A Change of Course

Although we have been open for play for 25 years it is almost 27 years since we took a “change of course” and began all the ground works necessary to turn farmland into a golf course.

This has been an amazing journey for me as I spent the first 15 years of my working life on the family farms of the Dowty family.

In 1989 Rob Dowty told me of plans to evolve the Glebe Farm into a golf course and asked if I would like to train to be the Course Manager. The intention was for us to build the course ourselves and to “learn on the job”. I agreed and we immediately began acquiring all of the information that needed starting from scratch.

I can truly say that I know Ombersley Golf Course from top to bottom because I have been involved with constructing all of the tees and greens and everything in between, including all the drainage and irrigation systems. This was a fantastic and intense learning curve from day one.

Over the intervening years our combined knowledge of the land along with the construction experience has given us the deepest understanding of the course and how it behaves.

I have learnt much and I continually apply new techniques to enhance the golf course. With the support of an excellent staff and continued investment by the Dowty family I have been delighted to produce a playing experience which is now among the best in our region.

Not many courses are able to provide such consistently high quality playing surfaces throughout the year with so little disruption due to weather. Our drainage is just superb and the added advantages of not needing to ban trollies and buggies for 99.99% of the time just adds to the benefits of year round golf for all our members and customers.

The green staff very much enjoy providing a great quality course for you and really appreciate all of the kind comments which you give us when you’re out there playing.

With best wishes, Andrew Halfpenny (Course Manager)

Our greens teams in 2016, from the left, Bill, Luke, Andrew, John, Nigel and Lee