Old Thorns occupies a wooded site near Liphook in Hampshire, close to the Surrey and West Sussex borders. The course was designed by Dave Thomas and Peter Alliss and opened in the late 1970s as part of a hotel and leisure development. Thomas, a former Ryder Cup player, and Alliss, the well-known television commentator and course designer, collaborated on several British layouts during this period, typically creating parkland courses with strategic bunkering and rolling terrain. The routing moves through mature pine and heathland vegetation, giving the course a secluded, forested character distinct from the more open heathland courses found elsewhere in the region. The layout makes use of natural elevation changes and incorporates water hazards on several holes. Fairways are generally tree-lined, rewarding accuracy from the tee, and the greens are defended by bunkers positioned to challenge approach shots from various angles. Old Thorns serves both resort guests and members, with the course forming the centerpiece of a hotel and spa complex. The facility has hosted regional amateur events and corporate outings over the years. The clubhouse and dining areas cater to a mix of visiting golfers and local members, and the course is maintained to accommodate year-round play in the Hampshire countryside. The setting provides a relatively quiet, wooded alternative to the more famous heathland courses located farther north and west in Surrey and Berkshire.