Regarded as one of the finest golf courses in Suffolk, Thorpeness golf club is a classic British heathland designed by five-time Open Champion and legendary golf course architect James Braid. James Braid laid out the first 10 holes at Thorpeness Golf Club in 1922 and 8 further holes were added the following year when the club was instituted.
The Par 70, 18 hole championship golf course is just a stones throw from the sea on the Suffolk coast and its challenging 6,421 yard course will test golfers of all abilities.
A gentle opening par four eases you in to the round, but the fun really starts at the 2nd, a lovely par three that requires and accurate iron shot to a heavily bunkered and narrow green. The club’s signature hole arrives at the 3rd. The 3rd hole begins the toughest stretch of golf on the front nine, with three par 4’s all requiring length and accuracy. Longer hitters can reach the top of the slope which will shorten the hole, but for everyone else it is a long iron or wood into the heavily sloping right to left green.
The – Par 5 – 14th is also an interesting hole. The widest fairway on the course and one of the few birdie opportunities on the back 9. A long drive favouring the left side will leave a blind second shot over the gorse and heather to set up your eagle chance. Alternatively a layup down the right gives a short iron to the well protected and sloping green.
Note that a significant bunker renovation programme has been achieved in 2011 at Thorpeness golf club.