SURREY &
THE SOUTH EAST
England is home to many wonderful courses but the concentration in the area south of London is quite something. Within half an hour of Heathrow airport you can be playing one of several fine heathland courses. Even if you choose to stay in central London, you can still make it out for golfing day trips making the area popular with those looking for more on their trip than just golf.
If you head a couple of of hours south and east from the London commuter-belt you will find yourself in links heaven, centred around the wonderful Royal St George’s. The south of England is truly blessed when it comes to top quality courses!
COURSE HIGHLIGHTS
The list of courses around the London area is extensive, to say the least. In terms of World Top 100 courses alone you have Sunningdale Old (ranked 30 in the world), Sunningdale New (ranked 64), Swinley Forest (50) and St George’s Hill (79). Then you can add in a whole host of courses ranked in the UK top 100, like Walton Heath Old and New, Hankley Common, The Berkshire Red and Blue, West Sussex, Woking, West Hill, Worplesdon and Wentworth - the list goes on and on!!
While you could easily spend all of your time around London, it is well worth making the drive a couple of hours further down to the coast. Royal St George’s (33) is frequently voted the best course in England and with Prince’s and Royal Cinque Ports just next door you will be spoilt for choice. Sandwich and Deal make for great bases and it’s not too far along the coast to Rye.
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SUNNINGDALE OLD
GOLF MAGAZINE WORLD RANKING - 30
OUTPOST CLUB WORLD RANKING - 28
GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 7The Old Course at Sunningdale was the first truly great course built in the heathlands around London, in fact, it might be the first truly great inland course built anywhere in the world. The Old Course was originally designed by Willie Park, Jr. and later re-designed by the club’s Secretary and captain, Harry Colt (yes, that one). The course winds through wide fairway corridors lined by beautiful, specimen trees and heather. The greens are wonderfully contoured and surrounded by artful, Colt bunkering that’s as strategic as it is beautiful
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Swinley Forest
GOLF MAGAZINE WORLD RANKING - 50
OUTPOST CLUB WORLD RANKING - 39
GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 15A round at Colt’s Swinley forest feels simply magical - from the first tee to the eighteenth green. The routing is intimate and takes you on a beautiful walk through the eponymous forest, over gentle ridges, down rolling fairways skirted with heather, and culminating at beautifully-bunkered greens that look like they were painted on the land. Few places offer a more enjoyable day of golf
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St George's Hill
GOLF MAGAZINE WORLD RANKING - 79
TOP100.COM WORLD RANKING - 88
GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I - RANKING - 22Like Swinley Forest, St George’s Hill is a Colt design - and it is considered by many to be amongst his very best. The figure of eight formation winds up and down through significant undulations on this beautiful site, with great hole after great hole appearing. The course may not be as famous as Sunningdale or Swinley but it more than hold its own in their company.
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ROYAL ST GEORGE'S
GOLF MAGAZINE WORLD RANKING - 33
OUTPOST CLUB WORLD RANKING - 42
GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 8RSG’s championship links, known as Sandwich due to its locality, has always been one of the tougher courses on the Open Rota. Its blind shots, deep bunkers, ever-rotating direction of holes and fast, kittle fairway bounces can be confounding to the best pros. But it’s those very same characteristics that truly stir the spirit of adventure for all golfers as they journey around this great links.
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ROYAL CINQUE PORTS
OUTPOST CLUB WORLD RANKING - 97
TOP100.COM WORLD RANKING - 93
GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 29Host of the 1909 and 1920 Open Championships, Royal Cinque Ports, or Deal as it is commonly called after its locality, is a classic, out-and-back links with some of the finest green sites in all of England. The turf at Deal is tremendous with the perfect, firm and fast conditions that make links golf so much fun to play.
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RYE
GOLF MAGAZINE WORLD RANKING - 67
GOLF MAGAZINE GB & I RANKING - 24There is something pretty special about the club and course at West Lancs. It’s an old-fashioned, high quality links test. The green complexes are a joy to explore and the conditioning is fantastic. It’s no pushover, especially if you are too adventurous from the tee, but, if you plot your way around and take your chances when they come, Rye is a course where you can score.
WHERE TO STAY
There is a huge range of options in the Surrey area and we will work with you to understand your requirements. Whether you want a cozy country pub with rooms, or a modern, luxury hotel resort, we’ve got it covered. Or, you may prefer to stay in Central London and travel out.
There aren’t quite as many options on the coast but we know the area well so will be able to advise on the best accommodation for your needs - this area is charm personified!
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THE ASPERION HILLSIDE
The Asperion Hillside is a boutique hotel situated in the village of Worplesdon, a short drive from the centres of both Guildford and Woking, and ideally placed for many of the great golf courses in the area.
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PENNYHILL PARK
Pennyhill Park is a luxury hotel in the Surrey countryside. With a fine dining restaurant, spa and many on-site activities, this is a high-end option for a Surrey golf stay.
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The Bell Hotel
The Bell Hotel in Deal is a recently refurbished, grand Edwardian hotel, brimming with character and chic, modern magic. it is set in a beautiful spot overlooking the River Stour.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
DAY 1
We will meet you at Heathrow airport and transfer you to your hire car or private vehicle with driver.
Your first round will be at Swinley Forest, less than 30 minute’s drive from the airport. Swinley, one of the most private courses in the UK, is currently ranked 50th in the world by Golf Magazine and is a true joy to play. It is the perfect introduction to the Heathland style of golf with its springy turf, purple heather and well-guarded greens.
After the round, make the short drive to The Asperion Hillside guesthouse, about 30 minutes away. This hotel is very well placed for your golf over the next few days and handy for the amenities in the town of Guildford.
DAY 2
Today you will enjoy one of the great days in golf - 36 holes at Sunningdale. It is right up there with Royal Melbourne and Winged Foot as one of the best double header days. The two courses are built on an inspiring scale and you can enjoy a drink on the terrace after your round while you try to decide which of the pair was your favourite!
DAY 3
It’s another heathland classic today as you make your way to Walton Heath. Scene of the 1981 Ryder Cup and numerous other top amateur and professional events, the Old Course at Walton Heath is a mainstay of the top 50 courses in the UK. However, the New is also highly rated, so you may well want to make this into a 36 hole day too.
In the evening you may want to go into London to take in a show or just enjoy one of the city’s wonderful restaurants.
DAY 4
It’s your last day in the Surrey area before heading to the coast. You will play another gorgeous course, St George’s Hill (ranked 79 in the world). It’s one of the more exclusive clubs in the area, and one of the very best.
After the round you will make the 2 hour transfer to the south-east coast and the town of Deal in Kent. This is a delightful part of England, with lovely restaurants, quaint pubs and great golf! There are a whole host of B&Bs and guest houses to choose from for your stay.
DAY 5
First up in Kent is 27 holes at Prince’s golf club. Prince’s hosted the 1932 Open won by Gene Sarazen. The three loops of nine holes - The Dunes, Himalayas, and Shore - have all benefited from recent work from Mackenzie and Ebert and continue to rise up the UK rankings.
DAY 6
Royal Cinque Ports lies just outside Deal and is a truly fabulous day’s golf. It is one of the best links in the UK and hosted the Open Championship in 1909 and 1920, won by J.H Taylor and George Duncan respectively. When the wind is up, this is a stern test of golf. As Darwin writes, “Golf at Deal is very good indeed – fine, straight-ahead, long hitting golf wherein the fives are likely to be many and the fours few”.
DAY 7
You have probably saved the best for last with today’s round. Royal St George’s (ranked 33 in the world) is a masterpiece. Some of the pros say it’s a little unfair with blind shots, deep bunkers, ever-rotating direction of holes and fast, kittle fairway bounces which can be confounding to the best pros. But it’s those very same characteristics that truly stir the spirit of adventure for all golfers as they journey around this great links.
After the round enjoy a night out in Deal at one of the lovely restaurants and explore a few pubs. A great finish to your English adventure!
DAY 8
Transfer to airport and fly home.
This is just a sample of one English itinerary. Please contact us now to start planning your trip of a lifetime!