Nottinghamshire
Rob Smith enjoys a variety of courses in this county of gently rolling hills and ancient woodland
Wollaton Park Par 71, 6,513 yards GF: round: £55wd, £60 Sun
Just a couple of miles from Nottingham Castle, this well-maintained design runs through an old deer park. These beautiful creatures provide a real visual bonus, as do the occasional glimpses of Wollaton Hall. The opening holes are flat, before the uphill short 8th leads you to slightly more undulating ground. A lake comes into view at the far end, and the 15th is a genuine threeshotter. Wollaton Park is a joy to play.
Ramsdale Park Par 71, 6,541 yards GF: round: £28-£34
The parkland Seely course was designed by Martin Hawtree almost 30 years ago and has been very popular ever since. It is very much a course of two distinct halves, with the front nine working its way through mature trees. The back nine is more undulating and heads up on to higher ground, the reward for which is fine, panoramic views and some exciting golf. The Lee course, meanwhile, is an 18-hole par-3 layout. Ramsdale Park offers great value for money.
Coxmoor Par 73, 6,695 yards GF: round: £80; day: £95
This is a delightful course with the short holes a real feature, especially the 2nd surrounded by sand and the remodelled 17th, which is up a slight rise
Hollinwell Par 72, 6,619 yards GF: round: £110-£130
I first played this magnificent course back in 1995, and it has always been a treat to return. As you enter this vast golfing oasis between the par-5 3rd and the closing hole, you feel a huge sense of anticipation for what is to come.
This is one of the most expansive courses in the Golf Monthly Top 100, with perhaps room for another 18 within its beautifully framed boundary. Willie Park Junior designed the course back in 1901, and it covers a huge acreage of absolutely beautiful heathland. In part wooded, it also benefits from rocky outcrops, as well as the occasional encounter with water, bracken and fern.
Rarely do consecutive holes run in the same direction, and the gentle slopes on the northern side of the estate reward with both lovely views and strategic challenge. This glorious course is a genuine and very rewarding must-play. to a large green. Three par 5s in the last six holes offer hope of a birdie, but they are all over 500 yards and no pushover. Coxmoor is an excellent test of golf that has staged Open qualifying several times and is kept in great shape throughout the year.