Golf in England is an extension of the class system, so it’s appropriate in these socially mobile times that Brocket Hall should open to the public after years as a private members’ club. There is much to admire about the place, and a few things the business traveller might want to bear in mind before teeing off.

Brocket Hall, a 220-hectare estate in Hertfordshire, north of London, has seen it all. The previous owner, the former jailbird, reality TV star and classic car enthusiast Lord ‘Charlie’ Brocket, was forced to sell the ancestral home after a financial scandal in the 1990s left him unable to afford its upkeep. He sold the estate to a German property business on a 60-year lease, which turned the house and lodge into a hotel.

There are two courses, the Melbourne and the Palmerston, which are challenging enough to keep better players amused but won’t have corporate hackers quaking in their boots.

The pick is the Donald Steel-designed Palmerston, the newer of the two tracks and the more interesting. Golfers are taken on a tree-lined journey through stunning countryside, and so well has Steel embedded the holes into the existing forestry that the course feels much older than it actually is.

The Melbourne is less taxing, designed, no doubt with the corporate market in mind, by former golfer and doyen of TV commentary Peter Alliss. Many holes feature water, either off the tee or guarding the approaches to the greens, the highlight being the 18th, a par five that asks golfers the ultimate question: stick or twist; lay up before the river, or take on the water and go for birdie or eagle with a second shot? A great last hole, and a perfect way to decide a matchplay competition.

As befits a stately home, the clubhouse is a bit stuffy, with dress rules in place. The waiter who asked one of our party, who was wearing smart black jeans, ‘Would sir like to borrow a pair of trousers?’, could have come straight from the pages of PD Wodehouse.

Green fees are also of a stately nature at €250, putting Brocket Hall in a similar bracket to Wentworth, Sunningdale and the Berkshire, great historic courses equally close to London. Unfortunately, Brocket Hall is not in the same league, and you’ll find better value elsewhere. But if you want to mix golf with a bit of old England, Brocket Hall will suit to a tee.

The Accommodation
We stayed in the Melbourne Lodge, a renovated suite of rooms at the heart of the estate, overlooking the main house. The rooms were pleasantly appointed and have retained the essence of an English country house. The absence of a spa or gym makes it less appealing for non-golfers, though the estate boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant, the Auberge du Lac, located in a beautiful old house across the Broadwater River from the clubhouse. However, if you are looking to do some work after your round you are in for a shock: there is no internet connection in the rooms or in the clubhouse area, a major shortcoming.

All guests must produce evidence of a current golf handicap before playing at Brocket Hall. To book, call +44 (0)1707 394994, email golfreservations@brocket-hall.co.uk