Hole 3 "Spires"

The reward for the climb up the second is to be returned back from where you have just come, plus a view to the town and Parish Church (hence the name). Yet the two holes are quite separate; only a wild hook on either bothering matches ahead or behind. Indeed, the third green lies adjacent to the second tee but it doesn't feel that way, because of the trees. This part of the course, in the original Lumley Park, has centuries old Beech, Ash and Oaks dominating the landscape, planted long before anyone thought of designing a few golf holes. So the longest drivers are advantaged, able to carry the huge trees that advance into either side of the fairway. More modest hitters must thread their tee-shots through to a fairway which, over its last a hundred yards, falls steeply to the green, with anything short invariably kicking left. Landing directly on the raised green is best unless a shot runs through into the hidden rear bunker, intended as a protection from the out of bounds. Neither alternative is attractive.