Cleckheaton & District GC

Much is made of the length of golf courses and many believe anything under 7,500 yards is a piece of cake. If this year's US Open at Merion proved anything, it's that this is not the case. Cleckheaton, although not quite in the league of historic Merion, is definitely of the same ilk. Stand on the first tee with a scorecard in hand and you would be forgiven for thinking it could be something of a pushover. Indeed, there are a total of seven par-4s measuring under 350 yards, and three reachable par-5s. You'd think that this represents 10 birdie chances, but that is not the case at all. The 16th, for example, is very misleading. On paper, it is in reach with a fairway wood to some and the elevated tee shot can lull you into a false sense of security. You cannot see the pin, though, and plenty of trouble lurks. Hit it left and you face an impossible (literally!) approach over towering trees, while anything right means you're left with a fiddly angle into a green that runs away from you.

The 17th - arguably the stand-out hole - plays 190 yards, downhill to a vastly sloped green with an out-of-bounds wall encroaching on the right.

Get it right and a birdie is very likely. Mess it up, however, and there's a chance you'll be signing for a snowman. Where Cleckheaton lacks in par-4 length, it more than makes up for it in par-3 strength. Aside from the second, which plays around 150 yards from the backs, you have the 5th and 12th - both of which can require drivers for some members when it's windy - and the daunting 15th, which stretches out over 240 yards and requires you to land your ball on a piece of land the size of a coffee table to get it close. The 17th - arguably the stand-out hole - plays 190 yards, downhill to a vastly sloped green with an out-of-bounds wall encroaching on the right. For some, purposefully missing the green is the play as leaving a long putt is tantamount to signing for a bogey or worse. It is equally the most thought-provoking and interesting hole on the course. That's not to say there aren't chances to get under par. The 4th - a sub 300-yard par-4 - usually plays easier than the 15th, while the run of holes from the 7th to the 10th normally represents a chance to make a few birdies if played sensibly. Overall, Cleckheaton is incredibly enjoyable to play. It is not difficult to walk, there are no particularly confusing holes, and the general design is very strong. It is just off junction 26 of the M62, too, so accessibility is not an issue.