Frilford Heath (Blue)

Frilford Heath is one of just a number of venues across England that can boast three high quality 18-hole layouts, with the Blue being the youngest of those.

Although the venue was originally founded in the early 20th Century, with the opening of the Red Course, it was not until 1994 when the Blue Course was opened.

Simon Gidman, a local golf course designer, was the man entrusted with the task, and there are ponds, bunkers and trees to navigate throughout a round on the Blue.

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Frilford Heath Golf Club was founded in 1909, with the original property playing host to an 18-hole golf course – which would become known as the Red Course.

JH Taylor was the man to design the Red, with JH Turner – the club’s professional – designing another 9 holes in the 1930s. It wasn’t until the early 1960s that the Green would be formed, as another nine holes were added to make Frilford Heath a 36-hole venue.

The Blue is the youngest of the three courses here and was designed by Simon Gidman, opening in 1994. It involved a reconfiguring of the Red Course, from which it took a couple of holes.

Over the years, the club has played host to several major amateur events, including the Ladies British Amateur Stroke Play Championship, the English Amateur Championship and the Brabazon Trophy.

The Blue Course at Frilford Heath sits to the south and west of the property, and the newest layout at the 54-hole venue has plenty of diversity in its challenges. Some of the holes are in woodland, some involve streams and ponds while others are in open land, the eponymous heath. Pushing towards 7,000 yards from the very tips, and still over 6,650 from the Whites, the Blue Course is no easy feat.

It begins with a ferocious opener – a right-to-left dog-leg with the prevailing wind doing anything but helping. Although it is only carded at 396 yards, it plays longer than that due to the turn to the left, and because of the stream that runs across the fairway. Stay short of it and you will have a longer approach for your second shot. The 2nd is only 330 yards, but with OOB on your left and a stream down your right, accuracy is the key off the tee at 2. The first of the quartet of short holes comes at the 3rd. It is 176 yards, but the danger is all down the left. A large body of water sits to the left of the putting surface. There are trees to the right of the green, but that is safer than the water...

It is followed by the opening par 5, and one of two that are more than 570 yards from the tips. The 4th plays at 576 yards, and is a slight dog-leg left. Trees run down both sides, but there is a pretty generous fairway. It will be a three-shotter for all bar the longest of hitters, but this is a hole where you can plot your way down it. The first sighting of sand comes into play on the 5th. Four bunkers in total, two in the fairway and two by the green, guard this hole, which is only 316 yards from the tips. 6 is almost 200 yards, and it is a par 3 that features a pair of greenside bunkers, while the approach is played over water.

You move out into the open around the turn, with plenty of space to smash driver over the next few holes. That run begins with the 7th, a dog-leg left par 4 of 390 yards. A large bunker on the inside corner of the dog-leg, along with two further traps some 50 yards short of the green, must be avoided if you are to find the green and make par. The miss is left off the 8th tee, with trees running down the right side. At 530 yards, this is a par 5 that the longer hitters might fancy taking on, but the green is guarded by two more bunkers, and a thick copse of trees for anything that is hit too long. The final hole on the front nine is also one of the toughest. A 460-yard par 4 with a split fairway, the approach to this green will most likely be hit with a long iron, hybrid or even fairway wood. There is plenty of space around the green if you miss it, which is a good thing considering the distance of the approach.

The back nine begins with a trio of par 4s. 10 is arrow straight and with space down the right for slightly errant tee shots. At 360 yards, this is a generous par 4 to get the back nine underway. The 11th is some 90 yards longer, but again, there is plenty of space so feel free to try and hit your drive as far down as possible. Two traps sit to the right of the putting surface, which again will be attacked with at least a long iron for most. The 12th is a quirky hole, one of 390 yards. Played as a sharp dog-leg right, there are five large bunkers guarding the fairway. If you can avoid those, then you have a free shot at an unprotected green. 13 is the shortest hole on the course at 166 yards from the tips. A large bunker in front of the green means that you have to carry your approach to the putting surface, otherwise you could be looking at bogey or worse.

The closing stretch on the Blue Course at Frilford Heath is tough, and you’ll be holding on to whatever score you have over the last five holes. 14 is the Stroke Index 1 – a 475-yard par 4. The difficulty mainly comes from the distance, as there is a generous fairway to find from the tee. A bunker does sit to the right of the landing zone, but if you can avoid that, there is not too much trouble. 15 is a par 5 of only 490 yards, so some might be thinking about going for this green in two. However, if you miss it, either in the two bunkers that guard it, or just in the rough, you leave yourself a very tricky up and down.

The 16th is the last of the par 3s on the Blue, and at almost 200 yards, it is arguably the most difficult. Three bunkers guard what is a large putting surface, one where many a three-putt has been seen... At almost 600 yards, 17 is easily the longest hole on the course, and it plays it! There’s no chance in getting home in two here, so think about plotting your way down. There are four fairway bunkers in the landing zone – two on either side – to avoid, with two more on the right side of the fairway in the lay up area. The green is shallow, but wide, so make sure you have the right club in hand for your approach. The last challenge is a 455-yard par 4, and one that has plenty of thick trees down its left side. Trees also make an appearance to the right of the green, making it a difficult prospect to finish your round.

Where is Frilford Heath located?

Frilford Heath is situated in the English county of Oxfordshire, just outside the village of Frilford, with the town of Abingdon only a few miles to the east. The city of Oxford is less than ten miles from the entrance to Frilford Heath, while England’s capital is around 70 miles to the southeast. The A34 and the A420 both run close by to the golf club.

Oxford is also the home of the nearest train station to the golf club. As the biggest train station in the area, services run towards a number of destinations, including Reading, Bicester, Newcastle and Manchester among others. London Heathrow Airport – the United Kingdom’s busiest and biggest airport – is around 60 miles from Frilford Heath, sitting to the west of the English capital city. London Luton Airport and Bristol Airport are both within 75 miles.

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

Frilford Heath is somewhat on its own when it comes to venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list. However, Huntercombe is 25 miles to the southeast, while Cleeve Hill is 40 miles to the northwest. Ashridge, Berkhamsted, The Grove and the Centurion Club are also within a 90-minute drive from Frilford.

What golf facilities does Frilford Heath offer?

Along with having three incredible golf courses, Frilford Heath also has some stunning practice facilities as well. The venue has its own full-length driving range where golfers can practice from grass teeing bays, along with a sublime short game area with a pair of large practice bunkers. A large, championship-standard putting green also sits in front of the clubhouse.

What are the green fees at Frilford Heath?

The price of a green fee at Frilford Heath changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend.

For more information on current green fees at Frilford Heath, visit their website here.

Book your spot to play at Frilford Heath (Blue) on the NCG Top 100s Tour here.