Traditional to a golfing 'tee' is the splendid Blackwell course tucked away in north Worcestershire's rolling, wooded countryside, and at the same time quite a number of other words beginning with 't' demonstrate what it is all about. It's a treasure in its own right - a treat to play, but at the same time tormenting in the proliferation of bunkers scattered around, and teasing because many of its greens are so tricky!

Here too is a parkland course of considerable reputation, having hosted numerous county events; while during the 1990s it also staged, on no less than six occasions, a regional qualifying round for the Open. Secretary John Mead says they would love to host another of these but with the current minimum requirement now being a course of 6,500 yards they fall short at 6,260 off the competition tees, and available space cramps any increase to only a further 100 yards. Still, next year will see the Worcestershire Open back here and it has also been chosen as the venue for the Champion of Champions event, which will see the club champions of Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Staffordshire do battle.

The Blackwell club first came into being in 1893 when a nine-hole course was constructed on part of Lord Windsor's Hewell Estate.

Thirty years later it was extended to 18 holes and in many respects it hasn't altered too much since but has developed into what it is today - a test that is fair but also fairly demanding.

Each hole is a hole of contrasting character; holes that make you think about your game all the time. And when you are faced by 88 bunkers in all - I'm still counting, with quite a number strategically scattered along the fairways - not to mention the occasional ditch, your thought process is in overdrive.

One particular bunker clearly comes to mind and that's the one which runs for something like 200 yards down the right hand side of the 12th fairway. Legend has it that this is the longest bunker in golf.

A few narrow crossing points have been built into the trap in more recent times, but the claim is, apparently, still one that remains unchallenged!

You can't exactly ease yourself into the course. The first tee provides a pressure start as it's close to the watchful gaze of golfers enjoying the luxury of the clubhouse lounge - just part of the excellent facilities housed in a most delightful farmhouse setting. And that opening fairway is also one which falls and then rises to the other side - a small valley - with two bunkers to the left, almost on the crown, waiting to bid you welcome... They're 170 yards from the tee and my three-wood skirted dangerously close but stayed out. Relatively straight forward then to complete this 413-yard par four opener with a satisfying bogey.

Both halves of the course provide a tough finish - not that there aren't other equally tough holes elsewhere, but I particularly liked the ninth and 18th holes.

The ninth brings a pond into play and if you are looking to birdie this 203-yard par three then you have to be brave as well as accurate to avoid a catastrophe. I played safe with a three-wood to the left of the water and chipped onto the green to claim what I felt was a sensible four. Indeed accuracy - which I suppose goes without saying - is probably the key word, with each hole forcing that old grey matter to decide the best direction and position to try and place just about every shot. Not so much accuracy perhaps; more like strategic placing.

Another attractive but demanding - and certainly unusual - hole on the first nine is the 486-yard par five eighth. This is not so much a dog-leg but a U-bend which brings into play a stream you have to traverse twice. Big hitters from the elevated tee could find trouble on the other side of the 'U' with three menacing bunkers, while a further three also lurk as you come back on yourself to the green. In fact the second time you cross the stream you are still around 150 yards from the green. This is a seriously testing hole and one I was happy to mark down a seven after my tee shot's first bounce had not exactly been a bounce but a splash!

However, the special hole of the round for me has to be the par three 166-yard 13th, and I seem to be in quite exalted company as it appears the legendary Bobby Jones played an exhibition match at the course in 1930, and was so impressed by this hole that he went back home to America and had a similar one constructed on the famous Augusta course.

From the 13th tee the shot - a four iron for me to the left of the target area - is down to a green that is well guarded by sand traps and a stream. Anything too strong takes you into the rough beyond the green, or even the hedgerow. And certain pin placements can make it more difficult, especially as the green has a number of difficult to read slopes - quite steep too from left to right. A cracking hole where I have to admit a most fortunate four on my card as it was not the best of chips from the rough.

Heading back towards the clubhouse there are still other fine holes to play, including the 392-yard par four 15th where a gradual rise, after avoiding the stream, takes you up to a tiered green - another one of those designed to add a little more torment.

And then it's on to what can only be described as a fine finish in store. A majestic elevated 18th green, bang in front of the clubhouse, where a wonderful specimen of a beech tree overhangs. Indeed trees are a prominent feature of the course, along with other vegetation, testimony to planting programmes of previous decades now bearing great fruit.

The 18th is 365 yards and a par four. Here the need is to avoid a sizeable plantation of trees on the left, and to get over the crown of the hill and in a position to attack the pin if you are a relatively bigger hitter. I was satisfied to be pitching up from below with my third, which satisfyingly settled close enough to bring the reward of just one putt and record what was a rare par.

Blackwell is definitely a course for straight hitting. The opening holes are difficult but ensure that you are focused for the remainder of a round on a course that most certainly provides a test to be enjoyed, and undoubtedly savoured.

Blackwell Golf Club, Blackwell, nr Bromsgrove.

Professionals' shop: 0121 445 3113

Green fees: £65 for 18 holes, and £75 for 27/36 holes.

Visitors can play by prior arrangement on any weekday, but Tuesday is the club's Ladies' Day and you would need to check available tee times.