Set amidst 543 acres of beautifully landscaped parkland, the Brocket Hall Estate oozes romance and history from every pore. It has been home to two prime-ministers, entertained queens and kings, has two 18 hole Championship Golf Courses, the Faldo Golf Institute, Melbourne Lodge and acclaimed lakeside restaurant Auberge du Lac.
Brocket Hall Golf Club has been designed to offer some of the best golf in the UK, affording the opportunity to play on not one but two very different Championship standard courses, the Melbourne and Palmerston. After playing, you can spend the night at Melbourne Lodge, in the grounds of one of the most spectacular country homes in England, and dine in an utterly romantic setting, beside the river at the Auberge du Lac restaurant. It is the perfect package for golfers and only 20 miles from London.
The Melbourne Course is designed by Peter Allis and Clive Clark and follows the natural undulations and contours of the 18th Century parkland. The par 72 provides a challenging game of golf in stunning surroundings. The course crosses the River Lea several times, and golfers are carried across the Broadwater by a ferry to complete the 18th hole.
In contrast, the par 73 Palmerston Course, designed by Donald Steel, one of the most influential golf course architects in the world, is over 7000 yards from the back tees. Steel has sculptured many beautiful holes playing through the ancient woodlands with some very undulating fairways.
The Brocket estate is also home to the Faldo Golf Institute, a state-of-the-art golf instructional centre based around the six-time Major Champion’s improvement and development programme. The first of its kind in Europe, the Institute embodies a structured practise facility including: an indoor teaching school, a long game zone, a short game zone, a chipping and bunker zone, a putting zone and a par 3 six-hole approach zone complete with instructional boards on every tee offering Faldo’s own strategic advice. All the staff at the Institute have distinguished backgrounds as both players and teachers.
Melbourne Lodge, formerly the Brocket Hall stable-block has been transformed in to luxurious and elegant accommodation for members and their guests to play and stay. The 16 bedrooms each look out onto the surrounding parkland.
The Auberge du Lac is Hertfordshire’s most celebrated restaurant. Set in a beautiful 18th Century former hunting lodge by the side of the river, with stunning views over the parkland, the award-winning restaurant is run by Executive Chef Phil Thompson, formerly of L’Escargot, St Martin’s Hotel and The Lanesborough Hotel.
Brocket Hall dates back to 1239. The hall as it stands today was built by renowned architect James Paine for Sir Mathew Lamb in 1760. Home to two Prime Ministers, Lord Melbourne and Lord Palmerston, the home has a long and salacious history of scandal and romance. The first Lady of the house surprised her husband Lord Melbourne during dinner by emerging naked from a soup tureen? She was also the mistress of Prince Regent, later George 1V. Not to be outdone, Lord Palmerston allegedly died on the Billiards table in the clutches of the chambermaid!
Brocket Hall offers a variety of play and stay packages to non –members including:
The Brocket Hall Golf Package (£225 pp) The package includes a night at Melbourne Lodge, breakfast at the Watershyppes Clubhouse,a round of golf , access to the Faldo Golf Institute and dinner at the Clubhouse from award winning chef, Steven Saunders.
Address: Brocket Hall, Brocket Hall International Ltd, Welwyn, Hertfordshire AL8 7XG
Tel: +44(0)1707 335241 Fax: +44(0)1707 333309
www.brocket-hall.co.uk
Further information from Pandora George, Anneli Lort, Emily Radford
Renaissance PR
pandora.george@renaissancaepr.com 07729 469220
