St Thomas's Priory is a wonderful collection of buildings dating back over 800years and sits impressively alongside the initial stages of the 10th fairway. The blind tee shot suggests trepidation and you are well advised to adhere to your senses. Biff a long iron or a 5-wood towards the marker post to avoid running out of fairway and landing in the steep hazard afore the green.

The large sloping green is almost blind from there too so your lay up will be well rewarded. The tricky back-nine start is eased a little by the 11th that cascades down the hill in the form of a relatively simple par 3 of only 164yards.

12 and 13 take you further back up the hill with a short par five and reachable four respectively. Should the breeze be howling in your face going up the hill you would expect to lose a shot or two here but, don't fret, the 14th should give you a better chance to scrape a few back. At 601yards, the second par 5 of the back nine brings you back down the hill and with the wind on your back you shouldn't have too much trouble floating your second onto the large green below offering up the chance of a birdie or better!

A lovely dogleg four takes you up the hill and around the corner followed by a long par 3 to the highest point of the course. A moment or two to savour the view is definitely the order of the day before negotiating a right-hand dogleg to the 17th green ahead.

FAVOURITE HOLE
I love it when the signature hole happens to be the last as it doesn't stop my numerical order… the 18th is a delightful hole that begins with an intimidating drive over three fishing lakes and though a wonderful channel of ancient trees to the fairway ahead.

Beware the southerly wind though as anything high will be encouraged to fade right into the lakes! The dogleg continues around its knee opening up a fine approach to the green ahead.

A well struck mid iron over the last valley of St Thomas's will make your post match beverage taste superb. Overlooked by the expansive bar of the clubhouse the watchful eyes of your fellow golfers will be keen to see how you complete arguably St Thomas's signature hole.



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