South Herts Golf Club

Truly beautiful , so carefully maintained to very high standards - Read Review

Read 8 reviews of South Herts Golf Club

Address: Links Drive, Totteridge, London, N20 8QU, United Kingdom
Rating: 4.4
Rating: 4.4
Opened: 1900
Holes: 27
Type: Parkland
Length: Vardon Course 6472 yds; Rees Course 1582 yds
Par: Vardon Course 72; Rees Course 28
Rating/SSS: Vardon Course 72; Rees Course 28
Slope:
Green Fees: £50.00 Midweek; £60.00 Weekend
Offers: HGU County Card - Green Fee £26.00; Open Fairways - 50% discount 2-4 golfers (4 ball saving £100.00) - Winter Special; Membership - Limited Availability - see website for details.
Tel No: 020 8445 4633
Location: View Map
Website: www.southhertsgolfclub.co.uk
   
Image of the grounds at South Herts Golf Club

Clubhouse/Hospitality Rating: 4.0
Quality of Course Rating: 4.0
Practice Facilities Rating: 4.0
Value for Money Rating: 4.0

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Regulars at this course  (10)
Handicap: 2
Handicap: 28
Handicap: 11
Handicap: 19
Handicap: 36
Handicap: 36
Pro Member
Handicap: 36
Handicap: 24
Pro Member
Handicap: 28
Handicap: 36
Groups  (0)
Currently no groups at this course
Course Leaderboard  (16)
Scoring: 

PosMemberS'fordDate
1
st
Brigitte Lockwood 34 @ South Herts Golf Club 22 Jun 20
Scheduled Games  (0)
Currently no games scheduled

South Herts Golf Club Map and Location


More information about South Herts Golf Club

Facilities
Superb 18 hole par 72 Open Championship regional qualifying "Vardon Course". Challenging 9 hole par 28 executive "Rees Course". Driving range with covered bays, short game area. Modern clubhouse overlooking course, with bar, snooker room, TV lounge, dining room, main lounge, excellent catering, modern changing rooms, fully stocked Pro Shop, equipment hire.
Description
The course was originally laid out in 1900 by twice Open winner Willie Park Junior, a pioneer of parkland courses,  who during his lifetime designed approximately 170 courses across Europe and North America, including Sunningdale and The Berkshire.

Harry Vardon made many substantial improvements to the course during his 37 years as professional and greenkeeper at the Club, and increased the length to 6,432 yards. James Braid was consulted on the bunkering during the 1930's. In the 1990's, the addition of both fairway watering (fed by the Club’s own borehole) and substantial drainage infrastructure have resulted in a playing surface that ranks with the best. More recently, further improvements under the supervision of architect Ken Moodie have seen all the bunkers re-built and re-positioned to provide a strong strategic challenge to today’s long hitters, as well as enjoyable golf for club golfers with more modest skills.

Well placed trees, either singly or in copses, relatively small, often sloping greens, and the undulating nature of the land place a premium on intelligent shot placement. This, together with putting surfaces which are renowned as some of the best in the south of England is why South Herts has regularly been chosen as an Open Championship pre-qualifying venue.

South Herts Golf Club Scorecards

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Review's of South Herts Golf Club

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These reviews represent the personal view of the individual and are not those of the TheSocialGolfer.
Number of Reviews: 8

Handicap: 30

22 Jun 2020, 22:58
Clubhouse/Hospitality Rating: 5.0
Quality of Course Rating: 5.0
Practice Facilities Rating: 5.0
Value for Money Rating: 3.0

Truly beautiful , so carefully maintained to very high standards

Another course I played some 5 years ago (February 2015) and really enjoyed.

Today I had an invite from a well known member of TSG, the « Tech Man, Racing driver & Football Ref » also a Member of South Herts and I understand why, the course is true delight in all aspects .

We played our annual , traditional Matchplay « Rawlinson vs Lockwood », as we missed last year ´s for some reason , 2020 is a Home and an Away Match to make up the lost 2019.

The Course:

Impeccable Tee boxes
Carpet Fairways
Class Top Greens
Real Bunkers with lovely sand, all renovated during the last 5 years at a very large expense.

The course played much longer today because of the wind but that was welcomed as it kept us cool as temperature was in the high 20c.

I played very well despite being quite intimidated by Steve’s huge, powerful long shots but I kept to my game , taking advantage of the 16 (yes 16) shots I was given, it paid dividends for me as I won the Match 2 & 1.
I supposed my early (7.00am) 9 holes round at my local club set up my confidence and I re-quote Harry Vardon “don’t play too much golf, two rounds a day are plenty”.

For the technical stuff, history etc. please refer to my original Review of the course in March 2015.

Visitors fee £60
Guest £30

Thank you Steve R. for a great round, I thoroughly enjoyed the company. I wish you all the luck in your new venture & good day tomorrow at Brands Hatch !


The END ....


  

Handicap: 10

23 Jul 2015, 17:39
Clubhouse/Hospitality Rating: 5.0
Quality of Course Rating: 5.0
Practice Facilities Rating: 4.0
Value for Money Rating: 4.0

Well manicured course well looked after

South Herts is a very well kept course both greens and fairways - not too much trouble and only water if I remember on one hole - the first. Lots of sand traps however to catch the unwary but all in all a very pleasant course for all and not too expensive if guesting with a member.

  

Handicap: 14
Pro Member

10 Apr 2015, 19:38
Clubhouse/Hospitality Rating: 5.0
Quality of Course Rating: 4.0
Practice Facilities Rating: 3.0
Value for Money Rating: 5.0

beautiful course, want to play again already

Yes I want to play this course again, but sadly not until the next winter offers as they want £50 for a round midweek!
It's a lovely course, but not £50 worth. There is very nice scenes almost everywhere you look, and this despite being well inside the M25. The owners/workers responsible deserve a lot of credit. The tee boxes are almost all perfectly flat, and again I say pretty much every tee box it's a lovely view.
There are always buts, and there are 2 that I can think of.
Firstly the majority of holes you are on some kind of slope, making good ball striking more difficult. My concern is that perhaps too many times, which may reduce the enjoyment of the round a little.
Secondly, I do love quick greens, and the downhill putts were almost scary fast. The trouble is, that I was told the greens were running rather slow compared to the summer months. So I would suggest that the greens are ever so slightly too sloped. If the greens were 'slow' the day I played, the only way to stop a downhill putt, will be if you hit the hole. If you miss, as many greens are raised as well as fast, you'll be chipping for your next shot.
I only put down a 3 for practice facilities, purely because I arrived late and haven't looked at them. But reliably informed that they are very good indeed.

If you get the chance as I did, to play this course for £20 and you don't, you missed out and you should regret it

  

Handicap: 36
Pro Member

10 Apr 2015, 16:16
Clubhouse/Hospitality Rating: 4.0
Quality of Course Rating: 4.0
Practice Facilities Rating: 5.0
Value for Money Rating: 5.0

I was so impressed I joined

It's a beautiful, mature parkland course. The greens are superb. The bunkers are so good it's almost a pity you have to try to avoid them. There's a 9-hole par 3/4 course, two chipping practice areas, and two practice greens.

The staff are really nice & the pro shop very friendly.

Despite being further from where I live than at least 5 other golf courses I decided to join South Herts because the course and facilities are so good.

The Value for Money rating is based on the current £20 per round winter rate. The normal visitor rate is £50 which is frankly too much. I suspect it's designed to put visitors off during the summer months.

  

Handicap: 30

10 Mar 2015, 22:05
Clubhouse/Hospitality Rating: 3.0
Quality of Course Rating: 4.0
Practice Facilities Rating: 5.0
Value for Money Rating: 5.0

Harry Vardon stands by the 1st tee........

A lovely golf course with the most wonderful views from wherever you look. The 1st impression is of a very private, exclusive Members club, but Visitors are welcome. Today (Wed 18 Feb 2015) Steve R. got us an excellent deal. Thank you Steve.

South Herts (Vardon Course) is a beautiful, matured, undulating parkland course (not many even lies), extremely well maintained & cared for. The employment of a Course Manager who is also one of the few Master Greenkeepers is a real asset. His work covers many improvements, to name a few: laser levelling of tee boxes, improved draining in bunkers, woodland management, a new short game area etc. etc.

The course opened in 1900, designed originally by Willie Park Jnr but now in his 4th layout with the help of Harry Vardon, James Braid (bunkering) & Ken Moody. Many well known golf personalities have swung their clubs at South Herts :James Braid, Abe Mitchell, Walter Hagen, Arnold Palmer, Tony Jacklin, Bernard Gallagher, Peter Alliss, Ross Fisher to name a few and today it was us 4 TSGers. Harry Vardon, who gave his name to the famous grip, was a Pro at South Herts for 35 years, hence his sculpture at the 1st tee.

Every hole has it own technical challenge, some with lateral ditches, some water (the Dollis Brook) and of course the mature trees & the newly planted ones. The fairways are fairly wide but tee shots needs to be well positioned for your approach to narrow greens always well guarded. The scenery is absolutely magnificient, specially so on a warm winter day, even if windy. A tough/technical course, a real pleasure to play for any level even if the scores achieved are not to your normal handicap standard. Yellow SSS is 70 and the Red SSS is 74.... making it a much tougher course for Lady players. I expect the Ladies members must be excellent at those sloping lies and fast greens.

The 1st hole is a downhill short Par 4 reachable in one by the strong hitter, but strategically guarded on all cardinal points with beautiful sanded bunkers. The green is very tricky too as it slopes back to front.

The 18th is a fantastic downhill, slightly dog legged finishing hole which I messed nearly completely if it was not for my last putt "truly fantastic", one to be noted in the little black book.

There is a water fountain at the 10th (?), a wooden Ladies room somewhere half way through the course.

The Clubhouse is fairly traditional, with Spike bar & other bar, with gorgeous views on the course. Sitting on the terrace on a warm day/evening must be delightful.

Ladies changing room are very "posh" with all the luxury goodies for one's after golf.

The practice facilities are of an excellent standard: 2 putting greens, a superb chipping/pitching/bunkers area.

A large Proshop with lots of equipment and a friendly welcome.

The drive to the Club is through a private road, leading to 2 big car parks: members & visitors.

There is also a 9 holes course, the Dai Rees, with a separate membership. A short but challenging test with great bunkers, numerous trees a a super, very testing finishing hole.

If you get the chance to play this course at a discounted rate, do take the opportunity. The normal Visitor's rate is £50 for this truly wonderful course.

I would love to return, but I sahll avoid travelling through North London and instead use the M25 (South Mimms) from Twickenham. Much easier route.


Must finish this review with a quote from the great man himself, Harry Vardon (Mr Golf or The Icon of Golf):
"Dont play too much golf, two rounds a day are plenty"






THE END......








  

Handicap: 2

07 Aug 2014, 19:09
Clubhouse/Hospitality Rating: 4.0
Quality of Course Rating: 5.0
Practice Facilities Rating: 3.0
Value for Money Rating: 4.0

great Parkland course

Great course that stood out from the crowd,tough but very enjoyable

  

Handicap: 24
Pro Member

31 Jul 2014, 15:58
Clubhouse/Hospitality Rating: 4.0
Quality of Course Rating: 4.0
Practice Facilities Rating: 4.0
Value for Money Rating: 4.0

Fantastic course a must play

Superb parkland course truly immaculate, bunkers the best I have seen anywhere, the greens were the fastest greens I have come across and if you go slightly past the hole your in trouble, 3 putting and even 4 putt was quite easy to do, to get the ball to stop on the greens was really difficult, all in all this is a superbly manicured course

  

Handicap: 2

24 Feb 2010, 19:23
Clubhouse/Hospitality Rating: 5.0
Quality of Course Rating: 5.0
Practice Facilities Rating: 5.0
Value for Money Rating: 5.0

A true championship course, fantastic

A true championship course, laid out over undulating parkland, maintained to a consistently high standard, producing a well presented, technically challenging yet playable course for all levels of golfer. Reputed to have the truest and quickest greens in south east England. Host to many prestigious professional and amateur tournaments, including Open Qualifying, the Hudson Trophy and County Championships.

  




Putting Game Screen Shot