Hollinwell Golf Course: Review, Green Fees, Tee Times and Key Info

The very fine routing at Hollinwell Golf Course has some delightful changes in elevation and many exceptional holes over a vast and very attractive heathland

Hollinwell - Hole 13
(Image credit: Geoff Ellis - golfworking.co.uk)

Hollinwell Key Information

Top 100 Courses UK & Ireland 2023/24

(Image credit: Future)
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AddressDerby Road, Kirkby in Ashfield, Nottingham, NG17 7QR
Phone01623 753225
Websitehollinwell.co.uk
Email manager@hollinwell.co.uk
GFs£175 in high season, £85 in winter
Visitor TimesMonday to Friday
ParMen 72, Women 75
SlopeWhite/M 139, Red/W 143
Opened1887
ArchitectWillie Park Junior
Golf Monthly Verdict

Hollinwell - Hole 2

(Image credit: Geoff Ellis, golfworking.co.uk)

This is one of the most expansive courses in the Top 100 and it covers a huge acreage of absolutely beautiful heathland. In part wooded, it also benefits from rocky outcrops, the occasional encounter with water, bracken and fern. Rarely do consecutive holes run in the same direction, and the gentle slopes on the northern side of the estate reward both with lovely views and strategic challenge.

Reasons To Play Hollinwell

– One of the most attractive, challenging and secluded inland courses you will find anywhere

– Every hole is a new, fresh and quite separate challenge

– When the heather is out, it is a riot of purple

Rankings

UK & Ireland Top 100 Golf Courses 2023/24 - 38

Few would dispute that the delightful and challenging heathland test at Hollinwell Golf Course, set in a wonderfully secluded natural valley, heads the list of the best golf courses in the Midlands

The club - formerly known as Notts but now officially Hollinwell - dates back to 1887 and its design boasts the input of Willie Park Junior, JH Taylor, more significantly Tom Williamson, and most recently, Martin Ebert. The long entrance drive in from the main road and down between the 3rd and 18th holes builds an ever-increasing sense of anticipation as you make your way to the clubhouse. A genuine seclusion is one of the club’s key attractions. More so is the particularly strong routing with some significant but very manageable changes in elevation. One of the prime examples of this is at the long and very beautiful, par-3 13th where the elevated tee offers a wonderful perspective. This hole alone would set Hollinwell out as one of the best heathland courses in the UK.

Ebert sand scrapes are in evidence by the first short hole, the 5th, and some early photos have revealed a number of such areas around the course in its early years. As mentioned, Tom Williamson is really the designer whose influence has shaped one of the best golf courses in England. He was employed back in 1912 to make the course slightly less challenging physically. In places, the back nine will still get the heart racing. Stand-out holes include the excellent and very demanding long par-4 2nd which works its way slightly uphill and right to left to a green set at the foot of a pine-clad hill. The 8th offers a chance to stop by the tee and drink from the holy well, while the 10th and 11th work their way along and then up to the furthest point on the course.

The 18th is a classic and testing par-4 back towards the clubhouse via a well-bunkered fairway with an area of marsh short and left; an excellent finish to an extremely fine course.

Hollinwell - Hole 18

The very strong par-4 final hole plays back down to the clubhouse

(Image credit: Geoff Ellis, golfworking.co.uk)

What The Top 100 Panel Said

Rob Fear UK&I Top 100 panel
Rob Fear

A lovely setting on the edge of the forest, entirely golf focused with an impressive approach down a long driveway. A number of high tees invite your Sunday-best towards a distant green. A quality golfing venue with a quiet pride in what they have and a willingness to share it with the outside world.

James Holland UK&I Top 100 panel
James Holland

Fill up your water bottle at the holy well spring, and then just enjoy the quality of pretty much every hole. Heathland golf at its very best and as good a heathland course as I’ve played.

Emily Hudson UK&I Top 100 panel
Emily Hudson

The par-3 13th was the stand-out hole for me - a great challenge and it seemed to nestle perfectly into its surroundings. This is a quality course with a back nine that really can bite!

John Winter UK&I Top 100 panel
John Winter

Many so-called heathland courses have lost their way with gorse, rhododendrons and silver birch ever present. Hollinwell provides a true and authentic heathland golfing experience and with its sandy base and fine grasses, and plays well in all seasons.

Hollinwell Location

Hollinwell Green Fees

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18 holes£125April
Row 1 - Cell 0 £160May
Row 2 - Cell 0 £175Jun-Sep
Row 3 - Cell 0 £160Oct
Row 4 - Cell 0 £125Nov

Hollinwell Scorecard

Hollinwell The Home of Notts Golf Club scorecard

(Image credit: Hollinwell The Home of Notts Golf Club)

Best Courses Near Hollinwell

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<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/top-100-courses/sherwood-forest-golf-club-review-60810" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">SHERWOOD FOREST

Sherwood Forest benefits from the design genius of both Harry Colt and <a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/features/the-game/what-courses-has-james-braid-designed-188002" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">James Braid, and this heathland beauty runs over springy, perfect turf. It calls for strong and accurate driving with most of the fairways lined by swathes of heather and a wide variety of trees.

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<a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/courses/uk-and-ireland/hallamshire-golf-club-course-review" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">HALLAMSHIRE

This delightful course was given a substantial overhaul and redesign by <a href="https://www.golfmonthly.com/features/the-game/what-courses-has-harry-colt-designed-187263" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"" data-link-merchant="golfmonthly.com"">Harry Colt, and despite its proximity to Sheffield, its elevated, out-and-back configuration is beautifully peaceful. Better still, it is full of interesting and memorable holes, with a strong opening before a hat-trick of real crackers from the 6th.

Best Places To Stay Near Hollinwell

Mour Hotel - Book now via Booking.com

This 4-star award-winning hotel is located in the Sherwood Business Park and boasts stylish rooms with large flat-screen TVs, modern dining and free parking. The spacious rooms all feature black and white tiled bathrooms with heated mirrors and walk-in power showers.

The Bowman, Hucknall - Book now via Booking.com

The Bowman by Greene King Inns provides a restaurant and bar and each room has a desk, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom. A Full English/Irish breakfast is available.

Hollinwell Gallery

Historical Top 100 Rankings UK&I

  • 2023/24 38
  • 2021/22 37
  • 2019/20 36
  • 2017/18 40
  • 2015/16 48
  • 2013/14 48
  • 2011/12 56
  • 2009/10 62

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Hollinwell?

Formerly known as Notts Golf Club, this idyllically located club is blessed with an oasis-like setting which is remarkably peaceful and yet only 5 minutes from the M1 motorway.

Has Hollinwell produced any successful professional golfers?

Brian Waites was the ‘pro here for almost 30 years, winning two European Tour events and four Senior Tour events.

How many holes are there at Hollinwell?

There are actually twenty. A relatively new short hole and par 4 means that golfers can head back towards the clubhouse after playing the opening seven holes on the main course.

Rob Smith
Contributing Editor

Rob Smith has been playing golf for 45 years and been a contributing editor for Golf Monthly since 2012. He specialises in course reviews and travel, and has played more than 1,200 courses in almost 50 countries. In 2022, he played all 21 courses in East Lothian in 13 days. Last year, his tally was 81, 32 of them for the first time. One of Rob's primary roles is helping to prepare the Top 100 and Next 100 Courses of the UK&I, of which he has played all but seven and a half... i.e. not the new 9 at Carne! Of those missing, some are already booked for 2024. He is a member of Tandridge in Surrey where his handicap hovers around 16. You can contact him at r.smith896@btinternet.com.