The Hotchkin course at Woodhall Spa consistently contends with Loch Lomond and Sunningdale Old for the title of the finest inland golf course in the British Isles. Originally designed by Harry Vardon and subsequently modified by Harry Colt before Colonel S.V. Hotchkin’s major redesign in the 1920s, the course is now a heathland oasis in Lincolnshire. Purchased by the English Golf Union in 1995, it serves as their headquarters.
Known for its sandy subsoil that allows year-round play and springy turf, Woodhall Spa challenges golfers with heather, gorse, and notorious deep bunkers. The course isn’t a tournament venue but hosts prestigious national and international amateur competitions. Its signature 18th hole, a 540-yard par five, epitomises the course’s allure, demanding precision off the tee to navigate bunkers and reach the green.
In 2015, concerns about bunker condition and encroaching trees led to a renovation project by Tom Doak’s Renaissance Golf Design. Over three phases, bunkers were restored, trees removed, heathland features reinstated, and greens returned to their original dimensions, enhancing the course’s aesthetic and playability.
