RUDDING PARK: THE HAWTREE

By Paul Simpson Last updated: 24th August 2009

Golf365 players: Paul Simpson (handicap 14), Matt Cooper (15), Dave Tindall (24)

The Hawtree Course, opened in 1995, is set in the 19th century grounds of Rudding Park and its 6,883 yard, par 72 parkland layout has a look and feel of maturity beyond its relatively tender years.

It strikes the right balance between accommodating the amateur golfer whilst still offering a challenge to the more experienced player - the water and sand hazards are testing without creating unnecessary intrusion to, and in consideration of, the history of the location of the course.

On the day that we played the course was busy, which is a testament to the success of the venue but at no time during our round did we feel hurried by groups behind or held up by those in front.

Indeed, due to the well-spaced layout of the course at times you can feel as though you have the course to yourself and the scenic surroundings lend an air of serenity to the whole venue.

The clubhouse is a welcome change to tradition and takes on the appearance of a large timber clad log cabin, blending beautifully into the scenic wooded surroundings, with a large stone patio area overlooking the 18th green.

Hole 1: is a relatively straightforward downhill par-four of 372 yards.

That said, we all managed to miss the fairway (we thought it rude to make the course look too easy from the outset; something we all managed to achieve with ease throughout the day).

When we eventually reached the green after a little scrambling from the trees we found the putting surfaces in superb condition with Matt Cooper adopting the flat-stick skills learnt in his role as Golf365 Guinea Pig but having to blame his dodgy contact lenses as his ball sailed past the hole.

Having played this course a couple of years ago I was hoping that I may have an advantage over my playing partners but since that occasion the fairways have been brought in from their generous corporate-width and, while you are still offered some forgiveness from the tee, should you stray, lush rough and trees await.

Hole 2: saw us all get good drives away, avoiding a lake down to the left.

With Dave discovering that a new driver can mean you don't have to rely on a hybrid from the tee, a new found confidence was growing among us, Matt especially who knocked his 8-iron approach to 10 feet (but couldn't hole the putt).

Hole 3: This confidence was soon shattered on the third, an uphill 454 yard par-four into the prevailing wind.

Whether it was the prospect of a drive over the lake in front of us, or the fact that we knew it would be a challenge to reach the green in two, both Matt and I managed to hook the ball no further than 100 yards into the rough, perilously close to a stream.

We all needed around another half dozen blows each before walking from the green as beaten men, shamed in the presence of the majestic Georgian facade of the Rudding Park Hotel, taking solace from the fact that at least the hole was stroke index one.

Hole 4: Things looked to be taking a turn for the worse on the fourth tee as we were greeted with a downhill, dog-leg par-four whose fairway conveniently narrowed in the exact position that you would want to put the ball.

Maybe it was the focus of the narrow landing area but we all managed to get good drives away only to be faced with the prospect of a green with a lake to its left.

As much as you may try to avoid it, water seems to act as Neptune's golf ball magnet and Matt decided to tease the watery god, his ball finishing within a roll of making a splash.

Using a combination of a good balance and a skilful short game, Matt escaped with a respectable five as did Dave yet the hole was to see the first, but not the last, birdie of the day as my 10-foot putt took advantage of the side entrance to the hole.

Hole 5: Satisfied with our efforts on the potentially tricky previous hole we headed to the picturesque par-three fifth hole: not too difficult we thought after our training on the short course, a mere flick over a lake, avoiding the bunkers in front of the green.

The question is what do you do when faced with so many hazards in front of the target? You take too much club of course and put your ball into the trees beyond the green and that is exactly what I did.

Having seen this Dave tried an alternative approach, adopting the Dambusters method with predictable results, followed by a shank into the trees on the right.

Only Matt used the lessons learnt on the short course, mentally blocking out the hazards and finding a respectable and safe position right of the green.

Hole 6: is a par-five of 517 yards that takes you back into the prevailing wind and is made difficult because from the tee a pond on the left and a stream running across the fairway test your course management skills.

That a bit of thought was required from the tee coupled with the fact that we all played good approach shots - exhibition stuff in our eyes - meant that a par and two bogeys were achieved.

Hole 7: The par-four 436 yard seventh hole was played with the wind behind us and we encountered only the second bunker so far, protecting the right front edge of the green, conveniently hidden in a hollow.

We all had our driving boots on by now and were confidently sending the ball down the fairway and, after Matt had toyed with idea of going in the bunker by 'laying up' a couple yards short of it, his skill around the green meant that we all walked away with respectable bogeys on the stroke index 3 hole.

Hole 8: From the seventh green there is a short walk which finds you leaving the original boundary walls of the 19th century estate to reveal beautiful open countryside stretching into the distance and you are greeted with a downhill, 176 yard par 3 hole protected by bunkers positioned to the left and right.

I aimed for the gap before dumping my ball into the right hand bunker.

The approach to the green is focused in your vision by trees down both sides and Dave opted for the plantation to the right on this occasion before Matt showed us both that all you have to do is hit the ball straight.

Dave thrashed around in the trees for a time whilst I struggled to escape the steep faced bunker before we trudged off towards the halfway hutt letting Matt bask in the glory of a par three.

Between the eighth green and ninth tee the halfway house takes orders before you tee off from the ninth, allowing you to collect on completion of the tenth. Due to the wide selection on offer, Dave has never appeared move indecisive before plumping for a nutritious burger to sit comfortably upon his previously consumed energy-giving Mars Bar.

Hole 9: The ninth and tenth holes are both par-fives intersected by a hedge ("Becher's Brook" according to Dave) which runs across the fairways presenting the choice of laying up or taking it on.

At the first time of asking Dave and Matt lay up an unintentionally short distance from the hedge by pulling their tee shots into the rough with my good/bad one finding the fairway.

The approach is a challenging uphill shot to a narrow green protected by bunkers left and right and Dave and Matt were made to suffer for their tee shots.

Hole 10: Once again we all shirked the challenge of taking on the hedge at the 482 yard 10th with varying degrees of success.

Dave and I found the fairway, mine only just after a 4-iron which travelled all of 30 yards and Matt was distraught to find his "perfect lay-up" in the ditch short the hedge.

Just as Dave was beginning to have thoughts of consistency his well-struck second shot found one of the few fairway bunkers on the entire course and I managed to comfortably lay up before placing my approach into the bunker protecting the left side of the green.The well-managed greens were proving difficult to hit but at least our short games were getting plenty of practice from both sand and lush grass.

Hole 11: It may have been the burger that had just been consumed but from the par-three 191 yard 11th, the next few holes turned into the Dave Tindall show.

The hole is the furthest outpost of the course and from the elevated tee position farmland stretches as far as the eye can see.

It's a tricky tee shot due to the drop down to the green and the distance involved with the longest part of the green protected by a large bunker.

No problem for Dave though as he walked away with a par, with the nutrition of prime beef powering him on.

Hole 12: This par-four requires an uphill drive, your line guided by a marker post in the centre of the fairway followed by a downhill shot to a green protected only by a slope in front and a couple of well positioned mounds.

Protection enough for the majority but not Dave has he achieved par for the second hole in a row and the best was yet to come.

Hole 13: is an intriguing prospect: a par-four over a hedge and stream to a partially hidden but wide landing area.

Dave led the way by putting his ball into position A, a skied tee shot from myself just managed to find the short stuff followed and Matt continued his now suspicious relationship with ditches and streams.

Dave was finding the game easy, though, as he stiffed his approach over the stream protecting the front of the green to around four feet and all Matt and I could do was watch on as he rolled in his putt for birdie.

Hole 14: The signature hole.

From the 13th green you are guided through woodland and the boundary wall of the original estate to be greeted by a scene that would not be out of place at Augusta.

The par-three, 163 yard hole is surrounded by rhododendrons and mature trees with the green protected by bunkers to the front and right.

Go short, long or left and you are struggling. The only salvation is to the right, beyond the bunkers. Dave went for this option with a slice so Matt and I pounced on the opportunity to pull a shot back by finding the green before cautiously taking two putts on the undulating green to achieve pars.

Hole 15: After the serenity of the 14th you are brought back to reality with the stroke index two, par-four 15th hole.

The tee shot is a difficult prospect, into the wind, attempting to hit a tree-lined fairway that slopes left to right (slicers beware).

Matt and I both overdid it with our tee shots, trying to keep the ball on the top side of the fairway, with mine fortunately rebounding out onto the fairway.

Once you have found the fairway you are greeted with an approach to a narrow green that requires no protection from bunkers and we were all happy to depart the green with nothing worse than a six to our name.

Hole 16: is the last of the par-fives and a brute; once more the wind is in your face, danger lurks in the form of a large fairway bunker positioned at 225 yards to catch the fading drive.

Dave and Matt both comfortably drove to positions of safety on the fairway whereas I managed to take the bunker out of play by hooking my drive out of bounds before firing my next drive into the exact spot I had imagined my first one landing.

Your next shot presents little danger unless you are going for the green which is protected by a couple of bunkers around 40 yards from its front edge and Matt comfortably completed the hole in regulation whereas errant approach shots cost Dave and I dearly.

Hole 17: A short walk through a copse of trees takes you to the par-four 17th, a deceptive little hole that tempts you to go long when a well-positioned tee shot makes more sense.

Dave and I scrambled our tee shots back onto the fairway before taking on the tree-fringed green.

Matt made his way into the trees and wasn't seen again until he emerged near the green having ricocheted through them in the meantime.

A bogey and two double bogeys were the end result.

Hole 18: And so to the final hole: straight back uphill towards the clubhouse, a deceptively long par-four of 388 yards, played into the wind, with little apparent danger to the errant drive.

Decent drives from all left us determined to make the most of our final hole after a splendid golfing experience but as usual when it comes to the amateur game one good shot does not make a par.

Following my best drive of the day I followed it with my best long iron shot of the day only to take another four shots from the edge of the green.

Matt sent his second shot right, was punished by the presence of a majestic overhanging oak with his third and was also left to reflect on a closing six.

Dave (a weary man by now, the energy-providing properties of his burger now a distant memory) comfortably found the green in three and took the regulation two putts for bogey.

Thankfully the members had the decency not to watch our efforts from the splendid patio area in front of the clubhouse and we were able to shuffle away without our pride dented, reflecting on a fine day, in wonderful surroundings, but a little battered by the Hawtree test.