The Warwickshire (Earls)

The Warwickshire Golf & Country Club is located a couple of miles to the north of Britain's greatest Mediaeval experience – Warwick Castle. Ethelfleda, sister of Edward the Elder, founded Warwick town some 1,100 years ago, but the Warwickshire Golf Club is mere babe in arms by comparison.

Founded in 1994, the Warwickshire was originally laid out in four loops of nine holes by Karl Litten, the architect who fashioned the famous Majlis course at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. These four loops, formerly known as the North, South, East and West were reconfigured in the winter of 2005 and there are now two distinct courses.

A name-the-course competition was held amongst the Warwickshire Golf & Country Club members and finally the two new courses were named the Kings and the Earls after Richard Neville the 16th Earl of Warwick who was also known as “Warwick the Kingmaker” – at the time the richest man in England outside the Royal family.

The Earls course comprises of the North and West loops and it’s a tough cookie that can be stretched way beyond 7,000 yards. Combine sheer length with holes that are flanked by mature trees and you’ll need to find your longest and straightest driving game in order to score well.

The par four opening hole sets the scene for the challenging Earls course and asks serious questions. This attractive tree lined hole funnels at the landing zone. Assuming you can thread your opening tee shot through the trees, you’ll be left with an approach shot to a green that sits in a glade. It’s an opener from the top drawer.

People will naturally compare and contrast at the Warwickshire. For our money, the Earls is the pick of the two courses and the homeward nine is the strongest loop of all.