Old Thorns Golf Club

A splendidly scenic and rolling Peter Alliss design – it was built on steeply undulating forest land – which meanders through mature timber and is usually found in tip-top condition. Spectacularly opened in 1992 with an exhibition match involving legends Jack Nicklaus and Seve Ballesteros.

Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss were commissioned to create Old Thorns following the death of original architect John Harris in the mid-1970s. And they combined to create a par-72 parkland beauty placed firmly the map in the early 1980s with an official opening exhibition match involving Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Isao Aoki and then Open champion Bill Rogers. Today, thickly tree-lined and wonderfully undulating, Old Thorns has developed into an outstanding layout.

Various forms of wildlife inhabit this classic parkland amidst scenic countryside among North Hampshire rolling hills. Lined by mature trees, you also have to avoid a number of lakes and streams to conquer this Peter Alliss beauty.

The magnificent Old Thorns golf course winds its way through the verdant rolling hills of the estate and offers fantastic views at every turn. Mature trees, natural springs, lakes and testing bunkers give real character to the golf course which, while kind to the less experienced golfer, holds some surprises for the golfer who enjoys a challenging round. 

Old Thorns’ team of resident PGA professionals offers tuition on the driving range, chipping area, putting green or on the golf course itself. The PGA-approved pro shop stocks a wide range of golf merchandise and also hires out buggies, trolleys, graphite clubs and golf shoes.

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The magnificent Old Thorns golf course winds its way through the verdant rolling hills of the estate and offers fantastic views at every turn. Mature trees, natural springs, lakes and testing bunkers give real character to the golf course which, while kind to the less experienced golfer, holds some surprises for the golfer who enjoys a challenging round. Old Thorns’ team of resident PGA professionals offers tuition on the driving range, chipping area, putting green or on the golf course itself. The PGA-approved pro shop stocks a wide range of golf merchandise and also hires out buggies, trolleys, graphite clubs and golf shoes.

• Course has: Bar
• Course has: Buggy Hire
• Course has: 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 Great society venue 02 October 2015

  By Brian T

  Spread between trees of Hampshire , this course is situated in an area that contains many many other truly great courses and to be honest it would struggle to match up to many of those others, but it has been cultivated as a society course, and after many years of what seems like constant redevelopment it has a huge hotel and clubhouse/restaurant now, yet the course itself hasn't been redeveloped a lot at all. Which is a shame as for me it plays quite soggy after rain and could do with some drainage work to bring it up to scratch. Admittedly if you went along during a dry spell you wouldn't realise these shortcomings but after hitting yet another heavy sloppy wedge you will want something better next time you visit. The course it situated through the trees and wayward shots are penalised though you can get away with a lot because there are some many trees to bounce you back for my liking. Narrow tee areas make for not much variety if played often enough but the greens are usually up to a good standard, and the greens keeping doesn't cause any concern. The starting holes are good solid holes and set you up well for the round but it does become a little forgetful after that until you reach the manical 15 where a short approach can put the ball back at your feet, hit the wrong tier of the green and you may end up crying when you have to go 50 yards back down the slope onto the fairway again to collect your ball !! The 16th is a good par 3 but a little flick with the wedge is all that is required. Climbing the hill you have a great par 5 and then a dogleg to finish. One of the best sets of holes to finish a course I've played on!! You don't have to be a long hitter to enjoy the course, but putting yourself on the wrong side of some fairways can be troublesome for your approach shot.

• 4 out of 5 Great course worth playing 08 July 2015

  By Terry

  Enjoyed the course and the views of The countryside from the high tee positions. Fairway and greens in excellent condition. Only small moan was the bunker which if you were unlucky to go into were full of stones. The other point to be aware of is the green fees in the pro shop are not the same as the 2for1 corse guide.

• 4 out of 5 Some enjoyable golf 23 June 2015

  By Telboy

  Enjoyed the course even though we were asked to pay £60 for two ball using 2for1 instead of the £50 indicated in the 2for1 course guide. Only other slight complaint was amount of large stones in some bunkers. But then the idea is not to go in them.

• 2.5 out of 5 Needs some TLC 13 May 2010

  By Flash5

  A mixture of good holes and average to poor holes. Many poor tees (mats etc). Greens very pock marked and extremely bumpy. Saving grace is the landscape and amazing views. It is an enjoyable if hilly course but the poor greens make scoring difficult. The layout needs reviewing. Pro shop is some distance from the 1st tee and we never found the locker room.

• 2.5 out of 5 Good and bad 01 June 2009

  By r.britton@lineone.net

  Old Thorns pro shop are very unwelcoming. On top of this they 'accept' greenfree vouchers, but even though they quote you in 2 separate phone calls £25pp, they still insisted on charging us £30pp. We could have paid £30pp anyway as we happened to have booked a twilight tee time, without our greenfree voucher, but they insisted on taking it still. £5pp or a greenfree voucher isn't a huge amount - but the principle, and also their attitude was second to everyone! Having said that the course was very good.

• 4 out of 5 Superb golf venue! 27 August 2008

  By EdGreen

  We went here for our golf society this summer and absolutely loved it. The condition of the whole course was imaculate from tee to green. The greens were especially good, some like glass. The fairways looked and were superb especially for this time of year. Some cracking holes that make you think, namely the 5th, 15th, 16th, 17th. All in all a superb venue and definately worth a play, i will be returning again!

• 4 out of 5 Not long but accuracy required off the tee 20 April 2008

  By filthyc

  Check in at the pro shop where you'll find service for the driving range and direction to the putting green and 1st tee. Its like a game off chess at Old Thorns. You require good positioning off the tee on the 1st,3rd,5th,9th 11th and so on... A well kept course and manicured greens no matter what time of year. Take advantage of the views whilst teeing off on the 5th, before taking on the green. This green is guarded by water on the left and trees on the right. The 9th all up hill, always plays two clubs longer into the green. The green is guarded by a single bunker running the wideth of the fairway. The green itself slopes from back to front. So two puts here is good going. For me the best is saved to last, the 18th. A good PAR 4.A drive up the right will leave a long iron. Or take it up the left and you run the risk of blocking yourself out behind the trees. There are bunkers guarding the green front left and right. Again another two tiered green sloping back to front. A 5 here is a good score. There is no club house as such, but a small spike bar next to the restaurant, providing good service with a fine selection of food. All in all 4/5.