Woodsome Hall

Harry Colt designed Woodsome Hall Golf Club in 1922 and the club’s first professional, William Button, oversaw the construction. He and thirty others built 13 holes that year, completing the full course twelve months later. James Braid visited the club in 1929 and suggested modifications to holes 1, 8, 14 to 16 and 18. He also asked for the nines to be switched so his revised layout is the classic parkland course in play today.

Not many courses are ever in danger of being overshadowed by buildings on their property but it’s impossible to write about Woodsome Hall without making mention of the former 16th century manor that now doubles as its magnificent old clubhouse and it really has to be one of the most impressive in all of England.

On the course, there are only two par fives on the card, one on each nine, contributing to a par of 70. The left doglegged 5th is a lovely short par four on the outward half with rhododendrons lining the right of the fairway. On the inward half, the uphill 11th (“Armoury”) and right doglegged 15th (“Keeper’s Cottage”) are another couple of lovely old-fashioned short two-shotters.