Dean Vernon likes playing golf at Painswick Golf Club.

The 47-year-old has been a member for some four years and is close on three-quarters of the way through his 12 months as club captain.

He took over in March and admits that when he first took on the new role he thought, ‘What have I taken on?’

Happily, things have settled down a lot since those early days, so much so that Dean says he’d be more than happy to take on the captain’s role again next year if asked.

And he’s certainly committed to Painswick Golf Club, a club that was founded as long ago as 1891 and is steeped in history with four holes nestling on an iron-age fort.

“It’s a fantastic place to play golf,” Dean said. “Every one of the 18 holes is different, it’s a hard course because every hole is unique.

“You can be on one tee and you need a driver and on the next you need a three or a five iron.

“Then there’s the wind factor, it’s a risk and reward course, it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted.”

Painswick Golf Club can be found high up on the Painswick Beacon, which explains how the weather can have such a decisive impact but Dean adds: “You can go round in two-and-three-quarter hours if you’re hitting the ball well.

“A normal medal round will take three-and-a-half hours.”

Par is 67 and Dean, who describes himself as “the ambassador” for the club in his role as captain, continued: “You’ve got to have every shot in the bag to be able to play round Painswick.

“In the summer you can be putting 40ft or more off the green, the greens are all singing and all dancing, they’re so hardy. Every hole is a true test of golf starting with the first which is uphill.”

And Dean, who plays off 14, clearly enjoys a test.

The Cheltenham-based tree surgeon has been playing golf for 18 years, spending a good number of those years at Sherdons before joining Brickhampton Court and then Painswick.

He admits that Painswick could do with more members but anyone who joins is guaranteed plenty of fun both on and off the course.

“The 19th hole is a great place to be,” laughed Dean, “the atmosphere is fantastic.”