Bracken at Woodhall Spa and Golf Club

The Bracken Course at Woodhall Spa Golf Club opened in 1998 as a companion to the club's renowned Hotchkin Course. Donald Steel designed the layout to complement rather than compete with its famous neighbor, creating a parkland course that offers a contrasting but equally engaging test of golf. The course occupies land that shares the same sandy, heathland characteristics of the Lincolnshire landscape, though it presents a somewhat gentler introduction to the property's distinctive terrain.

Steel routed the Bracken through mature woodland and across naturally rolling ground, incorporating strategic bunkering and thoughtful use of the site's topography. The design emphasizes accuracy and course management over pure length, with tree-lined fairways that reward precise driving and well-considered approach play. The sandy subsoil provides excellent drainage and firm playing conditions throughout much of the year, a quality shared with the Hotchkin Course.

The Bracken serves multiple roles within the club's operations. It functions as a members' course for everyday play while the Hotchkin hosts competitions and visiting groups, and it provides an accessible option for golfers who may find the championship layout's severity challenging. The course has also been used for qualifying rounds when Woodhall Spa hosts national amateur championships. While less severe than its celebrated sibling, the Bracken maintains the club's commitment to traditional values and strategic golf design, offering a genuine test within a more forgiving framework.