John O'Gaunt (John O'Gaunt) - Bedfordshire - England

1st Bedfordshire - Best in Area
John O'Gaunt Golf Club,
Sutton Park,
Sandy,
Bedfordshire,
SG19 2LY,
England

  • +44 (0) 1767 260360

  • Simon Davis

  • F.W.Hawtree

  • Lee Scarbrow

John O’Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and fourth son of King Edward III, held the manor of nearby Sutton during the 14th century and the golf club was founded in his honour in 1948. Situated between Bedford and Cambridge, the club boasts a pair of beguiling 18-hole golf courses, with the longer John O’Gaunt layout rated the tougher of the two tracks.

Mature trees line the holes here as they stretch out across a gently undulating parkland landscape. Accuracy off the tee is absolutely essential as many of the playing corridors are rather tight and a big score can easily result from either a wayward tee shot or a careless approach shot.

There are only three par threes on the card, at holes 4, 10 and 16, with the 186-yard 10th considered the signature hole on the course. Three bunkers to the front of the green will catch anything short at this hole and a large tree to the front and right of the putting surface will punish pushed tee shots.

The only two par fives are also worthy of comment: the 504-yard 9th sweeping from left to right with an uphill approach to the green and the short, 406-yard 17th doglegging right to a green that’s surrounded by a dry moat – now, it’s not every day you read about that sort of hazard on a golf course, is it?

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Reviews for John O'Gaunt (John O'Gaunt)

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Description: The John O'Gaunt course at John O'Gaunt Golf Club is a magnificent parkland course with majestic specimen trees lining the lush fairways. Rating: 4.6 out of 6 Reviews: 5

John O'Gaunt is a pleasant parkland course and nothing more than that. As such I believe the £55/round rate to be a little steep but think £65 for a day where you could play their other course to be good VFM.

I cannot fault the condition of the course, for the middle of a dry Aug it was very good, and had a very pleasant round of golf where accuracy off the tee is paramount as many of the holes have subtle dog legs that demand a draw or fade. All in all worth playing and in an area that lacks real quality golf courses it quite rightly sits No1 for Bedfordshire.

4 / 6
John O'Gaunt (John O'Gaunt)
August 11, 2016


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I used play here back in the nineties on various company days out and have fond memories of some good times on this decent parkland course. All of our group looked forward to visiting the club especially as there are two courses to play. Our events were played on the main John O'Gaunt course and it stands-up as one of the area's better courses, in saying that Bedfordshire is certainly not a Surrey or Berkshire when it comes to golf courses! The first hole is a gentle start, a par-4 under 300 yards dog-legging right with a very small green - small greens are a feature on the course which go to help keep scores respectable as I remember that scoring wasn't too tricky. Other holes that stick in the memory are the tough par-4 6th to a raised green, the 13th; another par-4 crossing a brook twice and then the uphill par-4 18th with its green in front of the majestic clubhouse. I think I would like to re-visit but I also remember that there were only two par-5's and three par-3's which feels a little par-4 heavy...
4 / 6
John O'Gaunt (John O'Gaunt)
July 26, 2010


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Kristian Harmer
December 03, 2015
Very helpful review, thanks...
A bit of a wolf in sheeps clothing, looks easier than it is. Tight with well placed mature trees and tangly rough. 6th. and 13th. very testing long par 4's and the7th. one of the best short par 4's I've played.Top hole is the 10th. a par 3 which would not be out of place on any champoinship course.Greens smooth and pacy, well worth a reasonable green fee.
6 / 6
John O'Gaunt (John O'Gaunt)
October 10, 2009


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This is a lovely golf club, especially the Main course. It took me three rounds to finally nail this place with a score to match my handicap. The 4th and 5th holes are real testers and the 17th is a glorious par 5 with a tremendous finish, an elevated green and monstrous tree to the right, a well positioned tee shot is crucial. There are holes where care and placement are needed, and one or two where you can let rip off the tee. The par 3 tenth is also a tester.It's established and really well looked after, a must visit if you are in the area. There is something a bit 'Moor Parky' about this course and it compares favourably in my book.
5 / 6
John O'Gaunt (John O'Gaunt)
October 13, 2005


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One of the area's greatest society venues with two nice parkland courses...make sure you play the Carthagena in the morning and save the Main John O'Gaunt course (the best) till last. This is a tough test of golf where you need to be accurate as well as long. Some of the truest and slickest greens around and a very nice collection of varied holes. Well worth playing and with one of the most fantastic clubhouses I've ever had the pleasure of frequenting. If it's a nice day, have a beer on the high terrace and enjoy watching people three putt on the elevated tricky 18th green. Bedfordshire's undisputed best.
4 / 6
John O'Gaunt (John O'Gaunt)
March 07, 2005


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