Lying just to the side of the north bound carriageway of the A1, a sharp turn into the clubhouse carpark, doesn't prepare you for the calm and beauty that is Stoke Rochford GC.

Part of the Stoke Rochford parkland estate, the course is laid out over the hillside looking down and across to Stoke Rochford Hall.

Not overly long, at 6313 yards off the back tees, this scenic course is almost 100 years old.

Playable with full greens all year round, it hosts a couple of EGU qualifying events each year.

Your round begins with a walk left from the clubhouse, then teeing back as the hole plays directly in front of it. The fairway will take your drive right and then a sloping and raised green. A bogey can be considered a good start!

The course stay on the high ground through the early part of the round, which includes a par 5 and par 3, then on the 6th, you start a gradual descent. This hole has gorgeous views and is called Church View. Its SI 1. So far there has been a distinct lack of bunkers with only green side traps seen on the par 3 3rd and the par 4 5th; all other holes rely on the slopes and little run off areas, around the narrow and sloping greens.

A great looking par 3 follows, and your 1st time play over Cringle Brook. An elevated tee shot plays almost directly across height wise to the green sat on the slopes on the otherside of the brook.

And Cringle Brook comes into play a few times throughout the rest of the round - the 7th, 8th, 9th and 13th holes.

The 9th is a good risk/ reward hole - only 342 yards, but the trees hugging the right side of this dog leg can catch you, as can OOB. The green has a ridge running down the middle that can make a 2 putt difficult depending on where the flag is located.

The course is typical parkland, open holes, little in the way of trees so this maybe not your ideal course. That said, conditioning is always immaculate and I'm delighted to see it make the Lincolnshire Top 10.

The back 9 starts with a strong par 4, 432 yards long, especially difficult as it plays normally into the wind.

The mix of par 4's is good as a short one follows - 332 yards. A few more bunkers appear around the greens as you progress through your round, none more so than the 12th which has 5! Nice views of the lake from this hole.

After a very short, drivable par 4 the 14th is 457 yards long! Again without bunkers but thick rough around the green awaits a missed approach.

Back into the no bunker land, the 15th and 16th gently start the acsent back up the hillside, before what is my most memorable hole, the par 3 190 yard long. Played slightly downhill with great views of the Hall, club selction will vary greatly depending on the wind!

And the 18th brings you back to the back of the 1st tee. A blind tee shot uphill, follow the marker post and hopefully you will be in the fairway for a blind approach. This dog leg left is a fine finishing hole onto another Stoke Rochford staple - large greens.