Denham Golf Club

Denham Golf Club: this excellent Harry Colt designed championship course sits comfortably in its Buckinghamshire countryside surroundings. Exuding traits of both parkland and downland, the two nine-hole loops offer tree-lined holes and others occupying more open terrain. Punctuating the straightaway and doglegging par-4s and two par-5s (which come back-to-back at 13 and 14) are four wonderful par-3s.

Here you'll find Colt's design principles much in evidence. The gently downhill opening hole is an easy-going starter. Like most others it plays to a generous width fairway. The 10th hole, running parallel to the first, also sets off from the "starter's hut" (now converted into a "halfway house"). The par-4 9th and 18th holes also run parallel to each other, gently climbing back-up to the halfway-house and Denham's charming brick-built clubhouse.

Occupying a wonderfully natural setting of forests and fields (and a small aerodrome), the strong front-nine hands over to a more varied and expansive back-nine. Throughout, there's no water hazards to speak of. The stylishly designed green complexes are handsomely framed by sand-faced bunkers, while plenty of bumps and hollows surround the always subtly-sloping putting surfaces.

Pick of the holes: there's plenty to choose from! The sweeping and handsomely bunkered par-4 17th encapsulates all that's best in a Colt designed golf hole. The lovely par-3 12th, with an old-world cottage and garden as a backdrop, and the par-5 13th, requiring a drive over a small "ravine", are also memorable. On the front-nine, the course takes-off (literally) at the beautifully bunkered doglegging par-4 4th and very attractive long par-3 5th.