LANCASHIRE
Jeremy Ellwood enters virgin territory as he heads away from the county’s coast to sample some of its inland delights
Chorley
Visually, the course gets out of the blocks fast, with the beautiful, mid-length opener playing down and gently up towards a stirring backdrop of distant moors. The 2nd is then a very generous downhill par 5, although the green is not to be missed in the wrong place. The two other par 5s at 13 and 17 also seem eminently ‘gettable’, though misfortune can still befall you. The par-3 3rd looks innocuous enough, but with OOB tight right and a steep bank left, it’s a good early test of your accuracy.
There’s then a slightly awkward drive along a valley and across a sideslope to contend with on the 4th, plus a blind approach. A hugely tempting short downhill par 4 kicks off the back nine, before the very strong 11th, where the further down you can get it, the more you’ll see. The 18th may be a par 3, but it’s certainly no pushover, stretching to almost 200 yards and playing slightly uphill.
Par 71, 6,284 yards
GF: round: £45wd only (£160 for a four-ball)
SHOWSTOPPER Burnley
George Lowe and Sandy Herd were responsible for designing Burnley, originally known as Glen View, with James Braid also lending a hand in the 1920s. It plays over rolling moorland, but you’d think it’s anything but rolling as you stare at the steeply uphill 1st. This is one of just two sharp ascents, though, and your reward is the beautifully framed par-3 2nd. You’ll remember the par-3 11th set in its own hollow and the 18th, which plunges down to the clubhouse from higher ground.
Par 69, 5,925 yards GF: round: £30 Fri-sun