Overstone Park

Situated on the northeast outskirts of Northampton, the course at Overstone Park Hotel, Golf & Leisure Resort is a Donald Steel design from the early 1990s, with golf just one of a number of sporting facilities (including a luxury gymnasium and pool) available at this venue.

The layout is arranged with two returning nines, stretching to just under 6,000 yards from the back tees and playing to a par of 72. Unusually, two of the opening four holes are par threes and the second of these short holes – at the 117-yard 4th – features a small pond to the front left of the green.

On the back nine, the right doglegging par five 11th is rated stroke index 1 on the scorecard, playing to a heart-shaped green that’s protected by one bunker on the right side. The other par five hole on the inward half doesn’t appear until the 18th, with the fairway narrowing considerably on approach to the heavily sand-protected home green.

There was a change of ownership of the club in 2017, when businessman Kirk Andrews took control. Shortly after, it was decided to remove six of the forty bunkers on the course, enabling the green keeping staff to focus on the playability and consistency of the remaining sand hazards.