Malden Golf Club

Malden GC is a par 71, 6295 yards course [of the whites], in Malden Surrey. The SSC is 70.

It is a secluded traditional parkland course. Beverley Brook crosses a number of holes and comes into play from the tees for the medium long hitters.

The course was generally in excellent condition but with a few areas of the course showing signs of wear, ie parched areas, after the recent dry weather. However, the heavy overnight rain had a softening affect on the playability of the course. The course is a very level walking course.

The four par 3s were a beautiful challenge. Four of the 11 par 4s were well in excess of 400 yards and therefore are indexes 1, 2, 3 & 5.The format of the front and back 9s was imbalanced in that there are no par 5s on the front 9 and 3 part 5s on the back 9.

There were some quirky dogleg holes and fairways were well bunkered. The greens were also well guarded by deep bunkers. Greens were generally large, often lengthy from front to back, and shapely; and played slow because of the affects of overnight rain.

I entered the clubs Seniors Open Stableford Competition in order to play the course. The entry fee was £35, including coffee, 18 holes, a two course buffet lunch and prizes. Midweek visitors green fees are £39, or £22 as a members guest or £25 with a County Card.

The club members and competition organisers were excellent hosts and contributed significantly to a good day. A very welcoming club! It has an excellent halfway hut which was open for the competition.

I enjoyed many aspects of playing the course and would happily play it again in the right circumstances. However it doesn't quite rank in the category of courses that I feel I could recommend to TSG members as a 'must play/play it if you can' but it's OK.

It is a course that is only a 20/25 minutes journey from home so should be on my radar. However, it is a not a course that any club member or TSG member had ever mentioned or recommended I should play.

It is very obviously a traditional members club. The 7 day annual membership fees are £1,650. This is about £375 per annum more than Cherry Lodge's equivalent. By comparison I don't consider that the Malden course matches Cherry Lodge in terms of playing quality or challenge, to justify the additional annual fees. There also a first year joining fee of £450.

This private members club nestled in south west suburban London is well worth a visit...

Only a few miles from both Wimbledon and Twickenham this parkland course is fairly flat and benign but also pretty and a good test. The course has some great holes and the Greenkeeper is to be commended for having prepared some fantastic surfaces and I played here in Nov - so hats off to them!

The course is compact and has many residential homes backing onto it but this does not impinge on you or the residents due to good tree density. The half way hut is very cosy (A circular hut!) and worth stopping at to admire the photos of past and present captains.

There are some great driving holes too and if you're playing well you won't fail to enjoy this course.

Special thanks should go to both the staff in The Clubhouse (we couldn't have been better looked after) and Ben in the Pro shop was equally as a welcoming.

The club dates back to 1893 but moved to its current location in 1926 and if it wasn't so far from me, I would happily put this is on my 'regularly played' course list. Give it a try, you will enjoy it!