There I was told a little about the history of the Leckford Estate, how it came to be in existence, and of the many and varied things that made this village so special. Enough information to ensure that I would return to find out more and to sample the treats available there. The most interesting piece of news was that there was a golf course of some merit, and not only that, but that it had been designed by no other than Harry S Colt, the doyen of course architects.

The Leckford Estate, and the two golf courses, for in addition to the Old Course, there is a New Course, designed by Donald Steel and opened in 1989, are owned by the John Lewis Partnership. Employees, known as 'Partners', their spouses and dependants may play golf at Leckford, once they have been employed for three months.

The Old Course was opened in 1929, as a private course for Mr John Spedan Lewis, an early description of the course reads, 'as a test of golf the course ranks high - as high as any inland course in England' and I would proffer the opinion that the same is true to this day. It was called the Leckford and Longstock Golf Club, after the two villages that lie on either side of the lovely valley of the famous trout river

The Test. It is laid out on chalky downland, and climbs up the valley, toward a high down plateau, which has three good par fours before returning down to the clubhouse. The first two holes are unusual, as both are par fives. It was a maxim of Colt that the first hole should not have too much difficulty, but I not certain he applied that here. Bunkers await the opening drive, both right and left, and the fairway is flanked, by a magnificent stand of beech trees, that continue almost to the green.

The third is a striking hole, a classic par 3, the green is elevated, and well contoured and bunkered, my research rewarded with the names of two of the bunkers, the one below the bank at the right corner was called ?Underestimate? and the one above the green was 'The Chairmans Office', nomenclatures that sadly seem to have gone out of usage. The run of par fours, varying in length from 331 yards to 400 yards, are all good two shotters, with greens that need great care if three putting is not to be on the agenda.

It is a feature of the course that Colt used 'key' bunkering. A bunker situated on the approach line just short of the green, so careful club selection is demanded The finishing two holes are my favourites, the 8th from an elevated tee to a hole running parallel to the first, with the beeches standing sentry on the right, and having a magnetic pull down the sloping fairway. The green is long and narrow and well bunkered, sitting tightly into the hillside, it will be a well earned par here.

The finishing hole is a par three, back to the clubhouse. A downhill shot to a large but very well bunkered green, with the cosy little clubhouse looking down on it, and the beautiful thatched cottage sat majestically behind it, a superb picture and a tough finishing hole. A demanding standard scratch of 72, when the course is played twice, and a double treat to play, kept in very fine condition by course manager John Wood.

The New Course is a little way down the road, nearer to the village. It is set high on the downland plateau, in forty five acres and overlooks the Old Course and the River Test from the lower parts of the course. The scenery is spectacular in every direction, and on a sunny spring day, it would be impossible not to spend a few moments just gazing in admiration.

Once again it is nine holes, but more suited to the less experienced golfer, with three par threes and six par fours. It is ideal for sharpening the short game, for good driving will leave short iron approaches to smallish greens.

The John Spedan Lewis Trust is for the advancement of the Natural Sciences, Lewis was the founder of the partnership, and an enthusiastic naturalist and when he retired in 1955, the fund was established to encourage these activities with nature reserves and eventually study centres, with laboratory facilities.

The Estate has many important facets, Leckford Farm produces arable crops, and also supplies milk, apples, pears, apple juice, cider, free range eggs, chickens and mushrooms to Waitrose branches. In addition to the Longstock Park Nursery there are the renowned Longstock Park Water Gardens. They were voted 'the finest water garden in the world' by the International Water Lily Society.

The extensive water garden was created by Lewis in the 1940's as a place to reflect and work. There is a spectacular collection of plants, with over forty varieties of water lily, and covers seven acres, including two and a half acres of lakes, which are fed by the River Test, with a maze of interconnecting islands, and woodland glades. The gardens, which attract visitors from all over the world are open to the public on the first and third Sunday each month, an event for the diary.

My inquisitive nature, stimulated by green doors, has in the following years, yielded many enjoyable rewarding visits, to the golf courses and the other attractions of Leckford. The golf club that was for a long time considered very private and exclusive, is in fact open to visitors and societies, and non employees can apply for golf club membership.

The website is www.leckfordgolfcourse.co.uk and full details of the course are contained there. Information about the other attractions, including The Leckford Festival can be found on the Waitrose website. Leckford is a fascinating village, with an abundance of treats just waiting to be discovered.