Thorpe Wood Golf Course

Thorpe Wood Golf Course is an outstanding pay and play layout: it’s so fine in fact you need to book up early in order to secure a tee-time but it’s well worth the effort, offering superb value-for-money as well as a decent round of golf. The round unusually opens with a par-3 followed by a shortish par-4 but it gets tougher and better and it’s a safe bet you’ll want to return for another outing. There’s a sting in the tail too with a demanding par-4 penultimate hole – it’s probably wise to play it as a par-5 – followed by a real risk-reward finale with its green sitting beyond a stream slap bang in front of the clubhouse. Was once voted the best municipal course in the country.

This splendid Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas design, at almost 7,100 yards off the back tees, is one of the country’s longest pay-and-play courses. Inevitably, it favours solid ball-strikers but good shots are always rewarded and the undulating greens, which tend to be large, are usually in superb condition. There are a selection of good-looking and challenging holes with the par-4 3rd, running along the river Nene, and the demanding 17th, being the pick.

 It’s extremely popular throughout the year and is outstanding value-for-money. Thorpe Wood Golf Course is an outstanding pay and play layout: it’s so fine in fact you need to book up early in order to secure a tee-time but it’s well worth the effort, offering superb value-for-money as well as a decent round of golf. 

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Designed by Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas, Thorpe Wood Golf Course is one of the best pay-as-you-play golf courses in the country. Maintained in superb condition, this well-drained golf course never closes whatever the weather.

• Course has: Bar
• Course has: Buggy Hire
• Course does not have: Driving Range
• Course does not have: Practice Green
• Course has: Pro Shop
• Course has: Restaurant
• Course has: Trolley Hire
• Course does not have: Dress Code
• Course has: Club Hire
• Course does not have: Handicap

• 4 out of 5 Best pay and play 07 June 2015

  By Lizardo

  What a great deal. Even at full price this course is great value and is a good test for all levels of golfer. This is certainly the best pay and play course I've ever visited. Greens and fairways in v.g condition, although some bunkers leave a bit to be desired! Contrary to the noted facilities there is are three practice/ putting greens and a two tier driving range with pro in attendance.

• 4 out of 5 Great condition considering the weather! 05 March 2014

  By Wrighty

  Managed to get an early tee time, once there very friendly and helpful staff, even had a plaster for my injured playing partner(that ruined hi excuse!). No waiting about and tee'd off on time. Course was in great condition no winter tee's or Greens. Only a bit boggy on the 5th but considering the weather it was fantastic! We will be going back there soon well worth the 45min drive!

• 3 out of 5 Great local course 09 December 2013

  By alex ioannou

  Despite the time of the year we had a fantastic round here, the weather wasn't great but the greens were still in good condition. Would happily play here again.

• 3.5 out of 5 times are changing 01 September 2011

  By clay

  Thorpey still provides good quality golf at a great price. they are in the process of building a driving range in the middle of the course. Which is good but it has meant that the really good par 4 q4th is now a pretty short par 3. This seems a shame but the range is meant to be a double-tier, stet-of-the-art affair. Think it's due to open next year...

• 4 out of 5 Like it !!! 30 December 2008

  By putterheed

  Thorpewood is a well kept course played it many times.The course in my opinion suits big hitters it is a long course.Good club shop attached to a decent pub,staff in the club shop are very friendly.

• 4 out of 5 Well worth a visit. 04 December 2008

  By BAC-937

  Although not the prettiest of courses, Thorpe Wood has plenty of plus points. You start off with a couple of nice warm up holes, before being presented with the first of the more difficult holes. I like a course that allows you to get into the game before they ruin your score card :-) The welcome by the lady in the shop was warm (much warmer than the good old British weather) and charming. The Woodman pub which acts as the 19th is the usual standard pub restaurant type place. The course itself, as I said before is not the prettiest, but it sure is a test and I'm sure when I play it next summer (I promise I'll play it again, probably many times) my opinion might be warmer too. The fairways are lovely and wide, giving you plenty of room to recover from those shots that are not hit perfectly straight. The facilities seemed good and the tee areas and greens were top class. I gave the WOW Factor a three but overall, I gave a four out of five. This course is one to visit.

• 4 out of 5 Excellent 'golf' course 18 December 2007

  By nadger

  This is a very good 'golf' course. What I mean by this is that it is neither picturesque like some courses, nor has it got an outstanding clubhouse (although the pro-shop is good and the pub which serves as the clubhouse is relatively cheap for food and drink), but it does have an excellent mature course. I played it the day after a really hard frost (so hard in fact that it blew up the boilers at the school I work at, hence why I had the day off to play!) and the greens were hard. However despite this the course was in superb condition and wonderfully playable. I couldn't believe how well drained the course was. There was hardly any mud around at all! This is a must play course if you are from the area. It especially favours long hitters, but everyone will enjoy it!

• 4 out of 5 GREAT COURSE 17 October 2007

  By yellow1

  This was our second visit (2005), the course has been improved with the removal of the extreme rough, well worth a visit. Only draw back is that it needs a driving range.

• 3 out of 5 Good Course 09 April 2007

  By Oliver Fullerton

  A good course with some challenging long holes and great par threes, however up keep needs to be well maintained.

• 4 out of 5 top class 01 April 2007

  By cenyddjenkins@btinternet.com

  One of the best courses I've played, puts many more expensive rounds to shame. Looking forward to going there again soon.

• 4 out of 5 Hard to beat 18 March 2007

  By Anonymous

  As has been written so often you will be hard pressed to beat this course?

• 3.5 out of 5 The best municipal course I've played 14 February 2007

  By Anonymous

  Quite possibly one of the best municipal courses in the country! The course is nearly always in excellent condition all year round and although the greens are not fast, the challenge here comes from the variety on hole challenges - bunkers, water, trees. The length is also a great challenge for us shorter hitters! Only problem can be slow play at weekends and lack of etiquette from less experience players, thoguh this is no fault of the course.

• 3 out of 5 The Best Municiple? 02 February 2007

  By Anonymous

  The best municipal I have played by far. The greens were in much better condition than most at this time of year in the area, real tees and decent fairways in winter. Only the 10th and 15th holes are similar. At a weekend twighlight green-fee of £11, it's a bargain.