Wharton Park

Designed by Howard Swan, the 18-hole layout at Wharton Park Golf & Country Club lies just outside the attractive Georgian town of Bewdley on the River Severn, at the gateway of the Wye Forest national nature reserve.

Stretching to 6,402 yards from the tips, the course plays to a par of 71, with holes arranged in two distinct compartments: holes 1-3 and 11-18 lie closest to the clubhouse, with the other seven holes set out on the other side of a dense forest.

All four par threes here are memorable, starting at the 3rd which eats into the edge of the woodland, then the very short 8th where an uphill tee shot is required. The back nine starts with another very short downhill hole, before the toughest par three (stroke index 11) is tackled at the 162-yard 15th.

Other holes of note include the 587-yard right doglegging 9th and the short par four 16th, where the tee shot onto an elevated fairway is followed by an approach over one of the beautiful lakes on the course to a green that’s fronted by a large bunker.