The Oldest Club on the Surrey Heath

[Adam Lawrence]

Limpsfield Chart GC, nine holes, founded 1889.


Anyone know anything about it?

[Robin_Hiseman]

I've walked over it a couple of times. Reminded me of Berkhamsted in many ways. Short, tight and with carries over heather banks. Blighted by road crossings of Liphookian proportions. Quaint and old worldly.

[Clyde Johnson]

I've walked it. It's pretty interesting, primarily for it's efficient use of some awkward shaped parcels of land - there are a fair few road crossings of varying busyness. There is a gnarly, big pit to carry on the uphill second drive, and the downhill par-five seventh is a pretty cool chase. The ninth hole is most unusual, doglegging across the 8th fairway and then over a bank of gorse to a semi-sunken green. Could really do with a chainsaw!

[Giles Payne]

I read that some of the original members left to set up Tandridge - I can’t remember the reason.


I have driven past it a few times and wondered about it.

[Adam Lawrence]

Thanks all. I suspect some kind of Colt connection exists at Limpsfield, given that it was laid out by Peter Paxton and Douglas Rolland was its pro from 1890-1894 (when, of course, he went to Rye) -- Paxton and Rolland were Colt's first two golfing mentors.

[Adrian_Stiff]

Looks lovely.

[David_Tepper]

http://www.limpsfieldchartgolf.co.uk/course/course-overview/

http://www.limpsfieldchartgolf.co.uk/course/course-tour/hole/1/

[Matt Dawson]

Limpsfield Chart GC, nine holes, founded 1889.


Anyone know anything about it?

I lived backing onto it for 12 years, played it quite a few times. What do you want to know? 9 greens with alternate tees, some change the angle of the hole quite a bit. Good turf, very fast & firm in summer, but claustrophobically tight in quite a few places. Not even sure if they have fairway watering. Tree cover is extensive as the land it resides on is owned partially by the Titsey Estate (huge landowner) and part by National Trust.

I have personally helped chop down some of the trees, and the local NT ranger is pretty clued up on trying to return the heath character to the course with heather etc. Lots of posters around on boards in car parks explaining what they are doing. The pits & craters referred to are due to extensive bombing during the war...Biggin Hill is only a few miles north and Battle of Britain was fought in the skies above

It's a lovely part of the world