Lamberhurst – Golf Course Review

Golfer’s Tips

• The 4th is comfortably the toughest hole on the course, a par 4 standing at 450 yards with a stream crossing at around 250 yards. Most handicaps should play this as a 3 shotter, as shorter hitters will not reach in two, and longer hitters risk hitting the stream with their drive, which is downhill from the fairway. Aim to have a short wedge in your hand for your third shot and perhaps par is still possible.
• The 18th is a good finisher, as it presents a choice between iron/wedge and driver for the longer hitter – many a matchplay game must have been dictated by choices made on the tee. Beware that a driver pushed right brings in OOB by a small iron fence providing the perimeter of the nearby house, and left could be blocked out by mature trees.

Signature Holes

• 10th – a really fun par 4 that plays down to a wide fairway from a very nice elevated tee, but then turns sharply left to an undulating green sloping back to front and left to right. Attempting to cut too much of the corner with your tee shot may leave you in or behind a hedge that juts out from the line of trees on the left hand side.
• 13th – par 5 that which presents a relatively narrow tee shot leading to a risk/reward second for the longer hitters, shooting over a stream that runs in front of a very attractive green complex set within a bowl.

Review:

A lovely spot, and a very pleasant course that hits the mark.

Not knowing too much about Lamberhurst we were really pleased to find a very nice course making full use of the beautiful Kentish countryside terrain – some of the views of the rolling hills and surrounding woodland from various higher parts of the course were beautiful.

The course itself is an attractive parkland layout. The front nine is without doubt defined by many short par 4s which have many doglegs requiring strategic tee shots and very few drivers. The one exception to this is the very strong par 4 4th hole which is 450 yards played into wind over a stream (which may be driver length for longer hitters in Summer conditions).

The back nine is longer and slightly more up and down, so perhaps not quite as enjoyable as the front, but still puts together a really good and very playable course. Highlights include the 10th, which is played from a superb elevated tee overlooking a downhill dogleg to the right, and the par 5 13th. The par 3s are perhaps not as strong as the rest, which perhaps could be a relatively easy fix (additional bunkering or points of interest around the greens) and take this club up a notch.

Lamberhurst is very much defined by its raised tees, with nice views overlooking the forthcoming hole (and others), sloping greens and doglegging fairways making full use of the undulating countryside – supported by a friendly feeling clubhouse and adequate practice facilities.

A very nice surprise, would definitely go back.

• “Top 100” Ranking: 17th (Kent)
• Golfer View Rating: 62%

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