World Golf Courses Directory

North Hants Golf Club Hampshire, England

Rating: ****

Minley Road, Fleet, GU51 1 RF

E-mail: secretary@north-hants-fleetgc.co.uk

Nearest main town: Farnborough

North Hants’ star has recently risen with the emergence of one of its favorite sons, Justin Rose. There is no greater testament to a course than the player it breeds, and on that basis North Hants is very good, although a little uncultured around the edges.

But, ironically, North Hants is a very protected course, designed intelligently through dense woods where you will find it very easy to concentrate on your game. The most difficult part of the course is the tee shots, which have to be cleverly placed to facilitate an easy line into the flag. The greens are generally large and approach shots tend to hold the ball well. Indeed, the condition of the course is a tribute to the greenkeeping staff.

Like the Berkshire, located close by, North Hants is heath land in type and like that gem it has a great variety of holes that keeps the player consistently interested. There are blind shots which make club selection exceptionally difficult at times and holes where the shape of the fairways dictates the flight of shot you should hit. It is perhaps not a course to experiment on, however, as the trees, heather and gorse gobble up anything off line.

Golfers in Hampshire are spoilt for choice and there are those that prefer the nearby charms of Blackmoor and Liphook. But for the welcome and experience, North Hants is hard to beat, as a visit will testify.

Playing: Midweek: round £35.00; day £48.00. Weekend: round n/a; day n/a.

Facilities: Bar: 11 am-11 pm. Food: Bar snacks.

Comments: Super course and obviously a good training ground for Justin Rose… Blind holes, undulating ground… Tough task to select clubs with confidence. .. Tree-lined course, a real marvel.

*** Free Golf Lessons ***