Kington
GF Round: £22-£37; day: £28-£54
At 1,284 feet above sea level, Kington is the highest golf club in England. With panoramic views from the course, encompassing the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Black Mountains, the Radnorshire Hills, Hergest Ridge and the Malvern and Clee Hills, there are few more spectacular settings for golf anywhere in the United Kingdom.
The layout has the playing characteristics of a links – firm and fast-running fairways, heather and gorse and tricky, undulating greens. This isn’t a long course and the key to success is keeping the ball in play. Many of the fairways feature slopes, humps and hollows and you must try to use the contours to your advantage.
The course was designed by Major Cecil Key Hutchison, who worked with James Braid at Gleneagles and Carnoustie. The back nine offers some seriously enjoyable holes with amazing views. A number of blind and downhill shots require precise judgement and, in the summer months, you often have to land approaches well short of the putting surfaces and trust the contours.
GM verdict A spectacular hilltop course delivering a unique golfing experience and captivating views.
Royal Cromer
Round: £50-£85; day: £100-£120 The course at Royal Cromer has been altered a number of times over the years. The original plan was by Tom Morris, then JH Taylor remodelled the layout between 1911 and 1913. During the 1920s, James
