Hole by hole

The Course

Eighteen holes on the plateau above Batley. A short walk from the clubhouse and a long memory in the turf.

Hanging Heaton is not a parkland sprawl. It is an 18-hole course on the plateau above Caulms Wood, with a card that has a character of its own: tees, pars and the ladies’ holes all ask something different.

The 2nd, The Battery, still carries the war. The fairway dog-legs over ground used for air defence; in a dry summer you can pick out the line of the old concrete track on the green. The 4th, The Quarry, is the signature: a blind tee shot of nearly 250 yards over the quarry side to a big, flat green where three is always a score.

Out of bounds is a constant companion on the right of several holes. Bunkers are used with intent: six around Bunker Hollow, a remodelled pot on Kestrels Hover. The closing stretch asks for patience: The Pines, then Peewits Call, a par 5 that plays close to 600 yards.

Yardages below are for White, Yellow and Red tees. In winter the Club plays a blue card of 5,340 yards, par 68. Flyovers sit on a separate page if you want the view from above before you book.

Prefer the view from above? Course flyover. There is also a course review on film.

Play on the green at Hanging Heaton
On the course at Hanging Heaton
A hole at Hanging Heaton

Playing notes

Visitors and members alike are asked to keep to them.

The Quarry, 4th and 13th

Do not drive if you can reach the green until the bell has been rung or the flag has been waved. If you cannot see that the green is clear, wait.

The Sheep Pen, 5th and 14th

To keep play moving, golfers on the green should mark their balls and step back so the group on the tee can drive. Do not play into the green until the group ahead has left it.

Ladies on Mondays

Ladies have priority on the tee from 11am, except when the weekend before was an Open.

Safety

Greens staff have priority at all times. Stop immediately in lightning, and do not play in fog if you cannot see the full distance of your shot. First aid is in the clubhouse.

HoleNameWhiteYellowRed
1Laurels Reach256 · par 4251 · par 4256 · par 4
2The Battery421 · par 4406 · par 4339 · par 4
3Kestrels Hover481 · par 5475 · par 5472 · par 5
4The Quarry246 · par 3241 · par 3217 · par 3
5Sheep Pen249 · par 4241 · par 4238 · par 3
6Blossom Rise383 · par 4375 · par 4373 · par 4
7Bunker Hollow139 · par 3126 · par 3134 · par 3
8Squirrels Grove191 · par 3183 · par 3189 · par 3
9Swailes Dale533 · par 5527 · par 5418 · par 4
10Laurels Reach256 · par 4251 · par 4184 · par 3
11The Battery421 · par 4406 · par 4411 · par 5
12The Wild West439 · par 4434 · par 4472 · par 5
13High Tee249 · par 3244 · par 3196 · par 3
14Lower Sheep Pen235 · par 4233 · par 4233 · par 4
15Blossom Rise383 · par 4375 · par 4329 · par 4
16Bunker Hollow139 · par 3126 · par 3120 · par 3
17The Pines191 · par 3183 · par 3189 · par 3
18Peewits Call598 · par 5596 · par 5533 · par 5

Hole 01

Laurels Reach

White

256 yds

Par 4 · Index 15

Yellow

251 yds

Par 4 · Index 15

Red

256 yds

Par 4 · Index 7

Short opening Par 4 with a narrow, two-tiered green that is protected well with bunkers left and right.

Longer hitters can drive the green but with danger left and right it is a classic risk and reward play. Shorter hitters can choose to hit a tee shot somewhere around the fairway bunker on the left, leaving a shot of around 80 yards to the green.

Getting the ball on the right level is key to avoiding a three-putt on this undulating green.

Hole 02

The Battery

White

421 yds

Par 4 · Index 1

Yellow

406 yds

Par 4 · Index 1

Red

339 yds

Par 4 · Index 5

Long Par 4 and a good tee shot is required to reach this hole in two shots. The fairway is a dog-leg to the right and covers ground used as air defence during World War II.

There are two fairway bunkers short of the green and second shots are demanding, with out of bounds all the way up the right-hand side of the hole.

Hole 03

Kestrels Hover

White

481 yds

Par 5 · Index 9

Yellow

475 yds

Par 5 · Index 9

Red

472 yds

Par 5 · Index 6

A Par 5 which could be reached in two by bigger hitters.

Be aware that out of bounds runs all the way down the right-hand side of the hole.

There is a narrow entrance to the green which gets wider towards the back, and a nasty pot bunker at the front left of the green has been remodelled.

Hole 04

The Quarry

White

246 yds

Par 3 · Index 7

Yellow

241 yds

Par 3 · Index 7

Red

217 yds

Par 3 · Index 13

Our signature hole needs a blind tee shot over a quarry side and the hole slopes slightly from left to right. Anything running at the pin will run off to the right.

It is a big, flat green to hit but three is always an excellent score for this par three that plays close to 250 yards.

Hole 05

Sheep Pen

White

249 yds

Par 4 · Index 17

Yellow

241 yds

Par 4 · Index 17

Red

238 yds

Par 3 · Index 16

The Sheep Pen is a short par 4 with a fairway that slopes from left to right. Out of bounds all down the right-hand side.

The hole is well-bunkered and a recent addition of a ditch around 200 yards from the tee causes players to decide to lay up or attack the most sloping green on the track.

A two putt is always good, with good pace judgement required to avoid a three-stab.

Hole 06

Blossom Rise

White

383 yds

Par 4 · Index 3

Yellow

375 yds

Par 4 · Index 3

Red

373 yds

Par 4 · Index 1

This long par 4 has a slight dog-leg to the right.

The fairway bunker on the right catches those golfers trying to shorten the hole, and an internal out of bounds up the right-hand side penalises a wide hit.

This tough driving hole still requires a long second shot into a green with a large pot bunker on the right and a bunker to the left.

Hole 07

Bunker Hollow

White

139 yds

Par 3 · Index 13

Yellow

126 yds

Par 3 · Index 13

Red

134 yds

Par 3 · Index 14

This short par 3 is protected by six greenside bunkers with a Mackenzie at the back of the green.

The hole is particularly tough when the wind is blowing, as the tee shields golfers from the wind, making club selection and aim very tricky indeed.

Hole 08

Squirrels Grove

White

191 yds

Par 3 · Index 10

Yellow

183 yds

Par 3 · Index 10

Red

189 yds

Par 3 · Index 11

This tough par 3 is lined both sides with tall trees.

The green, which slopes towards you, is protected by two greenside bunkers. The small undulating target makes it a tough hole to par.

Hole 09

Swailes Dale

White

533 yds

Par 5 · Index 12

Yellow

527 yds

Par 5 · Index 12

Red

418 yds

Par 4 · Index 3

This hole requires an accurate tee shot to avoid trees lining both sides of the fairway. A par 5 for the gentlemen and a par 4 for the ladies from an advanced tee tucked in the trees to the right.

A good drive makes this hole reachable in two for the bigger hitter, although a second or third shot requires precision to miss three strategically placed fairway bunkers and a ditch that runs across the front of the green.

Your approach shot is into a very big flat green, a few yards lower than the fairway. Getting it to a back pin always proves a challenge.

Hole 10

Laurels Reach

White

256 yds

Par 4 · Index 16

Yellow

251 yds

Par 4 · Index 16

Red

184 yds

Par 3 · Index 8

Playing our first hole for the second time, now the 10th, you are once again faced with a par 4, although this time it plays as a 3 for the ladies.

Longer hitters can drive the green but with danger left and right it is a classic risk and reward play.

Look out for high rough to the left and behind the green which penalises any wayward strikes.

Hole 11

The Battery

White

421 yds

Par 4 · Index 2

Yellow

406 yds

Par 4 · Index 2

Red

411 yds

Par 5 · Index 9

Our second hole, second time around, now plays as a par 5 for the ladies.

Getting through this hole without spoiling your card can set you up for the back nine.

In summer this exposed green can run extremely fast, making approach shots and putts a challenge.

Hole 12

The Wild West

White

439 yds

Par 4 · Index 5

Yellow

434 yds

Par 4 · Index 5

Red

472 yds

Par 5 · Index 10

The ladies play this hole again as a par 5, with the gentlemen now playing from a forward tee as a par 4.

This makes for a tough par, with two good shots required to reach the green in two. The hole is well protected with trees and rough down the left and out of bounds to the right.

The green is long and narrow so take care to spot the pin when selecting your club for short approach shots.

Hole 13

High Tee

White

249 yds

Par 3 · Index 8

Yellow

244 yds

Par 3 · Index 8

Red

196 yds

Par 3 · Index 18

This time The Quarry is played from a higher tee which doesn’t do much to the length of the hole but changes the angle of attack.

Balls that land short tend to run down the slope to the right. Shots aimed straight at the pin often end up in the rough on the right.

Hole 14

Lower Sheep Pen

White

235 yds

Par 4 · Index 18

Yellow

233 yds

Par 4 · Index 18

Red

233 yds

Par 4 · Index 17

The Sheep Pen is played this time from a lower tee which changes the angle of attack.

The slight decrease in yardage from the first time around may make taking the green on more attractive.

Beware of the four bunkers and ditch that protect the green. Missing left leaves a tough pitch onto a green that runs away from you.

Hole 15

Blossom Rise

White

383 yds

Par 4 · Index 4

Yellow

375 yds

Par 4 · Index 4

Red

329 yds

Par 4 · Index 2

The final par 4 on our course. A good tee shot will have you in the centre of the fairway, around the bunker to the right, or even beyond that. Longer hitters need to be careful not to run out of room on the dog-leg.

The second shot is uphill and if there is wind about it can play much longer than the yardage on your watch.

Hole 16

Bunker Hollow

White

139 yds

Par 3 · Index 14

Yellow

126 yds

Par 3 · Index 14

Red

120 yds

Par 3 · Index 15

A second opportunity to play this well-bunkered par 3.

This hole can play 3–4 clubs different depending on the wind so club selection is key. Low shots can take the wind out of play, but two large bunkers at the front of the green catch anything that comes up short.

Hole 17

The Pines

White

191 yds

Par 3 · Index 11

Yellow

183 yds

Par 3 · Index 11

Red

189 yds

Par 3 · Index 12

The last par 3 on the course requires a long accurate tee shot. A ditch runs approximately 50 yards in front of the green which must be negotiated carefully.

The green slopes towards you so good golf shots are usually rewarded with a birdie chance. Shots wide of the mark bring into play two difficult bunkers and banks to work around.

Hole 18

Peewits Call

White

598 yds

Par 5 · Index 6

Yellow

596 yds

Par 5 · Index 6

Red

533 yds

Par 5 · Index 4

The final hole at Hanging Heaton is a long par 5 that plays close to 600 yards. The tee is reached by crossing the 3rd/12th fairways and the resulting drive requires accuracy.

Out of bounds to the left (the 2nd/11th fairway) makes this drive even tougher, especially if you have a card going.

Three good shots are usually required to reach this green and a final par is always a good score to finish with.