Links Country Park Hotel and Golf Club

One of the most beautiful 9 hole courses you can play. From the 8th and 9th tee you can see all the way down towards West Runton, and the Norfolk coastline, from holes 6-9 infact this course is anything but flat. Being only 9 holes, 4 of them par 3's and one par 5, reachable in two, a comfortable 3 shotter at worst; with a course par of 33, with a short yardage, except the 4th hole which is a par 4 over 400 yards; this course could be taken lightly, my advice, don't. J.H.Taylor really knew something about course design, fitting it into the natural features. The 1st is a tough par 3, infront of the clubhouse, in view of all those to mock, the green is blind, sloping away to the left, where a large bunker awaits. Par being a very good start. The 2nd, Par 5, and 3rd, a short par 3 are birdie chances, with the railway to the left which you get at most seaside courses. The 4th is a dogleg left par 4, the longest on the course, the fairway slopes to the right drawing your ball into thick rough, with a ditch in front of the green, running your ball up is an impossibility. The 5th is a long par 3, with a sloping green where two putting is an achievement. The 6th played in summer is the closest thing to crazy golf you will get on a normal course! 300 yards long a decent drive will get you into the bottom of a valley, if your second shot doesn't reach the green, easily 50ft above where you are playing from, with sleepers in front, if your ball doesn't reach the green it will be back at your feet. A par, birdie, or an 8 is a possibility. The 7th short par 3 is where my dad got the luckiest birdie ever. The hole is uphill, with the flag out of view, with a pitching wedge in hand, gorse, the green, or a bunker to the left can cause you trouble. Going back to my dad he topped his tee shot, and then holed a putt from off the green 60ft feet from the pin, after I helped him with the line, fool that I am. The 8th goes back through the valley of the 6th, though your tee shot shouldn't end up in the valley unless mis-hit. However, the ball will run to the right, way right; if left, gorse awaits, if straight you can reach the green off the tee though with the bounce, unlikely, a bunker is well placed if you are left with a short pitch. On the 9th tee, you can see a driveable green and the clubhouse just behind, from 50ft above. Unless you are foolish don't drive the green, with out of bounds down the left side of the fairway, where the practice ground is, and a pond to the right of the green there are plenty of problems. Take an iron, make a pitch, and hole out for birdie in front of the members to show them how its done!

Played here in January 2007 following a few weeks of stormy weather and snow two days previously so was expecting the worst but the the whole course was in excellent condition. The sixth and eighth holes are very challenging with the tee and green set on two hills with a deep gully across the centre of the fairway. The view of the North Norfolk coast from the raised ninth tee makes it very special. For £12.50 (9 holes) the value for money is superb.