Review of the Month June 2020 – Knole Park
Knole Park has been heralded as Kent's finest inland course and this is a great description of the course. It is a very enjoyable moorland complete with many lovely holes and some deer (one of which nearly ate my Mars bar on the 3rd tee).
Knole Park is not amazingly presented and this is due to the deer. However, this does not detract from the overall experience.
1 - a par three of 192/186/186/181 that plays slightly uphill over a small cluster of bunkers. A fairly sedate opener in all honesty.
2 - a par four of 342/343/335/292 uphill to a green carved out of a small hillside. A decent hole but nothing too special.
3 - a beautiful par four of 403/393/380/340 with a large downhill drive. The hole climbs uphill after that to a very narrow green. Definitely one of the more picturesque holes on the course.
4 - a lovely par four of 421/418/410/406 from an elevated tee down to a curving fairway in a beautiful valley. A very picturesque hole but has a slightly awkward approach angle if you are a short hitter.
5 - an uphill par three of 194/180/161/122 that demands you take at least two extra clubs. Not an incredible hole to be honest.
6 - a very good par four of 409/399/372/375 to a fairway in a small valley before playing uphill to a raised green. A great hole that has a very open nature and is affected by the wind.
7 - a par five of 483/480/475/417 playing uphill along the boundaries of Knole house. Nothing too special, but a good birdie chance.
8 - a glorious par three of 184/175/163/161 playing downhill over multiple bunkers and water on the left. A beautiful hole that lies near the scene from the Penny Lane video.
9 - a tough par five of 534/503/472/354 uphill with trees on the left side of the fairway. Another fairly average par five.
10 - a good par three of 171/164/158/125 downhill with renovated bunkering at the front of the green. Me and my dad played the hole in one under gross combined which is quite an achievement since I play off 34 as a junior!
11 - a good par four of 438/427/408/408 which is slightly downhill from the tee. It bends very sharply to the right. The greensite is nice and this is a good hole.
12 - a long par three of 202/198/192/150 with panoramic views over the grounds and moors. It is actually a very nice par three with a sloping green.
13 - a short par four of 342/325/277/276 playing slightly uphill to a green in the shadow of a tall oak tree. A good birdie chance, but not much else to be honest.
14 - a fantastic par four of 499/447/429/435 downhill to a green with the bracken in the background. Apparently Peter Alliss loved the hole. I agree - it was my favourite hole on the course.
15 - a long par five of 546/485/471/461 playing from an elevated tee to a fairway deep in the valley before climbing back uphill. Either this or 17 is the best of the par fives.
16 - a tough uphill par three of 198/188/180/171 that has trouble all up the right. The simple solution is to just aim left of the green. The views from the green are among the best on the course.
17 - a good par five of 521/503/494/492 downhill towards the clubhouse. The green is a bit below the fairway and makes it easier to reach the green in two shots. A nice hole.
18 - a great finishing hole of 401/391/344/312 down the hill with O.O.B on the right. In front of the green is a small pond. A nice, but not taxing, finisher.
Knole Park deserves to be in the Top 100 in England. An excellent course with many great holes.
Review of the Month June 2020 selected by Editor-in-Chief, Keith Baxter, and sponsored by TaylorMade – click to read more about Knole Park. Photos courtesy of Knole Park Golf Club.
