Nine top golf courses in or around London

Trafalgar Square stands as the geographic heart of Greater London, a territory established in 1965, stretching around 25 miles square. As expected, it showcases dense urbanisation in some areas yet brims with abundant greenery and about a hundred golf courses. The quantity is satisfying and the quality is commendably good as well. This list, compiled with the aid of Golfholidaysdirect, includes excellent golf courses in London, featuring options from all directions, providing a suitable starting point for golfers in the city.

Royal Wimbledon

The club relocated to Warren Farm in 1907 and Willie Park Junior was tasked with building the remarkable course that now lies barely eight miles from London’s Hyde Park Corner. The secretary mentioned in a letter to the Prince of Wales that the club had received its royal title 25 years prior. Post-relocation, Harry Colt, a longtime member, implemented several significant changes. The course, once quaint, has evolved into a good and enjoyable challenge for golf, with the introduction of heather, gorse and birch. Tom Mackenzie is carrying out substantial improvements, to its advantage.

The Addington

Abercromby passed 22 years after The Addington’s hilly heathland and the pine-clad course launched in 1913. He lacked formal architectural training, but his approach was highly visual; he positioned bunkers and greens wherever his instinct guided him. The Addington, one of his most visually appealing creations, boasts six distinct short holes and wooden bridges that guide golfers over several ravines. One of the most extensive refurbishments/upgrades in recent memory is in progress and the course stands to benefit significantly from it. Extensive tree clearances and restoration work have transformed this characterful course, making it even more unique and memorable.

Royal Mid-Surrey

The club, with its two excellent, pedestrian-friendly courses along the Thames banks, was officially acknowledged as “royal” in 1926 when the Prince of Wales acted as captain. The legendary JH Taylor served here as a professional for nearly 50 years and the club hosted two European Tour events in the 1960s. The main dish is named in his honour in recognition of his contributions, which included most of the unique mounding. The course exhibits remarkable strength in depth and recently received an enthusiastic endorsement from Martin Ebert. The Pam Barton Course, while shorter and necessitating a more strategic and delicate approach, also provides much enjoyment.

Coombe Hill

The gently descending holes at Coombe Hill, near Wimbledon and framed by beautiful, mature trees, commenced play in 1911. The course offers numerous exciting features, including fast, subtly sloping greens and the four relatively short holes are both visually and strategically very good. This course presents a fair and demanding test of golf and, especially when the rhododendrons are blooming, a stunning setting for a round.

Fullwell

In 1904, five years before the nearby Twickenham Stadium launched, JH Taylor created 18-hole courses for both men and women at Fulwell. JH Morrison redesigned the course post-war by combining the best parts of the outer and inner courses to produce the challenging, tree-lined course played today. Several long, tricky par 4s, doglegs necessitating precise ball positioning and a ditch affecting the first and last holes and the fifth, a par 5, occur throughout the course. On the charming short ninth hole, the same stream expands into a pond between the tee and green. In 2019, Tom Mackenzie completed an impressive refurbishment that incorporated substantial improvements to the bunkering, tree clearances and some new tees, solidifying the course as one of the best in Middlesex.

Royal Blackheath

Though golf had been played long before 1608, the official formation of this renowned club is thought to have taken place that year, making this the longest-standing golf club in England. The course at Royal Blackheath has recently undergone comprehensive renovations by architect Ken Moodie and tree specialist John Nicholson, largely due to the efforts of the club’s Quad Centenary Club. The visually appealing and strategically sound improvements to the previously pedestrian-friendly layout have made it a serious contender for the title of the greatest golf course in Kent.

Ealing

The course at Ealing, designed by James Braid but heavily revised by Harry Colt in the 1920s, unfolds over easily navigable, flat terrain and features numerous encounters with the River Brent. At the fourth hole, the river comes into play for the first time, requiring one’s tee shot to be aimed to the right before a pitch to a green almost completely surrounded by it. Three par 5s offer reasonable birdie opportunities and five short holes in total, but three are over 200 yards from the back tees. Achieving par on the par-4 sixth hole often necessitates a layup short of the river and a pitch and putt for most players. While there is some overlap in a few spots, the consistently exceptional greens more than compensate for it.

Finchley

The course at Finchley, circling the elegant Victorian townhouse that serves as the clubhouse known as Nether Court, is almost precisely halfway between the two sides of the charmingly named Lovers Lane. It was designed by the renowned James Braid and is bordered by trees of various species and ages. With driveable par 4s and reachable par 5s, this course offers a balanced mix of risk and reward. A strategic play off the tee and accurate approach shots to the modestly sized greens are crucial to a good score here. The club prides itself on its welcoming atmosphere and helpful staff and the green fee is surprisingly affordable, considering its central location.

Highgate

Established in 1904, the club and its golf course, situated in an upscale neighbourhood between the Thames and the M25, provide a welcome retreat for golfers. The course is short, but it features many narrow fairways and greens, presenting a rather limited target. Cuthbert Butchart, who also designed West Hill, developed it; its undulating terrain lends it a lot of personality.

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