Chris Myatt

Wrotham has 12 holes would not be out of place on any of the Surrey heathland courses. Those holes wind their way through woodlands with heather stealing any wayward balls. Holes 3 - 7 are a particularly memorable stretch of holes. 3 - A par 5 where anything left or right of the fairway falls down some 30 foot to the woddlands below before the approach shot to the green which is set a further 50 foot below the fairway. 4 - A short dog leg right stroke index 1 with a very intimidating tee shot. 5 - A par 3 along a valley with heather gripping to the banks either side of the green. 6 - a short dog leg left with a blind drive over the brow of a hill. 7 - a long 190 yard par 3 from a raised tee to a raised green, with a bunker catching anything slightly short and a green wider than it is deep to aim at.
Holes 13-18 have a more parkland feel with very little heather or trouble to catch a wayward shot, however every hole has its own attraction, whether it’s a dog leg (13&16), reachable with a driver (13 &18) or a very raised green (16).
We played using a voucher so cannot comment on value for money, however this is a course that I would be happy to pay £45-£50 to play.
The clubhouse and pro shop are very very small and have a somewhat odd layout, but the staff were very friendly and welcoming.
This was my second visit to Wrotham having visited several years back. I was not a fan of the course then and found it very bland, however my opinion of the course today has been completely reversed!! I would highly recommend a visit to this course and I will not be leaving it a couple more years to return!

The whole golf course is set within a deer park, so there are plenty of opportunities to play a shot Whilst the deer walk beside you. 6 par 3s all provide a different challenge, whether that be length, descent, ascent, bunkers or water hazards. Every hole Is very different from any other and there are plenty of opportunities to attack the course but be prepared to be punished if you’re wayward. Waist length bracken line the fairways from 1-5 and 15-18, whilst ancient ant hills wait beside the fairways of 6-14. There are 6 tees to choose from so the course can play as long or short as you want, however from the white, green and black tees, prepare for some blind drives over bracken covered hills, 499 yard par 4s, dog legs that turn 90 degrees right at 300 yards from the tee and a 230 yard carry to the fairway.

The 19th is equally as good as the previous 18 and the staff at the bar are very welcoming, friendly and professional. The fire pit in the bar is very pleasant in the winter and the large patio overlooking the first tee and 18tg green equally pleasant in the summer.

The new practice area includes a grass range, 3 tiered putting green, 2 tiered chipping green, 2 practice bunkers and a further putting green in front of the patio.

The only downside with the course at Knole is that it is very much an out and back course, with holes 9&10 the furthest from the clubhouse.

Green fees are fairly steep with no twilight tees, however members guests rates are a bargain for a course of this quality. Grab a member or find a visiting society to join!!

Chart Hills, much like its sister course, the Oxfordshire, is an American-style course with wide fairways, large greens and plenty of hazards. We played at a cost of £45 for a round with breakfast which was excellent value.

A very welcoming pro-shop, pointed out the bag-drop area, the first tee and then showed us to the spike-bar for breakfast. Breakfast was very hearty and the views through the large bay window of the 1st and 10th tees and 9th and 18th greens really kicked off what was an excellent day of golf.

Again, as with its sister, from tee to green the course was immaculately presented although the were some GUR. The challenge presented when standing on the dogleg first, with water in front of the tee, 4 large bunkers making a wide fairway look extremely narrow and a stream running along the right hand side to catch anything wayward. Holes 2, 4, 5, 7, 13, 14, 16 and 17 were particularly enjoyable with large bunkers (hole 5, 14 and 16), dog legs with water hazards protecting the inside corners (holes 2, 4 and 13) and the island green 17th making sure every hole is as varied as it was challenging.

The Leaderboard Golf Group appear to have perfectly developed the quintessential American-style courses in the UK and I would highly recommend a visit to them. I will definitely be heading for there two other properties soon!!

The clubhouse and locker rooms were nice and the bar/food good.

The course was an interesting mix of holes with treelined fairways, dog legs, and heather disecting some fairways. There are several blind tee shots and several more risk-reward shots which makes every short interesting.

The most memorable holes where 6, with a difficult bunker guarding the right-hand side of the green, 7, a picturesque short par 3, 8, a 90 degree dog-leg with a blind tee-shot, 9, another 90 degree dogleg but with a large heather filled dell bisecting the fairway, 12, a short par 5 across a valley, with many humps, hollows and areas of heather on the fairway and 13, a long par 3 from an elevated tee, to an elevated green over the bushes infront of the tee. The views across london on the 14th and 16th tees were particularly impressive.

The greens were also excellent, often very large with several tiers and subtle slopes, but always fast.

We Paid £40 to play on a Sunday and the course was not busy. It was therefore excellent value for money and I would certainly recommend playing here.

Played here as part of a society, however do regularly play here anyway. The course is a forgiving inland links course with doglegs on several holes and undulations that gerenally push the ball towards the fairways. The tees, fairways and greens were all good and the rough mostly short. The course's main defence appears to be the wind due to its exposure.

Took advantage of a winter promotion, whereby we had breakfast, 18 holes and lunch for £75. From being greeted at the gate to the service and food in the restaurant area and from the tees to the green the club was exactly what you would expect of a European Tour destination that will play host the the 2014 Volvo World Matchplay Championship.

Greens were in excellent condition and very fast. Fairways were generously wide but were defended by several large sand traps and water hazards on several holes. Several elevated tees allowed for excellent views accross the course as well as providing some daunting tee shots, notably the par 3 8th and 12th holes accross large water hazards into greens sloping back towards the hazards. The elevated tees and wide fairways with large bunkers give an American style feel to the course and encourages the risk/reward shots, however the number of hazards and undulations force you to think about every shot.
Despite the recent wet weather the course was completely free from puddles and not wet under foot.

The clubhouse matched the excellence of the course, with modern spike bar, changing facilities and bar.

The only area for any criticism was the practice facilities. The range had nice grass areas to play from but had few practice targets and the chipping green and bunker were being repaired so were out of use. That said the putting green was very well looked after and exactly representative of the greens on the course.

Despite the high summer visitior green fees I would definately recommend a visit, particularly if you can take advantage of an offer. It really is a must play.