This atypical characteristic reminds you that you are playing on land that has been common property for hundreds of years and takes you back to a bygone era before the turn of the19th century.

A brace of pretty par threes lead you back towards another 400yard par four that again needs a couple of straight biffs up to the green ahead.

The seventh hole is arguably the prettiest on offer here, not the longest at Harpenden Common but very cleverly designed nonetheless. Ken should be proud. Any 300yard par 4 asks the question of the big boys but when faced with a 45degree dogleg right with high trees blocking the route to the green, a pond to its left and two thoughtfully positioned bunkers catching anyone whose fade doesn’t fade, it really is a cracking hole.

Any hole trying to upstage the seventh has to fairly special and the 8th does it with consummate ease. The signature hole is a bit of a monster too; at 464yards from the back tee, the stroke index one hole ploughs its way through the ancient woodland to the enclosed green ahead and should provide a degree of difficulty even for those playing regularly under par.

The ninth is no walk in the park either – more of a walk on the common really – anyway, the 405yard dogleg right takes you around the clubhouse and with the large green sloping away from you, the contact on your approach had better be a good one if you want the ball to stop!

The tenth is an interesting hole with a confusing copse of trees in the middle of the fairway which asks you why you didn’t buy a course map from Daniel Fitzsimmons’ Pro–Shop.

A short wander over the road and a step up to the raised tee affords you a delightful view down the 11th fairway. It’s a pretty and interesting hole even though it’s quite straight. Keeping the drive to the left hand side of the fairway is Daniel’s tip as the high trees on the right hand side are tricky to fly if you’re to reach the pear–shaped dance floor without going pear–shaped!

A long uphill dogleg par 5 takes you to another uphill dogleg par 4 where you find yourself at the outer perimeters of the most recently acquired land and a pleasant view of the surrounding Hertfordshire countryside is well worth a moment or two to savour.

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