Houghwood Golf Club

Houghwood was constructed in the mid-1990s amid 132 acres and is located a few miles north of St Helens. It offers magnificent panoramic views over the Lancashire plain and the Welsh hills and provides a stimulating and pleasurable test of golf. Houghwood's large greens are built to USGA specification and are recognised as some of the finest in the county. A permanant track allows the use of the large fleet of buggies and trolleys the whole year round, making Houghwood ideal for societies and large groups. Houghwood doesn't begin with a gentle start; the 1st is a 434-yard two shotter. On this dog-leg left, you need to keep your tee shot up the left as to give yourself a chance of hitting the green in regulation. But in fairness it is not representative of the course, a 6,374-yard track played to a par of 71. Indeed there is not another par 4 over 400 yards until you come to the 9th, when Houghwood bites back with a 437-yard hole. In between the 3rd is a short but exacting par 4 with out of bounds left and right, and a large MacKenzie green.

The 15th is known as the course's hardest hole, where your tee shot needs to reach marker post to have any chance of hitting the green in regulation.

Meanwhile the 5th is a testing par 4 with a ditch 90 yards out. Your approach shot needs to be long enough to carry to the putting surface. Next you you hit a nice tee shot downhill to leave a short-iron approach while the 7th is a dog-leg where longer hitter will be tempted to try and cut the corner. On the back nine the 11th is a 535-yard par 5 which plays its length. You need to beware of the second shot as the wind usually takes you to out of bounds. The next is arguably the signature hole at Houghwood, a short par 4 played downhill to a green protected by a cluster of pot bunkers. The 15th is known as the course's hardest hole, where your tee shot needs to reach marker post to have any chance of hitting the green in regulation. The next is a great par 3 which, depending on the direction of the wind, club selection can vary from a 2-iron to a wedge while the 17th is a tempting dog-leg of a par 5 where it is often wise to take your medicine and wedge on with your third. The specially-designed stone clubhouse opened a couple of months after the course and houses a popular Spike Bar, ideal for some post-round refreshment, as well as a popular restaurant.