Harpenden Common

The first 9-hole layout located at Harpenden Common Golf Club was established in 1931, featuring Ryder Cup player Abe Mitchell playing in an exhibition match to commemorate the event. The additional land (known as Jockey Field) has been bought in the mid-1990s permitting the club to increase the course to include the 18 holes currently playing.

The layout of today covers a vast narrow, slender tract of approximately 100 acres and is more than 6,000 yards long. Holes are set up in two loops that return with pars calculated as 70 (35 out, then 35 in) and there is just one hole of par 5 hole on each hole, which is located at the 12th and 3rd. Par threes are back-to-back on the 5th hole and 4th and the round closes with a one hole that is short at the 18th, which is 152 yards long.

Other holes worth mentioning include the lengthy par eighteenth (rated stroke index 1.) which is doglegs slightly to the right to a green that is protected by a sand tucked away in front of the putting area, and the tough 15th hole, a par four (rated stroke index 2.) in which there are bunkers along the fairway's edge stand ready to be spotted by the tee shots that go too far towards on the left side from the hole.

Ken Brown kindly provided the following details regarding the course upgrade in the 1990s:

"Hole holes 6,7 as well as 12-16 were incorporated into the existing course. It was a challenge to work out the course to make the most of the new course and eliminate some of the smaller, boring holes from the old course as well as address other problems like adding length, and a brand new practice area, and a the chipping green... as well as keeping the 9th, 1st, 18th and 10th holes close towards the clubhouse."