A spring chicken in relative terms having only been opened in 1990, Collingtree Park Golf Club has swiftly developed into one of the leading courses in Northamptonshire.

Situated a short chip from the M1 motorway, making it easily accessible from all four corners of the country, Collingtree was designed by Johnny Miller, the former Open and US Open champion and offers a good test.

The 6908-yard (at its longest) par 72 has hosted European Tour and European Seniors Tour events and has been conquered by such illustrious names as Neil Coles, Tommy Horton, Sam Torrance and Robert Allenby, the latter two having won the British Masters European Tour event when it was staged in 1995 and 1996.

It is the closing par-5 for which Collingtree Park is most noted. The island green that awaits at the end of the final hole completes a crescendo that has built up over the previous 17 holes, which include water and out of bounds a plenty, strategically placed bunkers and some large, tricky greens.

The first sign of water awaits on the 531-yard par-5 4^th and it continues onto a lovely 179-yard par-3 5^th where club selection is crucial with a lake in front and a stream and out of bounds at the back.

A giant sloping green on the 166-yard par-3 8^th will test even the best of putters, while the 512-yard par-5 ninth is a peach with the green reachable in two but not without a significant amount of danger.

Take enough club with your second on the 400-yard par-4 11^th as the lake is a magnet, as is the case on the short par-3 12^th. If that’s not enough, it’s onto the hardest hole on the course with the par-4 13^th playing all of 463 yards.

A bit of respite awaits before the 543-yard par-5 18^th, which provides a memorable end to the round with water running down the left as well as around the island green. Only  the bravest will consider taking it on in two, but it can be a card-wrecker even if you lay up.

Collingtree Park Golf Club

Par: 72

Yards: 6908 yards (Blue), 6776 yards (White), 6277 yards (Yellow), 5616 yards (Red).

Picture Credit: Collingtree Park / Twitter

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