Broadstone Golf Club

Broadstone is at its best when you treat it as a thinking player's course. From the tee, the priority is positioning. Fairways are framed by heather and gorse in places, so the sensible line often beats the heroic one. Approach play is where Colt's influence really shows, with greens that reward the right angle and punish lazy targets with tricky chips and putts.

The course is a charming blend of parkland and heathland, shaped by Harry S. Colt's 1914 revision of Tom Dunn's original routing. What Colt delivered is a strategic test that has matured superbly over more than a century, earning its place as a course with a strong competitive pedigree at county and regional level.

The layout threads through pine, gorse and heather, with fairways that demand accuracy and greens that require careful reading and a confident putting stroke. Colt's trademark bunkering and green contouring are evident throughout, rewarding golfers who think their way around the course and punishing those who rely solely on power. When the wind picks up, the heathland stretches become particularly demanding, exposing any weakness in your long game.

If you're planning the trip for a mixed-ability group, it's a good shout because the test is mostly strategic. Longer hitters still have chances to be aggressive, but everyone has to keep it in play. In breezy conditions it becomes a different proposition, so pack a couple of extra balls and be ready to club up.

Finish up in the clubhouse for a well-earned drink and, if you're building a multi-course itinerary, pair Broadstone with other local styles to keep the week fresh.