Northamptonshire County Golf Club

Northamptonshire County Golf Club is home to a pleasantly testing and traditional heathland course. Gently undulating woodland, replete with gorse, heather, silver birch and mature pines all play their part in providing a natural backdrop to your round here.

Laid out alongside the village of Church Brampton in a tranquil setting of woodland and open fields, this predominantly tree-lined layout contains many attractive features and several excellent holes to enjoy. There's plenty of space between the good-width fairways, which never intrude on each other.

There's a ditch to cross at the par-4 9th, but little else in the way of water hazards to trouble you. Small, well-built and contoured greens, challenging approaches and natural scenery blend together to create plenty of charm and challenge during your round. Usually excellent upkeep also contributes to the appeal of Harry Colt's out-and-back design. As on many traditional courses, the green-to-next-tee walks are short, although you'll twice cross the Northampton loop of the West Coast railway line, to play the opening five holes of the back-nine.

Pick of the holes: although lacking what might be described as flamboyant "signature" holes, arguably the best section of this very solid design is found from the par-4 10th through to the par-4 14th, on "the other side of the tracks". The elevated-tee to elevated-green par-4 13th is perhaps the highlight of this absrobing stretch.

Additional holes: in recent years three additional holes (7a, 8a and 9a) were added to the original 18-hole layout, facilitating a return to the homely single-storey clubhouse if nine or 27 holes are played.