Dunston is above par
GOLFERS ARE MAKING THEIR WAY TO NORFOLK TO IMPROVE THEIR GAME. PAUL SUART JOINS THEM
SCOTLAND, Wales, Ireland, the Algarve, Andalucia – all established golfing destinations with a plethora of appealing sights. Full of eastern promise, maybe it’s time to add Norfolk to that list. Because the county is fast becoming a go-to for golfers seeking a new challenge across a range of courses.
There’s the flagship coastal titles like Royal West Norfolk, Sheringham, Cromer and Hunstanton. Also Royal Norwich and Eaton, both a short drive from Dunston Hall. And it’s Dunston where we set up base for our Norfolk golfing adventure.
Ten miles south of Norwich city centre, the resort is home to a USGA-rated par 71 golf course far from shabby itself.
As a member of the Q Hotels stable, it houses a QGolf Academy for any rusty swingers keen to hone their game.
Appointed with a 22-bay floodlit driving range, the academy offers coaching packages to suit all budgets and abilities. The clinics certainly worked for evergreen Norfolk resident Brenda Chapman.
Since taking lessons under academy coach Caroline Grady, Brenda has added 15 yards to her drives – at the grand old age of 91!
Michael Fiddaman hasn’t fared too bad either under Grady’s tuition. Fiddaman slashed his handicap to 16 – just four months after taking up the game.
For those a little more relaxed, there’s enough to occupy oneself at Dunston before or after a round. As I discovered first hand courtesy of a guided tour from general manager Callum Colquhoun.
A quirky Scot with a charming sense of humour, Colquohoun purred like a cat who got all the cream. And so he might, because a £2 million makeover in 2016, combined with rave reviews, has triggered a huge upturn in hotel and corporate bookings. Half of the cash was pumped into upgrading rooms in the Elizabethan-style hall, which dates back to 1859. Around £500,000 was spent on the leisure club, including refurbishment of the swimming pool area with a new, larger sauna and poolside showers.
Having taken an early morning swim, I can vouch for the serene and polished feel of the pool room.
A further six-figure sum was splashed on improving drainage across Dunston’s 6,275-yard golf course. I played the course at an ideal time to assess the project’s efficiency, given the rain that had fallen prior to my arrival. In fact, I was perhaps a little premature in visiting, with the third hole out of commission to allow for extensive works underground.
The terrain was remarkably dry and compact under foot. The ground works are obviously paying off.
Visually, Dunston boasts some stunning holes, particularly the stretch from 13 to 16.
Attention to the scorecard, or the 3D hole-by-hole flyover displayed on monitors inside the clubhouse, is advised for the 420-yard par four sixth. Its acute dogleg right could catch you out otherwise.
Dunston is a decent challenge for golfers of any standard, though its open layout could be perceived as forgiving for errant drivers of the ball.
State-of-the-art kitchen equipment formed part of the big-money investment. That equipment is put to good use by a head chef Callum spoke highly of. And rightly so, because our evening meal was faultless and served within a convivial setting in the Brasserie Bar and Grill.
Open-plan, light and lively, the restaurant strikes just the right balance. Impressive cuisine in an informal environment groups of golfers could easily wile away several hours here.
Accordingly, the Brasserie doubles up as a pleasant place to start the day with a hearty English breakfast.
Parties stationed in Dunston to explore Norfolk’s golfing delights could do worse than take the short journey to Eaton Golf Club.
As you meander through a housing estate before turning into the entrance, there are no clues to the hidden gem nestled within.
Established in 1910, Eaton was clearly here before the estate and so the course unravels across a vast expanse of undulating parkland.
The par three second, its green protected by the kind of banked wooden shield prevalent among Norfolk courses, is worth special mention.
It’s almost as picturesque as the par four third from a vantage point at the back tees.
Six and 14 are considered Eaton’s signature holes. Both will live up to their billing when reconstruction of the par four 14th is complete.
Eaton has a thriving membership which means groups must book well in advance, particularly in the summer months, to secure tee times.
Traditional in appearance, course and clubhouse, Eaton is also forward-thinking. The scorecard features a ‘green’ yardage for mixed-sex use. Eat your heart out Muirfield!
There are better courses in Norfolk than the ones we played. But few better places to park yourself – for a crack at them all – than Dunston.
For golfers, England’s hip is getting hipper.
Dunston Hall was constructed between 1859 and 1878 and is set in 150 acres of parkland