insideKENT Magazine Issue 73 - April 2018 | Page 84

GOLF
Golf IN KENT cont.
Hever Castle Golf Club // www.hever.co.uk/golf // 01732 701004
Famed for its castle and award-winning gardens, the historic Hever
estate is also home to a 7,000-yard championship golf course along
with the testing Princes 9-hole course. The club’s 27 holes reside in
an inspirational setting offering a range of course and teeing options
to suit all levels of ability from beginner to professional.
While golf has been played on the estate since the 1920s, the current
championship course was laid out as recently as 1992, although with
the many fine, ancient tree specimens it has the feeling of a being
a well-established course.
Off the course, their Tudor Clubhouse offers a warm welcome
featuring The Astor Lounge Bar & Restaurant and expansive outdoor
terrace. Visitors and golf days are welcome outside of members
times. Membership is currently open with no joining fee. For more
information or to book a discounted preview round please call Steve
on 01732 701004.
Knole Park Golf Club
// www.knoleparkgolfclub.co.uk // 01732 452150
Dale Hill // www.golfclub.co.uk // 01580 200112
With over 350 acres of grounds, the two courses at Dale Hill are laid
out to take in the best of the surrounding scenery. The High Weald
is at its best here and playing golf in such a lovely place must be
good for the soul.
Both the courses at Dale Hill are 18 holes. The first, designed by
Ian Woosnam, is, as Woosnam himself puts it: “challenging enough
to test the pros, yet accessible enough to be enjoyed by amateurs.”
You can’t ask for much more than that when it comes to golf – a
place where everyone can enjoy the game on the same course
for different reasons. The Dale Hill course is the original one on the
site, but has lost none of its charm and makes for a very satisfying
round of golf.
Etchinghill Golf Course
// www.pentlandgolf.co.uk/etchinghill // 01303 863863
Unique among golf courses in the UK, Knole Park Golf Club is located
within 1,000 acres of outstanding parkland, home to the finest deer
herd in the South East. The house at Knole, one of the greatest
National Trust properties in the country, together with Knole Park
itself, provides the perfect backdrop to this challenging course that
was designed by J. Abercromby in consultation with James Braid.
The course has been enjoyed by its members and visitors since 1924.
Regularly named as one of the top 100 courses in England by
golf magazines, Knole Park Golf Course, at just under 6,500 yards
from the green (back) tees, with a par of 70 and a CSS of 71, is a course
steeped in history and a truly inspiring place to play. The club hosts
the Kent Youth Championship, is the home of the prestigious Kent
Cob Amateur scratch competition, and has hosted the English Seniors
Championship and a number of TP Tour events.
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The courses at
Etchinghill in
Folkestone include
the Leas Course, the
Valley Course, and
the Academy
Course.
The 6,101-yard
Leas Course is
Etchinghill’s main
18-hole golf course.
Stretching across the
beautiful Kentish
downland countryside, it comprises five par 3s, ten par 4s and three
par 5s, posing a fantastic challenge to golfers of all abilities. The
magnificent Elham Valley lends its name to the versatile Valley
Course. The course is made up of nine holes played from multiple
tee positions to give the option of nine or eighteen holes. This 5,592-
yard course combines four par 3s, twelve par 4s and two par 5s into
a wonderfully impressive test for all golfers. The par 3 Academy
Course is popular with families and beginners alike. Extending over
an area of stunning natural parkland, it offers great golf challenges
for every golfer.