Golf Clubs in Essex And London

There are some 80 golf clubs in Essex affiliated to the Essex Golf Union which was inaugurated in 1924, and around the same number in London. However, with the Essex Ladies County Golf Association founded in 1900, meaning the women’s game was nearly a quarter of a century before the men’s Union was formed.

Golf clubs in Essex include the well-known Chelmsford Golf Club which was re-modelled in 1924 by Harry Colt. The October of 1987* brought with it a rarely seen hurricane in the UK, which devastated a lot of the English countryside and damaged many golf courses.

It brought down many trees, which in turn (over time) opened things up so that there was greater air movement, and the course became much drier. It is now said to be one of the best maintained courses in the county.

Romford Golf Club can be found in Gidea Park in Essex and is a testing course of 6,383 yards with a par of 71. Everything seems reasonably straightforward until you reach the par four 4th where you are often playing into the prevailing wind. It is 477 yards and the Pro’s tip is “carry the middle bunker for the second shot, card a five and move on”. The hardest hole is the par four 14th   which is 455 yards and has a pond just short right of the green.

Other well-known Golf clubs in London include The London Club, The RAC Club, The Grove but there is some bad new, as council become even more strapped for cash, they are selling off some golf course land for housing one such club is Beckenham Place Park GC between Penge and Bromley. This was a challenging and enjoyable course meandering between the ancient trees in the park but alas, from 2016, this course no longer exists.

Meanwhile, Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Golf Club (opposite to the famous Dulwich College and is an undulating course with astounding views of London from Canary Wharf to Wembley. This is another course designed by Harry Colt in 1894, although some alterations to bunkers were made in 2007 and the tees were rebuilt. 

*The Great Storm of 1987 was a violent extratropical cyclone that occurred on the night of 15–16 October, with hurricane-force winds causing casualties in England, France and the Channel Islands as a severe depression in the Bay of Biscay moved northeast. Among the most damaged areas were Greater London, the East Anglian coast, the Home Counties, the west of Brittany and the Cotentin Peninsula of Normandy which weathered gusts typically with a return period of 1 in 200 years.

Charity Golf Days Are A Great Way Of Raising Funds

Society golf days and corporate golf days can be a great way to get to know people outside your normal environment. In particular, if you own or are a director of a business, giving your employees a day off work will be seen by them as a sign of the company giving back, and as gratitude for their efforts, which can in turn help people to bond better and feel good about the job that they do, knowing that the company appreciates them.

Charity golf days are organised by lots of people to help their favourite charity, but they can take a bit of effort.

If you have a favourite charity and you would like to help raise funds for, you should contact their office as they will very probably be able to help with a fund-raising pack.

Enquire at several clubs to find out which one offers the best deal for a round of golf and a meal. Some clubs do special deals for charity days. Make sure you select a day which doesn’t clash with something else important, such as the Cup Final, as you want the most people possible to attend.

You need to make a budget covering all expenses, List all outgoings, such as venue hire, food and drink, entertainment, and promotional material. Once you know your expenses you can fix an entry fee that gives you a profit to donate to the charity.

Ask local businesses to donate prizes or sponsor a hole in exchange for some promotion at the event such as advertising boards on the course or a write-up in the programme. You could also invite companies to enter their own team.

Above all, get the word out. Posters, flyers, local papers, social media, and word of mouth can all boost interest. 

Some Superb Golf Courses In London And The Home Counties

If you are a keen golfer there are some superb golf courses in London and the Home Counties. In fact, there are 45 golf courses in Buckinghamshire – most of them with 4 star reviews or better – 71 golf courses in London, and over 80 golf courses in Essex. Playing all those should keep you busy for a year or two!

To examples of popular clubs in the region include Hazlemere Golf Club in Buckinghamshire, which has sloping hills and fairways and great scenery. At just 5,833 yards it is not a long course, but the slopes can take it out of you. The 9th hole is known to the locals as “heart attack hill” and not without good reason.

There are three par 5’s so there is always the chance of a birdie, but playing the par 3’s well is crucial because it is easy to drop shots on these. The 18th hole is a test of nerves as it is a two-tiered green with water in front of it, and many a ball has disappeared into it, requiring a donation to the captain’s charity.

Meanwhile, Fulwell Golf Club is in Twickenham, South West London, and while also a short-ish course there is plenty woodland and parkland with plenty of thick rough and shrubbery to test your game.

There are some very good par 3’s, especially the 9th. Tee shots are played over a small valley with marshland and water, and if you hit it a little heavy the ball can fall back into it. What’s more, if you stray off line on most of the holes you are in the rough or the trees.

Finally, Colne Valley is in Earls Colne near Colchester in the north part of Essex, and is definitely worth a visit. It is a testing course in very good condition and has some stunning views, especially from the balcony on the clubhouse which overlooks both the 9th and 18th holes. There are no easy greens here, which is what makes it, for some, a great course.

Golf Clubs In London And Essex Are Many And Varied

If you live in Greater London or in close by counties like Essex, you have a choice of some 450 golf clubs at which to play within an hour drive. Some of them, are ‘members only’ but you can play at most accept visitors or visiting societies. Golf clubs are in business to make a profit, after all, and the way they seek to do that is to provide players with a wide range of activities in addition to keeping their courses in tip top condition.

There are some 80 or so golf clubs in Essex alone reaching all over the county, so wherever you live there will be some courses near you. Indeed, it takes only an hour to drive from one end of the county to the other, so the world – to coin a phrase – is your oyster.

It is no secret that golf club membership has been declining in recent years for a number of reasons. Not the least of these is that potential junior members spend far more of their time on the internet playing games and chatting on Facebook than they used to do 20 years ago when we didn’t have all this 21st century technology, rather than getting out and about in the real world.

However, there are other problems too. Many golf clubs are seen as outdated and run by committees of pensioners, and “cliquey”, while others are viewed as sexist. However, this needs to change if the sport wants to survive and flourish.

Despite this, many golf clubs in London, along with those in Essex, are keen to be seen to be bringing themselves into the modern world and are taking steps to try and “up their game” quite literally.

Some have swimming pools, spas, saunas, and even creches for children, in addition to the bar and restaurant, in order to attract a wider audience. 

What makes for a good charity golf day?

1. First things first is to decide on a location.

Coupled with the plethora of online golf tee times platform that have driven down the price of some tee times green fees, now is the time to look at joining an Online Golf Club. There are number of platforms and apps available to join – just search ‘Golf Groups’ in Google and you will see many options but what is the criteria for judging which Online Golf Society to join?

Here’s ten top tips for choosing which golf website platform or app is right for you…

1. Is the site being used and are there any active forums?
2. Is the site easy to navigate and use?
3. Does the Online Golf Society have a list of upcoming events?
4. Is there a messaging system within the App?
5. Can you build a Golfers Profile and grow your numbers of golf contacts?
6. Is there a ‘Society’ options in which you can promote your events?
7. Can you track your golf handicap and get a handicap certificate?
8. Do they offer discounted Green Fees to members?
9. Can you add photos, society results and your society handicaps?
10. Does it allow you to meet with other golfers in your area?

Each Social Network for Golfers offers its own unique way or presenting its layout and functions but as with all these things, simplicity is key. Try to find a website or platform that is quick and efficient and of course one that does not sell your data or bombard you with email promotions.

There is no doubt they in the future this is the way that many golfers with connect with other golfers and with the technology constantly evolving, there is no reason why anyone, rich or poor should ever play golf alone again!

How many golf Clubs are there in Essex?

As far as we know the first golf club in Essex date back to the 19th Century including some of the more well-known clubs such as Royal Epping Forest Golf Club (1888), Chelmsford Golf Club (1883), Malden Golf club (1893), Romford Golf Club (1894) with others being establish in the early 20th Century such as Thorndon Park Golf Club (1920).

Of course, the 1990’s saw a huge amount of course being built and but the turn of the millennium there was reported as many as 82 golf course in Essex. This figure has since reduced with estimations now standing around the 70-sh mark.

Many Essex based golf course suffer from a clay base which can sometimes means the courses struggle with wet weather in the winter but those that maintain their course, have proved that it doesn’t have to effect golfers in the colder months.

One of the Older Club is Clacton Golf Club, which was established in 1892 and at the time of writing had just celebrated it 125th anniversary.

The course was designed by Jack White, when a small band of enthusiasts leased 40 acres of grazing land close to the town centre and roughly laid out nine holes.  After four years the land was taken back for residential development and the club moved to the other side of town where it leased, initially, 50 acres to provide nine holes, then a further 50 acres in 1909 to give 18 holes. Much of that land is still part of the present course, though there have been many changes in boundaries and layout since then.

The course now covers 110 acres and runs alongside the sea wall and inland to West Road. It is flat, part wooded and part open, and comprises five par 3s, nine par 4s and four par 5s. Total length from the competition tees is 6448 yards and the standard scratch score is 71. For ladies it is 5526 yards (SSS72).

There is an excellent practice ground of 10 acres, which is accessed by carefully crossing the 18th fairway. Two practice putting greens and a chipping area together with two practice nets are located close to the clubhouse. Practicing on the course is prohibited. The course is well bunkered and fleets, which cross fairways or form boundaries, are a peculiar feature providing many water hazards.

So, for those old and new to golf, there is plenty of variety and golfing option available to the golfer!

Golf Clubs in London and inside the M25

Using TheSocialGolfer.com course directory mapping tool*, we located approx. 100 golf courses can be found within the London Orbital Motorway, the M25. These consist of a combination of Private Members Clubs, Proprietary owned club and Public Golf Courses.

These include some of the more well-known courses including The Grove, The Addington, The Shire, The Richmond, The RAC Club (Royal Automobile Association) at Woodcote Park and Hampton Court Golf Club. This list also includes in the list is Royal Blackheath Golf Club, which in 2008 celebrated it 400th year in existence and is THE oldest golf club in London, and widely recognized as the Oldest Golf Club in the World….

 
By the late 16th Century, golf had been reported played in Scotland for some 150 years, and James I (James 6th of Scotland) entourage was rumoured to include several golfers and, by climbing to the higher ground at Blackheath above the palace, these courtiers could see an area on which they could pursue their sport. In addition, the Prince of Wales and James I's son is known to have started golfing in 1606. This was the first record of golf in Blackheath, and while many of these golfers belonged to Scottish nobility, Royal Blackheath was considered a Scottish club! But this golf club is in London?

The Club's own artefacts date back to as early as 1745, and the Edinburgh Almanac which has listed the dates of formation of the leading golfing societies since the early 1800s - records Blackheath as having been established "prior to 1745" from as long ago as 1830. Bernard Darwin, grandson of Charles Darwin, golf correspondent of The Times for 46 years, past Captain of the Royal & Ancient and the most revered of all golf writers, began his introduction to a guide to the Club published in the 1940s with the following words…"The Royal Blackheath Golf Club, as all the world knows, is the oldest golf club in the world."

So, if you’re looking for a golf club in London and inside the M25, why not give some of these historical and prestigious golf clubs a try!

*The Social Golfer website is an online golf club, golf society and course review site.