Rochester & Cobham Park Golf Club

Rochester & Cobham Park Golf Club: challenging the renowned coastal courses in eastern Kent, the north and west of the county is home to several excellent parkland courses. Amongst the flag-bearers is Rochester & Cobham Park, kept good company by the likes of Knole Park and Wilderness near Sevenoaks. Located on the opposite side of the River Medway to the historic town of Rochester, the predominantly open terrain of Cobham Hall's former deer park is home to this excellent Charles "Hugh" Alison design, one to test all facets of your game.

Built on an easy-draining base of Kentish chalk, the course plays on either side and through a relatively shallow valley. This absorbing and predominantly open parkland layout is based on two nine-hole loops, with a flatter front-nine, and more elevation change on the inward holes. There's no water to fear, but in spring and summer the rough beyond the fairways will help focus your straight-hitting from the tee.

Rochester's expansive layout offers plenty of space between the holes, with good-width fairways leading to subtly sloping greens, some large, some small. The pleasantly undulating and natural terrain is bounded by a wonderful variety of trees, including some seriously gnarly ancient oaks.

Other notable features of Rochester & Cobham Park include its large and (on the inside) baronial style clubhouse, excellent practice ground, and welcoming ambience to visitors. A not uncommon breeze blowing across the course may add an extra soupçon of challenge to you golf on any given day.

Pick of the holes: the risk-reward short par-4 17th, part of an excellent closing trio, encourages long hitters to have a tilt at the green, with substantial bunker defences awaiting anything hit short or offline.