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[Sean Arble]

Near the famed Sherwood Forest is the home of Notts Gof Club, also known as Hollinwell.  The course stands out as somewhat unusual for its length of over 7200 yards and Notts has tested professionals in the past.  With the help of Gordon Irvine, who has supervised a program designed to revitalize the heathland characteristics of the course, the club hopes to host the 2019 Walker Cup.  This may come as a bit of a surprise to many outside of the United Kingdom, but Notts has longed enjoyed an excellent reputation as a superb test of golf even if not many foreign tourists have enjoyed its delights.  

Willie Park Jr's design at the turn of the 20th century is largely still intact.  Glaring changes, including the new trio of starting holes marooned across the entrance road were effected by long time professional Tom Williamson.  Other work by Williamson included changing the order of holes and altering the direction of some holes.   Some may wonder who this Mr Williamson was and it is an accident of history that he doesn't get his due as a great servant of the game.  Tom Williamson pulled off the remarkable feat of playing in 50 consecutive Opens, serving as professional/greenkeeper of Notts for over 50 years and designing or having a hand in designing at least 50 courses.  JH Tyalor also had a hand in Hollinwell by designing the bunker system and Frank Pennink was a club consultant for a great many years.  

The first three holes form a triangle and loop back to the clubhouse.  The 1st is a traditionally slow start to the round, but one immediately gets a flavour of a heathland course.  Things pick up considerably on the long par 4, 2nd .  The hole slings sharply around to the left into the fold of hill. There is something compelling the player to cheat on the left with the drive when in fact the hole bends so hard left that the player should ideally be on the far right side of the fairway.  Once the green is viewed it becomes immediately clear that the club has been hard at work improving the course.  Many of the trees on the hill were part of the 10,000 trees removed these past few years.  It is anticipated that a reduction or trees will encourage the regeneration of heather.  Additionally, some of the interior views that have opened up are splendid.  In any case, one knows they are on a course of quality after playing Robin Hood's Seat.  The 3rd is a lovely little par 5 that is very reachable, but the road does lurk on the left.


The course crosses the road marching away and toward the clubhouse twice upon reaching the 8th, named Holy Well, a pond which rests just in front of the tee.  With the addition of two new holes, creatively labelled 8a and 9a, one can head back to the clubhouse.  Though it isn't recommended as the final eleven holes compare favourably to nearly any long stretch of holes that I am aware of.  Before moving on, one aspect the golfer may notice during the front nine is that the greens tend to be small.  This characteristic strikes the author as somewhat rare for a course that can stretch back to ~7200 yards.  

The 8th is a terrific hole which plays to a green sloped hard left to right, down the hill which rests in the middle of this part of the property.  The original design had holes running over this hill, but I expect the terrain was eventually deemed too severe.  Hence the course now runs around the low side and high side of the hill.  

#9 is a longish par 3.  The aforementioned hill can be seen the background.  


The 10th is a very good change of pace hole in which the complexity of the approach varies enormously depending on the hole location.  If the hole is cut in the back of the green it is very difficult to access.  

#11 continues around the most severe section of the hill, but with a bit more purpose in that an ascent is evident.  The target for this approach is miniscule considering most players would be hitting wood in.


A look at the 11th from the 12th tee.


Now then, #12, a cracker of a hole if there ever was one.  The play is along a high ridge and the drive plunges out of view.  The back tee must be 100 yards behind the daily tee, one of many such holes with a large variance in distance between tees.  The best place to drive is well to the right where the fairway is relatively flat.  The further left one is the more the slope of the hill comes into play.  

#13 is a well known 3 par completing the loop of holes around the hill.  More beautiful views have been opened up here with tree removal.  The 14th is in the immediate background.  


The 15th is a brutal hole not unlike the 11th.  The hole gently rises to a green in the spur of a hill.  


There is absolutely no room for error on the approach which is in the neighbourhood of 175 yards after a good drive.  Even if the player elects to lay up the third isn't inviting.  As one would guess, many of the holes are far hillier than they appear.


The fine run of holes continues with 16.  A reverse dogleg in which the bunkering is begging to be carried.


From behind #16 the severity of the land is more evident.


#17 is a lovely par 5 that can be reached in two if one challenges the bunkers down the left.  The green rests in a magnificent setting with trees forming the backdrop.  


The home hole as seen from the 17th, another long par 4.


A look at the approach from beyond the landing zone.


Hollinwell is very much the sort of course I really enjoy.  The course has a little something for everyone and my 1* rating translates as a strong recommendation to see Notts if one is inclined to visit or pass through the Midlands.  It should be no surprise the club has ambitions of hosting a future Walker Cup.  I for one hope this goal is achieved.  

Ciao

[PPallotta]

Thanks Sean, as always.

And as always, a golf course that looks comfortable in its own skin (even though this is the most elevation change I've seen in months on the Sean Arble Mini Tour).  Of course, it reminds me of the thread you started quoting Tom D about how good the average English course is, and why. It seems so understated that even its understatement doesn't draw attention to itself. I particularly like the "wee 5th" and the 14th. Ah....it really is a lesson for me, Sean, this group of "tier-two" courses you showcase here....it's a valuable thing you're showcasing here

Thanks again

Peter   

[Mark Pearce]

I've only played the Notts once and my recollection of individual holes isn't as clear as it might be but I was very impressed with it, as were the guys I played there with.  Is it really a tier 2 course?  If it was in Surrey/Berkshire would it have a shout at tier 1 status?  It's certainly a very strong course in every respect.

[Sean Arble]

Mark

It is very difficult to call a course that is always rated top 50 in GB&I a 2nd tier course, but to international visitors and most UK golfers the course isn't terribly well known.  I think Notts stands up well with great heathland courses and most "experts" in the UK agree.  This does beg the question of why visitors should go out of their way to play Notts if there are a handful of courses near London which can satisfy an urge for heathland golf.  The only reason I can think of is the length.  For good players this is the added dimension which many of the great heathland courses don't have.  For me, this isn't a good enough reason to detour an overseas tour away from London, but living 1.5 hours away I am happy to head up there anytime.  That said, an international visitor would be treated to some very fine golf if he were to start in Brum and head up to Yorkshire.  An offering of Beau Desert, Notts, Alwoodley & Ganton plus a few other odds n sods is a match for any London quartet.  

Ciao  

[Andrew Mitchell]

Thanks for posting your photos Sean.  Notts is a great course with some very good holes.  I think 16 is a great example of a good short hole as it makes you think both off the tee and with your approach, which generally you don't want to play from too near the green.

Just seen your latest post re 8a & 9a.  Generally these are to be avoided as they are nowhere near the quality of the other 18.  They are used primarily to allow members etc to play just 9 holes and finish near the clubhouse.

I've been fortunate to be invited to a corporate event at Notts for the last few years.  Before then I didn't know much about it as it seems to fly under the radar, Woodhall Spa generally being the only Midlands course to get much publicity (other than the dreadful Belfry ).  Our Club Captain recently got a flyer through the post from Notts inviting him to play at a discounted rate.  When I told him that was an offer not to be missed he admitted he'd never heard of it! Despite my promptings and offer to take him down there as part of his fourball he still hasn't done anything about it   Rest assured if I get a similar invite in the next couple of years I'll be taking the offer up and looking on here for people who appreciate a good golf course to make up the fourball!

[Sean Arble]

Thanks for posting your photos Sean.  Notts is a great course with some very good holes.  I think 16 is a great example of a good short hole as it makes you think both off the tee and with your approach, which generally you don't want to play from too near the green.

Just seen your latest post re 8a & 9a.  Generally these are to be avoided as they are nowhere near the quality of the other 18.  They are used primarily to allow members etc to play just 9 holes and finish near the clubhouse.

I've been fortunate to be invited to a corporate event at Notts for the last few years.  Before then I didn't know much about it as it seems to fly under the radar, Woodhall Spa generally being the only Midlands course to get much publicity (other than the dreadful Belfry ).  Our Club Captain recently got a flyer through the post from Notts inviting him to play at a discounted rate.  When I told him that was an offer not to be missed he admitted he'd never heard of it! Despite my promptings and offer to take him down there as part of his fourball he still hasn't done anything about it   Rest assured if I get a similar invite in the next couple of years I'll be taking the offer up and looking on here for people who appreciate a good golf course to make up the fourball!

Andrew

The new holes weren't open yet so we didn't get to have a decent look.  I think you are right in that they are filler holes for old folks and societies to get back to the clubhouse.  I know we are always tempting each other with games, but we should try and meet at Notts when the course is keen.  I think its more or less right in the middle between us.

Ciao

[Kevin Pallier]

Sean

Thanks for the photos...I feel that after a fairly benign begining it really bares it's teeth on the B9. I saw it in summer and boy do those fairway contours exentuate run off into the greenside bunkers on weak approach shots.

Lovely ambience at Notts too - dont you think ?

[Jon Wiggett]

Sean,

thanks for sharing the excellent photos. Notts has been doing a lot of work on the course in the last few years restoring it to its original form. Looks like they are well on the way to doing this.

[Dean Stokes]

Sean, thankyou for the memories. I played the English Amateur Championship there back in the mid '90's. It is a great golf course and as good as your pictures are - they cannot do this place justice.
Some pictures of this place in mid Summer when the rough is stood tall and there are leaves on the trees would surely draw more response from the GCAers.

Where next Sean? Go play Linderick, Alwoodley or Moortown and send us some more photos. Please.

[Sean Arble]

Sean, thankyou for the memories. I played the English Amateur Championship there back in the mid '90's. It is a great golf course and as good as your pictures are - they cannot do this place justice.
Some pictures of this place in mid Summer when the rough is stood tall and there are leaves on the trees would surely draw more response from the GCAers.

Where next Sean? Go play Linderick, Alwoodley or Moortown and send us some more photos. Please.

Dean

Cheers.  I am afraid the Winter Tour of England with a bit of Wales chucked in is over.  Spring is upon us and with that comes touristas and with that comes inflated green fees.  I don't think I have another good English course outside of my club booked until a few comps. at Blackwell & Hillside in June.  Now is the time to focus on Philly.  We are gonna be a 2 man wrecking crew hoping to leave PA with a sleeve of balls between us. 

Ciao

[Dean Stokes]

That's a shame! I hear the English Stokeplay is at Moortown next year. Have you played it in the past few years? If so how is it these days?

[Sean Arble]

That's a shame! I hear the English Stokeplay is at Moortown next year. Have you played it in the past few years? If so how is it these days?

DEan

Are you mad?  That sort of stuff is for proper flat belly golfers.  I am not proper or a flat belly.

Kevin

You are right, there is quite a nice feeling about the club.  Its down to earth, but still quite olde worlde.

Ciao

[Dean Stokes]

I wasn't suggesting you play in the tournament!!! Merely asking if you'd played Moortown in recent years. It used to be one of my favourite courses around and I wondered if they'd made changes to accomodate the new 'technology' or whether it had just succumbed to the 'bomb and gauge' game of the new generation.

[KBanks]

Sean,

Thanks for that. Notts sure looks like a GB&I hidden gem.

Ken

[Andrew Mitchell]

Thanks for posting your photos Sean.  Notts is a great course with some very good holes.  I think 16 is a great example of a good short hole as it makes you think both off the tee and with your approach, which generally you don't want to play from too near the green.

Just seen your latest post re 8a & 9a.  Generally these are to be avoided as they are nowhere near the quality of the other 18.  They are used primarily to allow members etc to play just 9 holes and finish near the clubhouse.

I've been fortunate to be invited to a corporate event at Notts for the last few years.  Before then I didn't know much about it as it seems to fly under the radar, Woodhall Spa generally being the only Midlands course to get much publicity (other than the dreadful Belfry ).  Our Club Captain recently got a flyer through the post from Notts inviting him to play at a discounted rate.  When I told him that was an offer not to be missed he admitted he'd never heard of it! Despite my promptings and offer to take him down there as part of his fourball he still hasn't done anything about it   Rest assured if I get a similar invite in the next couple of years I'll be taking the offer up and looking on here for people who appreciate a good golf course to make up the fourball!

Andrew

The new holes weren't open yet so we didn't get to have a decent look.  I think you are right in that they are filler holes for old folks and societies to get back to the clubhouse.  I know we are always tempting each other with games, but we should try and meet at Notts when the course is keen.  I think its more or less right in the middle between us.

Ciao

Sean
Agreed we really must move on from saying let's have a game sometime and actually meet up!  I'd be happy to have a game at Notts once we get to the good British summer.

I'd also like to see Beau Desert as well.  Are they too far apart to do 36 in one day?  If so it would probably need to be two trips for me.

[Mark Pearce]

Sean, Andrew,

If you're planning a trip to Notts this Summer and wouldn't mind an interloper then let me know, it's too long since I played there.

Mark

[Paul_Turner]

Thanks Sean.  Haven't seen this course in ages.  The open views are super.

The bunkers look to have been redone,  they look just like the new ones at Coombe Hill, Wentworth...  There seems to be a generic, curvy, smooth bunker being installed on our heath courses.

[Andrew Mitchell]

Sean, Andrew,

If you're planning a trip to Notts this Summer and wouldn't mind an interloper then let me know, it's too long since I played there.

Mark

Mark

Noted & logged for when we get round to discussing dates

[Sean Arble]

Thanks Sean.  Haven't seen this course in ages.  The open views are super.

The bunkers look to have been redone,  they look just like the new ones at Coombe Hill, Wentworth...  There seems to be a generic, curvy, smooth bunker being installed on our heath courses.

Paul

Many of the bunkers have been redone.  You are right, but I am not convinced they are so different from the old ones in shape.  I thnk its more a matter of what surrounds the bunkers that is different.  Heather and bit of rough really helps to tie the bunkering into the general surrounds of a heathland course.  When you see bunkers naked on a heathland course they often tend to look out of place.   

Mark & Andrew

I will toss dates at ya further down the road.  If you are keen to play Beau then I can give in!  Truth be told, I would rather play Beau as I am going to miss a few of my annual visits there this year. 

Ciao