South Luffenham, Rutland, United Kingdom
Luffenham Heath Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-70 heathland course measuring 6,563 yards from the back tees, located near South Luffenham in Rutland — England's smallest county. Founded in 1911, the course carries one of the more distinguished design pedigrees in English inland golf. The original layout was sketched by Harry Colt and C.H. Alison, before James Braid made substantial revisions between the wars, leaving his signature cross bunkering, grassy wastes, and subtly contoured greens throughout. C.K. Cotton and Donald Steel made further modifications, and a major renovation was completed in 2004 under Martin Hawtree, adding new tees, deepening bunkers, and extending the course to its current length. The entire site is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The course sits on elevated, undulating common land and routes holes in constantly changing directions, meaning the prevailing wind rarely plays the same way twice. Firm, fast fairways lined with hawthorn, gorse, oak, and pine demand accurate driving, as the thick rough offers little prospect of holding greens from wayward lies. The layout is notable for the quality of its par-4s, most of which bend and dogleg through the terrain. Notable holes include the 7th, with an approach over gorse to a fiercely bunkered elevated green, and the par-3 17th — the signature hole — a downhill one-shotter of 201 yards through mounds and bunkers that typically plays into the prevailing wind. Luffenham Heath served as an Open Championship Regional Qualifier for the 2013 Open at Muirfield and ranks consistently among the top courses in England.
