Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin)
Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin) | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses
Rankings
1st
6th
18th
28th
Of its principle – and credible – rivals, many understandably swear by Sunningdale’s Old, while Ganton certainly has its supporters, too. After that, the likes of Walton Heath (both Old and New), Swinley Forest and St George’s Hill also get a worthy mention.
So what can Woodhall Spa offer by way of reply? Well, none of the above it must be said. It probably has most in common with Ganton, but only in certain ways. The first thing to say is that Woodhall Spa is remarkably flat – or at least it is remarkably flat to those who do not know the county Lincolnshire very well.
So anyone expecting panoramic views, elevated drives or greens set across chasms is certain to be disappointed. Which is not to say for a moment that the golf is not attractive or challenging, just that it is not of the breathtaking variety.
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A Brief History of Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin)
Harry Colt, something of an inland specialist with the likes of Wentworth and Swinley Forest to his name, was called in some seven years later to make revisions.
The finishing touches were carried out by Major SV Hotchkin in 1920 and, apart from several new tees introduced to add extra length over the years, what he designed stands today. His legacy is a course the single greatest strength of which is its lack of a weakness.
Tom Doak most recently carried out a three-year restoration, the most significant work included moving the 13th fairway 25 yards to the right to improve the angle into the green.
Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin) Review | NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Courses
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Many of the 110 (yes, that’s one hundred and ten) bunkers are absolutely vicious specimens. It can be safely said that no other inland course – and few links for that matter – can rival them for size, depth or sheer proliferation. They dictate strategy on several holes and a good score is simply impossible to put together if you find more than the occasional one. Walking towards one knowing your ball is within is not a pleasant experience – and it is all you can hope for that it will be lying in a position from where you can escape at the first attempt.
The punitive nature of the bunkering is one reason why a glance at Woodhall’s card is deceptive. It shows four par fives and a quartet of short par fours, which you might reasonably assume could form the basis of a good score.
But while these holes are certainly tempting, each and every one is also capable of extracting a double bogey from a relatively minor mistake. This is particularly true should you be overly aggressive. The best way of making a three at the short par fours is to play for position off the tee and then wedge in accurately. Some of the par fives can be reached in two but to make a birdie it is generally necessary to do more than merely leave your second shot in the vicinity of the green and expect a straightforward chip and putt.
In terms of card-wrecking potential, though, it is Woodhall’s trio of short holes that really test the nerve. All three are surrounded by bunkers – 16 in total flank their greens. While in each case the target is relatively generous, the penalties for missing each is severe indeed.
Watch your ball trickle off the green and into a bunker and you could be looking at the difference between a comfortable par and a ruined round. It is the sheer depth that causes the problem. Sometimes the only way out is backwards, and even that is not easy.
The pick of the three, and Woodhall’s most famous hole, is the 12th. The tee is in the woods, the green slightly raised. If you stand on one side of the green and your partner is in one of the bunkers on the other, you will not be able to see him.
The 12th is part of what is generally thought of as the superior inward nine. This is not because any particular stretch is sub-standard on the front nine – there is no such thing as even a weak hole here – but just on account of the additional variety.
Six holes – including four par fours – on the outward half travel in the same direction. But the back nine, despite having only one short hole, the aforementioned 12th, features three short fours and is slightly more subtle.
It also finishes in style with the wonderful last hole that has more tees than surely any other hole in Britain and can be played from a variety of angles and at a length of anywhere between 400 and 540 yards. A lone oak tree on the right of the fairway defines the drive, and a suitably large and flat closing green, as should always be the case, awaits at the end.
Our Panellists Notes for 2025
David Walker: Tom Doak's overhaul has resulted in better heathland views, firmer, faster turf and an increase in playability as well as strategy. The routing is sublime.
Peter Rudd: The tree clearance has greatly improved the turf quality with the greens also now being worked on.
Dan Murphy: I occasionally speak to people who find the Hotchkin underwhelming. For me, inland golf in the British Isles doesn’t get much better.
Read more about our panellists here.
FAQs about Woodhall Spa (Hotchkin)
Where is Woodhall Spa located?
Woodhall Spa Golf Club is located in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England, a short walk from the former spa town, Woodhall Spa. Lincoln is a short drive to the west, while the seaside town of Skegness, and the eastern coastline of the country, is only 25 miles to the east. Both the A15 and A16 run close by to the venue.
Metheringham is the closest train station, with services running to Doncaster, Peterborough and Lincoln on a regular basis. However, the station is still almost ten miles away from Woodhall Spa. For international travellers to the region, East Midlands Airport is the closest major international airport to Woodhall Spa. Leeds Bradford Airport and Birmingham Airport are also within a two-hour drive from the golf club.
Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?
Although Lincolnshire does have a few venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list, there is only Seacroft that is within 30 miles of Woodhall Spa. After that, Lindrick, Sherwood Forest and Notts Golf Club (Hollinwell) are the nearest venues, but they are all at least 50 miles away to the west.
What golf facilities does Woodhall Spa offer?
As you would expect with Woodhall Spa being the home of England Golf, the practice facilities at the venue are sublime. The National Golf Centre Academy has a floodlit driving range with TopTracer technology. There is also a four-acre short game area that has eight target greens and a number of bunkers, along with two putting greens, one near the starting hole of both courses.
What are the green fees at Woodhall Spa?
The price of a green fee at Woodhall Spa 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 Woodhall Spa, visit their website here.
Check out what our expects had to say about Woodhall Spa's Hotchkin Course on the NCG Golf Podcast here.
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