Halifax Bradley Hall

The Club was founded in 1907 and clubhouse is in the former Hall that was once the residence of Lord Mexborough. Scenic views can be enjoyed from here as the course extends over its 60 acres.

Halifax Bradley Hall has a proven reputation of having the best greens in the area. They are slick and true for most of the year and extremely tricky to putt on if you don't know all their subtleties.

The front nine of this par 70 course is generally considered the more difficult of the two loops. The hardest hole on the course certainly comes on the outward half in the form of the seventh; a long and uphill par four with a tight, tree-lined fairway and a raised green that is hard to find. And even once you are on the putting surface you better be below the hole otherwise a two-putt is no guarantee.

Much of the front nine is played on a hillside so you are often faced with a hanging lie or the ball above your feet. The green complexes at the third and fourth make particularly good use of the land and these are the best approach shots on the course.

The inward half starts with a run of six par fours. The first three are quite short before you have to play over a large ravine with your second shot at the 13th. The next few holes are a bit 'up and down' although the par five 16th has a lot going on and has a lovely green in the bottom corner of the property.

At over 6,138 yards from the back tees on paper the course looks fairly easy, and there are several short par fours where birdie chances may present themselves, but the greens make you work for your pars.

The short holes must also be played well if you are to beat your handicap. The second has a huge two-tiered green whilst the fourth can play very long into a wind and the ninth is no pushover either with a green partially hidden. Another severe two-tiered green can be found at the last where many a round has been ruined.

Bradley Hall isn't championship standard golf but the greens are usually a very good test of your short game.

My most recent visit here was in August 2015 when, after a deluige of rain the previous day, the course played much softer and with the non-prevailing wind blowing it was nice experience the course in differing circumstances to the norm.