West Kent Golf Club

West Kent is in my top 3 prettiest courses I have played. The course (as always) looked immaculate. Some challenging holes, or maybe that's just me :)

West Kent is a par 71, 6427 yards (white tees) downland style course, in Downe, Orpington, Kent. The course is very adjacent to Biggin Hill Airport, and is 5 minutes drive from my home club Cherry Lodge. We are Kent Vet's League rivals.

The course was played as a Kent Vet's League match. Under this league arrangement players only pay a £15 fee to cover lunch. An incredibly good VFM way to get to play a good course. Weekday visitor green fees are £55 and £30 with a County Card. Societies are accommodated midweek but rates are not cheap!

The club has been on its present site since 1925. Evidence of wartime bombing damage remain as features on some holes, grassed over craters etc. The course can be a very hard walk at times, with many of the holes meandering through the picturesque valley; especially on the back 9.

The course is not overly long but the challenge of the course lies with the various elevation changes, slopes, the fairway and greenside bunkering; doglegs/trees. Also the greens are undulating and difficult to read but in immaculate condition. The two longest par 4s are their indexes 1 & 2. There are 13 par 4s, 3 par 3s and only 2 par 5s.

The clubhouse sits high above the course. Hospitality was excellent as was the catering.

In terms of famous visitors to the course, Tom Watson played an exhibition match in 1985, losing to South African Hugh Baiocchi, who shot the course record 65 at the time to do so. Australian cricket teams also frequently visited whenst on Ashes tours; including Sir Don Bradman. No doubt he scored better than I did!

This is a beautifully scenic course and a very good golfing challenge. Play it if can !

West Kent is hidden at the bottom of Biggin Hill Aerodromes runway! Having Spitfires taking off over your head is a lovely distraction. The course was designed by and for mountain goats. It is very hilly, so unless you are up to a tough walk get a buggy. The greens have severe breaks and take a lot of reading. Not very long at just over 6,000 yards but the elevated greens make it play a lot longer than you'd think. The club were so friendly, the staff could not have done more. A members club for over a 100 years old it was a privilege to play there. I hope to return again next year. My only criticism was that the green were un receptive..you'd hit a good approach only to find it had run through, which was a bit frustrating. Well worth a visit if you get a chance.

Very impressed with the Golf Course, lovely condition (Sept. 2013). Sticklers for dress code, though, (had to change my shorts that I have worn on dozens of courses, for trousers). No leniency at all. And the bar turned us away because of this, although the manager, who caught up with us in the car park, said he would have used his discretion, had he known. It was too late by then. A spoilt end to a great round of golf!! I'll leave it to you to make up your own mind.