Built on an undulating well-draining site, with far-reaching views over the Medway towns and Estuary, Upchurch River Valley has matured into one of Kent’s premier Pay and Play courses with Greens that are a pleasure to play all year round.
The well-draining nature of the site means that the courses are very rarely closed and Buggies and Trolleys are made available throughout the year.
The 18 Hole North Course now a par 72 and 27 years old has matured into a real test for all levels of golfer.
9 Hole South Course Par 36 The newest of the courses at Upchurch, with its signature par 5 8th Hole of 623 yards it is no pushover, built on flatter terrain than its big brother it is maturing into one of Kent’s Premier 9 hole Courses.
9 Hole Academy Course Par 33 featuring 6 par 4’s and 3 par 3’s with its sloping greens and narrow tree-lined fairways it is possibly our prettiest course but far from the easiest.
The first Par 3 and at 223 yards from the white tees, to the smallest green on the course it’s one of the hardest. Leaving your tee shot short of the green is the safest play as the green is well protected by trees on both sides and at the back, with a small bunker front right. From here, it’s not an easy chip with the green sloping away and from left to right 4 is always a good score for most.
A Par 4 of 400 yards from the white tees requiring an accurate drive down the right center of the fairway avoiding the two fairway bunkers, but avoiding going down the left and being blocked out by the now huge conifers that leave the golfer with no choice but to chip back into play. From here it is just a short Iron, but the green is unsighted as it sits far below the golfer. Pitch your ball at the front of the green for best results, anything too short will kick off the downslope and through the green.
Stroke index 2 a Par 4 of 403 yards, but all uphill and to the narrowest fairway on the course with steep slopes either side. Miss the fairway right and you face being swept away from the fairway leaving a much longer second shot from an awkward lie, miss left and you are blocked out and will be forced to chip back into play. Then it’s all uphill to another smaller green with a green side bunker to the right and if the pin is at the back it plays every one of its 403 yards. Four is always a good score here.
The toughest hole for all right-handed slicers!! Sharp dogleg from right to left, sensible play is a mid-Iron from the tee straight up the hill leaving a long Iron to the green. Par is always a good score.
Our Head Pro’s favorite tee - providing a beautiful view over many holes and a tough tee shot for most players. To conquer this short par 4 you must avoid the pond on the left and the big conifers on the right, this then leaves a short Iron to a green that slopes from right to left and back to front. If the pin is cut on the right, don’t miss it right!!
A short Par 5 that requires an accurate drive, which for the longer hitters leaves a chance to hit the green in two but beware! with water to the right and gorse and a steeply wooded bank to the left, only the most accurate of shots will succeed.
A fantastic finishing Par 4 of 410 yards a blind tee shot over the crest of a hill, the longer hitters have to be most accurate as it is easy to run out of the room and leave yourself no shot. A safe drive can leave anything from a wood to short iron into this three-tiered green in front of the clubhouse if you are on the wrong tier your round is far from over!
Built on three levels truly a challenge, we at 'River Valley' maintain our temporary greens to a good standard throughout the year. So if we do have to use them in weather extremes they can at least be used for putting. We have a fleet of twenty hire buggies always ready for use. Pre booking is important.
The short 9 hole course has six par 4 and you may go round twice. The perfect course for those who enjoy the short game and of course for those learning the game of golf.
The long south course is for the longer striker. Three par 5, three par 4 & three par 3. The 8th hole being the longest at 623 yards, a more level course but all in pristine condition.