The beautiful town of Esher has all the attributes required to mark itself out as a haven for golf enthusiasts. Here, on the northern edge of the Surrey hills, there is such a varied tapestry of landscape and terrain with heaths, woodlands and greenery that course architects over the last two centuries have been blessed with options and spoilt for choice.
Our guide to the best golf courses in Esher demonstrates how well this has all been utilised in a mix of contemporary and classic golf facilities of superb quality.
Thames Ditton & Esher Golf Club
James Braid was a giant on the early professional golf circuit. Not only did he win The Open five times, but after retirement, he was a consultant on over 250 courses across the UK with a particular emphasis on compact inland examples that are perfectly suited to the south of the country.
Thames Ditton & Esher Golf Club is a wonderful example of how his influence and strategy makes the most of the contours of common land, encouraging golfers to think their way around it without resorting to brute strength and long drives. True to Braid’s original philosophy, it sits between Esher and Thames Ditton on the boundary of Esher Common and has been a big part of the fabric for golfing life in Surrey since 1892. Its natural roses and hollows amongst the free-draining ground means that it remains playable all year round even in the heavy downpours of late autumn and early spring.
The course works with a 9 hole layout using two tee positions per hole to make for a full 18 stretch overall. Some notable challenges appear on the Par 3 Compound with its elevated tee and Par 4 The Lodge that holds a long, narrow and demanding fairway, requiring attention at all times. A collection of subtle bunkers and tree corridors punctuate the course for maintained interest and the lean towards accuracy over distance does mean that most playing abilities will get a lot out of Thames Ditton & Esher. The club understands and celebrates its status as part of this prestigious common land heritage and operates in a charming village golf club manner, with a drive towards accessibility and community building for all its members. Weekly competitions and some great putting and chipping practice facilities ensure that Esher residents are able to work on their short game, even when time is short too.
Sandown Park Golf Centre
The grounds of the historic Sandown Park Racecourse are the home to this golf centre, and it makes for some stunning scenery and world-class facilities overall. It began around the early 1970s with a goal to provide a democratised approach to the sport that would place a firm emphasis on first-timers and families. Although this may have originally encouraged a more casual approach, the three distinct nine-hole layouts here are definitely of a very high standard.
The Eclipse Course is the main attraction. Small and fast greens sit at the end of tree-lined fairways with an opening par 5 that has a fabulous adjacent run to the racecourse rail. It plays with balance and order in a real test for intermediate ability golfers without the time commitment of a full round. The Masters Par 3 Course has carved out a solid reputation as an entry-level introduction to the fundamentals of the game. Each hole here is between 80 and 160 yards to allow for practice on each part of the golfer’s toolkit in sharp bursts. Finally, the Colt Short Game Course is a pitch and chip facility, purpose built for coaching and to accommodate group family play where every ability can be challenged and stretched.
Perhaps one of the greatest draws here is the driving range. Over 30 bays, many covered and heated, use Toptracer ball-tracking technology to finesse that all important swing. PGA professionals are also available for coaching and private lessons in groups or individually, should you feel the need to take your game to the next level. Sandown Park Golf Centre is an exciting and modern interpretation of the age-old game that may even allow all the family to finally understand what the fuss is about.
Hersham Golf Club
Hersham Golf Club is about one and a half miles south of Esher and easily accessed through a 5-minute car journey. The pay and play operation here is part of a philosophy that was gaining popularity at the turn of the last century and became dependent on excellent facilities such as this. The Surrey golfing community now look upon Hersham as one of the best everyday courses in the county that started its life on this former nursery and woodland back in the 1980s. Its location made it ideal for a parkland course with a more compact style that could preserve as much of the tree cover as possible. Although relatively short at a total of around 5, 300 yards, there is great variety in the holes with a collection of open and tight holes over subtle but challenging elevation changes. The 4th hole is a tricky par 3 over a pond that may well be short but demands ultra-precise approach play and the 12th is a par 4 through woodland that requires a shaped tee shot that has been the undoing of many capable players here.
Informality and convenience are the defining elements of Hersham for the Surrey golfer. The development of new features over the years such as the drastically improved drainage and driving range demonstrate their commitment to maintenance alongside emerging requirements. And although the original friendly and accessible outlook remains, this is still a quality experience for players of every ability. All of which draws extensively from the exquisite countryside vistas that surround it.
As winter approaches in the UK, the residents of Esher can count on these courses to continue providing the right platform for practice. The days may be shorter and the light slightly dimmer but there is always the opportunity to grab a quick round amongst the stirring scenery of this landmark Surrey town.
