Penrith Golf Club Review

Review by Golfshake Ambassador Matt Holbrook

Situated between the picturesque Eden Valley and the renowned Lake District, Penrith Golf Club offers members and visitors alike the chance to experience golf with some of the best views the UK has to offer.

Pre-round Thoughts

Following a friendly chat with the pro Andrew, who gave the low down on the holes and what to expect and areas of the course to look out for, I felt a sense of excitement as I made my way to the first tee, turning round to take in the stunning scenery once again.

The Course

Par 3s

With five offerings of par 3's the back to back 9th and 10th really do stick out as you play back down towards the bottom of the valley.

The conditions, mainly the wind that can blow back up the valley off the lakes, will play a major factor in terms of club choice.

Where the 9th has length the 10th offers a different challenge in terms of the small, bunker guarded raised green with the backdrop of the valley and mountains in the distance.

Par 4s

A nice mixture of long and short par 4s is always welcome for golfers of all abilities. Playing up and down the valley the 5th to the 8th ranging from 463 yards to 362 yards can either make or break a good start. But regardless of scores make sure you take time to stop and take in the views from the 6th and 8th tee boxes.

I loved the 11th. From the tee you can see no fairway or green, just your marker post which you will have to trust. But again, the snow topped mountains in the distance is the only thing that grabs your attention.

Par 5s

As a par 69 Penrith only offers 2 par 5's which both feature in the last 4 holes helping towards a challenging finish.

The 18th, running adjacent to the road which is out of bounds, is attackable for the big hitters leaving a birdie the perfect way to end what is a wonderful experience and will have you back for more!

Post-round Thoughts

Its not very often you would reach for your camera before your scorecards after a round, but Penrith is one of them.
Having visited the course at the end of February and after a really tough winter with lots of publicised flooding, the course was in excellent condition and had drained very well. Due to the location it would be worth checking ahead as if there has been lots of heavy weather temporary greens may be in use, but if your visiting the area I wouldn't let this put you off.

I also loved the fact that the club were clearly doing some improvement work in one or two areas (not effecting the round) which for a course that has been around for as long as Penrith its great to see.

There are two sides to the course, either side of the road, and for me one side (5th to 12th) offered more of the views and scenery and the other holes were more secluded and tight but this is my opinion and you should make your own mind up.

Verdict

If you are visiting the Lake District then put Penrith on your list. Come rain or shine, summer or winter, Penrith can be testing and enjoyable all at the same time for any golfer of any level. Rated 8 out of 10.