Royal Mid-Surrey (JH Taylor)

The Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club is blessed to have two stunning parkland layouts, with the JH Taylor Course being the star.

Originally known as the Outer Course, it was renamed after the man that designed both courses at Royal Mid-Surrey in the 1890s.

Today, the JH Taylor Course is a tricky test, with tree-lined fairways, plenty of sand and even the odd water hazard to avoid.

Visit the Royal Mid-Surrey website here. 

Go Back To NCG's Top 100s Homepage.

The Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club was founded in 1892, with the great JH Taylor designing two golf courses on the land.

Seven years later, he left his post as the professional at Royal Wimbledon to become the professional at Royal Mid-Surrey, before then adding the humps and hollows to the courses.

Originally known as the Outer and Inner Courses, they were renamed to honour JH Taylor (Outer) and Pam Barton (Inner). Barton was a former member of the club and won both the British and US Women’s Amateurs.

It was in 1932 that the club was given ‘Royal’ status, by King George V. The Prince of Wales, who would become King Edward VIII, became the club captain at the same time.

There have been changes in recent years, with a new clubhouse opening in 2003 following a fire that tore the old building down. All 18 greens on the JH Taylor Course have been rebuilt to USGA standards over a seven-year project, as well.

It seems impossible that this parkland oasis could be hidden away in the middle of the capital. In fact, the only giveaway that you are not in fact in the Surrey or Kent countryside is the planes periodically sailing past. The longer course of the two at Royal Mid-Surrey, and the more celebrated, is the JH Taylor, which encircles the Pam Barton. Recent and extensive work to the bunkering has brought to the course back to life. This parkland layout reaches 6,360 yards from the tips, and plays as a par 69, making it a tricky test.

It begins with one of its hardest holes, simply because it is a 220-yard par 3 to get you on your way. Whether you have warmed up or not, the thought of having to hit a long iron, hybrid or fairway wood into a small target for your first shot is frightening. To make it worse, three bunkers protect the green. The first of two par 5s comes at the 2nd. It is a hole that gets tighter the further you hit it, both on the first and second shots. A scooped-out hollow front left of the green is an added complication, along with the bunker to the right of the putting surface. 3 and 4 are both mid-length par 4s, with the 3rd being a dog-leg left. Aim at the sole fairway bunker down the right side, and keep your tee shot just short of it to give yourself the best view of this long and narrow green.  On the 4th, you want to skirt the fairway bunkers to get a clear view of the green. There is a split fairway, so make sure you work out the distance to the end of the first part, before then playing down to the green.

The 5th is the shortest hole on the course at just 145 yards, The green is narrow, and your approach has to cover the large bunker that sits in front of the putting surface. The 6th is the first of seven par 4s that are more than 400 yards in length, with five of those on the back nine. There is a generous fairway on 6 to allow you to try and get your drive as far down the hole as possible. Thick trees will catch anything that is right of the short grass, though. At just 340 yards, the 7th is a good birdie opportunity. Find the fairway with your tee shot and you will have a clear view of the green. There are three bunkers protecting the surface, but this is a definite chance. The 8th is a 185-yard par 3 that plays over water, but anything carrying 100 yards will clear the pond with ease. There is no sand on this hole, but there are runoffs on all sides.

The tee shot on 9 also plays over water, but like the previous hole, it should not come into play. The closing hole on the front side is 425 yards from the tips, and requires a long drive. Left is the miss off the tee, with thick trees down the right side. Again, no sand, with a clear shot to the green. Sand is much more prominent on the 10th, with a total of seven traps in play. One of those is in the landing zone on this 438-yard par 4, with the other six down by the green – four to the right and two left. The putting surface is long and narrow, so be accurate. At just 150 yards, the 11th is one of the shorter holes on the layout. It has a small green, but with a bunker in front, it can trick the eye.

The Stroke Index 1 on the JH Taylor Course at Royal Mid-Surrey comes at the 12th. A 455-yard par 4, playing over a road that can easily give your tee shot an extra kick down the fairway. A large bunker sits on the left side of the fairway, while three more are down by the green. A par is like gaining a shot on the field at 12. Enjoy the 13th and 14th. This is your last bit of respite on the way in before a trio of long par 4s and a long par 3 take you home. 13 is only 317 yards in length, and does not necessarily require driver off the tee. Avoid the bunkers, find the short stuff, and then knock a wedge on to the green. The 14th is the other par 5, and despite it being more than 520 yards, it is a gentle hole. Three fairway bunkers are in play at the landing zone, but if you can avoid them, then this is a definite birdie chance. The lay up should remain short of the four bunkers that are some 40 yards shy of the green.

The closing stretch on the JH Taylor is one of the toughest anywhere in the country. 15 is the longest par 4 on the property at 456 yards, and requires an accurate drive down the right side of the fairway. Again, like a lot of holes, anything too far right will be in serious trouble. 16 is the last of the par 3s, and pays more than 200 yards from the tips. The green is triangular, with the narrow part at the front, between the two greenside traps. Two more long par 4s bring you home. The 17th has a split fairway with two bunkers in between the two strips of short grass. Keep your tee shot shy of the danger, but that will leave you with a lengthy approach to what will look like a small target. The closing hole on the JH Taylor is 402 yards from the tips, and requires another accurate drive to dissect the three fairway bunkers that lie in wait. Your approach is then played over the road to a large, circular green. A par here is a good way to end your round.

Where is Royal Mid-Surrey located?

Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club is just north of the borough of Richmond, well inside the M25. The venue is closer to the centre of London than it is to the capital’s Circular Ring Road. The centre of London is only ten miles to the northeast by road, while the M25 is 12 miles away via the M3. The M3 runs past the golf club, providing great road links in and out of the English capital.

Thanks to its location within the M25, Royal Mid-Surrey is only ten miles from the country’s busiest airport – London Heathrow Airport. Other options for international travellers including London City, London Gatwick, London Luton and London Stansted. This quartet of airports are all within 50 miles of Royal Mid-Surrey. Richmond Station is less than a mile from the entrance to the golf club, with both overground and London Underground services – running to destinations such as London Waterloo, Stratford and Wimbledon.

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

Due to being inside the M25 and within such close proximity to London, there are plenty of NCG Top 100s: England venues in close order. Royal Wimbledon is the closest, just seven miles from the venue, while the likes of St George’s Hill, New Zealand and The Addington all within a 20-mile drive.

What golf facilities does Royal Mid-Surrey offer?

As well as the two amazing golf courses, Royal Mid-Surrey also has some stunning practice facilities to offer its members and guests. The club has a driving range, along with short game areas next to the opening hole of both layouts. Two outdoor nets are also there for those wanting a quick warm-up before taking to either the JH Taylor or Pam Barton Courses.

What are the green fees at Royal Mid-Surrey?

The price of a green fee at Royal Mid-Surrey 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 Royal Mid-Surrey, visit their website here.