This was for me a return to Alresford Golf Club. I had played it once before in the 1960’s when I was learning the game. At that time the course was quite basic and had nine greens and eighteen tee boxes, the transformation to today’s 18 holes at the same location at the bottom of Alresford High Street is quite remarkable.

The current course opened in 1993 by John Jacobs rolls gently across.the Tichborne Downs in all its parkland splendour. Given my history playing Alresford, I am delighted to be the first to review it on this website.

From the back tees, Alresford measures just over 6000 yards. At the time of our visit, Summer Maintenance was in full swing which meant that the greens has just been verti-drained but nevertheless still putted well if just a bit slow. The fairways were well grassed and the tees and bunkers in immaculate condition, although course signage could be improved, particularly as there are some longish walks between holes.

The golf course has two loops of nine which both return to the clubhouse, it is a series of steady challenges rather than a set of remarkable holes. Having said that, the stretch from 15 to 17 would grace many more well known courses. The 15th is a left to right dogleg whereby the more of the dogleg you take off from the tee, the easier is the approach shot. 16 is a wonderful long par three of 195 yards where the drive has to be aimed between a narrow gap in the trees which frame the green. And 17 is to me the best hole on the course, a double dogleg par 5 coming in at 523 yards which is a true three-shotter. A good tee shot leaves a long iron/hybrid downhill to negotiate the first dogleg and then a similar club is required around the second dogleg to climb up the hill and find the raised green.

On a glorious summer’s evening this is a peaceful and yet inspiring place to play the game. Alresford is quite hilly and reflects the rural charm of its surrounds which are mainly farmers’ fields. It will never set the world alight, but will give a lot of pleasure to its members and visitors alike.