A sports venue might not be the first place that comes to mind when planning a meal out, but the food is as well prepared as the greens at Whitehaven Golf Club – and you don’t have to play 18 holes to earn it.

The light, airy bar and restaurant with views of the golf course make for pleasant surroundings, whether you’re looking for a quick bite to eat or a two- or three-course meal.

And it’s a family-friendly venue, with a selection of children’s meals on the menu.

Treating my husband to a well-earned break from cooking, I opted for the slow-braised marinated lamb shoulder with creamy mash and seasonal vegetables, while he went for chargrilled gammon steak with a fried egg and side salad.

The food arrived well presented and looking mouthwatering.

The lamb had a meaty, tender and moist appearance.

Falling apart to the touch and a good shade of pink without any blood, the lamb was flavoursome, though perhaps a tiny touch on the dry side.

The mash was soft and creamy, paired with a good helping of delicious marinade, and the veg had a good bite to it.

Meanwhile, hubby enjoyed a good-sized dish of gammon and chips, with a helping so large it almost didn’t fit on the plate.

The generous serving of chips, he said, had a proper chip-shop taste, while the gammon was delicious and didn’t have the level of saltiness that some cuts can have.

Despite the good-sized helping of main course, we managed to find room to sample the delights of the dessert menu.

I opted for a vanilla cheesecake, selecting ice-cream over custard or cream from the three accompaniment options.

He, meanwhile, went for the classic favourite of apple crumble served with custard.

The cheesecake was unusually solid, firmer than most and perhaps a bit heavy after a large meal.

But, while it could maybe have benefited from being a touch on the lighter side, it was tasty nonetheless, and the added touch of being served with a couple of strawberries meant it not only looked pretty but allowed me to have the illusion that I was eating a healthy, fruit-based dish.

The crumble, I was told, was well cooked and perhaps slightly over-baked to suit my husband’s taste but nonetheless a tasty treat.

Its accompanying custard, he said, was rich and tasty.

The service was prompt and friendly, thanks to the attentive and amenable staff.

Whitehaven Golf Club is definitely a venue we will keep on our list of places to visit again, and with a sizeable and varied menu there will be plenty of alternative dishes to sample on future visits.

It also hosts parties and other functions, with various food options available.

All in all a pleasant, enjoyable evening dining experience which we scored four stars out of five for our review visit.