COURSE · PARKLAND · BUCKET LIST · TIER C
Kendal, Cumbria, United Kingdom · The Lake District's Premier Golf & Leisure Destination
A parkland hidden in the river valleys south of the Lake District, where three waterways and a converted dairy farm make for golf with genuine character.
01 · Overview
~2 min read
Carus Green occupies a quietly arresting piece of Cumbrian countryside on the southern fringe of Kendal, where the River Kent, the Mint, and the Sprint converge around a former dairy farm. Opened in 1993 and expanded to 18 holes within a year, it has grown steadily into one of the more complete golf and leisure operations in the North West of England.
The course was carved from Carus Green Farm by the Downham family, and that agricultural heritage still gives the land its underlying character — broad, open meadows bounded by mature hedgerows and the sinuous lines of three rivers. Ownership passed to Graham Curtin in 2003, and the decade that followed saw sustained investment: a £1.5 million clubhouse, a full remodeling of all 18 greens to USGA drainage specifications, and the opening of a substantial golf centre with floodlit range bays fitted with Toptracer technology.
On the ground, Carus Green plays shorter than championship parkland — 6,080 yards off the main tees, par 71 — but the slope rating of 127 and a course rating of 70.1 suggest the design extracts its difficulty more from precision than distance. Water is the constant companion: the rivers, a remodeled pond on the 18th, and various drainage channels thread through the layout and punish carelessness more reliably than length. The par-3 finishing hole, with its ornamental fountain pond set before the clubhouse terrace, gives even casual rounds a focal point worth remembering.
What distinguishes Carus Green from many similar-tier clubs is the breadth of its infrastructure. The Gary Wolstenholme Academy, named for the multiple British Amateur champion, provides genuine coaching facilities. On-site accommodation — from boutique lodge rooms to self-contained apartments — means the club functions as a destination rather than simply a course. For visitors arriving by rail, Oxenholme Lake District station is roughly two miles away, connecting directly to the West Coast Main Line.
THE TERRAIN
Three rivers — the Kent, Mint, and Sprint — weave through a converted dairy farm, giving the layout its natural boundaries and its most reliable source of trouble.
THE GREENS
All 18 greens were remodeled to USGA drainage standards from 2013 onward, providing year-round consistency that belies the course's modest green-fee range.
THE CHALLENGE
At 6,080 yards the course is not long, but a slope rating of 127 reflects strategic bunkering, tight river margins, and a layout that rewards the precise rather than the powerful.
THE SETTING
Mature hedgerows, open meadow corridors, and distant fells give Carus Green a distinctly northern pastoral feel — closer in atmosphere to the Yorkshire Dales than to a manufactured resort course.
02 · The Holes
5 of 5 · tap any hole to watch creators play it
Six holes carry more of the course's weight than the other twelve combined — and the creator vlogs that prove it.
HOLE 18 · par 3 · 181y
A par 3 that sends the ball across a pond equipped with a fountain directly in front of the green, with the clubhouse terrace and restaurant looking on. At 181 yards it asks for a precise iron under whatever pressure the round has already generated.
181 yards · A par-3 finisher is unusual at this length — most courses save a par 4 or 5 for the closer.
HOLE 12 · par 4 · 415y
The course's rated hardest hole. At 415 yards it demands a controlled drive followed by a testing mid-iron to a USGA-spec green. There is little margin for error and no short cuts — the card bears the stroke index frankly.
415 yards · Stroke Index 1 on the back nine means most handicap strokes are exchanged here.
HOLE 11 · par 5 · 527y
The longest hole on the property, this back-nine par 5 tests patience as much as power. Reaching in two is possible for longer hitters but the river corridors bordering the layout demand a disciplined lay-up strategy for most.
527 yards · The course's maximum yardage on a single hole, yet it sits between SI-1 and the par-3 tenth.
HOLE 5 · par 4 · 414y
Stroke Index 2 on the front nine gives this 414-yard par 4 its reputation as the pre-eminent challenge of the outward half. Length combined with parkland bunkering makes par a genuinely satisfying result.
414 yards · The front nine's hardest hole arrives early enough to set the tone for the entire round.
HOLE 7 · par 4 · 267y
The shortest par 4 on the course takes its character from the landmark oak that gives the hole its name. At 267 yards it invites aggression, but the named tree hints at the punishment awaiting those who miss the fairway corridor.
267 yards · One of the few named holes on the course, suggesting local folklore attached to this landmark tree.
05 · In Their Words
5 on-camera verdicts · spoken while filming here
This is a great course. Beautiful, mate.
Welcome down to another video. Today I'm at the stunning Carish Green, par 71, 6,100 jars.
Mate, I cannot believe the condition of this golf course... outstanding.
Course is incredible condition, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah. Fabulous. Really is.
Caris Green, unbelievable condition.
06 · How to Play Here
5 routes to a tee time
Visitor Online Booking · single
Direct online booking for visitors and guests. Tee times are typically available throughout the week.
Green Fee £20 - £55
Member Booking · members only
Members can book via the official club login for competition and casual play.
Annual Membership From £595 (Full Membership)
Carus Golf Breaks · hotel package
Stay and play packages including on-site accommodation in The Lodge, Townhouses, or Carus House.
Package Rate From £420 for 2 nights (Apartment)
GolfNow Tee Times · external
Discounted tee times occasionally offered through third-party booking platforms.
Green Fee Variable
Open Competitions · external
Entry into official club open competitions for amateur golfers.
Entry Fee Variable
07 · History
8 moments · 1993–2022
1993
The Downham family opened Carus Green Golf Club on the land of Carus Green Farm, initially as a 9-hole course. The site's three river corridors defined the layout from the outset.
1994
Following a successful first season, the course was extended to a full 18-hole parkland layout within a year of opening.
2003
The Downham family sold the club, and incoming owner Graham Curtin set the course on a path of sustained commercial and facilities investment.
2011
A contemporary clubhouse was completed, housing a restaurant, function suite, and pro shop — transforming the club's presentation to visitors and members alike.
2013
All 18 greens were rebuilt to USGA drainage specifications, a significant investment that improved year-round playability and elevated the club's competitive standing.
2015
The club partnered with British amateur legend Gary Wolstenholme MBE to establish a dedicated coaching academy and short-game facility on site.
2016
A new golf centre was completed, featuring 18 floodlit driving range bays fitted with Toptracer technology and housing a golf superstore.
2022
Carus Green hosted the televised Trilby Tour Championship of Cumbria, one of the largest amateur events in the UK, raising the club's national profile.
08 · Common Questions
7 questions · sourced from 15 vlogs
Visitors can book directly online through BRS Golf at the club's official page. Tee times are available throughout the week and the booking system is open to all. Discounted times occasionally appear on third-party platforms such as GolfNow.
Visitor green fees typically range from £20 to £55 depending on day and time of booking. Full membership starts from £595 per year. Stay-and-play packages combining on-site accommodation and golf start from around £420 for a two-night apartment stay.
Yes — Carus Green offers on-site lodging through The Lodge (boutique hotel rooms), Carus House (a luxury guesthouse), and modern Townhouses and self-contained apartments. The site is designed to function as a multi-day golf break destination, and golf break packages can be booked directly through the club.
Oxenholme Lake District railway station, roughly two miles from the course, is a stop on the West Coast Main Line with direct services from London, Manchester, and Glasgow. Local buses also stop on nearby Burneside Road. By road the club sits close to junctions 36 and 37 of the M6.
Carus Green is open throughout the year with no seasonal closure. Standard daily hours apply to the course itself, though the golf shop and restaurant operate on varying schedules — it is worth checking the club's website before travelling, particularly in winter.
At 6,080 yards from the main tees Carus Green is not a long course, but a slope rating of 127 reflects genuine challenge. Water hazards from three rivers, strategic bunkering, and USGA-spec greens with true pace and undulation mean mid-handicappers will find it engaging without being punishing. The par-3 18th over the fountain pond provides a memorable test to close.
The Gary Wolstenholme Academy operates on site, named after the multiple British Amateur champion who partnered with the club. The driving range offers 18 floodlit bays equipped with Toptracer technology, and the academy includes a dedicated short-game area.
10 · The Library
1 creators · YouTube-indexed
Most relevant
Golf Mates · 38:19
51K views · 1y ago
Golf Mates · 45:34
32K views · 1y ago
Golf Mates · 36:04
78K views · 5mo ago
Golf Mates · 78:30
53K views · 3mo ago
Golf Mates · 92:10
82K views · 2mo ago
Golf Mates · 1:12
10K views · 1y ago
Golf Mates · 59:47
44K views · 5mo ago
Golf Mates · 44:07
27K views · 6mo ago
Golf Mates · 80:00
33K views · 5mo ago
Golf Mates · 71:11
52K views · 11mo ago
Golf Mates · 68:39
45K views · 3mo ago
Golf Mates · 1:18
33K views · 1y ago
Golf Mates · 42:49
30K views · 2mo ago
Golf Mates · 1:06
12K views · 1y ago
Golf Mates · 58:26
38K views · 3mo ago
Save it to your studio, share it with the group, or — if the ballot gods favour you — book it for next season.