Lamberhurst

Lamberhurst Golf Club dates back to 1890, when a 9-hole course was laid out within the Court Lodge estate, home to the Morland family since 1733. The Army requisitioned the fairways during World War I and World War II but they recovered to function as an operational golf course soon after both conflicts ended. When adjacent farmland became available for lease in the early 1970s, Ken Cotton and Frank Pennink extended the course to a full 18-hole layout.

Today, the course extends to just less than 6,500 yards from the medal tees, with more than half the holes doglegging one way or the other. There are only three par threes on the scorecard and these are played at the 140-yard 7th, the 217-yard 12th and 156-yard 17th. The most difficult hole comes early in the round, at the long par four 4th, where the River Teise cuts across the fairway half way to the green.

On the back nine, the river again plays a part in proceedings at the par five 13th as it slashes across the hole immediately in front of the green. Lamberhurst’s signature hole is played one hole earlier, at the aforementioned par three 12th (“Pond”), with the tee shot required to carry across an intimidating combination of water and rough to a small green protected by bunkers to the left, right and front of the putting surface.