The Oaks

Witham sits in the Blackwater Valley in mid-Essex, commuter-belt country about 45 miles northeast of London where the landscape opens into gently rolling farmland and — true to the county's character — broad skies that make every course feel more exposed than its yardage suggests. Essex has never been a high-profile golf destination, but it supports a dense, loyal local scene of clubs that serve working golfers who play regularly and know their home tracks intimately.

A par 69 signals a layout built around shorter, tighter challenges rather than length — expect a course that rewards accuracy, course management, and consistent ball-striking over power. That configuration typically leans on a mix of par 3s and shorter par 4s that can look straightforward on a card but punish wayward approaches, especially when an Essex wind picks up across open ground.

The name suggests the property has genuine tree cover, which would be a genuine asset in this part of the county, offering definition and some shelter on a course that otherwise sits in flat, open Essex terrain.