• Most challenging golf course within 20 miles of Burnley...

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 12:43 pm**

Lots of excellent golf courses within 20 miles of Burnley but for me our own ‘Burnley Golf Club’ (Glen View Rd) is the most interesting/challenging. Blind tee shots, ravine like stream hazards combined with varied and quite extreme terrain make a low score extremely challenging.

Pick a day with a good weather forecast though!

p.s. I am not a member of any golf club and play numerous local courses as a (keen but extremely average) visitor.

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 12:52 pm**

Nelson can be tough due to the wind, and very fast, small greens..

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 12:59 pm**

They’re are some tough courses, within 20 miles of Burnley. Clitheroe, pleasington spring to mind, I do think that Burnley is tough the first few times you play it. But once you know the lines to hit off the tee on the blind shots, it becomes a tad easier.
Having said that, there can’t be many tougher tracks in inclement weather, especially if it’s windy

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 1:11 pm**

With the new World Handicap System that’s come into force at the beginning of November, each course has been allocated a Slope Rating. This makes it easy to compare course difficulty. Burnley’s slope rating is 135 off white tees, and 126 off yellow tees.
In comparison Nelson is 126 whites and 122 yellows

The higher the number, the more difficult

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 1:46 pm**

Tough but not really that enjoyable...Burnley GC.

Drive a bit further than 20 miles if you want tough ! Try Fleetwood on a windy day. Or Fairhaven. I've not played it and it is 2 hours away...but Silloth is supposed to be tough...but an amazing course

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 1:55 pm**

Heaton Park always had a reputation as a tough course - played it years ago on a windy wet day and it was pretty horrible. Wasn’t a nice looking course either.
Burnley is tough as said - lots of blind holes and if the wind is blowing like it often is it’s hard.
Clitheroe is long.
Colne is pretty tough - played there a number of times and tricky little course especially when ground is wet and ball not carrying.

Hopefully we get some dry days in the next few weeks - can’t wait to back playing.

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 2:00 pm**

TVC15 wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 1:55 pm
Burnley is tough as said - lots of blind holes and if the wind is blowing like it often is it’s hard.

I'm not a golfer but knowing where Burnley GC is I can only imagine how bad the wind can get across that course.

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 2:46 pm**

Barely outside your radius (as the crow flies) Manchester GC (Hopwood) can be a real brute!

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 2:50 pm**

Burnley is tough because it’s dreadful. Who ever thought shoving a golf course up there was an idiot. It’s terrible.

Mytton fold is tough

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 2:54 pm**

Great Harwood is a tricky little 9 holer. Feels quite long and small greens to hit. I'd say Nelson is as easy a golf course as you're likely to find. A 10 handicap up there would probably be about a 15 at Burnley.

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 3:03 pm**

ive played glen view hundreds of times, as a member, not really a long course, at under 6000 yards, but tough and feels a lot longer when windy and wet. Play it in summer with no wind and half the holes are drive and a short iron. Darwen another course very high up and can get very blustery

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 3:32 pm**

Marney&Mee wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 1:46 pm
Tough but not really that enjoyable...Burnley GC.

Drive a bit further than 20 miles if you want tough ! Try Fleetwood on a windy day. Or Fairhaven. I've not played it and it is 2 hours away...but Silloth is supposed to be tough...but an amazing course

Fleetwood not amazing but ok for winter golf, usually on all fairways and greens, and cheap opens during the winter. Really enjoy Fairhaven, you can’t really go wrong for golf Down that coast, hillside, west lancs, Formby, Birkdale Saint Anne’s old links, ainsdale!
I played Silloth last year, hope to play it next year aswell, fantastic course

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:22 pm**

Bigvince wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 3:32 pm
Fleetwood not amazing but ok for winter golf, usually on all fairways and greens, and cheap opens during the winter. Really enjoy Fairhaven, you can’t really go wrong for golf Down that coast, hillside, west lancs, Formby, Birkdale Saint Anne’s old links, ainsdale!
I played Silloth last year, hope to play it next year aswell, fantastic course

I keep meaning to get up to Silloth, hopefully this summer now! Is it worth the drive?

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:32 pm**

Marney&Mee wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 1:46 pm
Tough but not really that enjoyable...Burnley GC.

Drive a bit further than 20 miles if you want tough ! Try Fleetwood on a windy day. Or Fairhaven. I've not played it and it is 2 hours away...but Silloth is supposed to be tough...but an amazing course

Was at Silloth a few months back, cracking little course, and a belting run on the beach that runs down the side of the course.

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:33 pm**

jrgbfc wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:22 pm
I keep meaning to get up to Silloth, hopefully this summer now! Is it worth the drive?

Well worth the drive, we played in a team open, had a great day

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:35 pm**

jrgbfc wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:22 pm
I keep meaning to get up to Silloth, hopefully this summer now! Is it worth the drive?

Yeah, it’s a nice drive as well tbf, we stopped for lunch in Kendle to break the journey up as we stopped up for 4 nights

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:55 pm**

Turton Golf Course is one of my favourites. Again it’s on the side of a hill so weather very much a factor. Some beautiful well thought out holes though

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 5:11 pm**

TVC15 wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 1:55 pm
Heaton Park always had a reputation as a tough course - played it years ago on a windy wet day and it was pretty horrible. Wasn’t a nice looking course either.
Burnley is tough as said - lots of blind holes and if the wind is blowing like it often is it’s hard.
Clitheroe is long.
Colne is pretty tough - played there a number of times and tricky little course especially when ground is wet and ball not carrying.

Hopefully we get some dry days in the next few weeks - can’t wait to back playing.

Heaton Park came to my mind as well. I also played it on a miserable day which doesn't help.

I only ever played there once when I was a kid, but Bingley St Ives was a tough slog.

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 9:21 pm**

I used to play Heaton Park a couple of times a week back in the early 80's........it's tough!
The pint in the 3 Arrows after made it worthwile though.

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 9:51 pm**

Birchwood nr Warrington is a toughie especially of the back Black Tees.
Can be a bit mushy in winter though.
A real varied test and long from the back.
Worth the slightly longer drive to get there. Friendly Club.

Really like both Nelson and Burnley.
Clitheroe never scored higher than my handicap there, always shot under.
Heaton Park is short but has it's challenges but can take ages to play a round

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 9:55 pm**

Marsden Park

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 9:55 pm**

Inchy wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 2:50 pm
Burnley is tough because it’s dreadful. Who ever thought shoving a golf course up there was an idiot. It’s terrible.

Mytton fold is tough

Mytton fold is tough And is also dreadful

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 10:06 pm**

Longsider wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 9:55 pm
Marsden Park

Started playing golf up marsden many years ago, wouldn’t say it’s tough, front 9 quite easy, holes 10, 16 and 17 probably the toughest holes.
Bottom end of back 9 can be a bit boggy in the winter

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 10:16 pm**

Bigvince wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 10:06 pm
Started playing golf up marsden many years ago, wouldn’t say it’s tough, front 9 quite easy, holes 10, 16 and 17 probably the toughest holes.
Bottom end of back 9 can be a bit boggy in the winter

Yes, me too. Used to nip on for a couple of free holes as a young lad from the back of my mates house that backed on to the back 9. I'm sure the rumour at the time was that the back 9 doesn't drain because it was designed and built over a refuse area, so a lot of it sirs on plastic refuse sacks.

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 10:38 pm**

Any, when you’re as useless at golf as I am.

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 10:56 pm**

Longridge!

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 10:59 pm**

The back 9 up Marsden can be wet in summer never mind winter. Personally if I were running it I'd be looking to sell the land if possible and put the money into making it a really good 9 hole course.

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 11:21 pm**

Mount Skip above Hebden Bridge. Undulating and exposed to wind.

Posted: **Fri Nov 27, 2020 11:38 pm**

The putting green at Sough Park sorts the wheat from the chaff.

Craig Stadler used to practice there before the Masters.

Posted: **Sat Nov 28, 2020 6:02 pm**

I can't remember the name but the course in Blackpool with the Windmill on the 6th was always the most difficult for me, I was broken every time I came off that hole, the kids got to know it and laughed so much, so I swallowed my pride.

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:28 pm**

Just noticed that Marsden and Towneley have arranged a deal with Marland and Heaton Park that season ticket holders can play all 4 courses for free.

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:43 pm**

Mytton Fold at Whalley is challenging due to the length. There are lots of par 5 holes both up hill and down hill. Lovely views too.

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:59 pm**

Steddyman wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:43 pm
Mytton Fold at Whalley is challenging due to the length. There are lots of par 5 holes both up hill and down hill. Lovely views too.

I hated Mytton Fold tbh. Just found it really boring, every hole just seemed to be either straight up or straight down.

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 3:05 pm**

Steddyman wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:43 pm
Mytton Fold at Whalley is challenging due to the length. There are lots of par 5 holes both up hill and down hill. Lovely views too.

Mytton fold cannot be described as a long course, being only 5860 yards long, the only thing challenging about it, is walking up and down hill constantly

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 3:35 pm**

jrgbfc wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:28 pm
Just noticed that Marsden and Towneley have arranged a deal with Marland and Heaton Park that season ticket holders can play all 4 courses for free.

Seems a good partnership this. Good courses quite local if you ever fancied a change. Only available to 7 day members though, which is a shame for me as I'm only 5 day

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 3:42 pm**

Taffy on the wing wrote: ↑
Fri Nov 27, 2020 9:21 pm
I used to play Heaton Park a couple of times a week back in the early 80's........it's tough!
The pint in the 3 Arrows after made it worthwile though.

I agree on Heaton Park too. I recall there is a long par 3 on the back 9 where you have to hit across a valley of bushes onto a hill. It requires a good whack in any case, but if you over hit it then you just fly straight over the other side into more bushes. Definitely a hole for dropping plenty of shots and losing plenty of balls!

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 3:51 pm**

Mytton Fold and Marsden Park aren't great golf courses. Last time I played Mytton Fold (in the height of summer) it was in dreadful conditions - you needed a lofted club to putt with on those greens! Locally, Burnley, Nelson and Accrington are very good. Well kept with some good looking holes and stunning views.

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 3:52 pm**

jrgbfc wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:28 pm
Just noticed that Marsden and Towneley have arranged a deal with Marland and Heaton Park that season ticket holders can play all 4 courses for free.

Not free.......costs £399!!! But it's still a decent deal for some affordable golf and a bit of variety - even if you just played Towneley and Heaton Park (easily the 2 better courses in this deal).

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 4:31 pm**

jrgbfc wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 02, 2020 2:59 pm
I hated Mytton Fold tbh. Just found it really boring, every hole just seemed to be either straight up or straight down.

When I first started playing golf aged 12 it at was mytton fold

The 600 yard par 5 is hard work however great fun going down it in a buggy when you take the speed limiter off. One ended up in a lake

Posted: **Wed Dec 02, 2020 4:40 pm**

Inchy wrote: ↑
Wed Dec 02, 2020 4:31 pm
When I first started playing golf aged 12 it at was mytton fold

The 600 yard par 5 is hard work however great fun going down it in a buggy when you take the speed limiter off. One ended up in a lake

I've only played it the once, and not realising just how hilly it was I didn't bother with a buggy. Probably why I didn't enjoy it very much

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 5:55 am**

I've never played golf but my more dodgy students used to bunk off to go caddying at £25 a round at Wentworth, so I took a keen interest in the weather as it meant a 5 pupil class. Their favourite player to caddy for was Sean Connery as he told them he'd had to graft in his youth and paid them extra.

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 9:39 am**

Skipton?

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 9:40 am**

Bury, Stand and Whitefield are just about in your radius - three mature parkland courses that are worth a look!

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:56 pm**

LoveCurryPies wrote: ↑
Thu Dec 03, 2020 9:39 am
Skipton?

I wouldn't say Skipton is overly challenging. I found Keighley quite tough, seemed pretty long and was wet when I played it which didn't help.

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 3:25 pm**

I prefer to play a variety of courses rather than become a member of any particular one.

Burnley (18 holes)
Towneley (18)
Marsden Park (18)
Todmorden (9x2)
Great Harwood (9x2)
Rishton (9x2)
Whalley (9x2)

Are all enjoyable to play (social golf*), reasonably priced and easy to book online as a visitor.

social golf* = you’re allowed to laugh out loud when appalling shots are executed (by yourself or your opponents)

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 3:34 pm**

Best I've played is Shrigley, over Stockport way.
Most challenging has to be Green Howarth.

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 3:40 pm**

I am a member at wetherby lovely course but big problem too many weeds fans coming out of the rough now they are in the premiership.
also weeds manager lives in wetherby still cannot speak english .nightmare living in yorkshire at present

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 4:38 pm**

Spoilt for choice where I live with a mix of courses varying in price, condition and difficulty. Within 10-15 mins drive I have, Horseforth, Headingley, Cookridge, Moortown, Alwoodley, Sand Moor, Wyke, Leeds and Moor Allerton plus a few cheap and easy beginner courses

Heading back across to Burnley my favourite courses are Shipley, Hollins Hall and Bingley St Ives which is one hell of a challenge on a windy day

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 5:02 pm**

Devils_Advocate wrote: ↑
Thu Dec 03, 2020 4:38 pm
Spoilt for choice where I live with a mix of courses varying in price, condition and difficulty. Within 10-15 mins drive I have, Horseforth, Headingley, Cookridge, Moortown, Alwoodley, Sand Moor, Wyke, Leeds and Moor Allerton plus a few cheap and easy beginner courses

Heading back across to Burnley my favourite courses are Shipley, Hollins Hall and Bingley St Ives which is one hell of a challenge on a windy day

Played most of those. Think Alwoodley is up there as one of the best courses I've played.

Posted: **Thu Dec 03, 2020 6:13 pm**

Hillside end of debate, it would replace Latham st Anne’s on the open if it could manage the crowds. Widely acknowledged as an outstanding challenging golf course,

Hardest I ever played was Carnoustie after the open many years ago with the rough still unbelievable, thick enough to almost break your wrists

Most challenging golf course within 20 miles of Burnley...

Most challenging golf course within 20 miles of Burnley...

Re: Most challenging golf course within 20 miles of Burnley...

Re: Most challenging golf course within 20 miles of Burnley...

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Re: Most challenging golf course within 20 miles of Burnley...

Re: Most challenging golf course within 20 miles of Burnley...

Re: Most challenging golf course within 20 miles of Burnley...

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