Venturing into the Derbyshire Peak District, to the home of Love Hearts, Refreshers and Parma Violets (Swizzels Matlow, the almost century old manufacturer being the town’s biggest employer) we find New Mills Golf Club. Positioned atop one of the many hills, it’s unsurprising that the weather is ‘changeable’ – see Exhibit A for our first attempt in late March, abandoned on the 5th, having started the round in glorious sunshine!
The course began life in 1907, when a group of locals negotiated the use of farmland for a 9 hole course. The arrangement was documented on the club’s centenary, and offers an entertaining window into a bygone era. For instance, we note that a liquor license was swiftly secured, allowing the sale of alcohol from 6am! Whether related or not, several fallouts with the landlord ensued – over the rental of a horse for mowing, and goose droppings, with the arrangement nearly not lasting it’s first year.
Fast-forward to the year 2000, and a touch under a quarter of million pounds secured the extra land to extend the course to 18 holes, with the new holes forming the front 9, opening in 2002.
So, take 2, and 6 months later we’re back to finish our longest round to date. Even in the absence of horizontal sleet, it’s a testing start, with an uphill and slightly doglegged par 5 to begin.
The remainder of the front 9 are a good challenge, through a ruggedly beautiful landscape with undulations aplenty and unforgiving rough that’s short but shares the properties of the Bermuda Triangle. The course is in great condition, particularly given the time of year and recent weather, with greens that are tricky but fair. It’s quite a workout, but the breathtaking views of Kinder Scout and the Cheshire Plain serve as more than adequate rewards for the many uphill slogs.
Onto the back 9, just over the road, but it’s like stepping onto a different course entirely, with its 90+ year head start making for a prettier setting. It seems somehow more sheltered, yet there’s plenty more vantage points for magnificent, far-reaching views. It’s also home to some very special holes, such as the 16th (222 yard par 3), a nervy tee shot from altitude across gorse, that rewards anything slightly short and right with a kick down the steep slope towards the hole below.
On any other course, the 16th would be a signature hole worthy of a return visit on it’s own. But New Mills has something even more special up it’s windswept sleeve. Behold, ‘Quarry’, the 12th hole that requires a tee shot directly over a sheer quarry face, with an apex of anything less than 30 feet leaving at best a tricky wedge shot, and at worst the very real prospect of having to chip backwards to have another go!
It all makes for a dramatic finish, that together with the outstanding views will ensure it’s a course that lingers long in the memory. We even find ourselves longingly reliving our morning by watching every hole in turn of their superb flyover videos.
New Mills… you made us wait, but you were thoroughly worth it, and we can’t wait to come back for another go!
Key Info
Holes: 18
Par: 69
Yards: White: 5,604. Yellow: 5,382. Red: 4,718
Visitor Green Fees: £25 winter / £30 summer / £15 with a member
Website: http://www.newmillsgolfclub.co.uk
Location
Prices correct at time of writing (October 2023).
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