London Golf Club (Heritage)

The Heritage Course is one of two stunning layouts at the London Golf Club, and one of several venues in and around the M25 in the south of England. 

It is one of the newest venues on the NCG Top 100s: England list, having only opened in 1994, but it was brought to the public eye in the late 2000s. The course hosted the European Tour in both 2008 and 2009, with Ross Fisher being one of the winners as the European Open was hosted on the Heritage Course at the London Golf Club.  

You will find a great mix of parkland, heathland and downland, along with several water hazards and bunkers strewn all over the course.  

Visit the London Golf Club’s website here.  

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The London Golf Club officially opened its doors in 1994, with Jack Nicklaus designing both the Heritage and International Courses at the 36-hole venue. 

The club opened with a match featuring three greats of the game, with Tony Jacklin and Seve Ballesteros playing against Nicklaus himself in a Charity Skins Match.  

The Heritage continued to add to its reputation, hosting the European Open on the European Tour in both 2008 and 2009. Ross Fisher and Christian Cevaer were the winners at the venue. 

The Heritage Course at the London Golf Club is a mixture of parkland, heathland and downland, has six holes which play around water and the drive at the 18th will test your nerve if a good score is on the cards. Otherwise, a premium is set on avoiding the numerous bunkers from the tee and knowing which line to take. Water again features heavily, as you might expect of a Nicklaus design. Off the Blacks (the tees used for the European Open); the Heritage Course plays to a length of more than 7,200 yards. The Whites are a slightly more manageable prospect at 6,770 yards, all with a par of 72.  

Considering what is to come over the course of a round on the Heritage, the opening quartet of holes are quite gentle. 1, 2 and 4 are all par 4s, but none are more than 390 yards, with the 3rd being the first of the four par 3s on the layout. You will see a total of 27 bunkers across the opening four holes, while the 3rd does have a water hazard to the left of the green, but at just 170 yards from the Whites, it is not the most difficult par 3 to encounter early in a round. 

The first of four par 5s comes at the 5th, and should you get your best drive away, and miss the four bunkers, it will present you with the chance to take on the water and the distant green. Most will aim left of the green to stay on the fairway, before then hitting a wedge into the putting surface. The aim down 6 is to split the two large trees that are on either side of the fairway. This is the most difficult hole on the front nine, due to its length and a narrow green. The 7th is of the best-looking holes on the Heritage with water stretching all the way to the green and four bunkers awaiting anything over hit. When the wind is into it can be as much as a hybrid and, because of the obvious dangers, the natural tendency is to be cautious and hit plenty of club. The only problem is that could leave you with a horrible little bunker shot played towards the wet stuff.  

The second par 5 comes at the 8th, playing more than 530 yards from the Whites. Again, avoiding the fairway bunkers is paramount to a good score, while there are also three by the green. If you are laying up, make sure you stay away from the large tree that sits in the middle of the fairway some 40 yards from the green. The final hole on the front nine is another dog-leg left par 4. Nine bunkers are in play, four fairway and five greenside, and the putting surface is somewhat triangular, so make sure to find the right part of it. 

Water left, sand right – it is a difficult tee shot to kick off the back nine. Fire one straight down the middle and a birdie opportunity might await you. The 11th green is diagonally angled away from you, and with six bunkers guarding this short hole, working out the distance to the flag is key. The par 5 12th is a double dog-leg that features a split fairway, and certainly one of the quirkiest holes on the layout. Shorter hitters will hit to the first fairway, which takes you down the left side, while the second section of fairway takes you down the right side. The green is shallow and guarded by bunkers, nine of them to be precise. 13 is a short par 4 and the longest hitters might fancy taking it on at 311 yards. However, with water in front of the putting surface, us mere mortals will lay up with a long iron or hybrid, before then taking a wedge out to find the green.  

The closing stretch at the Heritage Course begins with the sharp dog-leg left par 4 14th. Due to the dog-leg, the hole plays its full 425 yards, and requires a strong drive to cover the bunkers on the corner. The further right you are off the tee, the longer your second shot will be to a narrow green. 15 is the last par 5 on the course, and if you can avoid the cluster of sand on the right corner of the fairway, you could take a crack at the green. Trees to the back left of the dance floor are the main danger. 16 is the longest par 4, and requires another strong drive, or this might be a three-shotter. Two bunkers sit around 20 yards short of the green, so if you can clear those with your second, you might have a birdie putt. 

The penultimate hole on the Heritage is the longest of the four par 3s, coming in at 210 yards even from the Whites. Three sand traps to the right of the surface are the danger, along with the distance and the club you will have to hit. The course comes to a close with the tough 18th. More water though this time it comes into play from the tee, down the left-hand side. You will need to hit driver off the tee to give yourself a chance of reaching the elevated green where a large bunker catches anything short and right. The sensible approach is up the left, but this leaves a pitch up a two-tiered green, where getting down in two putts is always a bonus. 

Where is the London Golf Club located?  

The London Golf Club is located to the southeast of the English capital, next to the village of West Kingsdown. Both the M20 and the A20 run next to the club, with the latter running along the southern boundary, where the Heritage Course lies. The M25 – London's motorway ring road – is just a few miles to the west, providing great road links to the golf club. 

Eynsford is the closest train station to the London Golf Club, with services running between Welwyn Garden City and Sevenoaks, stopping at Eynsford every hour. London Gatwick Airport is just 35 miles to the west of the London Golf Club, with London Stansted and London Heathrow – the latter being the country’s busiest airport – both being within 60 miles of the venue.

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

The Heritage Course at the London Golf Club is one of several venues on the NCG Top 100s: England to be located south of London. Tandridge, Knole Park and The Addington are all within a short drive to the west, with Royal Wimbledon and both the Old and New Courses at Walton Heath slightly further afield.

What golf facilities does the London Golf Club offer?  

Along with the Heritage and the International Courses, the London Golf Club also is the home to a state-of-the-art practice area, which includes a 330-yard driving range, which has both grass and matted tees. There are also a pair of practice chipping greens, including practice bunkers, along with a putting green.

What are the green fees at the London Golf Club?  

The price of a green fee at the London Golf Club 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 the London Golf Club, visit their website here.

Visit the London Golf Club’s website here.

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.