Member Review: Brampton Heath

GOLFmagic member Graham Beckett is on his golfing travels again, this time to a windswept Brampton...

Graham Beckett
Tue, 6 Jun 2000
Member Review: Brampton Heath

Brampton Heath Golf Centre
Sandy Lane
Church Brampton
Northamptonshire

Est : 1995
Pro : Richard Hudson
Tel : 01604 843939
Par : 71
Yardage : 6346 yards (white tees)

This relatively new course is easy to find, situated just 3 miles North West off the centre of Northampton, just off the A50. It is only around 15 minutes from junction 16 of the M1.

Although the course is new, it has certainly improved since it was opened in the summer of 1995, when it was very open, with little danger off the fairway. However now the rough has grown, and certainly expanded into the fairways, making them harder to find than before. They are still relatively wide though.

The length of the holes spread nicely through from short par 3s, to four nice Par 5s. Most are in range for the longer hitters and certainly offer birdie opportunities, if you can keep the ball down the middle of the fairway and out of danger.

The course itself is laid out an undulating heathland on the side of a hill, overlooking the town centre. Having relatively few developed trees, when the wind blows it can certainly make it difficult to find the fairways from the tees.

And with free draining soil, it can make the ball run a long way in the summer, and is relatively dry in the winter, making all year round golf available, if you can brave the elements!!

It is certainly a challenging course, although if you can keep your ball straight, you will come across few obstacles. It is well worth a visit, especially as the prices on the weekend are very competitive. However if you are looking to play on a weekend in the summer, you will have to book in advance, as it can get very busy and take over 4 hours!

The facilities are excellent, a large undercover driving range, a small pitch and putt course, and a recently extended clubhouse, with good food at reasonable prices. There is also a cracking pro shop.

Take a peep next time you are in the area and tell 'em Golfmagic sent you!