Dartmouth (Championship)

Dartmouth golf and country club is a fun and laid-back destination in the spacious south hams of devon. The ancient town of dartmouth, cut into the banks of the river dart, is four miles north, with breathtaking views of the estuary. The Medieval town is well worth a visit, with small streets lined with restaurants and stores.

The championship course, which is set in 225 acres of rolling, often hilly terrain, first opened for play in 1992. Dartmouth was designed by british golf course architect jeremy pern, and many consider it to be one of his finest works. Pern is now based in france and has constructed several courses throughout continental europe, including the wadi course at the emirates golf club in dubai, which has been renamed the faldo course after a 2006 re-make by the six-time major winner.

The dartmouth championship course has a few exciting holes that make imaginative use of the undulating terrain. There's a lot of water on this course, and the tee shots are rough and long. The first two holes ease you in, but the third, a spectacular drop par three, is where the action truly starts. The prospect is overwhelming from the elevated tee – the tee shot must bring over a lake (some 60 feet below the tee) to a 50-yard-long green – three-putting is popular here.

The 4th, the course's most difficult hole, adds to the suspense. A stream runs along the left side of this snaking par five, which measures 533 yards from the back tees, and a steep bank and a rock face stretch to the lane, with out-of-bounds hidden beyond. A precise approach shot is expected to a green that is well covered to the left by two ponds and to the right by trees and shrubs. The game ends with a par three that measures 244 yards from the back green. Again, the forced carry is over water, so a par would sound like a birdie here.