Played by NCG: Kedleston Park
Reason for a Kedleston Park Golf Club review
I live in Sheffield and have a friend who lives in Market Bosworth.
Where is Kedleston Park Golf Club?
EXACTLY halfway between Sheffield and Market Bosworth. But to be a bit more precise, it’s a few miles outside of Derby near the village of Quarndon.
What to expect
Set in glorious Derbyshire Countryside, the golf course pretty much shares the same surrounds as the Kedelston Hall National Trust property.
The golf course is a picturesque, tree-lined parkland course which will host Open qualifying in 2018.
So if you are heading there as they prepare the course for Carnoustie wannabes, expect the rough to be thick and borderline unplayable in places.
The greens were fast and true – probably the best I had played on so far in 2018.
Favourite hole
The 10th is a really good, downhill, dog-legging short par 4 with options aplenty off the tee.
Take driver over the corner to miss out the bunkers or hit something straight and a bit shorter to take the bunkers out of play but leave a longer approach.
As you look to attack the green there’s a small entry to the putting surface with bunkers right and a pond to the left.
With 150 yards in, I tugged my 8-iron into the water but was able to get up and down from the drop zone for a five.
The par-3 7th over water is a very good par 3 and the 9th is a very strong hole with doglegs to the left with a tough uphill approach.
My best bit
I hit my best drive of the day up the 9th then a stinging 6 iron to 5ft.
Disappointing to miss the birdie putt but it’s always nice to play a hole properly for a change.
What to look out for
The rough was really thick and juicy and by the end of the round it had really gotten the better of me.
But the fairway’s weren’t especially tight so it shouldn’t pose a problem for everyone.
The course has a pretty substantial acreage so there’s a lot of grass which needs to be cut. Just try and stick to the areas marked ‘golf course’.
When I go back
Hit something other than driver off the tee and keep it in play.
I don’t think you can really enjoy it here if you’re spending very little time on the fairway.
It’s not especially long so you can manage a decent score by hitting long irons or hybrids from many of the par-4 and par-5s.
If I wasn’t so annoyed with being in the rough I think I would have enjoyed the sensational countryside around me a bit more.
Visit the Kedleston Park website.
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James Savage
Former equipment editor of NCG. Inconsistent ball-striker and tea-maker.
