234 - Barnham Broom (Valley)

Location: Norwich, England

Rating: 7.8

After a great morning round on the Hill course we headed into the clubhouse to watch the Lions test vs Australia and what a great atmosphere it has. We spent a couple of hours relaxing, watching the rugby, having some food and a few beers before heading out onto the Valley course. Walking past a couple of other golfers who’d just finished their round, overhearing them talking about how hard it was wasn’t the prep we needed.

As we headed to the first tee the heavens opened. For a course at the bottom of the valley, this made for a tough round. The first hole starts with a tight tee shot where driver isn’t an option. A required lay up is then followed by a tight fairway as you turn the corner and head towards the green. The second is now let up, a potentially driveable par 4 at 260 meters, that really isn’t an option. You can barely see the green hidden behind the reeds. Another lay up required. The theme continues on the 3rd, par 4, stroke index 1 with a stream running through and the middle of the fairway and then up and towards the green. An opening stretch that required a lot more strategy than I was ready for.

The Valley course also has two incredibly narrow tee shots, like scarily narrow. The 9th is a pencil thin par 4 with huge, tall trees with overhanging branches leaning over the fairway. Straight after that you have the 10th hole with another incredibly tough tee shot back through the other side of these trees.

It’s a tough course with plenty of hazards but compliments the Hill course as a completely different alternative. A bit more expensive than the Hill course at £69 but for the total price of both of them it is certainly worth a visit.