Glorious Golf at Brocket Hall

Brocket Hall is located on the edge of Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire. With over 550 acres of rolling grassland, exquisite lakes and mature woodland, it is a glorious setting for any event.

The Palmerston and the Melbourne courses were named after the two prime ministers that resided at Brocket Hall in the years gone by. The first course, the Melbourne, was designed and laid out by former Ryder Cup golfers, Clive Clark and Peter Alliss, in 1992. A par 72 layout that measures just over 7000 yards from the back tees, it features numerous water hazards thanks to the ornamental lake and River Lea that meanders through the course. 

The Palmerston course, though a par 73 layout, is slightly shorter at just under 6200 yards. Set amongst established specimen trees and on undulating terrain, this layout opened a few years after the first course in 2000 and was created by Donald Steel alongside Martin Ebert who managed  the design detail and construction. 

Both courses are immaculately kept with glassy greens and perfect fairways. The parkland setting offers gorgeous views across the lake towards Brocket Hall itself and other elegant, historic buildings that form part of the estate.

Both courses are challenging tests of golf, but providing one stays out of the wispy and elegant longer rough, it is quite possible to score well if you leave the ball below the hole. Those getting out of position will find that even two putting will require a great degree of skill as the greens are very slick and steeply undulating in places. 

The whole complex is manicured with not a blade of grass out of place. Around the clubhouse tightly cut lawns emphasise to those waiting to play that they are in for a treat once their round commences.

As you would expect, Brocket Hall has outstanding practice facilities with The Melbourne Club Golf Academy, which is much more than just a place to hit balls. It has been very thoughtfully laid out with a 12-bay landscaped driving range, with some under cover of three DryRainge structures, and some exposed, along with grass areas to play from. There are also a number of first class putting and chipping greens along with practice bunkers, as well as an indoor studio which is ideal for lessons in the winter. There is also a stunning 7 hole, par 3 course at the Academy, all of which are available to visitors playing under the various golf packages. Lessons are available from a selection of professionals who include: Tom Shadbolt, Mark Laskey, David Morris and Charlie Douglass.

It is certainly a grand stage for any event, having hosted many weddings with the stylish and historic backdrops provided by the main house, the lakes and surrounding beauty.

The Melbourne Club has wondeful panoramic views of the Melbourne Golf Course and grounds, with two event locations: for the more intimate occasions the elegant Piano Lounge is perfect for up to 30 people, whilst The Oak Room, with its oak beamed ceiling and glass walls, offers an event space for up to 150 people, with incredible views across the Estate. The Melbourne Club supports a vibrant membership together with visiting golfers, members’ guests, corporate clients, and visiting societies. Prices for all the packages are available on request, and are surprisingly good value given the quality of the offering.

The Auberge du Lac, the award-winning fine dining restaurant, is perfectly situated on the banks of the Broadwater Lake. The cuisine, carefully crafted by Head Chef John Barber, changes with the seasons and uses the finest ingredients from local and British suppliers. As one might expect, with such a great location, many of the vegetables are grown on site in the extensive kitchen garden ensuring the best and freshest of ingredients. Barber’s vision is to create relaxed and accessible style of fine dining at a beautiful lakeside location, something that has been perfectly achieved at the Auberge.

Brocket Hall itself is set overlooking the Capability Brown-inspired landscaped grounds, with all of the grandeur and luxury expected of a hall that was once a favoured retreat of Queen Victoria.

The main hall, a Grade 1-listed building, provides magnificent accommodation. In addition, there are 30 luxuriously appointed apartments, a grand and historic ballroom and even butler service to ensure that guests are pampered and perfectly treated on their special occasion.

A sense of history exudes at Brocket Hall. It is indeed an ancient site, with evidence of a major house dating back to 1239. In 1440, the house was rebuilt and renamed after the Brocket family, who established themselves as one of the more important families in Hertfordshire. 

Prior to her coronation, Elizabeth 1 was kept under house arrest at Brocket Hall by Queen Mary, her sister. She was very grateful to John Brocket, a confidante of hers and subsequently knighted him on becoming queen.

In 1746, the house was acquired by Matthew Lamb, a successful lawyer. He employed Sir James Paine to design and build the house that still stands today. The new Hall took 15 years to complete, but unfortunately Lamb died prior to its completion. His son, Sir Peniston Lamb, inherited the Hall at the age of 21 and he married Elizabeth Millbank. He was clever and politically aware, and they made friends with many important people including politicians on both sides along with George, the Prince of Wales. Interestingly, it is rumoured that Elizabeth became his mistress for many years. Once George became King, Peniston was ennobled and became the first Lord Melbourne, which seemed to have been more to do with his wife’s connections than his own endeavours. 

In 1928, William Lamb inherited the title from his father to become the second, Lord Melbourne. Infidelity ran through the family, and his wife, the infamous Lady Caroline Lamb, had an indiscreet affair with Lord Byron. Lord Melbourne became prime minister and acted as a father figure towards the future Queen Victoria, even breaking the news of her father’s death in 1837, and greatly helped her to prepare for the role of Monarch.

Lord Palmerston, who was Melbourne’s Foreign Secretary, married his sister Emily Lamb, who was the widow of a major landowner neighbouring Brocket Hall. Following the death of the second Lord Melbourne, in 1948, the estate passed to Emily and Lord Palmerston. Ten years later, Lord Palmerston became prime minister for the first time. 

To continue with the scandalous theme, it is thought that Lord Palmerston died during a liaison with a maid on the billiard table, while he was still in office as prime minister.

Brocket Hall was bought by Charles Nall-Cain in 1921, and he later became the first Lord Brocket, his family fortune having come from his father’s brewing company Walker Cain. 

During the war, Brocket Hall became a maternity hospital run by the Red Cross, where over 8,000 babies were born. Lord Melbourne‘s room became the birthing room and the Prince Regents suite was the recovery room.

Charles Nall-Cain inherited the title and estate on the death of his grandfather in 1967 - he was just 15 and still at Eton and in 1997, the Brocket Hall trustees sold the estate on a 60-year lease. 

Today Brocket Hall offers a selection of ‘stay & play’ packages giving golfers the option of playing one or two rounds of golf, on either the Melbourne or Palmerston course, and an overnight stay in the historic Melbourne Lodge, originally the Estate’s old coaching stables.  A full traditional English breakfast, taken in The Melbourne Club, is included with one-round, one-night packages starting from just £190 per person. 

For golfers wishing to become members of The Melbourne Club at Brocket Hall, email membership@brocket-hall.co.uk.

For further information, visit www.brocket-hall.co.uk