Royal Epping Forest Golf Club

Royal Epping has not received a review in a while so I thought I would give an updated opinion. There has been some changes here which have improved the overall experience of playing the course. I will come onto that shortly. As most people may know, this is a public course that is shared with two private clubs. One being Royal Epping and one being Chingford. It is also played on public land so one has to be attentive to walkers and dogs although they tend to stay out of the way most of the time. Practice facilities are pretty much non-existent except for a poor quality putting green next to the first tee. The green staff have changed in the last 18 months and the course is looking in much better condition. Tee boxes are not bad, fairways are pretty decent and the majority of the greens are running fast and true. The course is a mixture of tricky par 3s, shortish par 4s and 3 longish par 5s. You have to know your way around as there are no markers. Its under strict instructions to keep it as natural as possible. The cafe by the Pro Shop is new and not bad and after the round, the members of Royal Epping are usually friendly enough to sign you in so you can have a drink their bar, if you should ask them. It's one of those courses where you have to accept the pitfalls as it is shared with the public whom have right of way, but I certainly do not think it is a bad course on which to play golf... Good value for money as well.

Well worth the vist found the course quite difficult with small fast greens and long , can't wait to give it another go

Quite a few shortish holes where irons off the tee are fine, but generally these are to either narrow, sloping or dog-leg fairways presenting a decent challenge.

Greens not great to look at but were true, and a couple are testing enough that if you play here regularly you'd look to keep your approaches on the low side.

A nicely worked out course, interspersed with 'public right of way' not overly long but tight and twisty, a good challenge for mid/low handicappers, each green seemed to react differently, some soggy some dry and watch out for hole number 3, that green is hilarious... could be a score wrecker (aim short and to put uphill, be firm or expect it to come back to you).A nice finishing set of holes. Sunshine definately makes the venue a place to enjoy.

My group observed that the distance markers didn't seem to be too accurate as my satnav confirmed (and yes I gave out information as required). Be nice to the pro shop guys and you may just receive preferential treatment, the cafe is the place to meet and good food is available...

Good course - nice interesting holes and well worth a visit, but remember your outer gear (jacket/top or trousers/skirt) should be red (post box red is good)... There is a historical reference to why but it has been lost in the annals of history (ask me for the real answer)...