Suffolk - Thorpeness Golf Club
Golf courses don't come much prettier than this Suffolk beauty
Suffolk is often an area that goes under the radar when discussing the best of golf in England but courses such as Thorpeness Golf Club make this a fantastic spot for a few days' golfing.
The club has an 18-hole championship course designed by well-known course architect, James Braid. The stunning heathland course is steeped in history and located in the picturesque holiday village of Thorpeness.
Set on the coast in east Suffolk, Thorpeness Golf Club & Hotel boasts an impressive James Braid designed (1923) championship golf course alongside a hotel and dining facilities.
This stunning heathland course was expertly sculptured around the existing heather and gorse to offer a tough but enjoyable test to golfers of all abilities. The combination of long, short, dog legs, blind shots and attackable holes really set you up for a round that has everything an avid golfer could wish for.
Despite being close to the sea, Thorpeness is definitely a heathland course. It benefits hugely from the quick-drying, sandy soil, which provides good turf and firm, fast playing conditions that are a delight to traverse.
The biggest test on the back nine comes on hole 15, where the hole dog legs right to left at nearly 90 degrees. Position from the tee is critical to avoid going too long into some bunkers but making sure you are far enough up to even be able to see the green. A tight approach - probably from in excess of 200 yards awaits into an undulating green guarded by two long bunkers either side.
The final highlight at Thorpeness comes on the last hole, which is a stern finisher, where the backdrop of the iconic ‘House in the Clouds’ and a Grade II listed windmill ensure that you finish your round with a smile on your face.
The club itself probably puts it best: “Nature blessed Thorpeness with more than just beauty. It sits in a mild micro climate, enjoying one of the lowest rates of rainfall in the UK and an average of three hours extra sunshine per week than the rest of the UK. This perfect golfing climate means the golf course hardly ever closes and maintains the highest quality playing conditions year round.”