Toronto, Canada: Pacific Links International (PLI) has announced a partnership with The Melbourne Club at Brocket Hall, a quintessentially British venue.

Located 25 miles north of London, it’s the eighth English club to become part of Pacific Links Golf Network, as it continues to grow its European portfolio.

Reciprocal access for The Melbourne Club members (Melbourne and Palmerston Courses) will extend to golfing facilities across PLI’s comprehensive portfolio, consisting of over 400 clubs in 41 countries, including the likes of Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Vietnam’s Laguna Lang Co and 2018 Ryder Cup venue Le Golf National.

“Brocket Hall is steeped in history and is a very exciting addition to our international golf network,” said Rudy Anderson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Links International, an Executive Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.

“England is one of the most desirable golfing destinations in Europe and we look forward to providing superb benefits to our network club partners and golfers. Clubs in Europe currently represent 13 per cent of our portfolio and England is an area we are looking to develop and expand, so there’s no doubt that The Melbourne Club at Brocket Hall will prove to be a popular choice with our International Members.’’

Michael Longshaw, Chief Executive at IGRM and Managing Director at Brocket Hall, said: “The new relationship with Pacific Links International is a positive step in the right direction for both the club and our members. We’re looking forward to enhancing our appeal across the globe and providing our members with a number of value-added incentives to play championship golf when visiting other countries.”

Set within the opulent surroundings of the Brocket Hall Estate in rural Hertfordshire, the venue’s two courses sit within beautifully manicured 18th-century parkland and are named after Prime Ministers who once lived on the property – Lord Palmerston and Lord Melbourne.

The par-73 Palmerston layout, designed by Donald Steel and opened in 2000, stretches to 7,080 yards off the championship tees, winding its way through undulating terrain and mature woodland, consisting of 300-year-old pine, oak and cedar trees. Not only does it demand accuracy off the tee, but a skilful putting touch is also required to find the hole on the often large and sloping greens.

Opened in 1992, the par-72 Melbourne Course was created by former Ryder Cup golfers Peter Alliss and Clive Clark. Designed around the River Lea, an integral part of the course requires players to cross it on four separate occasions – including at the risk-reward par-five 18th hole, which even involves a short trip on an unmanned ferry to reach the final green.