At the turn of the last century there were no such restrictions, and golf links were laid out on the poorest ground, that which often had no other valid use, and they built them and adapted to whatever conditions were found. There was no heavy moving of the earth, and the venue became the course. What a delight it turned out to be. So different, that it was a fascination to play each hole, and in the course of doing so, continually be amazed at the imagination required to make it exist.

On December the 1st 1891, an advert appeared in 'The Painswick Annual Register' which invited Ladies & Gentlement to join the Painswick Golf Club, the prospectus said that ' it is a good sporting golf course laid out on Painswick Common'. It had been laid out by David Brown of the Malvern Golf Club. Subscription rates were one pound for Gentlemen and Ten shillings for Ladies and The Royal William inn was the first clubhouse. The alternative name for the site is Castle Godwin, because Earl Godwin of Wessex camped here with his forces in 1052 AD, when he was the most powerful man in England and in conflict with King Edward the Confessor.

The course is laid out, it could never have been constructed, on Painswick Beacon, which is the site of a Bronze Age hill fort, one of a string that lie across the Cotswolds and are over three thousand years old. The great ramparts come into play and enclose all or part of the 5th,6th,7th,10th and 11th holes. It rises some 900 feet above sea level, and it ensures that no two holes are alike on this course. The 5th is unique, a delightful par 3 from below the ramparts into the fort to a little punchbowl green, just 114 yards, aim at the marker post and hope that the choice of club is right.

There is a wonderful quote in the handbook, I have never read a more succinct and valid comment, I have written it large in my diary.

'It is not claimed that a panorama of perennially beautiful and charming views, both near and distant, and an air of unsurpassed purity and tonic quality, constitute in themselves a golf course. But surely there breathes no man with soul so dead as to be uninfluenced by these things, which undoubtedly do conspire to enhance the pleasure, the profit and the zest with which the fascinating game can be pursued.'

The first holes climb up the hill, over the far side, then climb back up again and back down to the clubhouse. On the return journey it meanders over country lanes, to the amazement of golfers and drivers alike, though to be fair most traffic is local, and so accustomed to the vagaries of the scene. The course is not a long one, but there are special difficulties, narrow fairways, changes in elevation, and adjacent to some holes lie extinct quarries lying in wait for the wayward drive. Should you happen to hook or slice into one of these ball graveyards, remember that a Gloucester church was built out of it, and restrain your language.

The names of the holes convey it's origins, with Attack, Battlefield, Castle, Portway, Ramparts, Postern, Barbican, Traitors Gate, Gallows and the 17th perhaps the most telling, it is called Graveyard.

The tactician will be in his element, for at a mere 4831 yards and a par of 67, it is a real test. It is rare to find par 3?s longer than par 4?s, and there are two occasions here, the uphill 1st and the dogleg 11th are shorter the 12th. The standard scratch is 63, so to play to handicap is a challenge.

Length will reward little without pinpoint accuracy, the two par 5's are both less than 500 yards, but will take some hitting in two. The greens are tiny and sculpted in hollows, with the exception of the 6th. It was unanimously agreed that this is a superb par three, at 215 yards it would grace any golf course, it could even blend into a seaside links environment, with the humps and hollows in front and the undulations of the surface. A truly classic golf hole.

After the round it is difficult to stop the reminiscing at the golfing experience recently enjoyed, each player has a favourite, but the welcome and the refreshment in the clubhouse means that there will be a longer stay than planned before the journey home. A marvellous day out, and certainly one for the memory banks. If you enjoy something a little unusual, you will be enchanted and rewarded by Painswick.

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