London UK Golf Courses

June 15, 2005 10:06 AM

As a Father's Day gift, I'm looking to arrange for a couple of green fees at a London (UK) area golf course. Any suggestions?

My parents are currently living in London, and as usual I left arranging a gift and/or card to late. I'm thinking that a pair of complimentary greens fees would be a nice present for Dad.

I'm looking for a reasonably priced couse, each to get to (parents currently reside in W1) and beginner friendly. Also, open to the public of course.

Bonus points if I can make the purchase online, or have a look at the Course's website.

Also, despite the W1 location, my parents are not hyper-affluent types (think public servent for the Canadian government) so the price range shouldn't be astronomical.

posted by smcniven to sports, hobbies, & recreation (4 comments total)

Have a friend who swears by the Richmond Park course.
Price is reasonable (think it's publicly owned). Richmond Park is lovely.
posted by cushie at 10:37 AM on June 15, 2005

I live in SW London and have golfed a fair bit here.

I've played at Silvermere and Epsom, both good courses, within the M25 and visitor-friendly. I also understand that Wimbledon Common Golf Club, which shares a course with London Scottish, and requires that you wear a red outer garment (for safety), accepts visitors. All of these should be good options.

Another course, a little further afield, is Hoebridge, near Woking, in Surrey, is an excellent outing with some lovely views over open country on the back nine (to make up for the difficulty of the course). Also visitor-friendly.

Once you're over the general sticker shock of UK prices, all are reasonably priced for golf, IMO.
posted by sagwalla at 12:26 PM on June 15, 2005

Stockley Park is west of London. The fees seem pretty reasonable and it is a championship course. I've played there and thought it was pretty good.
posted by Frasermoo at 2:42 PM on June 15, 2005

Stoke Park is excellent, near Slough, and not too far from Central London - with the right traffic, you can be from W1 out to Junction 2 of the M40 (or J6 of the M4) in about 40 mins.

Its a lovely setting - not too far out and very pretty - it has the added 'visitor kudos' of being the golf course where two of the James Bond movies were shot (Sean Connery in Goldfinger, and Pierce Brosnan in Tomorrow Never Dies).

I've played here and the Stockley Park course which frasermoo mentions and they are both good courses.
posted by mattr at 12:53 AM on June 16, 2005