Introduction

The Course is set amidst the beautiful Herefordshire Countryside and measures 6,511 yards off the White Tees, 6,087 yards off the Yellows and 5,617 yards off the Ladies’ tees; par is 72 off the White and Yellow tees, and 73 off the Ladies'. Card of the Course.

The parkland setting, with a wealth of lovely mature oak and other established trees together with the recent plantations not only are a delight to view, but offer the golfer many an interesting challenge. Couple this with the lush undulating fairways, only found where grassland has been continuously growing undisturbed for centuries, the well drained greens, the ever present River Wye and you have the perfect recipe for a great days golf.

1st Green

In it’s present format the Course consists of two “Nines”. The first, or County Nine as it is sometimes known, takes in the higher ground. Here you have magnificent views over the surrounding Herefordshire Countryside. To the West one can see the famed Black Mountains. To the East, looking over Belmont House itself, is Hereford City with the Cathedral, famous for it’s Chained Library,the Three Choirs Festival and the home of the Mappa Mundi, clearly visible. On a clear day one can see all the way to the Malvern Hills. South, if you have time, one can stop and admire the rolling open farmland as your eyes take you down towards Abergavenny with South Wales beyond. Northwards you will catch glimpses of the River Wye, against the backdrop of Breinton Woods, as it finds its way down from Hay-on-Wye and the Mountains of Mid Wales.

16th Green

The second, or River Nine as its name suggests, is set down in the valley alongside the River Wye. The land forms part of the plain carved many centuries ago between the escarpments of Belmont and Breinton as the River Wye fought its way down through Herefordshire and eventually out into the Bristol Channel at Chepstow. Many find this the harder of the two “Nines”. The River can come into play on at least five of the holes. Add to this some well placed mature trees and you may well find that it is better to rely on accuracy rather than length. The choice is yours, but rest assured you will enjoy the natural contours of the fairways and the picture postcard scenery.

The following hole by hole guide has been prepared to give you a “flavour” of the Course.

Hole by Hole around the course

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The 1st is a testing but tempting hole. Please look at the Yardage Booklet before driving. As there is a large pond within driving distance whose front edge is only 75 yards from the centre of the green. The pond is an Environmentally Sensitive Area and golf balls landing in it or on its banks are deemed lost. The green, with the surround to its front edge rising up from the pond, is set into a natural amphitheater surrounded by plantations. Once there the large green is flat and true so two putts should be rewarded with a Par.

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With trees lining either side of the lovely 2nd hole your tee shot has to be straight and true. The wind can be deceptive as it swirls around the tops of the trees so club selection is all important. The green is only 19 yards deep and with a steep bank behind you need to throw the ball well up in the air in order to ensure it stops before toppling over the back and into trouble. Don’t be short as the ball landing on the approach could shoot forward and again put you over the back. There is room to the right of the green so the sliced tee shot may not be punished as hard as some may think it deserves.

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The 3rd is a true test of golf, even for the professional, especially when played off the back of the White tee. The Marker Post sets the direction but the sloping fairway to the right often sends the sliced drive into the fairway bunker. It is still 185 yards to the green so you are in danger of dropping a shot. Send your drive to the left from the tee and the Oak Tree can catch your second shot. The green is cut into the bank so the blind second shot over the ridge is made even more difficult. The circular green provides a true putting surface and looks flat, but is it?

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The 4th is a medium length Par 3 but nevertheless a good test. You are faced with an uphill drive which can vary from a three wood down to an eight iron depending on the strength and direction of the wind. The green is well protected by bunkers and the large Maple Tree on the left. Look for the position of the Pin. The green slopes down towards the tee so aim for an uphill putt if you are going for the birdie. Be warned many a good card has been spoilt by three or even four putting this awkward sloping green.

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From the Back tee the 5th not only looks but is a long way. It will take two good woods to set you up to attack the pin but look out for Out of Bounds over the hedge on the right and for the two fairway bunkers on the left. The green has a fairly narrow entrance into it with bunkers on the left so your approach shot needs to be accurate to be sure of your Par. The ground falls away sharply to the left and rear of the green so the over-zealous shot can be severely punished. Once on the green its generous size and gentle slope towards the fairway shouldn’t present a problem.

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With the wind behind and a downhill drive the 6th is the hole for the big hitter to open the shoulders. The green can be reached in two so you are in birdie country. Of course it is not as easy as that. The rough with their plantations on either side of the fairway are there to catch the pulled or sliced “Big Hit”. The green, at the front protected by two bunkers, slopes and narrows towards the back. It is often difficult to get the high sand iron shot into the green to bite and hold. It may be better to run the ball in if approaching from the right half of the fairway. Watch that putt carefully. The borrow may be more difficult to read than you first thought.

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The 7th green is set high up on a plateau and looks to be directly behind the large Oak Tree that seems to get bigger every time you play the hole. Again determine the strength and direction of the wind before choosing your club. Then ask yourself “Is there room behind the tree for my seven iron to land and stop?” If it’s any consolation, once there, the green is large and flat.

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The 8th with a dog-leg to the left is designed to make you think. As a Par 5 it may not seem over long but where should you aim your drive? The fairway at the apex of the dog-leg is only 50 yards wide and with those trees on the left invitingly placed to receive the pulled or mis-hit drive it may be prudent not to take too much off the corner, play safe and hit straight up the fairway. You cannot see the green until you are less than 100 yards away so you will be faced with a blind second shot. The green is a classic. It is large, kidney shaped and protected on three sides either by deep bunkers or large earth mounds. The long hitter may decide to go direct for the green but if you do please make sure the green is clear before hitting your shot. If it lands in the bunkers and you don’t even make par you will only have yourself to blame for being too adventurous. Whatever the outcome it is from here that you will have the best views to the East over Hereford and towards the Malvern Hills.

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All that’s needed at the 9th is a straight hit over the tree to the green. Sounds easy but that tree looks awfully large from down there on the tee. How’s that controlled fade? Good enough to start out to the left of the tree? Perhaps the draw around to the right of the tree is the answer but how often does the attempted draw turn into a slice? Why not play safe and hit a lofty five wood straight over and settle for a longer pitch into the green? Having safely negotiated the tree your troubles are not over. You will be faced with a downhill pitch into a green, well protected by bunkers. The green will hold the well struck shot but can we all get backspin when pitching downhill? The over-hit pitch and run can very easily over-shoot the green, go over the back and end up out of bounds in the car park.

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The 10th should be the easiest hole on the Course. Just a wedge and a putt! But is it? The green is way down below the tee. Look at the flags flying above the Pro Shop. With the wind behind perhaps it’s a sand-iron. Against it could be an eight. Whichever club you choose go for the green. The short shot can catch the bank and shoot through and leave you with an awkward chip back.

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From the White tee the 11th is a real test. Aim your drive out to the left and let it drift in over the open ditch and past that Hornbeam that seems to attract so many drives. You are now down on the river meadows with the green beckoning a long iron to it’s centre. Look for the pin position as the green slopes to the left. A downhill putt here has caused many an expletive to be uttered.

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The 12th is the hole for the fader of the ball. The fairway bends round to the right as it approaches the green. Be careful, though, as there is out of bounds into the wood on the right and that bank can spoil many a second shot. It may be better to hit an iron off the tee and set yourself up in the middle of the fairway. The green is set into the bank and surrounded on the right and at the rear by the wood. To make matters even more interesting the River on the left is only yards from the green. Great accuracy is called for. Go for the green but don’t be short as that ditch is there to catch the faint-hearted. Once on the green no more than two putts should see the ball in the hole.

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The 13th offers a wide flat open fairway inviting the smashed drive right down the middle. Just what you need if you want to reach the green in two. It can be done! Remember the River on the right. It really comes into play on this hole. On the left the plantation can catch the driver trying to avoid the River and that bunker was put there for a reason. As you flight your second towards the green the fairway narrows and the River seems to come even closer. With very little room on the right between the green and the River those bunkers on the left are there to tempt the faint hearted. The green is flat but not the largest on the Course. It may be wiser to lay up short on your second and have a good look before hitting your pitch into the green. A safe Par 5 is always better than a spoilt birdie attempt.

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The 14th green is built on two tiers so look for the pin position before hitting off from the tee. The River looks far enough away not to bother you but did you see those two large bunkers on the right of the green as you walked down the path from the 10th? Suddenly you are undecided which club to take or where you should aim the shot. Many end up by bailing out to the left and ending up on the bank. You could then be faced with a very delicate chip from a nasty downhill lie with those bunkers beckoning the topped shot. Once on the green be careful when lining up your putt. If the slope is between your ball and the hole the wrong speed of putt could cost you dear.

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The 15th is a lovely hole bending round to the right as it follows the line of the River. The fairway, sloping towards the River, has a variety of little undulations making for interesting stances when taking your second shot. That bunker in the middle looks awfully large. Perhaps better to aim out to the left away from trouble. Make sure you hit a good one or the pond may spoil your game plan. The green is large, flat and invites the well hit mid- iron approach shot. Flight your shot over that bunker guarding the front and a Par should be the order of the day.

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Who left that Oak in the middle of the 16th fairway 190 yards from the tee? It is still 238 yards from the Oak to the green so what to do with the drive? Go for the big-hit over or try to steer the ball to the left or right. It can be done on a clear day with the wind behind. For the more cautious that bunker on the left could catch your ball if there is a lot of run on the fairway. On the right the Head-greenkeeper has done his worst and allowed the semi-rough to creep in towards the tree. Perhaps he should be made to play the Course more often. Once past the Oak it is plain sailing to the green. A well struck fairway wood or long iron will set you up for your Par. The green widens out to the back and has bunkers on guard either side so care is still needed whether going for the green with your second shot or attempting a pitched third shot.

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Heading for home now at the 17th, and once up on the plateau a wide open fairway opens up all the way to the green. Aim your drive at the Marker Post. Too much to the right and the large oaks on the edge of the plantation could block your second. Too much to the left and you could run down the bank onto the Practice Ground. Only the very long hitters and the professionals would be thinking of reaching the green in two so position your second ready to attack the pin with your third. The left half of the fairway gives you the best chance of avoiding the bunker and Oak protecting the right hand-side of the green. The green slopes towards the River and to the back so aim for an uphill putt. When fast it has been known for the return putt to be longer than the first attempt!

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Nearly there. Only one more good drive. The 18th hole dog-legs to the right with the green set high up on the escarpment in front of the Lodge. The best approach to the green is from the left side of the fairway well away from the Oak Tree over-hanging the bank on the right. Don’t go too far left as that pond 200 yards from the tee could catch you out. The green is built on two tiers and you cannot see the pin position from down on the fairway. The canny or old hands always go and have a look from the edge of the car park before they start their round. Difficult to judge the distance for the second shot. It is uphill and further than you think and you need to be on the green if you want to finish with a Par. Even on the top tier of the green there is more borrow than you think so don’t relax too early and take care.

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