February 9, 2020

Park Bainbridge England

Hole No. 1 Jesuits Graveyard 457 Yards Par 4	The course starts with a strong par-4 situated in front of the clubhouse and close to the Short Game Practice Area. The tee shot has to be threaded between 300 year old beech trees on the right and a Jesuits Graveyard on the left to set up a testing approach shot to a raised green protected by a bunker short and on the left-hand side of the putting surface. The young Beech trees down the right were planted in straight lines to re-create an avenue the original landscape plan produced by Thomas Bainbridge back in 1706.
Hole No. 2 Church View 187 Yards Par 3	Heythrop Parks first short hole enjoys a delightful view over farm land towards Heythrop Church. It requires an accurate tee shot to find an undulating but generously large green that slopes from back to front and is protected by two bunkers on the left. It pays to be accurate because any shot hit long or right will be difficult to get up and down.
Hole No. 3 Tew Approach 445 Yards	The third is similar to the opening hole in as much as it required a long and accurate drive to avoid three well-placed fairway bunkers on the left and set up a downhill second to a long and narrow green protected by a deep bunker on the left and a hollow on the right that feeds into a valley. The hole is often made more difficult because it is played into the prevailing South West wind.
Hole No. 4 The Wall 530 Yards Par 5	Heythrops first long hole provides a fine example of all the hard work that has been done to restore the Estate to how it looked back in the early 18th century. It is dominated by the impressive dry stone dyke that stretches down the right and separates the hole from the dense Foxberry Wood. This is a hole that will test all those golfers who hit the ball from left-to-right but is a genuine birdie opportunity for the player who hits the ball straight and can avoid the three bunkers situated between 100 and 65 yards short of the green. Ideally, it is best to play left to right from the tee and right to left on the second if the green is to be reached in two shots.
Hole No. 5 Foxberry Wood 377 Yards	As you walk through the stone gates from the 4th green, buzzards can regularly be seen sitting in the trees surrounding the elevated tee. However, golfers might well be more concerned with hitting a tee shot that avoids the stream leading to the pond and the two bunkers that guard the landing area. The ideal tee shot will split the fairway between the pond and the first of the bunkers leaving a short iron to a narrow green protected by a bunker on the left and a deep swale on the right.
Hole No. 6 ArcherBridge 314 Yards	Heythrops 6th hole is destined to feature heavily in golf magazines. Its stunning to look at and is a great example of what the course architects would describe as a genuine risk and reward hole. The long hitters might choose to try to drive the green but they will discover there is no margin for error down the left where the water eats into the green. A tee shot hit right is a safer option but has to miss the fairway bunker and will still leave a tricky approach over a well-placed bunker. The backdrop is dominated by the historic Archer Bridge that traverses the water on the way to the next tee.
Hole No. 7 The Fishing Lakes 425 Yards	The challenging seventh hole is built on what was once known as Wrightens Meadow and requires an accurate tee shot down the left-hand side of the fairway, thus avoiding the water on the right. This leaves an uninterrupted view of a small green protected by three deep bunkers on the right-hand side. A drive hit too far to the right of the fairway bunker will also find the fairway but will leave a blind approach to the green.
Hole No. 8 Kite Grove 414 Yards	Heythrops 8th hole is a strong par-4 that sweeps uphill over water and then turns to the right towards a raised green protected by a front bunker. Its a hole that favours the longer hitter and will need a tee shot of at least 240 yards to leave an uninterrupted view of the green. Many golfers will play it as a par-5 and accept anything less as a bonus.
Hole No. 9 Serpentine 222 Yards	The front nine concludes with one of the most picturesque short holes in England. It is dominated by four ornate ponds that eat into the right of the green but also features a well-placed bunker that will catch out the golfer who attempts to bale out to the left. The hole is named after the historic Serpentine Walk that can be found to the rear of the green.
Hole No. 10 Little Paddock 452 Yards	Heythrop Park is renowned for its historic walled gardens and one of the best examples can be found to the right of this demanding par-4 where bunkers eat into both the right and the left of the landing area and the green is surrounded by an ancient Orchard that has recently been replanted to replicate the 18th Century design with traditional species of Apple, Pear and Cherry. Historians should note the oldest Crown Bowling Green in England can be found nestling in the woods just to the right of the green.
Hole No. 11 South Avenue 577 Yards	The second of Heythrops four par-5s meanders downhill towards the old Skating Lake before turning sharply towards a small green built round to the left between the water and the ancient woodland. The lie of the land means the big hitters can reach the green in two but the safer option might be to lay up short of the water and then try to get up-and-down from there.
Hole No. 12 Great Cow Meadow 416 Yards	The par-4 12th can be found alongside the 2 mile-long drive that leads to the Main Hall, hotel and clubhouse and is dominated by a massive gnarled Oak tree that bisects the fairway 200 yards from the Championship tee. A forest and stream line the right hand side and its another tough two-shotter not least because the green is barely 20-yards deep and is protected by bunkers on both the left and the right. The adjacent property off the right of the green was once owned by the Jesuit Order who used it as...