Painswick

It may well be less than 5,000 yards in length, and one of the shortest courses you will find in the United Kingdom, but Painswick offers up a cracking day out.

Founded in the late 19th Century, the course became an 18-holer more than a century ago, and it remains one of the best short courses in the country.

With seven par 3s, and plenty of short par 4s, there is the opportunity to put a real score together at Painswick, but beware. There are also plenty of bogeys, doubles and triples out there as well...

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The original 9-hole layout at Painswick Golf Club dates back well into the 19th Century, with the course opening in 1891.

David Brown was the man behind the original design, and it remained a 9-holer until 1907, when the layout was extended to 18 holes.

In the last century, not much has changed in terms of the golf course, but a brand-new clubhouse was erected in the 1980s, providing the club with a new home.

Painswick Golf Club towers over the Cotswolds, offering some incredible vistas of the region. You can make any number of birdies but there's also scope to take lots of other, much higher, numbers. The greens are tiny, so you have to be careful where you leave yourself, especially if attacking the short par 4s. It is, quite possibly, the shortest 18-hole course in England. Painswick is just 4,830 yards from the tips, but there are seven par 3s, with the course playing as a par 67.

Although the opening hole is only 225 yards, and a par 4, it is not necessarily an easy birdie chance. It plays strongly uphill, and features OOB down its left side. Get your tee shot over the path, and then knock a wedge on to a very small green. The 2nd is one of the tougher holes on the property. Only 330 yards, but with a green that is perched on a shelf, and with OOB to the left of it and behind, there is plenty of danger. 285 yards and downhill, the 3rd does present an opportunity to attack. A tee shot of 200 yards is perfect for those not attempting to reach the green, as that will clear the OOB down the right and the thick trees on the left. 4 is another short par 4, but this time playing uphill to dissuade even the longer hitters from going for it. Aim for the left side of the fairway to give yourself the best line into this green.

‘Castle’ is an incredible hole. Only 115 yards in length, but entirely blind. The green sits 15 feet below the marker post that is visible from the tee. However, that is still some 40 feet above you so take at least two clubs more. The green is situated in a bowl, but the inner slopes are occupied by thick rough. Despite its lack of distance, a 3 is a great score here if you have never played at Painswick before. The 6th is an all-timer – 220 yards over rumpled land to a distant raised green. It is not often that a par 3 is the Stroke Index 1, but that is the case here. The 7th is the third par 3 in a row, and features OOB down the entirety of its left side, along with thick, heavy-set trees. It is only 150 yards, but danger lurks at every corner.

It might surprise you that on a course that is less than 5,000 yards, you come to a par 5. Painswick offers you just that, and back-to-back par 5s at that. They come at 8 and 9 with the former being the longer of the two at 490 yards from the tips. If you are considering taking this green on with your second, perhaps think again. The surface is less than 20 yards deep, and less than 15 yards wide. The front nine ends with a 470-yard par 5, and one that features a split fairway further down it. Depending on where you drive the ball, you need to be very precise with your lay up.

The 10th is the Stroke Index 18, but considering the green is only 13 yards deep, it doesn’t seem that easy from the tee. Oh, and add in that this par 3 is blind, so you can’t even see the green in the first place... A great start to the back nine. At only 245 yards, the par 4 11th is another that you might be tempted to go for. Again, though, it is worth thinking about, as the lack of distance does not mean there is any less difficulty. An S-shaped fairway winds towards the green, one that is blocked from view by plenty of mounds. The 12th is five yards longer than the 11th, but plays as a par 3. This is an incredibly tricky hole, even for the very best. Plenty of fairway before it is there for those laying up.

The Stroke Index 2 follows in this tricky section of holes. 13 is a 380-yard par 4 that has a narrow fairway, with a copse of trees down the right side that pinch the fairway in at the 250-yard mark. The green is two-tiered, so find the right level with your approach. A tee shot over a disused quarry kicks off the 14th, and with a good drive at the marker post, there is a chance that your ball might run down the slope and almost reach the green – despite this hole measuring more than 310 yards. Named ‘Paradise’, the 15th is the next in the glorious line of par 3s at Painswick. 160 yards, with trees all around it, and a tee shot that has to cover thick rough. Playing downhill, it might require one less club, but make sure you take enough to find the putting surface.

It is a 4-4-3 finish at Painswick, and each hole has its own charms and challenges. The 16th is a downhill, 300-yard par 4, and one where your tee shot needs to carry at least 210 yards to reach the main section of fairway. From there, it is just a wedge to the small green. 17 is a dog-left with a fairway split into three sections by paths. You tee shot need be no more than 215 yards, otherwise it might find the thick rough at the end of the fairway. The hole then turns left, with the green sat slightly above the level of the fairway. Runoffs to the right and back make this a tricky approach shot. The final hole at Painswick is a short par 3 that plays slightly uphill. 140 yards is left between you and the last green, with anyone sat on the clubhouse terrace watching on. Anything long runs the risk of bouncing off the back of the green and finding the OOB that lurks.

Where is Painswick Golf Club located?

Painswick Golf Club is in the southwest of England, halfway between the town of Stroud and the city of Gloucester. The village of Painswick is a mile to the south of the venue, which sits just off the A46. The M5, the biggest motorway in the southwest of England, is only a few miles away, while the border between England and Wales is only 30 miles away to the west of the golf club.

Stroud is the closest train station to Painswick, with trains running between Cheltenham Spa and London Paddington. Gloucester Station is slightly further away, but offers a wide range of trains with services visiting Nottingham, Cardiff Central and Bristol Temple Meads along with Cheltenham and London. For international visitors, Bristol Airport is around an hour’s drive (50 miles) to the southwest of Painswick Golf Club, with the airport sitting to the south of the city of Bristol. The country’s busiest airport – London Heathrow Airport – is less than 100 miles away from Painswick.

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

Due to its location in Gloucestershire, there is only one venue on the NCG Top 100s: England list that is within 40 miles of Painswick. That is Cleeve Hill, which is only 15 miles to the northeast. After that, the venues to the south of Birmingham, including Blackwell, along with the likes of Kington, Huntercombe and Burnham & Berrow – all in opposite directions – are 60-70 miles from Painswick.

What golf facilities does Painswick Golf Club offer?

Due to the lack of space at the club, Painswick does not have a driving range. However, there are hitting nets to get warmed up, along with a putting green to get the feel of the surfaces before you take to the course.

What are the green fees at Painswick Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Painswick Golf Club 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 Painswick Golf Club, visit their website here.