News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.


JNC Lyon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Denham Golf Club
« on: March 01, 2010, 01:25:21 PM »
The first day of March brought glorious weather to London town.  50 degrees, bright sunshine, the best golf day I have seen since arriving in Britain.  I took advantage of the fine, spring-like day and ventured out for a round at Denham Golf Club.

The primary reason I chose Denham is that it features its own rail station.  It is a half-hour trip from London Marylebone.  It makes it a very convenient course for a man, like me, who is staying in London without a car.  Along with Sandy Lodge (whose station has since been renamed Moor Park Underground), Denham is the only golf course in Britain that is directly accessible from its own station.  After alighting at Denham Golf Club, one walks along a wooded path, hops a fence, and emerges into the 11th fairway.

Denham Golf Club is far from a just novelty club with its own rail station.  The course itself is a very fine H. S. Colt layout dating from 1910.  I enjoyed the golf course immensely.  A few highlights:

  • The 1st and 2nd holes make for a very unusual start.  The first hole is a short par four that plays to a beautiful sunken green.  Once the player putts out at the first, he walks up to the second tee to the right of the first fairway.  He then drives in a sheer crossfire over the first green.  The second hole is also a fine hole.  The long hitter must avoid a gully to the right of the fairway.  Otherwise the player will have a poor view and angle for his approach.  The first and second holes engaged me immediately and got me excited to play golf.

  • The 5th hole is the first of four fine one-shotters.  Denham is my second Colt course, and I am starting to detect that he is a very good designer of par three holes.  The fifth might be the weakest of the four at Denham.  Neverthless, it features a fine greensite with a wicked false front.

  • 7 is a very fine long par four.  The golfer must flirt the fairway bunker and keep the ball on the high left side of the fairway for the best angle of attack.

  • The 8th is my favorite hole on the front nine and the second of the one-shotters.  It features a brilliant diagonal bunker scheme and a green that slopes wickedly from left to right.  The golfer will initially try to avoid missing to the right of the green.  However, upon approaching the green, the golfer realizes that a miss to the left, rather than right, of the green will leave a nearly impossible up-and-down.

  • The course really comes alive on holes 10 through 12.  10 features a disappearing fairway that leads to a brilliant double-plateau green.  11 requires a drop shot second to a well-bunkered green in a glen.  The 12th is a short par three to a green that is benched perfectly into a hillside.  The 12th bears a striking resemblance to the 3rd at Wannamoisset.  These three holes utilize the wildest terrain on the course, and they are a perfect introduction to the back nine.

  • 14 is the second of back to back par fives, and features a great bunker scheme throughout.  It is not a particularly dramatic hole, but it is solid and strategic nonetheless.

  • 15 is a great mid-range par four to a wild shelf green.  This green is the most severe and most interesting on the course.  I can imagine it is a bear to putt in the summers, especially from above the hole.

  • 16 is the last of the par threes.  It is a another short one to a green nearly as wild as the 15th.

My one issue with the course was the tree maintenance.  It appears that the club has planted a number of filler trees between holes.  These trees are particularly prevalent on the holes around the clubhouse.  I am not sure of the reason for these plantings, but they detract from the character of the course.

Nevertheless, Denham is another fine English layout.  I heard very little about the course until this year.  It certainly worth seeing among the London courses.  Of course, I recommend the train as your mode of transportation to the club.
« Last Edit: March 01, 2010, 01:30:32 PM by JNC_Lyon »
"That's why Oscar can't see that!" - Philip E. "Timmy" Thomas

David_Tepper

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2010, 01:31:12 PM »
JNC -

I remember once passing the Denham GC train station and wondering about the course. Thanks for the report.

The 1st tees of two Sunningdale courses cannot be more than a 1/2 mile walk from the train station in the village of Sunningdale. Granted, the green fees there are very pricey, but if you get a chance to play both courses on a nice day, you will not regret doing so.

DT     

Bill_McBride

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2010, 01:32:57 PM »
Boy that sounds like fun!

Speaking of the tee shot on #2, over the first green  :o , I don't know if you can find many of those in the US.  I have played a few in the UK, with the most memorable being the 4th tee shot at Pennard in Wales, directly over the 3rd green.  Since the 4th is a shortish par 5 where there could be some delay in the fairway as long knockers wait for the green to clear, I wonder if the players on #3 ever get in harms way!

Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2010, 01:39:01 PM »
John,

I believe that Chorleywood station, on the Metropolitan line was built so that members of the Houses of Parliament could alight to play at Chorleywood Golf Club (now a bunkerless 9 holer on Chorleywood Coomon).  It's a shorter walk from station to clubhouse at Chorleywood than at Sandy Lodge, I think.
In June I will be riding the first three stages of this year's Tour de France route for charity.  630km (394 miles) in three days, with 7800m (25,600 feet) of climbing for the William Wates Memorial Trust (https://rideleloop.org/the-charity/) which supports underprivileged young people.

Mark_Rowlinson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2010, 01:52:52 PM »
JNCL, There's another fine Colt course at Beaconsfield. You alight at Seer Green station (same line as Denham) and you are at it. West Lancs, Formby and Hillside effectively have their own stations. West Byfleet and New Zealand are convenient for stations. Royal Mid Surrey is near enough to Richmond station. West Surrey (not often mentioned here - Fowler) is a short walk from Milford station. Sunningdale, for that matter. West Hill is close to Brookwood station. What a shame you can't get to St Andrews by train any more but Carnoustie and Prestwick are still accessible by train. What about Gleneagles?

Glad you enjoyed Denham. I haven't played it for many years but I remember it fondly.

Bob_Huntley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #5 on: March 01, 2010, 04:50:02 PM »
Mark,

Thanks for the memory jolt, I knew Beaconsfield had its own station but for the life of me I couldn't remember it's name.

I think the full name (as of 1951 when I went South) was Seer Green Halt.

Bob

Jon Wiggett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #6 on: March 01, 2010, 05:06:13 PM »
Lythm and St Annes has a railway halt by the 9th tee that is still used during the Open Championship.

JNC Lyon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2010, 04:32:21 AM »
Thanks for all the suggestions on railway golf courses.  I remember now that the Prestwick station was too small to handle the crowds at the Open by the 1920s.  The course stopped hosting the Open because its rail station platforms were inadequate.

Clearly I was way off about how many courses still have rail stations in existence.  I will make an effort to see these courses by rail.
"That's why Oscar can't see that!" - Philip E. "Timmy" Thomas

Mark_Rowlinson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2010, 06:36:53 AM »
I should also have mentioned Harlech and Aberdovey

Jason McNamara

Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #9 on: March 03, 2010, 02:24:48 AM »
North Hants is another, Mark.  (Fleet station)  Also Pleasington.  And yes for Gleneagles, as long as you are willing to saunter across the A9.   :)

Gareth Williams

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #10 on: March 03, 2010, 08:55:30 AM »
Played there some years ago and thought it was a fun layout.

Lovely facility too.

Richard Phinney

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #11 on: March 03, 2010, 09:28:07 AM »
. What a shame you can't get to St Andrews by train any more but Carnoustie and Prestwick are still accessible by train. What about Gleneagles?

Played Gleneagles in November and arrived at their fantastically atmospheric train station at 900 am on a Saturday and it was utterly deserted...like an unused Hollywood set.  There's a phone to the hotel and they pick you up - it would be a fair hike on foot.   Same on the return journey - again not a soul at the station, though i think it is busier during the week with commuters of some kind.

Montrose is a 15 minute walk from the station.  As is Berwick, which is fantastic to play on a quick train day trip from Edinburgh.


Mark_Rowlinson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2010, 10:50:16 AM »
Bob, I think it's now Seer Green and Jordans. I gather quite a few members of the club park their cars at the club (for free) to commute to and from London, while non-members must use the station car parks at Beaconsfield or Gerrards Cross and pay steeply for it.

Further courses around London:

Mitcham Junction station is right next to Mitcham public golf course which was the original Prince's Club.
Finchley (a decent course) is a short walk from Mill Hill East tube, Chigwell is a short walk from Chigwell Station but I don't know anything of the course. West Ruislip is a public course adjacent to West Ruislip station - it doesn't look enticing from the train. Sudbury and Horsenden Hill golf courses are a short walk from Sudbury station. Ealing is not a bad course at all and is close to Perivale tube station, but you do have to carry your clubs across the A40. Roehampton is a strictly private club but if you are invited it is a short walk from Barnes station. You can walk the site of the original Royal Blackheath course (early 17th century) from Blackheath station. I'm tolf there are vestiges to be seen. It's a ten minute walk from Eltham Station to the 20th century Royal Blackheath, a walk well worth it simply to experience the clubhouse. Fulwell is a decent course close to Fulwell station, and 9-hole Strwberry Hill is almost next door at Strawberry Hill station.

I'm told that Wimbledon Park is a nice little course (alongside the All England tennis courts) ay Wimbledon Park tube station. The other Wimbledon clubs are a taxi ride from Wimbledon station. Dulwich and Sydenham is a scenic course with fine views over London and reached from Sydenham Hill station. Sundridge Park is a short walk from the station of the same name.

Coombe Wood is a diminutive 18-hole course a short walk from Norbiton station - I used to play there quite a lot in the 1970s and had lots of fun there. Very friendly. It's a rather longer walk (ca 15 minutes) from Norbiton station to grander and far more expensive Coombe Hill. (They don't have taxis at Norbiton).

The Addington is much loved on this site, but it involves a taxi ride from East Croydon Station - take the address with you for none of the taxi drivers has a clue where it is and will take you to the wrong course.

Mark_Rowlinson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #13 on: March 03, 2010, 12:56:00 PM »
A few more within a short train ride of London:

Berkhamsted - a short walk (up a hill, admittedly) from Berkhamsted station. One of the best bunkerless courses in Britain.
Woking - it is probably worth investing in a short taxi ride - it's a messy walk if you get it wrong. Woking is hard to find unless you know precisely where it is.
East Berkshire very close to Crowthorne Station
Liphook, although the main railway line to Portsmouth runs through the course a short taxi ride is necessary
Potters Bar is close to the station of the same name, the club being memorably that to which Tony Jacklin was attached when he won his Lytham Open.
Woodbridge is a lovely heathland course in Suffolk, only a short walk from Melton Station. 27 holes and some cracking golf in delightful surroundings.

Enjoy!

Mark Pearce

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #14 on: March 03, 2010, 03:37:08 PM »
Mark,

There is (or used to be) a car park at Seer Green station.  As a teenager friends and I used it as a skid pan when iced over.  A very good friend lived a couple of hundred yards away.

Mark
In June I will be riding the first three stages of this year's Tour de France route for charity.  630km (394 miles) in three days, with 7800m (25,600 feet) of climbing for the William Wates Memorial Trust (https://rideleloop.org/the-charity/) which supports underprivileged young people.

Mark_Rowlinson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Denham Golf Club
« Reply #15 on: March 05, 2010, 06:08:52 AM »
Mark, I think the Seer Green station car park will be pay and display today, whereas the Beaconsfield Golf Club car park is free to members. My wife and I attended a joint 60th birthday lunch at Beaconsfield GC this time last year. The club did a beautiful job, food, wine, service, ambience. And the view out over the golf course (mostly practice ground, to be honest) made a delightful backdrop to dining.

Tags:
Tags:

An Error Has Occurred!

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()
Back