Pleasington

Pleasington Golf Club is one of Lancashire’s finest inland courses, and it is also one of its oldest, having been around since the 1890s.

George Lowe designed the original nine holes at Pleasington, with Sandy Herd then extending the course in 1909, seven years after winning the Open Championship.

A recent renovation, which has included the restoration of heathland and upgrading putting surfaces and bunkers, has improved Pleasington even further, making it a stunning course to test your hand at.

Visit Pleasington’s website here. 

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The history of Pleasington Golf Club dates back to 1891, when George Lowe – the professional at Royal Lytham & St Annes – was invited to design a 9-hole layout.

The location of the course has never changed throughout its lengthy history, but in 1909, Sandy Herd was drafted in to extend the layout to make it an 18-holer.

Over the years, more than 1,500 yards have been added to the course to deal with the advancements in technology, while the clubhouse underwent major changes shortly before the turn of the 21st Century.

Ken Moodie was recently brought in to the club to help with a course renovation, which including the re-addition of heathland, as well as restoring bunkers and upgrading greens.

The work done over recent years, including the upgraded surfaces, has taken Pleasington to a new level. With the additional aspect of restoring heathland to the course, that makes it more challenging, as well as eye-catching. Throw in tree-lined fairways, undulating putting surfaces and plenty of other little tests, and you have a great course to put golfers of all abilities through their paces. Measuring just over 6,500 yards from the tips, Pleasington plays as a par 71, with the length of the course coming on the front nine.

The layout begins with a run of four straight par 4s to get you on your way. The opening hole is 385 yards, with bunkers to the right of the fairway to avoid off the tee. The green is also guarded by two more traps, one on either side. Three fairway traps are in play on the 2nd, with the aiming point being down the right side of the fairway. There is a big drop off to the left of the green, but you cannot miss right either, as more sand is in play. The 3rd is even shorter, at 330 yards, and this is a good birdie chance. The green is long and narrow, so make sure to work out where the flag is before hitting your approach. The 4th is the Stroke Index 1 at Pleasington. Out of bounds is down the right side throughout, thanks to the railway line. The hole plays as a dog-leg left, with the ground sloping from left to right the closer you get to the green. Two bunkers sit right of the green for that exact reason.

559 yards makes the 5th the longest par 5 on the course. Aim over the marker post with your tee shot, before laying up short of the two bunkers that sit in the middle of the fairway. Anything right with your approach will be in trouble, while two more traps sit in front of the putting surface. The 6th is only 310 yards, but going for it would be a mistake thanks to the five large bunkers that act as a horseshoe around the front of the green. Find the fairway with your tee shot and then knock a wedge or low iron on to the green to have a shot at birdie. The par 5 7th, named ‘The Mill’, is the club’s signature hole. It is 518 yards, and has a split fairway. There is a 60-yard drop from the left side of the fairway to the other. Work out your distance off the tee, as anything too far left will find itself blocked out by the thick trees. The hole then drops down to the right section of fairway, and it is from there that you can aim to attack the green. Bunkers sit on either side of the green, one that has a narrow entrance.

The 8th is the first of the par 3s at Pleasington. Anything to the right of this green, which sits 165 yards away from the tee, will be in danger, as it runs off to a bunker and then into the trees below. The middle of the green, which sits above the tee, is a good approach. The front nine ends with the third par 5 on the course. Another blind tee shot should be hit just to the right of the marker post, as the fairway contours down to the left. At 487 yards, there is a chance of the longer hitters making it in two, but the green sits above the fairway, so approaches to this surface have to fly all the way to have a chance of staying on it.

The back nine begins with a long par 3, one of 190 yards. Four bunkers, including a large one that sits short of the surface, protect the green, which slopes from back to front. 11 is a great par 4, despite only being 340 yards. Anything left of the fairway will be in trouble, as the railway line runs alongside this hole. The aiming point for your approach is the brand-new railway bridge that sits behind the green. The 12th is another par 3, and the easiest hole on the course according to the Stroke Index. Bunkers front left and front right, and a green that slopes from back to front add to the challenge. At 459 yards, the 13th is the longest of the par 4s. Power and precision are needed off the tee, with trees down the right and two fairway bunkers on the left. Two more bunkers sit alongside the green on its left, while there are more trees to the right of the green. A great long par 4, and one where a bogey is not the worst outcome.

14 is shorter, with a glorious tee shot played from an elevated tee through a funnel of trees and out to the flat below. Trees line both sides, while there are four large bunkers protecting the green. Back to front once more, the ideal approach stays short of the flag. The 15th is only 350 yards, and is played over a quarry and down a dip, before rising back up to the green. It plays as a dog-leg right, with a pond among the trees some 70 yards from the green on the right side. Find the left side of the fairway to have the best view of this green.

The closing stretch continues with the glorious par 3 16th. It is only 152 yards, but you have to play over trees to a well-guarded green. A large tree sits to the left of the green, so aim for the middle of this putting surface. 17 requires a good drive down the left side of the fairway, to open out the view to the green. The road, which runs down the right side, then winds its way across the fairway in front of the green. Two more trees guard the green, along with five large bunkers. Accuracy is vital with your approach to the penultimate green. Pleasington’s final challenge is a dog-leg par 4 of 375 yards from the tips. If you can get your drive to the corner, you will have a shot at this green, which is some 50 yards from front to back. Make sure you take note of the flag to hit the right club, otherwise a three-putt on the last green is very much a possibility.

Where is Pleasington Golf Club located?

Pleasington Golf Club is located just outside the town of Pleasington, which itself is only a couple of miles from the centre of Blackburn in Lancashire. Preston is less than ten miles to the west, with Manchester 25 miles to the south of Pleasington. The M65, M61 and M6 are all close by, providing good road links for those visiting the region.

Pleasington Station is just a few hundred yards from the entrance to the golf club, with trains operating on an hourly basis between Preston and Colne, visiting Blackburn on route. Both Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Manchester Airport are within 50 miles of Pleasington Golf Club, with the latter being the busiest international airport in the United Kingdom outside of London.

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

Although there are no inland Lancashire venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list, Pleasington is within an hour’s drive from some of the best links courses in the country. The likes of Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale, Royal Birkdale, St Annes Old Links and Royal Lytham & St Annes all within 30 miles.

What golf facilities does Pleasington Golf Club offer?

Along with the glorious 18-hole golf course, Pleasington is also proud to offer both members and guests a driving range, along with a short game area which sits next to the 1st hole. The putting green is in front of the clubhouse.

What are the green fees at Pleasington Golf Club?

The price of a green fee at Pleasington 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 Pleasington, visit their website here.