Cobham and its surrounding neighbourhoods have countryside so impressive and inviting that residents here can be forgiven for spending the majority of their free time outside in the open air. The tranquillity and majesty of its ancient woodlands, untamed heaths and the winding River Mole make it the most perfect backdrop for hikes and walks in all weathers. However, this area also provides a landscape that golf course architects over the years have come to appreciate as a fine canvas to create their visions upon.
This area has fantastic connections to the capital, making it an attractive commuter destination for families who build their professional lives in London. Their recreation and leisure time can then be spent in beautiful but rather more sedate surroundings of Surrey. All of which means that it has built a fantastic collection of nearby golf clubs and courses to serve the residents of this community and provide yet another attraction for those passing through as visitors.
Here is a guide to the very best of them.
St George’s Hill Golf Club
St George’s Hill Golf Club is around 3 miles from Cobham in Weybridge, just a 10-minute drive through the spectacular Surrey countryside. It was created as part of Walter George’s vision for a prestigious residential estate with sporting amenities within its boundaries over 100 years ago, in 1911. The course itself was orchestrated by the legendary architect Harry Colt and remains largely intact to this day. There are three sets of red, blue and green 9-hole loops that can be played in combination for the standard 18 holes here, with the red and blue making up its incredible championship course. A heady mix of elevation changes, ridges and valleys runs across the Surrey Sand heath terrain with some dramatic shifts in slope and challenging blind spots to keep even the professionals on their toes.
St George’s Hill is regarded as a masterpiece of inland course design. With exceptional conditioning, maintenance and preservation for Colt’s original designs, it regularly appears in the top 30 courses for the UK & Ireland as a challenging and beautiful place to play. As you would expect, guests here must be accommodated by invite from a member only and adhere to the strict codes of conduct at all times. As a tip, do take the time for a walk across the course before teeing off, as there are some pretty obscured elements that it pays to be aware of.
Also Read: Golf Clubs South West London
Burhill Golf Club
Burhill Golf Club is just north of Cobham, about 4 miles away and only a ten-minute journey by car. This incredible place is set within a 300-acre Georgian estate in Walton-on-Thames and features two 18-hole courses that each hold their own distinct attractions and challenges. The Old Course here was created in 1907 by the two-time Open champion Willie Park, who favoured strategic applications over brute strength with an emphasis on the natural lay of the land. Every hole asks for precision and management, before ending on the signature 18th towards the Georgian mansion in some style. The New Course was added at the turn of the 21st century with broad fairways and slicker greens that reward a much greater risk-taking approach to a championship standard.
The grand and imperious clubhouse offers sweeping views of the final greens for each course, with an elegant terrace for those in attendance. Additional practice ranges and putting greens overseen by resident PGA professionals also make Burhill a complete package for the discerning amateur who is looking to take their game to the next level. With such great history matched by impeccable facilities, this is a golf club for the Surrey connoisseur.
Also Read: Best Golf Courses in London
The Drift Club
The serene woodland of East Horsley is just 5 miles south of Cobham and home to the superb golfing facilities of The Drift Club. Although this place may not have the centuries-old prestige of some of Surrey’s more well-known clubs, it has more than enough credentials for the serious enthusiast. The name itself is a reference to the geological drift deposits that are responsible for the shape and form of the course with rolling undulations and greens present throughout. These were all used to fantastic effect by the three-time Open Champion Sir Henry Cotton and his partner Robert Sandow when they created the course back in 1973 across 230 acres of striking Surrey scenery. There is an intriguing rhythm present at The Drift Club, mixing up short and tactical holes with some longer drive-focused challenges. Fast and relatively true greens are a key feature, but it is perhaps the dog leg finale of the 18th hole that provides the most attention-demanding focus. With regular charity days and club-wide competitive events, a warm and bright community has been created at The Drift Club that offers top-tier golf in an accessible way.
Also Read: Best Golf Courses in UK
Silvermere Golf & Leisure
Public golf courses with pay-and-play capability are an essential part of the golfing ecosystem of the country. Their role in attracting beginners and fostering an enthusiasm for the game while waiting for membership at a club is how the game manages to stay relevant across generations. Silvermere Golf & Leisure is a fine example of how this balance of quality facilities and open accessibility works for the people of Cobham. It was designed by the Ryder Cup players Neil Coles and Brian Huggett in the 1970s with exactly this philosophy in mind and has since evolved into a wider leisure complex for the community.
However, the sport of golf remains firmly at Silvermere’s core with a course that moves through a parkland setting for the front 9 with a much more dramatic and open back 9 that works its way towards the lake. The semi-island green on the 18th is a delightful hole to finish on, which one is likely to have already seen on social media profiles and golfing magazines over the last decade in particular. A huge 52-bay floodlit driving range over two levels and accompanying practice areas, with PGA tuition available, ensure that this club is buzzing with energy at all hours throughout the year too. A golfer of any standard would be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying and publicly available course than Silvermere, anywhere in the country.
The golfing world has definitely found a welcoming home in Cobham and its close neighbours. Choosing a club to suit your own style, level of experience and desired results is such an important element of the game when you are in the heat of competition on the fairways and greens. From first tee to final putt, this is a landscape where golf fits perfectly into the rhythm of quality living.
