Pinner Hill Golf Club

The clubhouse sits on rising ground just outside Watford, surrounded by thick woodland that makes you forget the town's only minutes away. Pinner Hill is a proper members' club with an 18-hole course that rolls through mature trees and open fairways - the kind of layout that rewards straight hitting but punishes the wild shots.

Visitors can play here, though you'll need to arrange it in advance or come with a member. The course itself is decent rather than spectacular - it's well-maintained and the routing takes you through some lovely pockets of Buckinghamshire woodland. Don't expect championship-level drama, but there's enough to keep a mid-handicapper engaged for four hours.

Golfers will get the most from it. Non-golfers really won't. Families should look elsewhere unless someone's keen to walk eighteen holes. The pace can be slow on weekends, so come mid-week if you can.

If you're staying at Wyatts Covert just five miles away, it's a reasonable drive to crack a few rounds without travelling far from base. The club has a bar and basic facilities, though nothing fancy. Greens fees aren't cheap - you're paying for Buckinghamshire location and membership atmosphere rather than a championship track.

Worth booking ahead, worth the detour if you're a regular golfer passing through. Everyone else: stick to the caravan park amenities.