Designed and constructed nearly 50 years ago, Sharnbrook golf course has matured and blended into the picturesque parkland of Colworth House. Part of the course is dominated by spectacular 40 metre tall cedar trees.
The course is owned by Unilever and is beautifully maintained by their staff who also look after the grounds of the Science Park. Unilever staff also are responsible for the security of the course.
The 9 hole course has a par of 68 and is approximately 5200 yds long. Although not the longest course in Bedfordshire it does require golfers to play with intelligence and skill. This is not a course for someone who expects to drive his golf ball 250 yds and then hit a fairway wood onto a very large green. Here your drive must be very accurate or you will find that your next shot will be hard to land on a medium sized, well protected green.
Some of the holes are cunningly designed doglegs. Ponds, ditches and trees make all the holes great fun to play, whilst harboring an abundance of wildlife.
Simon Wantling (simonwantling.co.uk) is a wildlife photographer. He has two award winning photos taken on Sharnbrook Golf Course. His image of a Barn Owl won “Editors Choice” in the BBC Wildlife Magazine and his Little Owl picture won the 2018 SINWP international bird photographer of the year award.
We have players of all abilities because the course offers a challenge to all without asking the impossible. There aren’t any hazards with impossible carries unless you want to make one of your own. The beginner or moderate player can get round the course safely as long as they choose sensible shots and are prepared to reflect that choice in their score. However the scratch golfer will also not find the course easy. The course record is 67 but the standard scratch is 66. Very good players need to be at the top of their game to score well.
What most members particularly like about the course is the picturesque and tranquil setting. There are no man made noises other than the odd aircraft. No engine or road traffic noises, just the sounds of birdsong.
The course is well drained and is rarely closed due to bad weather consequently we do not use winter greens. Winter golf is even more challenging as the course retains it full length. Despite this our greens in the spring, summer and autumn are true and the slopes and borrows are fun to take on.
A short hole with out of bounds on the left and behind the green.
The green slopes right to left and is protected by bunkers to the left and right.
A tough first hole!
A fairly straight hole with a very large Cedar of Lebanon tree in front of the tee.
The right side of the fairway drops down to a clump of mixed trees and a pond.
Keep to the right on the level for the best view of the green, which is protected by a bunker to the left.
A tricky short par 4 sharp left to right dogleg.
Choose to lay up short of the pond/ditch or attack over the lime trees on the right.
No guarantees either way.
Hardest hole on the course.
From the Tee the fairway is well protected by a mature Willow Tree followed by a Scots Pine, blocking the second shot to the green for many drives!
Big trees on driving length for the average golfer make the second shot difficult, and then the green is guarded by an evil little pot bunker.
Easiest hole on the course.
A relatively short hole with no hazards out of bounds on left, trees either side of green.
Longest hole on the course with out of bounds on the left.
A good drive over a ditch and hedge presents you with a choice of going over the left-hand dog leg corner (if you are long and good enough) or as most people do steady shot to the corner, where the green can be seen guarded by a bunker on the right.
A short left to right dog leg par 4 with a downhill approach to an undulating green framed by a mature tree.
Beware of a pond to the right of the fairway on the approach.
An uphill right to left dog leg par 4 with a bunker in the centre of the fairway to catch the unwary tee shot.
The green slopes from right to left with bunkers situated front right and left to catch any inaccurate approach.
Out of bounds full length of left side.
Green protected by bunkers left and right.
