Local Rules
Gloucester: Out of Bounds
No drop from out of bounds; stroke-and-distance relief is required. OOB includes beyond boundary hedges/fences, specified white lines/stakes, clubhouse and car park surrounds, practice areas and the quarry left of the 17th.
Gloucester: Penalty Areas
On the 1st, the yellow penalty area has an additional one-stroke drop-zone option. The 5th safety-fence area is red; water areas on the 5th, 6th and 8th must not be played from and require a drop outside under Rule 17.
Gloucester: Ground Under Repair
Deep tractor ruts, inadequately restored course-work areas and white-lined abnormal conditions may be treated as GUR with free relief under Rule 16.1b.
Gloucester: Wrong Green
If a ball comes to rest on any green other than the one being played, relief must be taken under Rule 13.1f, including the specified temporary/practice green circumstances.
Gloucester: Obstructions
Hoop protections are movable obstructions. Young trees with stakes/plastic guards, artificial roads, shale paths, stones in drainage ditches, protective fences, seats, bins, ball washers, bells and distance markers are immovable obstructions with Rule 16.1 relief.
Gloucester: Immovable Obstructions Near Green
Additional Rule 16.1b relief is available for an immovable obstruction on the line of play within two club-lengths of the green and ball, unless the line is clearly unreasonable.
Gloucester: Penalty for Breach
Breach of a Local Rule carries loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play.
Course Intelligence
Course Character
Elevation changes and water make club selection especially dynamic; plan landing zones and approach trajectories rather than relying on flat-yardage assumptions. Gloucester Golf Club is an 18-hole par-70 championship course on Robinswood Hill. The official club describes a dramatic fall from about 600 feet to 200 feet, picturesque countryside views and six new lakes around the front nine that improve drainage while adding strategic challenge. Hilly championship parkland with major elevation changes and new lakes
Major Risks
Elevation change The course drops roughly 400 feet overall, so uphill and downhill shots can require materially different clubs. Front-nine lakes Six lakes around the front nine add carry and lay-up decisions, especially on the strategic 4th. Closing water hazard The 18th can be driveable in summer, but going long brings water into play.
Blue Tee Strategy
Check course status and pin positions before play. Adjust every approach for elevation rather than raw distance. On hole 1, favor left-centre and avoid left/long. Play the 4th dog-leg according to carry confidence and ditch position. Treat 18 as a downhill risk-reward hole with water long. Gloucester championship plan
Golfer Reviews / Consensus
Elevation and water can make the course difficult in multi-club wind. The available detailed review sample is small and condition feedback is visit-specific. The 18th’s downhill driveable option has a severe water hazard beyond the green. Evidence supports a scenic, well-conditioned and strategically demanding hilly parkland course; elevation-aware club selection and disciplined water management are essential. MEDIUM Official club feedback describes the course as in its best condition in decades, with excellent greens on one recent visit. Hole19 review evidence highlights a beautiful, hilly course with great views. The club offers a flood-lit Toptracer range and broad practice facilities.
Course Conditions
PARTIALLY_VERIFIED Layout, elevation and current status sources verified; daily pin and maintenance conditions remain dynamic Check the live course-status page before travelling. Confirm temporary tees, greens and pin locations. Use a range session to calibrate uphill/downhill carries. Ask about lake and drainage conditions after wet weather. 2026-09-19 2026-09-05 Weather, pin position and maintenance can materially change carry requirements and risk-reward lines. The official club confirms an 18-hole par-70 course with major elevation change, six front-nine lakes and a live course-status page. Check current setup before play.
30-second Pre-round Brief
Gloucester · elevation-and-water brief Adjust every yardage. Elevation Map six lakes. Front nine Respect ditch and ponds. Fourth Water long. Eighteenth Gloucester rewards elevation-aware planning and disciplined water decisions, especially on the lake-lined front nine and downhill 18th.
Regulations
Gloucester: General Course Care
Players must replace divots, smooth bunkers and repair pitch marks; trolleys must stay off tees, greens and immediate surrounds.