Golf in London

Ichiro

I spend quite a bit of time in London and mostly on the weekends,

And from this I'm missing a good bit of my Golf at home.

So I'm thinking of playing over there when I can. I've had a look online at some clubs but many do not come across as challenging.
I am looking for good challenging course, and not miles away as I'd prob have to get the tube or bus, no car there.

I was looking at this course www.finchleygolfclub.com
But it just looks boring with its long straight holes.

Any one with an idea on good challenging course's that would suit all handicap types?

Thanks in advance

heavyballs

have only played a couple of courses and i'd imagine there probably too far out for you,one of the best i played was st georges hill,(so green,like a mini belfry)and we played two courses at the berkshire,on another occasion i played in royal wimbledon.
I was amazed with the quality of the courses over there,scotland gets so much hype re courses you tend to 4get about england

ThunderCat

Havnt played in London myself but from what I hear, Sunningdale is well worth a trip. Its certainly on my wish list anyway but im not over in London often, so the next time i go ill bring the clubs. Wentworth is near there too but personally speaking, id much prefer to play Sunningdale (Old course in particular). With regards getting there by public transport, I wouldnt be able to offer you any advice but im pretty sure both courses are within 10-15 miles of Heathrow.

Davidth88

OP where in London are you living ?

Your choice of Finchley seems to indicate north london

There was a course I played a few times right next to Cockfosters stn ( name escapes me )

A lot of courses in London would be ' Private ' so not easy to get onto unless you are /or with a member .

There are a number of public courses but TBH the standard wouldn't be as great ( IMO )

PhilipMarlowe

The 4 that I have played near london are Worplesdon, Sunningdale Old and New and the West course at Wentworth... all around Surrey and no idea how well served by public transport they'd be.
Worplesdon is a lovely heath land course and should be in great condition all winter too...
Sunningdale is magic.
I played Wenthworth one February and it was cold and misreable so I'd like to play it in better conditions.
Worplesdon is £50 for winter according to their site.... probably the "cheapest" of those I mentioned. Woking golf club is nearby too... All places where you wouldn't want to turn up too scruffy old chap!

Davidth88

Hi

Ok Remembered it was Trent Park , next to Oakwood Stn , one stop down from Cockfosters

All the courses mentioned so far ( Wentworth et al ) would be quite difficult to reach by public transport , and hardly ' London ' per se .

Also bit on the pricey side..... OP what sort of price would you be wanting to pay ?

Ichiro

I was looking to see if I could become an overseas member.
To be honest I would not pay serious bank as with the current situation but I guess £20 - 25 pounds a round would be my limit.

Davidth88

Hi,

Ok at that price you are looking at the public courses to be honest. They tend to have memberships , but you also pay green fees ( ie a nominal membership of a club that is in effect attached to a course )

Where in London are you based when you are there ?

I know NW London pretty well ( having been born and bred there )

I might also be able to advise on some other parts , although south London is a mystery to me to be honest

waterford333

Sorry to drag this thread up again, i perfer doing this than starting a new one.

Off to London shortly and wondered do people have any info on courses in North London?? I see finchley was mentioned its close to a tube station which is a must.

rednik

My brother lives in London and he moved from Trent Park to The Shire GC. I know he uses public tpt from Oxford Circus every w/end and I am still waiting to play it with him. It is a new course designed by Seve, might be worth checking out.

waterford333

rednik wrote: »

My brother lives in London and he moved from Trent Park to The Shire GC. I know he uses public tpt from Oxford Circus every w/end and I am still waiting to play it with him. It is a new course designed by Seve, might be worth checking out.

Funny cause I was only looking at that course about 5 minutes ago, it must cost a fair whack to join?? Looks swanky!

Its about a 2 miles from the nearby tube station so he must have to get a bus as well. Never in a million years would I consider getting public transport to play golf in Ireland but its really the only way if your living in London!

rednik

waterford333 wrote: »

Funny cause I was only looking at that course about 5 minutes ago, it must cost a fair whack to join?? Looks swanky!

Its about a 2 miles from the nearby tube station so he must have to get a bus as well. Never in a million years would I consider getting public transport to play golf in Ireland but its really the only way if your living in London!

I don't think it was that bad really when he joined, but public tpt is the only realistic option from the City.

Glencarraig

A mate of mine was a 5 day member in Finchley, was quite a few years ago now. I played there a few times with him and to be honest I found it an ok course, a bit tight, you could get round without the driver. The main problem was the members, I have never come across such a stuck up shower of a***holes in all my life. Perhaps it was the fact that we were Paddys but my mate was reported for the most minor of "offences", like parking a "commercial" vehicle in the members carpark.......how dare he!!!

WE were playing a game of snooker and my mates little lad was sitting quietly on the bench and now and again would pick the ball out of the pocket and put it back on the table. A member came in, put his name down to play, left the snooker room and came back with the Sec/Manager and we were asked to leave because "children were not allowed" in the snooker room.

Anyway, if you just want to play golf, Finchley is an ok challenge, but keep clear of the members.

Oh by the way, I forgot to mention that the Pro is only allowed in the clubhouse on christmas day!!!, if you want to have a drink with him you have to bring it to the shop and drink it there with him!!

curly from cork

"
Oh by the way, I forgot to mention that the Pro is only allowed in the clubhouse on christmas day!!!, if you want to have a drink with him you have to bring it to the shop and drink it there with him!![/QUOTE]

wonderful.. just the kind of spot you d like to support.:rolleyes:

AGC

Lived over in London for a couple of years and was a member in Highgate. Lovely course, you will see it is quite short but it is very challenging and always in excellent condition.

Plenty of competitions, a very good membership and quite affordable. Also think you can get an 'overseas' type membership. They were very helpful when I was there especially in joining.

Only problem would be location. You can get a bus to it which would be about a 2/3 minute walk to club. Tube wouldn't be an option.

Glencarraig

curly from cork wrote: »

"
Oh by the way, I forgot to mention that the Pro is only allowed in the clubhouse on christmas day!!!, if you want to have a drink with him you have to bring it to the shop and drink it there with him!!

wonderful.. just the kind of spot you d like to support.:rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

I just didnt want to give all the bad news in the first bit of the post

waterford333

Memberships in London appear better priced than Dublin, which I thought is rather surprising. They are all below the standard Dublin membership price of €1500, which many clubs in North Dublin charge.

From what I can gather the majority of these courses are rather tight, obviously land is at a premium around the city, but all very well looked after.

However one thing I have heard that many are as another poster suggested quite old fashioned and stuffy with lots of old boys ruling the roost! With members having to wear white shocks and polo shirts having to be neatly tucked in with your grandmothers best ironed trousers crap….

The_Architect

The London surrounds (particularly west) probably have the highest concentration of excellent courses anywhere in the world.

You shouldn't be at a loss.