Kington Golf Club Course Review

Rob Smith, Golf Monthly

England's highest 18 hole course is blessed with perhaps the finest golf views in the country...

Having written about Kington a couple of times in Golf Monthly, I have finally sorted out my photos which means I can now offer my views of this fabulous and relatively unheralded gem. The club was founded in 1925, and as you drive up Bradnor Hill to the charming clubhouse, you wonder whether this is going to be seriously hard work. Happily, it's more hilltop than hillside, and it's the views of Kington Golf Cub rather than the walking that takes your breath away.

The opening hole leads you up onto the hill and plateau green

The first three holes head gently out up on to the hill. Once you are on the path to the fourth tee you are pretty much on top.

The third is typical of the natural green sites throughout the course

The seventh is the first and shortest of the three par 5s and wind direction will be a factor here as two good blows could see you home to the green that backs on to the 10th.

The 7th green at Kington - standing on top of the world!

There is plenty of room between the holes at this furthest part of the course where you could be forgiven for thinking that no-one else exists. In addition, the air is as pure and clean as you'll find anywhere.

The green at 13 - Hergest Ridge

There are no real signature holes at Kington and none would win a design award but put them together in this location and you have a course that will delight anyone with a love of the game.

Yet more far reaching views from the 14th green

The 15th is a long par-three that can be unreachable in the wind. Miss to the right and you will be fortunate to salvage a four.

The tough but exciting par-3 15th hole

The round closes with three short par-fours. Each has its own defences while offering various options.

The sixteenth green

The penultimate hole is the longest of the three, played to what is almost an infinity green with the valley falling away beyond.

The seventeenth hole - Home Straight

The 18th is a terrific risk and reward hole - should you go for the green or play up the left and rely on a accurate pitch or chip and run?!

Its length and design mean that it isn't a contender for a place in the Golf Monthly Top 100 but it was one of our Hidden Gems a while back and would be in my personal list of 100 places to play.