | 2678 | 36 | ||
| Out | 3014 | 35 | 2836 | 35 | 2839 | 35 | ||
| Total | 5840 | 70 | 5514 | 70 | 5514 | 71 | ||
| SSS | 68 | 68 | 71 | |||||
Hole 1.
163 yards
Par 3
SI 9
With out of bounds on the left hand side of the fairway and bunkers in front of the green, it needs a straight and cool opening tee shot.
Hole 2.
316 yards
Par 4
SI 15
Inviting a good early birdie chance for the longer hitters with only one bunker guarding the green.
Hole 3.
276 yards
Par 4
SI 17
With a slight dogleg right that will need a 150 yard tee shot to open the green up, which has bunkers left, right and to the rear.
Hole 4.
400 yards
Par 4
SI 3
This hole that plays like a par 5 against the wind. A tee shot to the centre of the fairway will be required here as Belfairs Wood is beckoning on either side.
Hole 5.
540 yards
Par 5
SI 1
An uphill tee shot to a wide inviting fairway 2nd shot has out of bounds to the left, a straight shot will open up the green which is surrounded by bunkers, any wayward shot will make this a very long hole!
Hole 6.
377 yards
Par 4
SI 13
This hole needs an accurate downhill second shot to the green that is protected by bunkers to the left and right.
Hole 7.
210 yards
Par 3
SI 5
A good looking hole inviting a long tee shot across a brook to the right and the green being well guarded by bunkers.
Hole 8.
386 yards
Par 4
SI 7
A long up hill drive returning over the brook into a wide fairway with bunkers on either side. These can catch many tee shots out. The green has a narrow approach guarded by bunkers left and right.
Hole 9.
346 yards
Par 4
SI 11
Try to avoid trees and rough on either side of the fairway. A long downhill tee shot gives a good 2nd chance of par, on to narrow, banked green.
Hole 10.
164 yards
Par 3
SI 10
A good birdie chance needing a straight tee shot onto a green guarded by three large bunkers.
Hole 11.
388 yards
Par 4
SI 4
For the long hitters this hole offers a second shot onto the green, but with out of bounds left, any mis-hit will make it a long hole.
Hole 12.
145 yards
Par 3
SI 8
A short par 3 with a large bunker guarding the front edge of the elevated green, any long shot will give a problem.
Hole 13.
292 yards
Par 4
SI 16
A good birdie chance for a straight hitter with a narrow tree lined fairway, the green is guarded by two bunkers on the front approach edge.
Hole 14.
480 yards
Par 5
SI 2
Many a good round has been spoilt at this par 5; a narrow fairway with a downhill 2nd shot for the long hitters, to a large sloping back to front green where 3 putts may easily be taken from any position on the green!
Hole 15.
146 yards
Par 3
SI 14
A woodland setting with a large bunker on the front left of a sloping green that can cost a extra putt or two.
Hole 16.
275 yards
Par 4
SI 18
This green can be driven by the long hitters, but will need to avoid the woods and bunkers...
Hole 17.
424 yards
Par 4
SI 6
This par 4 sets a good test for any golfer. It will need a straight drive and accurate 2nd shot. The green slopes from back to front with the risk of the ball travelling off the front edge.
Hole 18.
512 yards
Par 5
SI 12
This dogleg left, tree lined fairway must be hit to the right hand side, avoiding the trees. A par here would make a great way to finish the round.
BELFAIRS GOLF COURSE LOCAL RULES
(See Main Sheet in Foyer for Full Version)
Ball Out of Bounds
1st hole: to the left of the posts on the left hand side of the hole and to the right of the posts on the right hand side of the hole. 2nd hole: to the right of the white posts marking the boundary between the 1st and 2nd holes and the 2nd hole over the ditch on the right beyond the white posts. 4th hole: the cottage garden. 5th hole: on the left of the white marker posts. 6th hole: on the left of the white marker posts. 7th hole: on the left over any fenced area over the brook. 1th hole: on the left over the brook (Rule 27).
Water Hazards
a) 7th hole: that part of the brook on the left of the bridge.
b) 8th hole: when playing from the back tee.
c) 13th hole: the ditch across.
Other than where specified above, the brook and all ditches are Lateral Water Hazards.
Stones in Bunkers
Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions (Rule 24-1 applies).
Immovable Obstructions - Relief from Fences, Marker Posts, Paths with a Man-made Surface or Other Artificial Items on the Course
Except for the course boundary walls and fences, all artificial obstructions, including prepared roads, paths, bridges, sleepered teeing areas, steps and sprinkler heads may be treated as obstructions and relied may be obtained under Rule 24-2. If such an obstruction on or within two club lengths of the putting green of the hole being played, intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may obtain relief, without penalty, as follows:-
If a balll lies off the putting green but not in a hazard and an immovable obstruction on or within two club lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may take relief as follows:-
The ball must be lifted and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay that:
a) is not nearer the hole;
b) avoids such intervention; and
c) is not in a hazard or on the putting green.
The ball may be cleaned when lifted.
If the ball lies on the putting green, relief may be taken under Rule 24-2b(iii).
NOTE: Relief may be taken from artificial surfaces and roads. This does not include surfaces that have been worn or trodden through normal use. For the path to be an immovable obstruction, the surface must be artificial and purposely laid.
Relief from Planted Young Trees
Planted young trees are defined as those that are attached to a stake or cane or lie within environmentally sensitive areas as defined by the club. If such a young tree interferes with a player's stance or the area of his intended swing, the ball must be lifted, without penalty, and dropped in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Rule 24-2b (Immovable Obstruction).
Exceptions: A player may not obtain relief under this Local Rule if:
a) it is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of interference by anything other than the tree; or
b) interference by by the tree would occur only through use of an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction of play.
Animal Excrement
Animal dung or droppings are ground under repair. If a player's ball lies in the area or if it interferes with the area of intended swing (not stance), the player may take relief under Rule 25-1. The ball may be cleaned when lifted under Rule 25-1b.
Pick & Place
Pick and place on fairways is in operation between October 1st and March 31st.
Crows
Any ball seen moved or taken by a crow can be replaced as near as possible to the original spot without penalty.
Penalty for breach of any local rule: Match play - Loss of the hole; Stroke play - Two strokes
Belfairs Park Golf History
78 years ago 23rd November at just before 3 the anti-aircraft gun crews were enjoying a sunny day relaxing in the warm autumn sunshine.
Above they heard the unmistakable sound of twin diesel engines of a Dornier 146 of the German air force travelling towards London .
The Aircraft was a reconnaissance plane photographing Southend. The crew happy as the intelligence had confirmed the only guns they were allowed to fire at them where 3 inch of 193 battery with a max ceiling height 20,000 feet the Dornier was at 30,000 feet.
The only guns that were capable of reaching that height 4.7 inch located in Belfairs Park had been banned from firing.
No orders had come through to bring any of the guns to alert.
Without orders 193 battery went to action stations more as practice.
The Dornier turned around somewhere over Pitsea heading back on a second photographic pass.
193 battery opened up from both their half batteries of 4 guns each, one half at Westcliff High School and the other at butlers farm just by Ashingdon.
The guns were the lasted 3.7 inch Vickers with a ceiling of 33.000 feet. 193 although only a TA unit was recognised as one of the best.
The Dornier got such a fright that Southend was never seriously bombed unlike other coastal towns.
This was 193 first action. They were defending their homes as all the battery members came from Southend and especially the west side.
Cllr Stephen Aylen
Belfairs
