Golf clubs

Course

A James Braid design that was improved by the legendary Harry Colt in 1913, the course is a superb example of a mature heathland layout with a delightful mix of heather and tall trees bordering each impressively manicured fairway. This is club that is home to one of the biggest Amateur Tournaments in the game – The Hampshire Hog – an event won in the past by Sandy Lyle, Michael Bonallack and US Open Champion Justin Rose, amongst many others. Justin learned his golf here as a junior and still returns to play with his many friends. Measuring 6600 yards from the back tees, North Hants is a true test of every club in the bag and now enjoys the sort of greens and fairways that only a recently installed irrigation system can ensure. Just to get the heart racing, the course starts with a devilishly difficult 200 yard par three to a well bunkered green, a hole even the club’s star players are mostly happy to take a bogey on. A sweeping dog leg second hole from a raised tee provides another tricky par but this gives way to a much more comfortable and, for the low handicapper at least, a reachable par 5 third. This is a new hole, one of three designed by Donald Steel in 2001, and includes a spectacular approach over a lake to a raised and well contoured green. The rest of the front nine is classic heathland golfing fare, firm fairways giving way to well protected and fast greens. The short 8th is a classic par 3 which, though only 130 yards, requires a precise shot over a steep bunker to a narrow two tier green. When the pin is on the bottom, this is a true challenge.

• Number of holes: 18
• Par: 70
• Yardage: 6432