ENGLAND

South East

Map of England showing South East

Overview

The area around London is home to some magnificent golf courses and some of the very best of a rare breed, the very best heathland courses anywhere in the world. These unique “inland links” are fast running courses with heather like links generally to the South of London on sandy land in the counties of Surrey and Berkshire. Many think the best 36 holes of golf in Europe can be found at Sunningdale, Walton Heath; where the best golf team ever assembled, the 1981 US Ryder Cup team, prevailed; has its own great 36 holes and some you may not have heard of but every bit as good like Swinley Forest, St Georges Hill and many, many more!
Littlestone

Littlestone Golf Course, South West England

If you are the seaside town of Sandwich and playing the courses there this Open championship qualifier course close by should be on your list. A great test of golf which was designed by Dr Alister MacKenzie in 1924 just before he did Augusta National and Cypress Point – that tells you how great the course is!

New Zealand

This is perhaps the ultimate “hidden gem.” Only a few of our clients playing golf in Surrey just south of London, play here and the ones who do invariably rate this great course on a level with Sunningdale or Swinley Forest. An excellent test of golf in one of the most beautiful parts of Surrey – don`t miss it!

PRINCES


The host course of the 1932 Open Championship, Princes completes a unique triumvirate of Open venues all a stones throw from each other on the Kent coast. Sporting 27 great holes and a lovely Lodge this is a great base whilst visiting the area of the 2021  Open. The 1932 Open was significant as in that “The Squire” Gene Sarazen won his Open here in going onto the Grand Slam of all 4 Professional majors. A great test of links golf where you should bring your best driving game!

Royal Cinque Ports

Royal Cinque Ports Golf Course, South West England

A twice Open championship venue in 1909 and 1920 it is rumored that the R&A would love to return the championship to this fabulous links. It has hosted the Amateur and many Open qualifying championships over the years this esteemed club has been in existence. A wonderful course with a final 7 holes to rival any in the British Isles.

Royal ST GEORGE'S

The 2021 Open venue was founded in 1887 by Dr William Purves who was a surgeon in London and a member at what would become Royal Wimbledon Golf Club which had started to restrict play over their home of Wimbledon Common. A Scot from Edinburgh, Purves began the search for the very best links land on the South coast of England and found the site in Sandwich for what would become Royal St George`s where he laid out one of the best courses in the world – a skilled gentleman! This links has hosted the most Opens (14) of any venue outside Scotland.

St Georges Hill

St Georges Hill Golf Course, South East England

One of the greatest heathland courses in the World top 100 in the beautiful, leafy Surrey countryside. The original concept of the course and estate was unique. It was the first development of a golf course being constructed with the intention of building luxury houses adjacent to the fairways. W G Tarrant, a local builder, had the foresight to see an opportunity when the land became available in 1911. Having acquired it, he enlisted the services of Harry Colt, the most prolific golf architect of his generation, to design the course. And so St George’s Hill was born, being ready for play in October 1913. Undoubtedly, Colt was a genius, one of the greatest, if not the greatest golf architect of all time and it has been suggested that St George’s Hill is his masterpiece.

Sunningdale Old

Sunningdale Old Golf Course, South East England

Sunningdale’s Old Course was designed by twice winner of The Open Championship, Willie Park Junior and opened in 1901. Willie Park Junior, was consulted and tasked with designing a course of exemplary character, for the price of £3000! It opened to universal acclaim and was among the first successful courses located away from the coast, as many had believed turf would not grow well in such regions. The Course was considered extremely long and its popularity owed much to the development of the Haskell ball. Park Jnr was an excellent putter and this is reflected in his design, with many large undulating greens that utilise the natural topography, the Old Course greens can often catch many by surprise. Diagonal and visual hazards, were favoured by Park Jnr and examples of these can be seen across the course, with cross bunkers, ditches and heather banks framing many holes.

Credit to Park Jnr’s design, The Old Course has stood the test of time, and even now with the advance of modern technology, the course can be challenging to even the longest of hitters. Whilst in his post as Secretary, Harry Colt contributed to the layout and made some thoughtful changes to Park Jnr’s design.

Sunningdale New

Sunningdale New Golf Course, South East England

Sunningdale’s New Course was designed by renowned Architect and former Club Secretary, Harry Colt and first opened in 1923. It was commissioned following the end of the First World War, as membership figures were recovering rapidly and transport to the Club was becoming easier with the development of the motor-car. The New Course is considered to be the more rugged, with less bunkering and tree lining that its older sibling. Compared with the Old Course, the New has seen many more changes in its shorter life. In 1934, an E.G.M. was called, and the proposals of the golf architect Tom Simpson, to replace some holes were approved and makes up what is very likely the best 36 holes anywhere in Europe.

Swinley Forest

Swinley Forest Golf Course, South East England

Early in 1909, the legendary golf course architect Harry Colt and Alexander Davey, a near neighbour, explored the possibility of constructing a links on the land virtually on their door-steps on the edge of the Earlywood Estate, on the Surrey-Berkshire border. Over the next few months, Colt walked the farmland and the adjoining block of thick pine woods, heath and scrub that belonged to the Crown Estate. He soon knew that he could cre-ate something really special with the place, and was indeed fortunate that the ground that was to become Swinley Forest Golf Club would lend itself so well to his genius and visionary ap-proach to golf course design. Colt himself was to become the first secretary of the Club and a notorious perfectionist he called it his “least bad course” – testimony to it being very possibly his finest work.

The Berkshire

The Berkshire Blue Golf Course, South East England

The Berkshire was founded in 1928 when its two courses, the Red and Blue, were constructed by the Office of Crown Lands on estates once used by Queen Anne for her hunting parties in the 17th/18th century. The Courses were laid out by the great Herbert Fowler, famous for Old Course at Walton Heath and the masterpiece of heathland golf has hosted The English Amateur Championships, The British Seniors Open Championships, the English Ladies’ Close Amateur Championships, The English Senior Ladies’ Matchplay Championships, the Women’s Home Internationals and the Vagliano Trophy played between Great Britain and Ireland versus The Continent of Europe.

Walton Heath Old Course

Walton Heath New Golf Course, South East England

The great Walton Heath club was founded in 1903 with its first Captain the Prince of Wales who became King Edward VIII, starting the club off on a trajectory to being one of the great 36 hole venues and clubs in the world. 5 Times Open champion James Braid was the club professional for 45 years and Winston Churchill was a regular visitor. The course has hosted many European tour events and the 1981 Ryder Cup so famous for the U.S. team being almost certainly the strongest team of golfers ever compiled.

West Hill

West Hill Golf Course, South East England

The course design is attributed to Cuthbert Butchart who became the first professional before the course was built. It has remained largely unaltered in layout but much work has gone into improving the quality of the greens, tees, bunker refurbishment and the playability of this wonderful “hidden gem” of Surrey heathland golf.

Woking

Woking Golf Course, South East England

Since 1893, Woking has been the jewel of Surrey heathland golf; the county’s oldest heathland course and consistently in the UK’s top 100 courses. In the latest Golf World Top 100 rankings it has risen a further 3 places to 17th in England! The course is a visual feast that is hard to beat, but it’s as strategically and tactically as challenging as it is beautiful. From the first, which Tom Watson described as ‘a warm handshake from an old friend’ to the 18th a great, finishing match play hole it is a joy to play.

Worplesdon

Worplesdon Golf Course, South East England

Worplesdon is one of the classic Surrey heathland courses, laid out in 1908 by J F Abercromby; the greens and bunkers were constructed by Willie Park Junior. Abercromby was one of the most celebrated golf architects of his time, while Park was a prolific course designer and constructor, who created the Old Course at Sunningdale. The course remains much as it was set out by Abercromby, and provides a fine test for the club golfer in very pretty surroundings.

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Bell Hotel

Bell Hotel, South West England
From the moment you step through the Edwardian revolving doors at The Bell in Sandwich, a delightful, traditional hotel greets you, brimming with character and a touch of chic, modern magic. Set in an enviable spot overlooking the River Stour, The Bell has been welcoming guests to Kent since Tudor times, and despite extensive refurbishment in recent years, the hotel has retained many of its charming period features. The result is some of the finest accommodation in Sandwich, promising a relaxing break that will leave you feeling refreshed and revitalised – but you don’t have to stay the night to enjoy the atmosphere of the place. Indeed, the hotel boasts a beautiful pub, restaurant, and terrace with some of the town’s finest food and drink – and also offers the opportunity to savour special occasions with a host of stunning function spaces.

Pennyhill Park

Pennyhill Park Hotel, South West England
Pennyhill Park is a luxury hotel and spa in 120 acres of Surrey parkland, with an array of experiences for fun, leisure, special occasions, and meetings and events to wow guests. Offering exceptional overnight breaks in luxuriously furnished rooms, each individually designed with different styles, character and charm, not to mention some incredible bathrooms. Passionate about food and drink, you can taste the delights of award-winning Michelin starred dining in Latymer, glorious afternoon teas, brand new hyper-local casual dining in Hillfield restaurant & bar enjoying ‘farm-to-fork’ dining delights from Surrey, or a mix of healthy and indulgent dishes in the spa restaurant, Themis. The Spa is a destination on it’s own, with over 20 thermal and relaxation spaces to discover, along with incredible treatments, state-of-the-art gym equipment and fitness classes for all to enjoy.

Prince's Lodge

Situated at the entrance of Prince’s, The Lodge, with two adjoining Lodge Houses, has 38 bedrooms including two lavish Bay and Links suites, all with en-suite facilities with the modern essentials. A fantastic facility less than two hours drive from central London, with excellent rail connections, this is the ideal place for Links fanatics. The Lodge at Prince’s is within easy reach of all London train terminals as well as Gatwick and Heathrow Airports, all of which will see you on the South East Coast within 2 hours. In addition The Lodge is around 45 minutes from Folkestone and The Channel Tunnel, offering a new option for people travelling from the continent to the UK.

Ritz Hotel

Ritz Hotel, South West England

Overlooking London’s Green Park is the world-famous The Ritz London. This stunning Neoclassical building offers the height of opulence with luxurious bedrooms, exquisite British cuisine, and classic afternoon teas. Bedrooms at The Ritz London combine stunning period architecture and antique furnishings with modern amenities. Decorated in warm colours, they feature high ceilings, ornate fireplaces and chandeliers. The Michelin star Ritz Restaurant, which uses the finest of ingredients in cuisine that is classically British with a modern twist, looks out over the gardens and The Rivoli Bar has an Art Deco style with gold leaf decoration.