Rushden Golf Club

It may not look too tough when you scan the scorecard, but once out in the heat of it, there’s some tricky shots that need to be played.

It’s a busy little course and can get a little tatty. But the green fee is pretty reasonable and it’s a fair enough test.

If you can nail your driver you could score well here, but the big dog could also leave you in trouble if you get a bit wayward.

Founded in 1919, Rushden Golf Club is a friendly private members club set in the beautiful countryside of Northamptonshire.  Recently transformed into an 18-hole golf course in 2013, Rushden now boasts two differing style nines, providing different tests to all golfing abilities.

The course at Rushden is very well maintained to provide all year-round golf.  Together with the short and long game practice areas and along with the clubhouse, Rushden offers a wide range of facilities to members and guests.

The club celebrates its 100^th birthday in 2019, and needless to say, it has a very interesting history.  It still maintains a sense of tradition whilst also lowering the barriers for progression within the club.

The present site of the golf course and the club’s constitution were established in 1919. Originally named the ‘Rushden and District Golf Club’, the ‘District’ being removed in 1986. The club began some years prior to 1919 with a small group of local business men marking out and playing a few holes in a field at Stanwick, Northamptonshire. During this period Mr G A Wetenhall inaugurated the club’s first competition, presenting a silver trophy.

The first 59 years of the club’s tenancy to the Duchy of Lancaster was a sub-let arrangement via the adjacent farmer. The farmer had grazing rights which meant up to 200 sheep could be on the course. This lease gave the farmer authority over the mowing frequency and height of fairways and rough grass could be cut, also the type and quantity of trees that could be planted. With farmer, Harry Robinson’s death in 1978 the club negotiated a direct lease with the Duchy, hence no more sheep and freedom to develop the course.

For the years previous to 2013, Rushden’s front 9 holes used to double up to make the back 9 holes from differing tee positions.  However, since the course extension, it now offers 18 totally individual holes.

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

• 3 out of 5 I liked it ! It's "nice". 13 April 2009

  By BAC-937

  I played this course as a visitor on a Friday afternoon at the end of March. Value wise, if I had paid full price, it wouldn't have been worth the money, but I was playing with my friend, and the club accept 2 Fore 1 vouchers. This made it well worth the outlay. The welcome was very good and the other players on the course were very helpful and friendly. the course itself is a good course. Nothing outstanding; just good. When I started playing, I wasn't sure about whether I liked it or not, but I think that was down to the rain, sleet and driving winds. By the back nine, the sun was shining and several layers of clothing had been shed and I was loving my day out of the office The course comprises of nine holes played twice from different tees. This was rather confusing at times and I would imagine at busier times this would prove to be a pain and cause a backlog on the tees. (we got stuck behind four pensioners on the back nine and they obviously do not believe in letting two balls play through). The greens were average and didn't always run true; but there are far worse out there and it was March (I did notice a lot of unrepaired pitch marks, but the club cannot be blamed for the bad manners of some players). You are not going to get a massive wow factor when visiting a club of this size. It's the same sort of club we all play all the time. But overall, it's a nice club, nice people, nice course and worth the money if you're playing on the back of some vouchers. Give this one a try and see what you think; I will certainly play there again during the summer.  

• 1 out of 5 Poor Value 22 March 2008

  By m4rackets

  To be fair to this course, if it was looked after it may be a good practice course, you would not want to be a member or visitor as it is not looked after and has substandard facilities. The greens are not consistent except from being in apalling condition, pitch mark repairing obviously does not happen. If in this area use Wellingborough or Collingtree Golf Courses

• 3 out of 5 Good use of limited space 02 April 2007

  By Fazerace

  Some interesting holes break up a fairly predictable up-and-down layout. The greens were scabby, but it was early in the year. Some tight drives keep you on your toes and when the wind blows there are some very tough par 4s.