The Hotchkin Course – A classic British heathland experience

For more than a century, golf travellers have been welcomed to this exquisite heathland course, famous for it’s natural, dramatic bunkering and distinct tactical challenge.

The course was built on a sandy tract of land to the north of the village and has classic heathland characteristics. Such is the importance of the surroundings, Natural England declared the course a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is a wonderful example of how golf and nature can benefit each other.

The Hotchkin course has seen various development phases over the last 115 years culminating in an 18 hole renovation project, which was completed in April 2020. Tom Doak, arguably the leading golf course architect in the world today, led the renovation project and re-introduced so many of the original features that had been lost through time. Also, a particular effort was made to return to a more rustic look by creating rough edges around bunkers and leaving many areas untouched as we believe that a heathland course should not be over-manicured.

The course is a fair test of strategic golf. The firm heathland fairways are generous in width and the greens have only subtle borrows. However, the 143 dramatic, cavernous bunkers and scrub, gorse and heather await errant shots!

Being rated so highly in the world rankings for the last 50 years, is an indication to the courses’ quality and architecture.

Via Woodhall Spa GC