Nene Park (Thorpe Wood)

The two 18-hole golf courses at Nene Park in Peterborough are just two of the outdoor activities operated by the Nene Park Trust, a registered charity established in the late 1990s to manage and protect the various facilities – including walks and trails, water sports and play areas – that are used by local people for their recreation, education and leisure.

The Thorpe Wood course is a Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas design which is recognised as one of the best pay-and-pay facilities in the region. Extending to 6,631 yards from the back tees, the course plays to a par of 71, boasting a rather unusual layout that starts with a par three at the 188-yard 1st hole and ends with back-to-back par fives at the 17th and 18th.

The front nine holes are routed around the perimeter of the property, completely enclosing the back nine, with holes 3, 4 and 5 set out alongside the River Nene. On the back nine, the par three 11th is the longest of the three one-shot holes on the inward half, with bunkers protecting both the right and left flanks of a kidney-shaped green.