Old Thorns (Golf Course)

The old thorns golf course is situated at the Old Thorns Manor Hotel. All 36 holes of the old thorns golf course were designed by David Newman – they lie in a beautiful stretch of countryside on the flood plain of the river dopey and blend in seamlessly with their surroundings. Three nine-hole courses, the firs, elms and pines, can be played individually or collectively as an 18-hole championship layout. Long and challenging, with holes ranging from 525 yards to over 700 yards, the course will test all levels of golfer.

In the mid-1970s, commander john harris drew up designs for an 18-hole course, but due to his passing, the project was passed over to peter alliss and dave thomas, a design team who had recently developed the lansdowne course at blairgowrie and the brabazon course at the belfry.

Ken wood's presence was such that in 1982, the year after old thorns was finished, he was able to gather a foursome consisting of bill rogers (current open champion), seve ballesteros (masters champion two years prior), jack nicklaus (us open champion in 1980), and isao ioki (runner-up to the golden bear in the us open two years prior) to mark the official opening of the course.