Old at The Waitrose Farm Leckford Estate

The Waitrose Farm Leckford Estate golf course in Hampshire represents an intriguing piece of English golf history, designed by Harry Colt during the prolific period of his career in the early twentieth century. Colt, renowned for his work at Sunningdale, Wentworth, and numerous other celebrated British courses, brought his characteristic strategic design philosophy to this rural Hampshire setting. The course occupies part of the Leckford Estate, a working farm property owned by the John Lewis Partnership since 1929, which also includes agricultural land along the River Test.

The layout reflects Colt's preference for natural routing that follows the contours of the land, with holes shaped by the gentle undulations typical of the Hampshire countryside. The estate's position in the Test Valley provides a pastoral setting, with the course woven through farmland and mature woodland. Colt's design principles of strategic bunkering and green complexes that reward thoughtful play rather than mere power would be evident in the original routing, though details of specific holes and features are not widely documented in public golf architecture records.

The course serves primarily as a private amenity for John Lewis Partnership employees and their guests, maintaining a quiet profile compared to Colt's more famous championship venues. This limited access has preserved its character as a members' course focused on recreational golf rather than tournament play or public recognition.