Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell)

Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

Rankings

2nd

19th

46th

48th

Those who find their way to Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) know they have arrived at a special place from the moment they turn the final bend on the long driveway to the club and see a magnificent view of the course and imposing clubhouse ahead of them.

Set in the rolling hills of North Nottinghamshire in the heart of Robin Hood County, Hollinwell offers one of the finest examples of traditional heathland golf in Great Britain, rivalling many of the more famous Surrey courses of this style.

The club has hosted many top amateur events, including the Brabazon Trophy on six occasions. There are few sterner tests in England playing from the Championship blocks – 7,250 yards with an SSS of 76 against a par of 72.

Visitors generally play from the yellow tees, still over 6,600 yards, but are allowed, upon request, to play from the members’ white tees, from where the course measures 6,900 yards.

For all those visiting Hollinwell for the first time, it is likely to become an annual pilgrimage, as you will want to return time and again in the future. Notts offers one of the finest examples of traditional heathland golf in Great Britain, rivalling many of the more famous Surrey courses of this style.

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A Brief History of Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell)

Notts Golf Club, also known as Hollinwell, is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs in England. Notts Golf Club was founded in 1887, making it one of the earliest golf clubs in the United Kingdom. The club's first course was located in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire and it was a 9-hole layout.

In 1901, the club moved to its current location at Hollinwell in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire. The move was prompted by a desire to have a larger and more challenging course.

Wille Park Jr was commissioned to design the course at Hollinwell in 1901. He created the iconic and challenging layout that is still enjoyed today. Park's design incorporated the natural landscape and the unique terrain of the area, including the distinctive heathland and sandy soil that characterizes the course.

Over the years, Notts has hosted several prestigious tournaments, including the English Amateur Championship and the Brabazon Trophy. These events have brought some of the best amateur golfers to the Hollinwell course.

The course at Hollinwell has undergone several renovations and updates over the years, but the essential character and challenges designed by Willie Park Jr have been preserved. Notts Golf Club is not only a testament to the enduring appeal of golf but also a historical treasure in the world of golf course architecture. Its combination of natural beauty and challenging design has made it a cherished destination for golfers for well over a century.

Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) Review | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses

Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) is one of England's most undervalued courses. The variety of its course design and picturesque framing of heather and trees set it apart from other UK courses. The back nine holes, particularly, are praised for their quality of play and demand of skill from the golfer. Despite its challenges, Notts is one of the top golf courses in England and a delight to play.

It begins with a pair of tricky par 4s. The opening hole at Hollinwell is a straightaway par 4, with bunkers and gorse to avoid off the tee. The 2nd moves round to the left, with the ideal line off the tee being down the right side of the fairway, next to the bunkers on the right side if possible. From there, you will have a view of the green, which sits behind a large hill on its left side.

The opening par 5 comes at the 3rd. Downhill all the way, long hitters will fancy their chances of making birdie, especially if they can get their drive over the crest of the hill. The approach is played towards the clubhouse to an inviting green. The 4th is one of the toughest holes on the course, and one of the longer par 4s at Hollinwell, before the first of the short holes arrives at 5.

The 6th is another par 5 which becomes a birdie chance with a good drive, while 7 is a medium-length par 4 where a new bunker down the right side might see many opt against hitting driver. The 8th tee sits next to the Hollin Well, which gives its name to the course, and it is a gentle par 4 up the hill.

After a quick stop at the halfway house, you play the downhill par 3 9th. It is not the longest, but the green is difficult to hold with a long iron. 10 is a great par 4 that winds its way to the right, alongside the boundary of the property. OOB down the right makes you aim further left, but there isn't much room over there... 11 is a narrow par 4, with swathes of heather lining each side, before you walk up the hill to take on the tough 12th. From the yellow tees, driver will be too much club, as the fairway runs out at around the 230-yard mark. You may well hit the same club twice to try and find the green.

13 is the last of the short holes and also the longest, pushing to 240 yards from the championship tees. From the elevated tee you have a fine view of the green below, and the sheep that often congregate in the field on your right. Club up to avoid the bunkers at the front. Avoiding bunkers is also the key on the 14th, as there are plenty to find, before you come to the tough 15th. Notts is famed for its long par 4s and they don’t come any harder, or better, than this one. Uphill all the way, if the drive seems hard then wait for the second, which must find a raised green that sits in the hillside.

16 is one of the more gentle 4s on the layout. A dog-leg right around the rolling hills, finding the fairway is crucial to give yourself a shot at the elevated green. 17 is the last of the par 5s, and thanks to its nature, winding around gorse and heather, it is a three-shotter for most. The 18th tee box gives you a glorious view of the clubhouse, the 3rd green and the 4th hole. Focus on avoiding the bunkers once more, before attacking the green with your second. Thick rough and red stakes sit front left of the green, so safety is to the right, but remember that the road is an integral part of the course, and you have to play from it if you land on it...

Our Panellists Notes for 2025

David Walker: An incredible routing which makes fantastic use of the rolling topography

Steve Watton: An incredible journey from start to finish through fantastic, varied and undulating heathland terrain. This is golf on a grand scale and one of our best inland golf courses. More rustic than its southern counterparts

Joss Powick: Fantastic layout. The 12th is unique. Raw in appearance but a great test of golf

Read more about our panellists here.

FAQs about Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell)

Where is Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) located?

Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) is situated in the heart of Nottinghamshire. The towns of Mansfield and Kirkby-in-Ashfield are both within a couple of miles from Hollinwell. Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield are all within 30 miles. The club is only a few miles off the M1, which runs north-south through between Leeds and London.

The venue is located just 20 miles from East Midlands Airport, which provides international flights around the world. Manchester Airport is within 70 miles, providing more choice for the international visitor to Hollinwell as the busiest airport in the country outside of London. Newstead is the closest train station to Hollinwell, with services running between Nottingham and Worksop on a regular basis.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?

Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) is one of several venues on the NCG Top 100s: England that calls the Midlands home. Sherwood Forest is within ten miles to the northeast, while the JCB Club is within 40 miles to the west. Lindrick, one of Yorkshire’s finest courses, is also within the same distance to the north.

What golf facilities does Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) offer?

Notts Golf Club offers high quality practice facilities to members, guests and visitors, such as their 300-yard grass and all-weather driving range. Furthermore, they have a short-game area, practice net, pitching area and putting green to offer the widest range of possibilities for golfers to hone their abilities.

What are the green fees at Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell)?

The price of a green fee at Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Hollinwell, visit their website here.

Visit the Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.

Website

http://www.hollinwell.co.uk/

office@hollinwell.co.uk

Phone

+44 (0) 1623 753225

Address

Derby Rd, Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottingham NG17 7QR

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