Epsom Golf Club

Course is relatively easy to find, beware of the speed cameras in the 40 zone as you head towards the course from the M25, there mounted on lampposts and not the usual GATSO cameras.

Parking was tricky on a Saturday not sure if this is usual or because another society was playing, I managed to park but only just. Practice facilities are sparse, no driving range or nets, however there is a small green and a small area to practice 50yd shots, which is better than nothing.

The course
On the day I played it was extremely windy and there are not many parts of the course that shield you from the wind. Everyone who has played the course has commented on how hard the greens are, being undulating and fast. Playing in February my guess is they were slower than how they would usually play, and I suspect during a hot period these greens would very tricky to put on. Getting up and down around the greens I found was better suited to bump and run shots rather. For this time of the year I thought the course was in good condition.

As previous reviewers have mentioned there are several areas where you need to cross busy fast roads, and some of the holes play quite near to the roads, which is not ideal. There is also a number of holes which cross over each other and the 17th and 18th T are a bit of mess in terms of design relating to the teeing position. If you keep the ball in the fairway you can score well round here as many of the holes are not that long.

Overall I think it’s an interesting course, the clubhouse is nice and the changing rooms were good, however not sure I would go out of my way to play here, but it’s worth a look if your in the area.

Epsom is a short but interesting course. Played in Jan, and Fairways and Tee boxes were good ( although quite a few 'Mats' ). Some greens were excellent, some ok, but it is winter. Practise facilities are limited, especially the practise green, which does not prepare you for the wicked slopes on the course ones. It is a combination of tough holes, and some easy, so evens out. The high holes near the race course are exposed, and it was windy. There you can get battered, but not all around. All in all, very nice.

Enjoyed my first round at Epsom. A short course with a few very short par 4s.

I had an eagle put on one of the par 5s and managed to walk off the green with a par. The 3 putt I blame on myself and not the greens which I found to be fair and true. Yes they have undulations on them but who wants to play on flat greens with no borrow on them ,not me.

Our twilight round was only 17.50 which I thought represented good value and I'd play here again.

Well what a day, good food and a very nice dry course. Excellent pro shop staff that when I lost my mobile phone drove me back out on to the course and helped me look for it.
A very enjoyable day must return soon.

The clubhouse is beautifully traditional and I took great pleasure in exploring while my fellow golfers practiced outside in the freezing cold. The ladies changing room is quirky and cosy and a lovely welcome chat with a couple of the lady members made for a warm welcome. The breakfast took a while to be served and was too much for me, but good value when it did turn up. I was very disappointed with the course. It is as if it was an afterthought. There should not be a golf course there at all, as it is criss - crossing, as well as interacting with the nearby roads. No one should be trying for a true handicap there. I would only go there again for a bit of fun with friends, pitch and putt practice and have a bet on putting crazy landscaped greens.

I really like this course, which is quirky and original. It is short, with almost no bunkers, but is very tight in places. If you hit the ball straight you can get up near a lot of the greens in regulation - surely a low score beckons?

It's a downland kind of terrain, with quite a few greens set on sloping ground. In my opinion, most short approach shots are best played as bump and runs with an 8 or 9 iron, similar to links golf. High wedge shots can be less effective, especially in winter conditions, where the ball does not release.

Then you arrive at truly fiendish greens, where on both short chips and putts you really need to think carefully about the line, pace and 'missing on the high side'. Most golfers will 3 putt at least a few of the greens.

Tee to green this was a very enjoyable course then the putting starts. I was told before hand about the greens and they weren't lying.

Walk to the ball, think ok two putts here. 4 later and a totally broken man. It's the same for 18 holes.

Great views, great holes, nice little club house. I'm going to get some serious putting practise in before I venture back though. Although I'm not sure that would make any difference.

The practise green is a fair example of what to expect. I gave up trying to read them in the end and just hit and hoped towards the end of the round.

This isn't a slur on the course though. It really is enjoyable you just quickly get used to four putting.

Epsom is another favourite of mine for many reasons:

- it is full of history, has a link with Epsom College, has a Clubhouse full of character (the 1st one to be erected in Surrey), and offers the best variety of holes one could possibly imagined, has only 1 bunker (18th), and the greens are the most challenging & interesting ones to master.

- there are lots of roads to cross to get to the different parts of the course (is it 6, 8 or 10 ???), but this is due to the fact that it used to be 2 golf courses originally. But the signage (yellow arrows with the next Tee number) is excellent and one cannot get lost.

- the course is mostly tight, so accuracy is at a premium, but there are a few wide fairways and it is better to keep to the fairways as the rough is very wild.

- Epsom Down Racecourse is in the background on many holes and one has the most wonderful views of London and its suburbs stretching from Terminal 5 (Heathrow) and more to the Est of London, with Canary Wharf and maybe Essex ? Today was a very clear day and the views were truly spectacular.

- there is a lovely walk from the 4th to the 5th, attractive woodlands.

- lots of up and down hills but walking the course is not that strenous. Just a nice way to keep fit and fill those lungs with fresh Surrey country air.

- there are quite a lot of public footpaths with dog walkers or blackbery pickers or just normal weekend walkers, so be careful before teeing off.

- if you play on a race day, you can see some jockeys/horses rehearsing along the 6th, can be quite exciting to watch and listen to the gallops etc...

Some favourites holes, will only name a few:

5th, Par 4, raised Tee box to an uphill fairway, dog leg to the right, green in front of the Race Course, green ondulating in all directions.

6th: Par 5, slight dog leg to the left,fairway sloping to the left as well, then a huge deep full of rough grass before one reaches the other part of the fairway and uphill to the green. A lovely hole to play with careful planning.

8th, Par 4, probably he tighest hole of the course, ending with another challenging green.

All the holes by the racecourse can be subject to a lot of wind, and winter play must be even more challenging, hats/gloves/scarf a must.

The 16th, 17th & 18th are the most spectacular, a real pleasure to get on those Tee boxes and find the greens still able to tourment you one way or another.

The 17th & the 18th have their Tee boxes adjacent, but obviously in different directions if that makes sense.
The Lady 18th Tee box is in a totally different place, giving a different perspective of this signature hole adorned with the ONLY bunker on this course !

The 18th is is definitely dog leg left from the Yellows, and sort of from the Reds, sloping fairway to the left as well, a ridge with some rough before reaching the green.

PRO shop: well provided, friendly staff.

Clubhouse: as said at the begining full of history and of a pleasing design in red bricks with old fashion wooden windows. Lovely hallway where one can see the names of cup/troply winners and other pictures, a grandiose stairs leading to the Lady's rooms, a dining room & offices...

A very pleasant terrace with lovely modern garden furniture, overlooking the 18th and its bunker.... but tonight there was a rather noisy crowd (not golfers) having drinks... it was so peaceful once they left.

A lovely day with nice company on a course that wants to be played again & again as one will never get tired of its challenge and its greens.


THE END.....

Played here at the weekend.Great value £26.50 with a breakfast.{well done Daniel} Starts with a 216 yard up hill par 3 into the wind.mmmmm.
Anyway its like a links course,very undulating,very few bunkers,short par 4s,but very very tricky greens,If you can putt well then you will score well.God knows what its like in the summer.
A few holes a very tight and cross over fairways/grenns.Overall a good day,nice people in the club house,would definetely come back.Hopefully putt well.

Played here yesterday the staff and members made us feel most welcome in fact they couldn't do enough for you the Breakfast included in the cost was Fab.
The course setting was Linksy the back drop over London and the race course nearby was breathtaking.
Not the longest course but if you like something that is tight / tricky / and you need to have some imagination it is for you i would highly recommend a game here and can't wait to go back in the summer.
my only Warning would be the Greens they were like Glass so i'd hate to think how you stop a ball later in the year.
Great value for Money