Woodsome Hall - Yorkshire - England

On the final day before lockdown, I managed to squeeze a 2pm tee time at Woodsome Hall with my friend who is a member there.

Playing on all 18 greens and with a Winter par 3 squeezed in between holes 16 and 17 (replaces the 3rd which is closed off in the winter) we did wonder whether we would get round before darkness.

The entrance and driveway to the grand Hall never fails to create a Wow moment as you arrive. It's such a classy start to your afternoon. The 1st tee, with the Hall directly behind also impresses. This is a short course by modern standards. It has its fair share of downhill holes (1st, 6th, 9th, 16th and 17th) but also a good number of uphill holes to balance (2nd, 5th, 12th, 13th and 14th).

It wends its way up and down and across the hillside, a mix of parkland and woodland.

My favourite section remains holes 14-16, played up, along the top and then back down the hillside. The 15th is a beautiful looking par 4, with bunkers cleverly placed to catch your drives and the 16th a picturesque and woodland framed par 5, to a green below the fairway. It offers good risk and reward options, where you could be putting for eagle or potentially losing a shot after finding the trees.

The 17th downhill from a myriad of tee options is a class looking hole played through tall trees forming a narrow funnel.

Whilst the greens were spongy given the high level of recent rain in this area, they were all in play.

This is a delightful Harry Colt designed and James Braid modified course. If you are fans of these golden age designers, then playing this course and also Wortley and Hallamshire whilst in this area of Yorkshire is highly recommended.

Woodsome Hall is a traditional club in all repsects. When i last visted you still had to have a jacket and tie to eat in the main restaurant. My friend is a member there and whilst it is relaxing some of its older traditions, the clubhouse is so grand it will always have a wow feeling when you enter through the gates up the long driveway between the practice ground and the 18th fairway.

The 1st tee is directly in front of the Hall on what would have been a lawn, raised above the 1st hole.

1st 2 holes play down hill and back up again and are an unspectacular start. The course really starts to take shape on the excellent par 3 3rd, followed by a delightful sweeping 4th. The 5th is a short par 4 dog leg left to an uphill green, before you climb the hill further to tee off the 6th, again a picturesque hole. Another par 3 follows then the hardest hole imo as you tee off on a very long par 4 with internal oob on a sweeping left to right hole again to a raised green. You will be getting the drift. This is a hilly course. The 9th is a par 5 running aling the edge of the woods back to the clubhouse. You finish the 1st loop with a short par 3 10th before crossing the drive for what from 12 to 15 is an uphill slog of par4,3 4. I love the 15th which is across the top of this highest point before a par 5 starts ro take you back down the hill. The 17th is wonderful. Off the back tees the trees either side act like a funnel and requires a really straight shot. Whilst the hole isnt long you need to be in position to confidently hit the green. The 18th isnt the strongest with oob now along the practice ground but the green placement is good as you play back to the Hall.

A parkland/woodland course which i think plays harder than its yardage, although interestingly my friend thought my home course of Wortley offered a much stiffer challenge.

Some golf clubs hit you with a 'wow' factor the moment you drive through their gates. Woodsome Hall is certainly one of those.

It is a traditional club steeped in history but also provides a fair test of golf and recent work to the bunkering at this West Yorkshire course has given it a pleasing facelift.

The front nine at Woodsome Hall is the pick of the two halves. Not only is it played through the most picturesque part of the course but it also serves up the best holes.

The drive at the first can be intimidating because it is right in front of the imposing 16th century Grade 1 listed clubhouse and adjacent to the putting green where everybody will pause (and watch) whilst you hit your opening tee shot...

Woodsome Hall is at its best on a glorious summer's day when all the flora is in full bloom and the course is playing lush but firm.

The greens are just about perfect; there is good variety amongst the many breaks and swales where leaving yourself above the hole can result in a daunting putt. There is a good mix of holes too with several birdie chances along with a handful of more challenging holes.

It's also worth noting the excellent practice facilities available including an indoor centre above the pro-shop.

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

Played in the Woodsome Hall foursomes, after hearing a lot about the greens it was nice to finally get the chance to play it. To start with I must say it is the finest clubhouse I have ever seen and been in my life. Old fashioned like a huge mansion, inside has been kept up to it's original design and feel and it's a pretty impressive experience. As for the golf course itself, it is a very nice layout. The greens were very quick, stimping at around 11 feet. Not too slopey either so the pace was very playable. The fairways are very generous and the course is very hilly so you can really take advantage of the downhill holes that play much shorter. The real defence of this course though is the greens, it's the sheer size of them that makes things difficult. Been fairly firm and really small protected by huge run off areas and deep bunkers you have to be very cautious with your approach shots. The variety of the Par 4's is also very good with there being 2/3 driveable par 4's. As for the signature hole in my opinion, it must be the Par 5 9th, a lovely dogleg around the forest with a small pond and trees guarding the lay up and view of the right side of the green. A great risk reward hole. The 12th in my opinion was the only weak hole, but in general a very fun experience on a very nice golf course. Very similar to nearby Fixby.

Peace and tranquility within a stones throw of Huddersfield. Played last week and course in very good condition. Well manicured fairways and excellent greens. The start is gentle enough but the run from 2 to 4 is reasonably challenging - the 3rd in particular a 200 yard par 3 with very little space to miss the green has the potential to wreck your card. The front 9 is generally more demanding - the 8th in particular is as hard a stroke 1 as you will ever play. A mere 474 yard of the whites, OB all down the right, dogleg right and uphill to a well guarded and tricky green. If you make a par you will feel like you have stolen at least 1 shot from the course. The back 9 is a lot easier and if I am honest the finishing run is slightly disappointing. The 15th is a 300 yard par 4, the 16th is an eminently reachable par 5 as long as you find the fairway, and then 17 and 18 are pretty straightforward relatively short par 4's. The clubhouse is quite remarkable and the beer they served was excellent. Course was very quiet for a Friday and this definately has the feel of somewhere you would happily play week in week out. Having played its near neighbour Fixby a few times I would say that it just about has the edge but both are fine courses in their own right. My only criticism would be the 'bus shelters' on the excellent practice ground. Whilst they are no doubt very practical they look awful against the backdrop of a fine course and an amazing clubhouse. Well worth a visit.