The Brocket Hall Estate in Welwyn Garden City offers up an incredible golfing holiday. The two golf courses – the Melbourne and Palmerston – are differing but exquisite, with the River Lea and Broadwater Lake providing the danger on the former. There is also a great golf academy, and beautifully designed rooms at Melbourne Lodge. Add in the glorious cuisine on offer at Auberge du Lac and Brocket Hall is a sublime place to visit. 

 

Starting with the golf courses, which were named after two 19th Century Prime Ministers – Lord Melbourne and Lord Palmerston. The Melbourne Course features the River Lea on plenty of occasions, while the Palmerston Course is the tree-lined offering, and 550 yards longer than its sibling. The Melbourne Golf Academy supplies a 7-hole par 3 course which is perfect for beginners to the game, while the academy also has a driving range and short game area, with the opportunity for lessons and coaching from three PGA-qualified professionals.  

 

In terms of accommodation, Melbourne Lodge has a small but beautiful range of bedrooms. There are only 16 bedrooms on offer, but each one is individually designed and appointed, and comes with its own en-suite. The rooms are all named after famous racehorses. The Auberge du Lac offers glorious local cuisine, thanks to a vegetable patch on the estate.  

 

 

 

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Visit the Brocket Hall website here.  

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The Brocket Hall Estate is home to the Melbourne Club, which itself hosts two championship parkland golf courses – the Melbourne and the Palmerston. The two courses got their names from the two former British Prime Ministers that called the estate home.  

 

The Melbourne Course 

The Melbourne Course is named after Lord Melbourne, who was Prime Minister from 1834 to 1841. It is a championship parkland layout that measures less than 6,500 yards. Although not the longest course in the world, it has its challenges, including several holes that feature the River Lea, with Peter Alliss and Clive Clark the men to design the layout.  

 

The opening hole has the water hazard all the way down its right side. It is only 315 yards so the longer hitters could get after it, but there is only a small sliver of bunker between the green and the river. The majority will take a long iron or hybrid to keep themselves in play before a wedge to the green. The 2nd is a long par 3 which plays over the water. There are no bunkers, but there is a carry of at least 180 yards from the back tees. Take one club more as there is no real danger behind. 

 

A quirk of the Melbourne Course at Brocket Hall is the crossover holes at 4 and 16. Both holes measure more than 400 yards and they seem to just run parallel to the river. However, the 4th plays over to what looks like it is the 16th green and vice-versa. Therefore, the extra element of danger from crossing the Rive Lea comes into play on both.  

 

The finishing touch on the Melbourne Course comes on the par 5 18th. As with most par 5s that feature water in front of the green, there is the difficult decision about whether to go for it or whether to lay up short of the trouble. However, when you have hit that shot, usually you walk over a bridge to get to the putting surface. Not on the 18th at the Melbourne! Instead, you have to get on an electric ferry to take you across the River Lea to get you to the finishing point of your round.  

 

The Palmerston Course 

Lord Palmerston, who led the country in two spells between 1855 and 1865, lends his name to the Palmerston Course at the Brocket Hall Estate. It is the longer of the two courses at Brocket Hall, cross the 7,000-yard barrier from the black tees. Donald Steel and Martin Ebert, two world-renowned golf course architects, were the men behind the Palmerston design.  

 

Unlike the Melbourne, the Palmerston does not feature the River Lea at all. That does not mean that it is an easier run, though, as the course is tree-lined with pine and oak trees that will certainly get in your way if you are offline from the tee. The Par 73 layout features five par 5s and four par 3s, with the 13th hole measuring 600 yards from the back tees. 

 

There are also back-to-back par 5s at the turn, with both 9 and 10 offering birdie opportunities. Sitting 100 yards from the green on the par 4 12th is a 25-foot chalk pit with a steep face. It provides an interesting approach. Like the Melbourne, the Palmerston finishes with a par 5 that has a lone oak tree in the middle of the fairway, exactly in the spot where you might be trying to lay up. Grab a par and make your way down to the clubhouse for a drink or two! 

There are only 16 rooms available at the Brocket Hall Estate, with the converted Melbourne Lodge being the place to stay. A former Georgian coach house, and a Grade I listed building, the building offers splendid views of the Melbourne and Palmerston courses, along with Broadwater Lake.  

 

The 16 luxury bedrooms each come with an en-suite bathroom, Wi-Fi, TV, and tea and coffee making facilities. The 12 double bedrooms also come as twin rooms, and each room at the Melbourne Lodge is named after a great racehorse. The Auberge du Lac is a lakeside restaurant that offers sublime local cuisine, including vegetables that have been grown on the estate.  

Where is Brocket Hall?  
Brocket Hall sits just outside Welwyn Garden City. The resort, which features a historic 18th-Century house, is only 25 miles by road from the centre of London, with the likes of Watford and Luton nearby. 

What is the nearest airport and station to Brocket Hall?  
London Luton Airport, London Heathrow Airport and London Stansted Airport are within an hour’s drive from the Brocket Hall Estate. Heathrow is the busiest airport in the country, while Stansted and Luton are in the top five. All three have flights worldwide.  

 

Thanks to its proximity to the city, the train station in Welwyn Garden City is the closest to Brocket Hall. It is just three miles from the estate, via the A1(M). There are trains from London Kings Cross every half hour.  

What golf facilities does Brocket Hall offer?  
The Melbourne Golf Club Academy features a stunning driving range, which has both covered and uncovered tees, while there is also the option of playing from mats or of real grass. There is also a wonderful 7-hole par 3 course, which is perfect for beginners who are first learning the game, and the nuances of playing around the greens.  

 

The Watershyppes Clubhouse provides the perfect spot for a drink after a round of golf at Brocket Hall. There is also a stunning pro shop with a wide array of apparel and footwear, including FootJoy, Adidas, Peter Millar, and J.Lindeberg. There is a range of Brocket Hall-branded gear to take home as a souvenir.  

Does Brocket Hall offer golf lessons?  
There is a team of three PGA-qualified professionals on hand at the Melbourne Club who can provide coaching and tuition, with individual and group lessons available. There are also on-course lessons for all ages and abilities to learn about course management and club selection.  

What are the green fees at Brocket Hall?  
The price of a green fee at Brocket Hall changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. There are also stay & play packages available at the resort.  

 

For more information on current green fees at Brocket Hall, visit their website here. 

What accommodation is on offer at Brocket Hall?  

The Melbourne Lodge offers 16 sublime en-suite bedrooms, all of which are named after a great racehorse. The luxurious bedrooms can come in either double or twin rooms, and each is individually decorated.  

What other resorts are nearby?  
The Grove, Foxhills, Luton Hoo and Hanbury Manor are the closest venues to Brocket Hall – all of which are on the NCG Top 100s: GB&I Golf Resorts list. All are within an hour’s drive, with Luton Hoo just 20 minutes down the road.  

 

  

Book your trip to Brocket Hall with Golfbreaks now. 

  

Visit the Brocket Hall website here.  

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.