Danny Lockwood visits Hessle Golf Club
Which golfer doesn’t like reading a top 100 course review? They fuel daydreams of following in the footsteps of a Woods or Scheffler – or maybe even a Fitzpatrick – and while they may provoke a touch of jealousy, they indubitably stimulate plenty of 19th hole debates.
I looked at the top100golfcourses.com website after playing Hessle Golf Club. The website carries rankings from around the world all the way down to county level. Its Yorkshire section is limited to a top 45, and having played 37 of the 45, I was left scratching my head somewhat.
Hessle Golf Club began its life in 1898 and went through several transitions before moving, in 1975, from what are now the footprints of the Humber Bridge to its scenic home alongside the Raywell estate.
The club currently sits at no.31 in the Yorkshire rankings. With the Yorkshire Union comprising 182 member clubs, that is recommendation enough. However, having played 25 of the courses rated above it, I’d head for Hessle over at least a dozen of them. Why? We’ll come to that.
Laid out by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas, the gently undulating, easily walkable par 72 parkland layout is unrecognisable from those sparse early days when it was mostly open countryside. It has matured in splendid fashion, and it’s easy to see why it held a special place in Peter’s heart.
The club has a designated board member with course director responsibilities, which Andy Weightman combines with his vice-chair role. He has been a club member for the duration of the Raywell occupancy, and if you want to know how seriously he takes his responsibilities, just take note of how many divot bags he gets through during a round.
His board predecessors were wise enough to invest in an upside-down clubhouse, which affords splendid views over the ninth and 18th greens, and across the estate beyond.
There are also covered and outdoor driving range facilities, a designated and quite extensive short game practice area, plus the putting green.
In the professional’s shop, Steve Alsop is very much part of the Hessle furniture, having been lead assistant at the club for 18 years before taking the head professional role in 2011.
After a grass-scorching summer, Hessle, like most clubs, bounced back rapidly following the late-August rain and new head greenkeeper Jason Banks was busy tidying up the bunker complexes when we played. The former Waterton Park man and Andy clearly share an ambitious view of their work in progress.
Like most Yorkshire clubs, Hessle historically lost a lot of playing days as the clay-based course struggled to cope with the extremely wet winters. After major investment in drainage projects over the last four years, along with the purchase of a Husqvarna robotic mower which proved a godsend last year, the fairways are in great shape for much longer. The course also deals with the wettest periods of the year far better than ever before.
During our round, Andy explained that the club was looking at another machine and, if money was no object, the course director would never tire of finding dream projects.
The club has a full seven-day membership but operates a novel six-day option which affords new members the ability to play half-days on Saturdays and Sundays outside of club competition times. The ladies’ and junior sections have healthy numbers, including 2024 Yorkshire champion Grace Lambert and Poppi Maxwell, who are both playing college golf in the US.
Visiting golfers and groups are welcome throughout the week, including on Saturdays and Sundays after club competitions.
With a busy academy, the club also offers a specific driving range and practice facility membership. Whether you’re visiting for a post-game bite or just stopping by to sample the excellent hospitality, the Raywell Grill restaurant is also highly regarded locally.
Out on the course, the fairways are reasonably generous while still requiring you to find decent positions, and there’s not a great deal of rough. That said, if you’re out of position in the ubiquitous trees, it’s punishment enough!
The course consists of two loops of nine, both ending with par fives with features that made Hessle stand out for me against many other highly rated Yorkshire courses – the green complexes. Outstanding, in every regard, they feature creative mounding and run off areas, plenty of bunkers and a lot of narrow entrances. Having Andy on hand for lines and reads saved an awful lot of studying putts out there. Consistent, and quick but fair, Hessle’s greens put a real premium on your approach play.
At 6,614 yards off whites and a testing 6,333 yards from yellows – with pairs of par threes and par fives on both loops – this is a proper par 72 test. While the short eighth hole – just 130 yards from yellows – might offer a scoring chance, wait until you get to the 16th – a more challenging 203 yards from back pegs and 195 yards from the yellows with water to avoid. “Some members sensibly opt to lay up short of the pond,” advised Andy. A lovely looking hole, this one will really test your nerves.
Like any course we play for the first time, there’s always a real benefit in having a second knock, particularly when it comes to the greens. In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, “I’ll be back…”
HESSLE GOLF CLUB (YELLOW TEES)
1 – 355 yards, par 4
A very attractive par four opener, the first moves slightly left to right to a distinctly sloping green. A fairway bunker protects the right side, with more traps guarding the front of the green.
2 – 180 yards, par 3
A longer par three, particularly from the back tees, the second features sand on both sides of a narrow entrance to a green which slopes from back left to front right.
3 – 503 yards, par 5
A gently rising, straight par five, the main obstacles at the third are the trees – though a short right trap might catch a few second shots. The angled green features a distinct back left plateau.
4 – 394 yards, par 4
There are some nice views to enjoy from the top of the course on the fourth. The tree-lined fairway slopes from left to right while rising to a big green with mounding left and a large bunker right.
5 – 423 yards, par 4
Hessle’s longest par four, the fifth is heavily wooded down the left side, with a pond sitting between this and the sixth fairway on the right. There are no bunkers at this narrower, gently undulating green.
6 – 377 yards, par 4
There is no let up at the slightly shorter sixth hole, with the pond in range on the right, and a fairway trap on the left side waiting to catch out those who play away from the water. The hole turns slightly left to right, with a large bell-shaped green featuring bunkers front and middle left, plus more sand front right.
7 – 339 yards, par 4
The staggered fairway bunkers are in play from the tee at the seventh, and you need to favour the left side to have the best look at quite a shallow green guarded by traps at the front. Any tee shot down the right side brings the huge conifers into play.
8 – 130 yards, par 3
A short and very pretty par three, avoid the steep run off down the left side of the eighth green as well as the bunkers front left and middle right.
9 – 477 yards, par 5
A classy close to the front nine, the straight par five ninth is played from an elevated tee. Most will lay up short of the cross bunker to leave a wedge or short-iron into a proper MacKenzie-style tiered green. The green features a more generous entrance than many here, though you must steer clear of the bunker front left and the bigger, deeper one middle right.
10 – 340 yards, par 4
A tricky tee shot follows at the 10th, which features a sharp dogleg from the right with a bunker on the outside of the corner. Big hitters might take the corner on here, but there is plenty of trouble if you miss the short grass. The green offers a generous target and it slopes from back right to front left.
11 – 154 yards, par 3
Tucked away in a horseshoe of trees, the par three 11th is played uphill to a narrower green which is well-guarded on both sides.
12 – 361 yards, par 4
Played slightly downhill, the par four 12th is tree-lined with a pair of fairway bunkers protecting its right side. One of the smaller greens is protected by sand and mounding.
13 – 365 yards, par 4
Uphill all the way, the 13th sweeps from left to right. The green is set at an angle, with bunkers left and right. Try to stay below the hole with your approach to this tiered green if you can.
14 – 470 yards, par 5
The relatively short par five 14th is one of the easier tests, and bigger hitters can reach in two. One of the flatter greens is beautifully framed by the trees beyond.
15 – 396 yards, par 4
The tee shot is played uphill at the par four 15th, before a slight descent to a large, bulb-shaped green with a back left plateau. Parallel traps are set below the green and must be avoided.
16 – 195 yards, par 4
A beautiful, long par three, the 16th features a 160-yard carry over water – and that’s from the yellow tees! The green has a narrow entrance and widens in the rear, with some rear mounding to slow down balls which are travelling quickly. There are some devilish pin positions here and your green reading is sure to be tested.
17 – 385 yards, par 4
Played slightly downhill to a right to left sloping fairway, the 17th features a fairway bunker on its right side which must be avoided. The uphill approach must be played confidently with plenty of sand waiting to catch errant shots.
18 – 489 yards, par 5
Another confident tee shot is required at the last, with the fairway sloping from left to right. Like the ninth, which runs parallel, there are cross bunkers well short of an angled green which is set above you. Steer clear of the bunker below the front left corner of the putting surface, which slopes from back right to front left at this excellent finishing hole.
