Although mainly a parkland course, there are some heathland properties on what is, a cracking Harry Colt layout. With the glorious 16th Century clubhouse as the starting point for both nines – the front sitting mostly on the northern side of the property, and the back nine to the south – it provides a lovely backdrop at the centre of the course. Running out to just shy of 6,500 yards from the tips, Denham is not the longest course, but there are plenty of challenges along the way.
Although 375 yards, the opening hole is a gentle one to get you underway. Avoid the three fairway bunkers and you will have a downhill shot to the green. The 2nd is a sharp dog-leg right, with out of bounds down its right side. Aim for the marker post with your tee shot to give yourself the best view of the putting surface. OOB comes into play down both sides on 3, so it is a hole where accuracy is required. At 413 yards, though, it is difficult to not pull the headcover off your driver... The last of the opening quartet of par 4s is even longer, at 426 yards, but there is a more generous fairway to find from the tee. It moves slightly from left to right, with five bunkers down by the putting surface.
The first of the par 3s at Denham is arguably the most difficult at more than 200 yards in length. It also plays slightly uphill to a green surrounded by three bunkers. The 6th requires another accurate tee shot, with trees lining the entire right side of the hole. One large bunker sits to the front left of the putting surface, one that is long and narrow. The Stroke Index 1 comes next, at the 455-yard par 4 7th. Two fairway bunkers on the left must be carried by the longer hitters who are aiming to reach in two. The is a lovely par 3 of 180 yards, with a narrow green and three bunkers to the left of it. At 185 yards, it is a true Colt classic. The closing hole on the front nine is another par 4 of 450 yards. The 9th will require to solid blows to get home, but it is a pretty generous fairway to be attacked off the tee. A two-tiered green lies ahead, so make sure to find the right section with your approach.
Playing back away from the clubhouse to begin the second half at Denham, the bunker on the left side of the fairway will catch your eye from the 10th tee. Drive over that to find the fairway, and it should be a relatively simple approach to the green. At just 365 yards, the 11th doesn’t seem too difficult, but there is plenty to catch you out. The fairway is short and narrow, so you cannot hit the ball too far. From there, you must take into account the drop from fairway to green, with the surface being defended strongly by four large bunkers. Although carded at 130, due to the length of this green, the 12th can play anywhere between 120 and 140 yards depending on the flag position. The green is set into the side of a slope, but there is not a good side to miss. Left and you’ll be in the two bunkers, right and you will be facing a tricky up and down from below the level of the putting surface.
There are only two par 5s on this layout, and they come back-to-back at 13 and 14. The former is 535 yards from the tips, but with a generous fairway awaiting your drive, it is one where you can free your arms. Seven bunkers dotted in alternate fashion (right, left, right) may just grab your eye as you try to work out where to lay up down the fairway. The 14th is the shorter of the two, coming in just under 500 yards. For some, if the four fairway bunkers can be avoided, it is reachable in two. Two small bunkers, which are hidden from your view, sit short right of the green, so make sure to avoid those with your approach.
The closing stretch begins with the hardest hole on Denham’s back nine. The 15th is a 415-yard par 4, with two fairway bunkers to avoid, and then a two-tiered green for your approach shot to find. Aim for the middle of the green on the par 3 16th and you can’t go wrong. The green is oddly shaped, but slopes from three angles will see the ball run down towards the centre of the surface. At 135 yards in length, it should only be a low iron at most. The 17th requires an accurate tee sho, one down the right side of the fairway so you are not blocked out by the tall tree standing on the left. The approach plays uphill to this green, with five traps between you and the surface. Denham’s closer is a strong par 4. There is a wide landing area from the tee on this 407-yard finisher, but the green is well guarded by both trees and four bunkers.
