Shanklin & Sandown Golf Club

Known as the best of the Isle of Wight's seven courses, Shanklin and Sandown is a lovely undulating layout on the island's east coast. The course has been ranked as the seventh best in Hampshire and last year featured as one of NCG's best 100 courses under £50. For that price you gain access to the 6,044-yard, par-70 track designed by legendary course architect James Braid. The layout is an old-fashioned parkland design that features a range of criss-crossing fairways and a handful of par-threes that vary in length. As you might expect from a Braid design, tree-lined fairways and protected greens also feature throughout, combining to create a course that is challenging from the off. Par-fours at the first and third holes both exceed 425 yards and might leave you chasing shots at the more forgiving par-fours that dot the front nine. [gallery ids="eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvbmNnLWxpdmUtYXNzZXRzLmFtczMuY2RuLmRpZ2l0YWxvY2VhbnNwYWNlcy5jb21cL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTNcLzEyXC81MjB4MzMwLTEuanBnIiwidGl0bGUiOiJTaGFua2xpbiAmYW1wOyBTYW5kb3duIEdvbGYgQ2x1YiwgIElzbGUgb2YgV2lnaHQiLCJjYXB0aW9uIjoiIiwiYWx0IjoiIiwiZGVzY3JpcHRpb24iOiIifQ==,eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczpcL1wvbmNnLWxpdmUtYXNzZXRzLmFtczMuY2RuLmRpZ2l0YWxvY2VhbnNwYWNlcy5jb21cL3VwbG9hZHNcLzIwMTNcLzEyXC81MjB4MzMwLmpwZyIsInRpdGxlIjoiU2hhbmtsaW4gJmFtcDsgU2FuZG93biBHb2xmIENsdWIsICBJc2xlIG9mIFdpZ2h0IiwiY2FwdGlvbiI6IiIsImFsdCI6IiIsImRlc2NyaXB0aW9uIjoiIn0="]

The layout is an old-fashioned parkland design that features a range of criss-crossing fairways and a handful of par-threes that vary in length.

The back nine begins in equally difficult fashion. The stroke index three par-four tenth features three greenside bunkers that make escaping with par a tough task. The challenge continues at the stroke index one 13th hole. It is important to keep the ball going left on both the green and the fairway and to let the slopes feed the ball back to the right. Golf aside, the club offers first-class catering at the clubhouse and boasts a well-stocked pro shop that provides quality equipment and expert tuition. The club has hosted the Hampshire County Championships 11 times and will this year stage the prestigious Senior Women's English Stroke Play Championship. Shanklin and Sandown can be reached via a 20-minute ferry journey from either Red Funnel's East Cowes terminal or Wightlink's Fishbourne terminal.