Rotherham - Yorkshire - England

Rotherham is a really enjoyable parkland golf course located in the heart of South Yorkshire.

The layout of the holes is very interesting and the changes in elevation, on this established tree-lined property, are negotiated nicely.

The magnificently appointed gothic clubhouse, with practice putting green in front, is a grand spot to be on a hot summer's day and whenever I've played here in the Lee Westwood Trophy there has always been a good vibe around the place.

The course is not without its faults but the 18 holes at Rotherham rise and fall beautifully over springy turf and the greens ensure that the challenge is significant throughout. The putting surfaces on my most recent visit were quick, true and if you got above the hole it led to all kinds of trouble. Being able to play from the fairway is crucial because trying to hold the greens from the lush semi-rough is twice as difficult.

There are a number of short to medium-length par fours throughout the round but each requires you to shape the ball differently from the tee and into the greens.

The greens can be terrifying when quick as they slope quite a lot. They complement the relatively short nature of the course nicely and will often dictate your final score.

Ed is the founder of Golf Empire – click the link to read his full review.

Have to say, slightly disappointed with Rotherham. Yes it is a fairly nice looking park-land course but not many holes inspired me to be honest. The front nine is a little up and down with many holes adjacent to each other – for me the par-3 3rd stood out, around 170 yards uphill and plenty of protection but the par 3 9th is not good at all – 200 yards of carry and not a pretty looking hole. The start of the back nine is the best part of the course…Par 5 10th turning right and then a drivable par-4 at the 11th – The 12th is a nice par 4 with a drive over the valley but it is the last third of the course that is very ordinary. The par 3 14th requires a tee shot to be hit over trees that are only 50 yards from the tee, a little strange – rather than go through the rest of the holes one by one, I’ll just say they did not inspire me that much. On a positive note, the staff and the members are very friendly and welcome visitors with open arms – It would be interesting to see what others think of the course.

Beautiful parkland layout with just about the most imposing clubhouse you are ever likely to see. Very popular in the area due to its easy-walking layout and fine conditioning. The club boast a number of top amateur players and boast a golf team to match the club's stature. Off the course they have the friendliest pro and bar staff I have come across and get the day off to a great start. Very enjoyable parkland experience.