Royal West Norfolk Golf Club Brancaster Review

Situated on the North Norfolk coastline, Royal West Norfolk Golf Club - or 'Brancaster' as it is often fondly referred to - is a outstanding traditional links course in every sense. 

The course was originally laid out by Holcombe Ingleby and Horace Hutchinson (who twice won the Amateur Championship) in 1892 - with the latter going on to become the club first captain. 

Over the years, there has been very little alteration to the original 'out and back' layout and many of the original holes are still played the same today. 

Four members of the Royal Family have captained the club over the years, the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of Windsor and two Dukes of Kent, and the club was granted Royal status fairly early in its prestigious history when King Edward VII accepted an invitation to become the club Patron. 

Sitting between marshland flanked by the villages of Brancaster and Brancaster Staithe to the south and the North Sea on the other side, there is only a narrow strip of dunes to protect the course from the stunning Brancaster Beach and the North Sea. 

Tides play their role in everyday life at Brancaster, with the access road flooded during high tide and the 8th and 9th holes collect rather impressive water hazards during this time too. 

Pre-Round Thoughts

I received an extremely warm welcome in the professional shop. It's a lovely quaint shop stocked with everything needed - plus more. You will be forgiven for thinking that a venue of such tradition and prestige would still posses somewhat of a 'stuffy' feel to it, but this couldn't be further from the truth. In fact all members of staff were friendly and welcoming. 

Small buckets of balls are available to hit off the grass driving range accompanied by a chipping green and practice bunker, with a small putting green sat just by the first tee. 

The short walk from the pro shop and clubhouse takes you over the sandy walkway down to the beach and towards the gate to the course - which has become somewhat iconic for those that know about Brancaster. 

Front 9 Overview

As mentioned, this is a traditional links style 'out and back' course, the front 9 gets underway from just right of the 18th green. 

My initial thoughts here actually took me to The Old Course at St Andrews in the sense that the 1st and 18th share a fairway (albeit, not as wide) leaving a fairly inviting opening tee shot to a hole that plays a little over 400 yards. 

A couple of pot bunkers to the right of the short narrow green makes the approach shot a little trickier, but with two well struck shots, a par start is definitely on the cards. 

The 4th is a stunning par 3 around 130 yards, but may play longer depending on the wind direction. 

The green is raised with sleepers running around the front edge and three pot bunkers - which can only be described as nasty looking - waiting to catch anything short. The is bowl shaped meaning the bottom of the flag isn't visible from the tee, meaning a good shot hit on-line with the flag may have you marching towards the green with anticipation. 

You face another classic old school style hole at the 5th, which is a par 4 with a blind tee shot onto the fairway which sits some way above the tee. A deep bunker that sits at the bottom of the front of the fairway (although you can't see the fairway from the tee) is a great line, but longer hitters may want to go right of this (and the marker post) as the fairway moves from left to right, but also slopes slightly from right to left. Find the fairway here, and there isn't too much trouble to negotiate from there. 

Back to back par 5s come at 7 and 8 - with the latter perhaps being one of the signature holes at Brancaster. 

The tee shot requires precision as the fairway, whilst straight in direction, runs from bottom left to top right (if you were looking at it from above). Either side of this fairway is marsh area, which fills with sea water when the tide is in giving another great dimension to the hole. 

The further left you go from the tee, the more chance of running out of fairway, the further right you go, the longer the carry over the first marsh area. 

If you do find yourself in the fairway, the second - and perhaps third - shot is another carry over the second section of marsh area into the fairly sizeable and generous green. 

As a hole, it plays less than 500 yards on the card, but you can make this hole much harder given the hazards littered all around. A classic.

There is a similar theme to end the front 9 on the 9th hole. Tee shot over the marshy area (the section you hit your approach shot on the 8th over) but this time a 400 yard par 4 is the challenge. A bit more room off the tee, but playing into a smaller putting surface, sat raised slightly surrounded by sleepers once again, the last section of marsh area to cover on your approach is also doubly daunting when the tide is in. It's a great way to end a incredible front 9. 

Back 9 Overview

A great scoring chance meets you at the par 5 11th hole. Even off the white tee, at 476 yards it might be reachable for a few, especially if the wind is helping. However, as with most of the back 9 heading back, the hole runs adjacent with the large dunes separating the course with the North Sea, so anything hit out to the right will find some trouble. 

There are some well placed fairway bunkers around 125 yards out which will need to be navigated for those selecting to play this as a three-shot hole, but the green is reachable with two well hits shots 

The 13th is the shortest par 4 on the course at just over 300 yards. From a raised tee box playing out towards the sea, if you get wind behind then bigger hitters may just fancy a pop at this green. 

But the safe play may be a three wood or long iron off the tee, as the fairway doglegs pretty much 90 degrees to the right and runs out around 260 yards. From the tee, the greenside bunker, which sits front right of the green, is only a 264 yard carry, so don't be afraid to open those shoulders and give it a crack, you just never know the bounce you might get. A great risk reward hole. 

I really enjoyed the par 3 15th hole - the longest par 3 on the course. 

180 yards from the yellow tee, there is the largest looking fairway bunker that are synonymous with great links courses to hit over, however there is some 30 yards between the back of the bunker and the front of the green. Wind direction will also play a factor here, especially if it is a cross wind going out to the sea. 

Some stunning views of Brancaster Beach and the North Sea greet you on the 16th tee, and it's a good birdie chance with a well hit tee shot at only 330 yards from an elevated position, while the approach is into a raised green with a steep bank meaning that anything short may roll back down a considerable way. 

A great end to a brilliant experience on the 18th, A mid length par 4 of around 360-380 yards depending on your tee choice, but this hole is all about the approach shot. 

The daunting bunker which runs around the entire front of the green (you will notice this when playing the 1st hole) gets you thinking about which part of the green to aim at and which club you hit, also all depending on what angle you are coming in from. 

If you hit the green and walk away with a par you will skip back through the gate with a fitting end to what can only be described as a perfect round of golf.  

Post-Round Thoughts

Royal West Norfolk, or Brancaster, is a pure links delight that offers everything you could ask for and more. 

The mix of wide fairways, meandering bunkers, undulating greens and stunning vistas should tick every box throughout the round of golf. 

Being as close to the sea as it is, it's a well draining course that is playable all year round and in superb condition. The combination of tight fairway lies but some sandy ones too, especially on the back 9 if the wind has picked up, will test all your golfing attributes. 

As a two-ball (or foursomes) course, play here is quick. No more than three hours in fact but you never feel like you are rushing around. Select your tees accordingly to ability and it will only increase the enjoyment factor giving some of the carries on some holes. 

When finished, enjoy a drink or bite to eat in the time honoured 'smoke room' where staff and members alike are happy to spend some time speaking about your experience as the fire burns in the corner. The traditional style wooden changing rooms are now twinned with some recently upgrade modernised shower and toilet facilities which the club have had refurbished within the past year. 

Royal West Norfolk is the jewel in the Norfolk crown, and a venue that should be on everyone's list to go play, even if it's just the once. I can see why is it Highly Recommended by so many Golfshake users. 

Verdict

To summarise, Royal West Norfolk is golf as it was, golf as it is and golf as it will be for many more years to come. 

Visitors are more than welcome all year round (apart from August) and I have been assured that whilst they keep the course 'busy by control' they will do all they can to get visiting golfers out on the course - just visit the website and email the secretary. Some great winter green fee offers are also available. 

If you are visiting, it may also be worth checking out the The Dormy Flat - a self contained first floor flat above the clubhouse that features two twin bedrooms - that is available to visitors during the course of the year. With a well-appointed kitchen diner and some incredible views over the course and the beach, it's a great spot to base yourself for a mini golf break. 

Overall Rating - 10

Course (Conditions) - 10

Course (Hole Variety/Layout) - 10

Course (Green Condition) - 10

Course (Challenge/Difficulty) - 9

Club Facilities & Clubhouse - 9

Practice Facilities - 8

Friendliness/Hospitality - 10

Pace of Play - 10

Value For Money - 9