Magnolia Park Golf & Country Club near Horton-cum-Studley really is a true test for any golfer.

It is a monstrous 7,000 yards long over 18 individual and exceptionally challenging holes, and has been built to the highest specifications.

The championship set-up is coming up for ten years old, located in more than 200 acres of rolling countryside.

Course architect Jonathon Gaunt, has achieved a subtle fusion of links-style golf within a parkland setting.

Magnolia Park's undulating fairways will cause most players some problems off the tee, whatever your handicap, so good course management is called for in order to shoot a good score.

The sweeping course has some of the best greens in the area and although I played it recently on a damp day, the contours of the green made you think long and hard before judging your putts.

Apart from the course, Magnolia Park has one of the most superb clubhouse facilities in the region.

The breakfast area, lounge bar and restaurant, all sitting underneath a huge wooden-framed ceiling, gives the feeling of great space. Elsewhere are offices, spacious locker rooms, a well-stocked professional's shop, saunas, steam rooms and fitness studio.

The club has undergone changes in recent years and has memberships available at £975 a year.

The course itself is very pleasing on the eye.

The broad fairways tempt players to go for broke, while the greens are excellent and the water features on some of the holes add beauty, as well as a challenge.

There are many special holes on the course, but reputation says that the signature one is the 15th, which turns out to be quite a tough hole if your drive is short.

The second hole, with its narrow green, can be a problem. Get the yardage wrong and you are in trouble - either in the water short of the green, or through into the hedge beyond.

Perhaps the most challenging hole at Magnolia Park is the eighth, although it is only stroke index three. It's a par five, measuring 537 yards off the white tee.

Among the locals it is known as the Ballybunion' and when you play it you can see why. If you might be thinking of trying to get to the green in two, forget it.

This hole definitely needs a three-shot approach, especially as there is rough on the left and a severely sloping fairway to the right, which could push you into deep trouble.

The tee shot is blind, so the tip is to aim up the left and hope to get plenty of run from the ball.

With a good tee shot you may well be left with about 200 yards to the green, tempting you to go for it but the mounds, bumps and bunkers that surround the raised green makes it a nearly impossible approach.

Even when you get to the green, the ultimate challenge is to putt out on the huge two-tiered green.

The opening hole is a great starter as a par five of 543 yards, with water for three-quarters of the way down the left. At least you can open your shoulders and be prepared for the test that is to come.

Supposedly the toughest hole on the course (stroke index one) is the fifth, but although it's a 464-yard par four, it is pretty straightforward if you can keep on the fairway.

The 10th hole is an interesting dog-leg left, with more adventurous big-hitters risking a good, long drive and trying to cut the corner. That tactic can work, but often, if you land a little short, you will find yourself in an impossible lie.

Holes 11, 12, 13 and 14 are not too tasking, but beware the 15th, a 446-yard par four. The problem is what to do after your drive, because between you and the green is a deep pond.

It may look easy to negotiate, but the sensible players lay up to short of the hazard and play a third shot on to the green. Better a safe five than a risky attempt at par. From here, the fun continues, as the closing four holes can ruin a good round.

The 16th is a 443-yard par four with a stream across the middle of the fairway, while the 17th is a tricky par three, which has a lake on the right if you overshoot.

The 18th is a testing 536-yard par five, slight dog-leg right, and with water up the left of the fairway once you make the corner.

The huge green, right in front of the impressive clubhouse, can be difficult if the pin position is unkind as it was the day we played. It was tight to the left, over the corner of the lake, with not much room to hold the ball up.

The last time I played Magnolia Park was in a celebrity pro-am competition in the company of Harry Redknapp, then manager of West Ham and now Portsmouth boss.

Harry hits a good ball and managed a par on that day, something I matched on this most recent visit.

Magnolia Park has several interesting events coming up. You can find out more details from the club or its professional, Dusan Jarizovich, by calling 01844 239700.