Centurion

The Centurion Club is one of the youngest venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list, having only opened in 2013. 

However, in its short history, the venue has been the hosted to several big events. LIV Golf, Aramco Team Series and the DP World Tour have also visited the Hertfordshire venue.  

It is a private member’s club, so you do need to get friendly with a member to gain access to the property. 

Visit the Centurion Club’s website here.

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The Centurion Club only opened in 2013, making one of the newest golfing venues that you will see on any of the NCG Top 100s lists.  

Simon Gidman was the man to design the course, which soon came to the fore as a championship-hosting venue. 

The first two editions of GolfSixes were hosted at Centurion, with both the Aramco Team Series and LIV Golf hosting their inaugural events at Centurion. 

The Centurion Club is split into two distinct sections – the woodland opening, and then the wide open areas. The change, from the almost claustrophobic woods to what is essentially a wide-open space is nothing if not striking. With the course not the usual two loops we see in so many new designs, it is a very clever layout. Several sets of tees also allow you to play to your ability rather than be round pegged into a golfing square hole. From the backs, it plays more than 7,000 yards, but that can be brought down to a more manageable 6,750 off the Silvers, or 6,450 from the Amethysts. 

The opening five holes weave their way through pine woodland before the course moves into an open setting – defined by tall wispy grasses and changes in elevation. The first hole at Centurion is a truly outstanding opening test, a long par 4 framed by trees. There are also seven bunkers to avoid on this tough 470-yard opener. The first of the five short holes follows, before the tricky dog-leg 3rd. It turns almost 90 degrees to the right, and requires a lengthy drive to even reach the corner. 5 is the first par 5, at 530 yards from the tips, and with a cluster of bunkers front left of the green. The last of the woodland opening section comes at the short 5th, a 165-yard par 3. There is a large green to aim for, but it is one that is framed by trees and guarded by two large bunkers. 

The course then opens up, to dramatic effect. The 6th is another long par 4, and once you have taken in the views after leaving the trees, you need to get back to work. The green is long and narrow, and you will probably be attacking it with at least a long iron, making it even more tricky. The 7th has a split fairway, but driver is still the play to get as far down the hole as possible. 8 had a wide fairway, but just make sure to avoid the bunkers on either side of it, while the 9th rounds on the front side at Centurion with another par 5. Located on the southern boundary of the property, there is water, sand and out of bounds all to avoid on this hole, another cracker. 

The 10th and 12th technically share a fairway, and anything pulled way left off the tee might see you on 12. It is a short par 4 compared to most at Centurion, with three bunkers guarding the surface. 11 is one of two par 3s on the back nine measuring more than 200 yards from the tips. It is played downhill to a relatively large green, but distance is the key factor. Arguably the two best holes on the course come back-to-back at 12 and 13. The 12th is a dog-leg right par 4 with a lake in front of the green. The putting surface sits some 70 yards below where you will be hitting your approach shot from. A wonderful par 5 then follows, with the 13th having a split fairway, but a generous one at that. Long hitters might be tempted to take it on in two, but it is a narrow entrance to anything being ran up onto the surface. 

The 14th is the other long par 3, and it takes you back into the woods once more. It plays 210 yards from the tips to a kidney-shaped green which is also on a diagonal angle compared to the tee box. Come away with a par and you’ll have gained shots on your group, that’s for sure! You emerge from the woodland once again as you begin the closing stretch at Centurion. That starts with the par 5 15th. There is a large cluster of trees on the left side of the fairway, which will lead to some people pushing their tee shots to the right, where a cleverly placed fairway bunker is there to catch anything errant. Five bunkers down by the green make this a tricky prospect if you fancy taking it on with your second shot. 

The closing stretch continues with the long par 4 16th. At some 485 yards from the tips, it will play like a par 5 for most. It is a long dog-leg right, and another hole framed by fescue and sand. In total, there are seven traps to avoid, three of which are by the putting surface. The last par 3 at Centurion is the shortest of the lot, the 140-yard 17th. A triangular-shaped green is guarded by three bunkers at the front and a large water hazard to the left of it. The closing hole is the longest on the property, pushing past 550 yards. It is a great finishing hole, especially as the 54th or 72nd hole of a tournament. Four fairway bunkers are in the landing zone, while there are seven more to navigate your way around through the rest of the hole. Another large water hazard sits to the right of the green for anything pushed with your approach. 

Chris Myatt: The best hole comes as early as the 1st

Greg Webber: The course continues to mature. It is immaculately presented, befitting its status of hosting professional tournaments

Steve Carroll: Tree-lined start opens up into wide fairways and big greens. You'll need to like Par 5s.

Read more about our panellists here.

Where is the Centurion Club located?  

The Centurion Club is between the towns of Hemel Hempstead and St Albans, right by the M1. Watford is just a couple of miles to the south, while the English capital city of London is around 25 miles to the south. The M1 runs along with eastern boundary of the course, with the M25 also just a few miles to the south of the golf club. 

Apsley Station is the closest train station to the Centurion Club, with the station running trains between London Euston and Milton Keynes Central on a regular basis. St Albans Station is also close by, with trains running to Brighton, Bedford, Luton and London among other destinations. London Heathrow Airport – the United Kingdom’s busiest and biggest airport – is just 30 miles to the south of the Centurion Club via the M1. London Luton is closer, just over ten miles away.

Are there any other NCG Top 100s: England venues nearby?  

The Centurion Club is one of four venues just north of Watford that can lay claim to a spot on the NCG Top 100s: England list. The Grove, Berkhamsted and Ashridge are all within a short drive from the Centurion Club.

What golf facilities does the Centurion Club offer?  

Along with the stunning championship layout at the Centurion Club, there is also a full-length driving range. That sits between the 1st, 16th, and 18th holes of the golf course. There is also a 19th hole – a short par 3 which players can use to practice on, along with a separate short game area and then a large putting green by the side of the 1st tee.

Can visitors play at the Centurion Club?  

Due to the Centurion Club being a private member's golf club, only members and their invited guests are able to play the course. Therefore, there is no information regarding the price of a green fee.