Review Rating - Gold

View of the clubhouse from the 18th tee.

The highest 18 hole golf course in England has some amazing views and it turns out not too tiring on the legs. Having climbed most of the 1200 plus feet to reach the clubhouse the course finally appears in view spread across the top of Bradnor Hill, a National Trust site. The course looks amazing and with it's natural look is a very good test of golf, especially when the wind blows!

A sample of the amazing views from the course.

The holes all have names and the first 'Offa' starts right outside the Pro Shop, it's uphill all the way to a well protected green, now you won't find any bunkers at Kington but the greens are very well protected by grassy mounds. 'The Gully' is a dogleg par 4 that gets it's name from the intimidating chasm in front of the tee, a gentle left to right shot is what is required here but not too much as another gully runs along the right side of the fairway out of view from the tee.

'The Gully' an intimidating drive off the 2nd tee.

Next comes 'The Chair' a par 3 with a steep slope behind it and a six foot bank in front, don't leave it short. 'O'er the Top' is the first of many blind drive holes and when into the wind can be very hard to reach in two. The 'Road Hole' par 3 maybe short but being exposed to the elements up here is no pushover. A gentle climb up the next fairway to 'Three Shepherds' green sounds simple enough but the bracken & gorse all along the fairway mean a wayward shot is going to be hard to find.

The 6th fairway with bracken & gorse running alongside.

'Bradnor Rise' is the first par 5 and with the wind behind, you may well reach the green with just a 9 iron for your second shot. 'Hill Top' is the highest part of the course, while walking this fairway take in the views from the seven counties that you can see. The front nine ends with 'Bryn Awelon', the hill of the breeze, when translated. If you manage to hit this green in the wind then you've just hit one of the best shots of your life, it is a nightmare for club selection.

'The Hill of the breeze' try not to go long or right here.

The 10th, 'Skylark Rise' is very well named, we had just launched our drives down the fairway when two Skylarks rose up into the air in song, there is a testing two tier green to finish the hole. 'Benn's Bunkers' are grassy ones in the middle of the 11th fairway, that will hinder your second shot up this par 5 and 'The Spoon' has a very well protected green, with the wind behind we were hitting 9 irons into this 176 yard par 3.

The 12th hole well protected by mounds, viewed from the right side of the hole.

'Hergest Ridge' comes next, with trouble on both sides of the fairway a straight shot is required, the downward sloping par 5 'Whole View' gives a great chance for a birdie if you get the tee shot right. 'Charlie Bounds' is a 200 yard plus par 3, the elevated tee makes this hole play shorter than it looks but with the wind right in our faces we just about made it with a driver! 'Cockpits' & 'Home Straight' give some relief to wayward shots as the bracken & gorse seem to be missing from the side of the fairways but the last hole, 'The Quarry' makes up for this. Standing on the tee the green looks easily reachable, trying to ignore the bracken & gorse and the severely sloping fairway you are very tempted to go for the green.

Looking down to the 15th green from the elevated tee.

The people we met here were wonderful, offering advice on how to tackle the next hole, telling us stories of the course like on weekdays when the RAF planes fly down the valley the pilots will 'Look Up' at you on the course and give a wave. The fairways couldn't have looked more natural, the sheep roam the fairways keeping them in trim but do not venture onto the greens, a trait passed on from generation to genration. The greens were like snooker tables, the service in the clubhouse was also friendly and the food was great too. You must visit this place it is a must play for any golfer.

Favourite Hole

Hole 18:
283 yards over bracken & gorse downhill to the green.

The short par 4 18th hole, looks like you can reach the green from the tee.

You will be tempted to aim at the green and go for it, but land short and you will find your ball bounding back down some of the 1200ft that you came up on your way to the clubhouse. The safe option is to aim well left of the Pro Shop and let the fairway move your ball towards the green.