Leckford (Old)

The history of Leckford begins with the entrepreneur and pioneer John Spedan Lewis.

The man who established the John Lewis Partnership wanted to create golf courses for the use of his employees (that remains the case today albeit non-employees are also now allowed to join and visiting societies can also play).

Lewis invited Harry Colt to view a site in the village of Leckford in Hampshire in 1929 and the architect, then at the peak of his powers, was impressed with the land and its free-draining flint subsoil.

The site was for the most part in a beautiful valley and was lined with mature beech and other hardwoods. There were fine views from its higher points.

Colt laid out nine holes - the Old course, for there is also the New here, by Donald Steel - and it begins with an unusual quirk.

It starts with two par 5s as it steadily climbs up a chalky downland valley toward a high down plateau.

That journey is continued with a par 3 - the holes Colt prioritised - and the 3rd is duly a classic, played to an elevated, well contoured and bunkered green.

On the plateau there are three excellent par fours varying in length from 331 yards to 400 yards.

The pace is maintained on the closing duo, the 8th playing from an elevated tee to a long and narrow green that is tight to the hillside and then the home hole is a downhill par 3 to a large but well-bunkered green.