Rochester & Cobham Park

Rochester & Cobham Park Golf Club was originally founded in the late 19th Century, before moving to its current location in 1920. 

Harry Colt, Alister MacKenzie and Charles Alison designed the original 18-hole layout at Cobham Park following the move, with Donald Steel then making significant changes in 1997.

Those changes have seen the course become longer, with the seven new holes having now bedded in brilliantly. Tree-lined fairways and plenty of sand are all to be avoided during a round at Rochester.

Visit the Rochester & Cobham Park website here. 

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The history of the golf club dates back to 1891, when the Rochester Golf Club was founded with a 9-hole course at Oakleigh Farm in Higham. A second set of tees were shortly added to make it an 18-holer for a short period.

The Old Deer Park at Cobham Hall then became the new location of the club, with the move to the current location coming in 1920. Harry Colt, Alister MacKenzie and Charles Alison were the men to design the new course, with the latter being the main man behind the work.

With the news that the Channell Tunnel rail link would run through the course, Donald Steel was brought in to redesign the layout. Seven new holes were added, along with significant changes elsewhere as well, with the new design opening in 1997.

In recent years, the Kent Amateur Championship, Regional Qualifying for the Open Championship and the Final Qualifying for the Brabazon Trophy have all been held at Rochester & Cobham Park.

Rochester & Cobham Park is a truly fabulous parkland layout of the highest quality, with plenty of thick grass and trees defining the borders of the property. It is very much a course that teases rather than torments, and the overwhelming feeling is of a delightful place to play. The course now plays in two loops somewhat, with the front nine played along the south and eastern section of the property, while the back nine is to the northern side. Nowadays, this par 71 layouts runs to more than 6,660 yards off the tips, making it a thorough test of your game, no matter your ability.

“Rochester & Cobham’s challenge appeals to all tastes and skills. There is plenty of reward for fine play but, at a less exalted level, there are no daunting carries, no hidden terrors, no endless searching for balls and no vast water hazards. It teases rather than torments, and the overwhelming feeling is of a delightful place to play.” - Course Designer Donald Steel

It begins with a tricky opening hole – a dog-leg right par 4 of more than 425 yards. Two bunkers on the inside corner of the dog-leg are the danger, but aiming at them will reduce the distance of the approach with your second. The 2nd is the first of the four par 3s at Rochester & Cobham Park, and it is the shortest hole at just 154 yards. A large bunker sits in front of the green, making you carry your approach all the way to the putting surface. At 495 yards, the 3rd is a par 5 where you can make a birdie. However, it is also a hole that could see you make a seven... Two bunkers on the left side of the fairway are in play off the tee, while there are three more three-pointed bunkers closer to the green. If you find the fairway, make your decision and stick to it if you are going to go for it in two.

The 4th is a risk and reward hole at 305 yards. The longer hitters might fancy their chances of going for the green with their tee shot. The safe play for the mere mortals of the world is to hit a long iron down the right side of the fairway to open out the view for the approach. A two-putt is not guaranteed on this undulating green. The second par 5 in three holes, the 5th is 535 yards and a three-shotter for most. It has a generous fairway, bar the sole fairway trap on the left side. If you can avoid that, then you’re in a good place to have a crack at making birdie here. The three-tiered green is tricky, so make sure you have the right number before hitting your approach. The 6th is the Stroke Index 2 at Rochester & Cobham Park, a 445-yard par 4 that winds its way round the trees to the right. Your tee shot must find the left side of the fairway to give yourself a view of the second. A hole where bogey is not the worst score in the world.

The 7th provides respite after a tough stretch, with a wide fairway to attack. At only 335 yards, it should be no more than a low iron or wedge that you are taking into this green. The 8th is a testing par 3, one of 185 yards. Finding the middle of this green is a good shot, as it is not the largest putting surface on the course. The front comes to a close with another tough par 4. The tee shot is played through a funnel of trees before the hole opens out at the fairway. A fairway bunker on the right side must be avoided off the tee, with the approach being played to a narrow green. The longest hole on the course then follows, with 10 being more than 560 yards from the tips. A tee shot down the left side will work out well as the fairway slopes from left to right, which will help to keep you away from the large tree that sits on the left edge. Lay up to the right number, before knocking it on to a green that also slopes from left to right.

11 is the first par 3 on the back side at Rochester & Cobham Park, and at 185 yards, it will require a well-struck long iron. The two-tiered green is difficult to read, so a two-putt is good here. The Stroke Index 1 comes at the 12th. It is uphill and a dog-leg from left to right, adding to the difficulty. Your tee shot must make it to the corner to have a view of the green for your second. Two bunkers protect a green that slopes from right to left. 13 also moves from left to right, and there is a tighter section of fairway to find this time. Bunker on the left, trees on the right, the drive must be accurate, before hitting an approach to a green that must be found – it is a tough up and down on 13. The two bunkers on the right side of the fairway at the line on 14, but don’t find them! The green is long, and is slightly elevated from the fairway so take one more club.

The closing stretch at Rochester & Cobham Park begins with a tough par 4 that has a blind tee shot and a split fairway. From the top of the brow, it requires a lengthy approach to a tricky green. The 16th is the last and longest of the par 3s. It plays more than 210 yards from the tips, and the space is to the left of the green, as there are two large bunkers looming on the right side. At just 310 yards, the 17th might lull you into a false sense of security. However, it is trickier than it first looks. A large bunker sits in the middle of the short grass, so lay up short of that off the tee. Even from there, it will only require a wedge or low iron at most to find the putting surface, though. The last challenge is a lengthy par 4 of 440 yards. Moving slightly from right to left, the ideal line is at the two fairway bunkers on the right side with a baby draw. OOB down the right side comes into play on your approach, with a par on 18 being a good score to close your round.

Where is Rochester & Cobham Park located?

Rochester & Cobham Park Golf Club is situated in the southeast of England, in the county of Kent. It sits next to the junction where the M2 and the A2 merge, with the former moving northwest towards London. The centre of the English capital city is less than 30 miles away by road, while the M25 and the Dartford Crossing are both within a ten-minute drive.

For international visitors, London City Airport is 25 miles to the southwest of Rochester & Cobham Park. However, some may opt for landing at either London Gatwick or London Heathrow – the two busiest airports in the United Kingdom. Sole Street is the closest train station, just a mile from the venue, with trains running between London Victoria and Gillingham. Ebbsfleet International is only eight miles from the golf club, with services running to and from London St Pancras on a regular basis.

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

Thanks to its location, just to the southeast of London, there are plenty of courses on the NCG Top 100s: England in close order. The Heritage Course at the London Club is the nearest – 15 miles away – while the likes of Knole Park, Tandridge, Chart Hills and The Addington are all within 30 miles of Rochester & Cobham Park.

What golf facilities does Rochester & Cobham Park offer?

Along with the stunning golf course, Rochester & Cobham Park is also home to some wonderful practice facilities. There is a 300-yard driving range with grass tees, along with a 100-yard short game area where players can use their own balls to work on their wedges. The putting green sits between the clubhouse and the 1st tee.

What are the green fees at Rochester & Cobham Park?

The price of a green fee at Rochester & Cobham Park 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 Rochester & Cobham Park, visit their website here.