Hartsbourne (Willows)

Situated in Bushley Heath, the golf course at Hartsbourne Country Club dates back to the early 1920s, when the design partnership of F.G. Hawtree and J.H. Taylor laid out twenty-seven holes for Hartsbourne Manor Golf Club.

The RAF commandeered the clubhouse during World War II to house officers stationed at nearby Bentley Priory, the headquarters for Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. After the war ended, the club didn’t reappear.

Instead, C.J. Stllitz, the Polish-born business man who founded the Gor-Ray ladieswear company, purchased the club in 1946 and renamed it Hartsbourne Country Club. Soon after, Stillitz took over sponsorship of the PGA Assistants’ Championship.

The event was then held here from 1951 to 1966 under the title of the Gor-Ray Cup, with winners such as Peter Alliss, Dave Thomas and Neil Coles. A young Tony Jacklin also claimed his second professional victory in this tournament in 1965.

Situated on the county boundary between Hertfordshire and Middlesex, the fairways at Hartsbourne are set within 180 acres of mature parkland, with mildly undulating, tree-lined holes radiating out from the wonderful old clubhouse.

The main 18-hole layout is called the Willows, measuring 6,313 yards from the back markers and playing to a par of 71. Water comes into play on several holes in the form of ditches and brooks but the main hazards to avoid are the well-placed bunkers.

The par four 3rd, rated stroke index 1, is a feature hole on the course, doglegging severely left then slightly uphill to a green that slopes markedly from back to front. Short par fours at the 294-yard 6th and 256-yard 10th both present enticing birdie opportunities.

Back-to-back par threes at the 14th and 15th are two of the highlight holes on the homeward nine, with the second of these short holes regarded as the signature hole on the card, playing to a two-tiered green surrounded by no fewer than eight deep bunkers.

Although golf is the club's main activity, members also benefit from outdoor facilities like the heated swimming pool and a tennis court. Indoors, there are two full-sized snooker tables, a couple of table tennis tables and three spacious bridge rooms.

The club completed a three-phase bunker renovation project during the winter of 2021-22, rebuilding all the sand hazards using the Ecobunker system to deliver both clean-cut edging and significant maintenance benefits.