West Malling (Spitfire)

The Spitfire layout at West Malling Golf Club is longer and more undulating than the Hurricane. Both 18-hole courses were designed by Max Faulkner in the 1970s and named in honour of the emblematic World War Two fighter planes that flew from the nearby airfield.

Measuring 6,406 yards from the back tees and playing to a par of 70 (34 out then 36 in), the Spitfire occupies the west portion of a 160-acre estate outside Wrotham Heath. With such relatively limited space available for two 18-hole layouts, every single inch of the property has been allocated efficiently.

There’s great variety to be found on the course, with blind tee shots (the first of these at the par four 2nd) and approach shots to water-laden greens (as at the par four 5th and par three 18th). There’s only one par five on the outward half at the 8th, then back-to-back par fives at the 12th and 13th .

Other highlight holes include the left veering par four 4th (rated stroke index 2) which narrows off the tee towards a 2-tier sand-protected green, and the left doglegging par four 14th (rated stroke index 1), requiring an uphill approach to a green that sits more than fifty feet above the level of the fairway.