Tenterden Golf Club

Kent is known for its Open Championship-hosting links, but it also has some fine parkland courses and this is one. Set in beautiful countryside, the course at Tenterden is known for its great conditioning, allowing members and visitors to play on normal greens and tees throughout the year.  The course offers tees to suit all standards of golfer a fantastic experience – from the new player through to the most experienced player. Located close to the border with East Sussex, strategically-positioned mature trees and streams require accurate golf if good scores are to be returned.  However, the club policy of keeping rough to a minimum, allowing the tree-lined fairways to provide added interest, ensures a comfortable speed of play. Tenterden offers the chance to make birdies. There is a par 5 on front nine of 465 yards at the 6th – although any shot left of centre will be blocked out by very mature trees – and another on the back nine at the 14th, at 469 yards.  However, here again this par 5 on the homeward half shapes from right to left so the tee shot must avoid the bunkers so choose a club that you can hit confidently between them. Laying up short of the cross ditch will leave a straightforward shot to a large green. And there are also some stiff two shooters; the 3rd is 411 yards, a big par 4 that curves gently left to right.  You must choose a club off the tee that you can confidently hit between the fairway bunkers down the left-hand side of the fairway and the green opens up from there.

And there are also some stiff two shooters; the 3rd is 411 yards, a big par 4 that curves gently left to right.

The par-4 5th is another cracker. It is 384 yards and has a pond in the fairway which dominates the tee shot, but a sweet drive will carry it.  Laying up short of the ditch with your second will leave a short pitch to the green which slopes from front to back. Meanwhile the 12th and 13th are part of a robust last middle section, coming in at 471 and 435 yards respectively. You must pause to admire the views across the Weald from the 12th tee, the signature hole and the highest point of the course, before you take on the longest par 4 on the course at 471 yards. The 13th is a big dogleg from right to left and keeps your attention focused on the tee shot. Ideally you should aim at the sight post in the distance.  Mature trees line the left side of the fairway so the local advice is to aim boldly but do not get greedy. The approach to the green is fairly flat so if you cannot reach the green in two it is still very possible to save a 4. When on the par-3 18th, soak up the atmosphere created by the secluded setting and tranquil surroundings before enjoying real ale and home-cooked food in the clubhouse.