Darwen Golf Club

Played Darwen yesterday - course in great nick, greens fine, and what a beautiful track. Nice "parkland" front 9 with interesting and challenging holes, then reach for the skies for the back nine, again, some superb holes and wonderful views. Add to that the friendliness of the staff & members and its a golf course one can't fail to enjoy.

"A tale of two halves" is probably the best way to descriibe Darwen. The front 9, with the exception of the 8th from memory, does not prepare you for anything the back 9 has to throw at you. It's well laid out, pretty sedate and offers opportunities for birdies on many holes. The back 9 is a brute, mainly due to the up hill and down dale walking you have inflicted on you. If you aren't fit, simply avoid it. There are a couple of nice par 3s thrown in to break up the hike but the majority of the rest leave you wondering what you've signed up for. The last is the best hole on the back 9 in my opinion. I suppose it all depends on what you want from your golf. I've played courses in Scotland that have been as hilly for 18 holes but they have been absolutely stunning and leave a lasting impression. Darwen is ok, a couple of nice views, but nothing stunning. To me, the back 9 is simply a back breaker and took much of the enjoyment of the front 9 away from our group in the after play discussions. I have to say the staff were terrifically friendly, the food was reasonably priced and acceptable, the members chatty. The off course experience was very enjoyable.

Darwen is the Jekyll and Hyde of the golf world. The first nine holes (Dr Jekyll) are a great knock with challenging fairways, well placed greens and thoughtful tee positions. The 2nd and 3rd holes are great driving holes where you can really let loose, whilst the par 4 6th and par 3 7th require a lot more accuracy. You could even reach the green in one on the par 4 6th if you hit it sweet, a great eagle opportunity. The walk up the 8th however is a sign of things to come. The back nine (Mr Hyde) is tough and a challenge for any golfer, I hope your fit, its very very hilly. It starts off unintimidating with a long par 3 but then starts to test your stamina as you head on a extremly tough par 5 which is hard to reach in three. More than any other course I have played your driving has to be perfect or else you will struggle. One of the good things about the back nine (Mr Hyde probably had some good qulaities too) is the two extremely good par threes, the second of which (Postage Stamp) is quite beautiful. It needs to be though as the hole before it, named Heartbreak is a killer, even a 4x4 would struggle to get up its steep embankment. The 18th is a nice hole as you finish your round, hopefully with your sanity still intact. Overall a very challenging course with five or six really stand-out holes. Darwen Golf Club is well worth a visit!

the best golf course i have ever played! an absolute legend of a course! everyone is very friendly especially wayne the club pro and james cox the assistant pro! highly recommended!

I played Darwen on Friday 07 July 2006 in readiness for our society day on Sunday 16 July 2006. The pro was excellent, and the members that we saw were all friendly and very helpful. I would recommend this course to anyone, anyone with a handicap below 18 as it is a very challenging course.

Darwen golf club is quite possibly the best course in lancashire. If you can put up with the howling wind then the course is more than worth playing. Plus their is a supberb junior section.

Haven't played here for a while since the changes. The greens were very impressive, just like they used to be when I was a member. It is still a testing course and u will find it difficult to play to your hcap. My only gripe is that since I last played it they have got rid of the 12th, which was a superb par 3 with a legendry bunker in front of the green and replaced it with one of the most boring par 4's on the planet. Basically they have bought a field and stuck a flag in it and thats it. The 11th hole which was a par4 u could never reach in 2 because of the wind has been made into a par 5 which u can't reach in 3 coz they have moved the green back. I would love to be a course designer so when people get carte blanche to make a great hole do they make a dogs dinner of it. Apart from these holes please play it, do it with a member otherwise fee is steep.

darwen is a challenging course but a joy to play, even for the high handicap golfer like myself who struggles to hit a decent shot each round! have fun playing the course!

Well what can i say its a bit of a legendary golf club. its quality and value at low and affordable prices

Darwen Golf Course is the best course i've ever played on because of the special features the course has, such as fantastic greens, views of other towns, long and short holes, and many more... If you have never played on Darwen Golf Course then you should get your golf shoes on and try the course out, you don't know what your missing. There are plenty of friendly people about the club and it has even got their own Golf club which you can enjoy a few pints after a round of golf, and you can also visit the Golf Shop which is run by a proffesional and friendly golfer called Wain. If your not confident to go on the course straight away, why not try out our practise field and putting green and test out your skills first. Just come and have fun, its GREAT!!

As a newbie to golf I am finding the course very challenging but it is always a joy to play at Darwen with it's superb greens/fairways. The views from some holes are also quite spectacular - on a clear day you can see as far as Blackpool Tower from hole 12 "Tockholes". I would recommend anyone who hasn't played at Darwen for over a year or so to call back - you will notice some big changes to the course. Now a respectable par 71, Darwen features a new hole: "Tockholes" - a 380 yard par 4 and "Round Trees" has been extended to 529 yards which makes it a long par 5. The clubhouse serves fine ale and great food from snacks to main meals and features regular social events. I am definately enjoying my first year as a member of DGC and look forward to many more!

Hi! I have only just joined Darwen Golf lub a couple of weeks ago and I am already adapting to the course! Although I havn't played on many courses,I can safely say that Darwen has the best course in Lancashire!!! The members are really nice up t Darwen!Especially the Pro(Wayne)and the Junior Chairman(Eric)they've been really helpfull to me and i'm glad i joined Darwen Golf Club!!! see ya!!!

Hi! I have only just joined Darwen Golf club a couple of weeks ago and I am already adapting to the course! Although I havn't played on many courses,I can safely say that Darwen has the best course in Lancashire!!! The members are really nice up at Darwen!Especially the Pro(Wayne)and the Junior Chairman(Eric)they've been really helpfull to me and i'm glad i joined Darwen Golf Club!!! see ya!!!

as a member of darwen for years the course is the toughest in the area. it is usually in good nick and the greens are the toughest around. if u can break 80 u r a gud un. only drawbacks are the members. they are very stuffy and do not welcome visitors. u should be ok if you play mornings, do not play after 5pm u vil be shot! green fee a bit steep, try pleasington maybe a bit more but a better golfing experience

Darwen is a wonderful Golf Course and Club with a terrific section of golfers who enjoy the challenging holes that are once again in fine condition.Each hole is very different,from tough par 3's to birdieable par 5's.Admire the breathtaking views and splendid nature on offer.Relax afterwards with a fine'flaggon of quality ale' ,sitting in the Dick Burton Room which overlooks the practice area,where there is of course ample parking!The ladies section are particularly pleasant with gymcana,bridge,murder-mystery and quiz's featuring regularly during those Winter months.On the whole a quality tonk!

Darwen Golf Club is one of the least 'stuffy' clubs you will find. I can only think Bazza must have met the ex steward who was not the most hospitable. The course and clubhouse have both undergone many improvements and I urge Bazza to revisit. I know his view will be changed. I played there last week and the course is in great shape. The food is excellent also.

This is my home course i've played lots of other courses around and darwen is tough. some people say its short but at darwen difficult down hill lies make up for that, you hardly ever have a flat lie so the toughness of the course makes up for the short holes there are 5 par threes but if you par them all you should be happy cause they are tough, we have a good clubhouse and a great junior section which i'm part of. the course is hilly.

Lovely course shame the members are typically stuffy. Enter the clubhouse at your peril, you have been warned.