Royal Wimbledon

Royal Wimbledon is the closest venue to the city of London on the NCG Top 100s: England list, sitting just ten miles south from the centre of the English capital.  

The club is one of less than 50 golf clubs in the United Kingdom to have been granted ‘Royal’ status, with Queen Victoria giving the club its status in 1882, 17 years after its founding. 

A century ago, Harry Colt’s new golf course design opened, and barring a few changes, the layout remains much the same as the great architect saw the land to be.

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The first golf course on Wimbledon Common dates back to 1864, with a match being played a year later over a seven-hole layout.  

After becoming known as Royal Wimbledon, the club would then move to a new location in the 1900s, designed by Willie Park. Harry Colt then designed a new layout, which opened in 1924.  

In recent years, the 1st, 6th, and 18th have all been redesigned to help the golf course, with the 6th fairway being moved left to avoid golf balls being hit into the properties down the right side of the hole.  

The golf course at the Royal Wimbledon Golf Club is one of sheer quality, and it is a tough test for all concerned. Playing through tight, tree-lined fairways, to beautifully maintained putting surfaces, it might be tough, but you will enjoy your round at Royal Wimbledon, as you battle with Colt’s quirks! It is not the longest course in the world, with the Black tees coming in at just shy of 6,400 yards. The Whites are just shy of 6,000 yards, while there are two other sets of tees as well, so it is great for golfers of all abilities. 

The par 71 layout begins with the four toughest holes on the front side of the course. All par 4s, and all over 400 yards, if you can get through the opening section without dropping a shot, then you are in business for the rest of your round. The opening hole is a dog-leg right, measuring some 423 yards from the tips. Out of bounds down the right means you have to try and work out how much of the corner you want to take on. The 2nd is slightly longer, and with a fairway bunker on the left corner to be avoided. The 3rd has a generous fairway, but four bunkers in the final part of the hole make the green feel much smaller than it actually is. The 4th is the hardest hole on the front nine, despite not seeming like there is much trouble. There fairway is wide, but it cambers from left to right, so hitting down the left side is key. The green sits on an angle, and it is one that is difficult to find, especially playing from a downhill lie. 

After the tough first four comes the opening short hole at Royal Wimbledon. The 5th is a 175-yard par 3, played to a large green that is guarded by three bunkers. There is space to the left of the green, so that is the bail out. 6 is drivable for those brave enough to take it on, but the houses down the right side mark the out of bounds area. Most will play out to the left to the wide portion of fairway, before taking a wedge out to chip on to the large putting surface. The 7th is the first of three par 5s on the property. And is arrow straight. Thick trees and out of bounds down the right, trees and heather down the left, there is no room for error with your tee shot. Sand only comes into play in the last 70 yards, with the green being narrower at the front than it is at the back. 

The 8th is a tricky par 3 of more than 210 yards, but it does play downhill so it might be a club less than you first think. However, at that distance, and playing to a narrow putting surface, it is a very tough hole. The closing hole on the front nine is another drivable par 4 at just 275 yards. You can see the green from the tee, which also helps, so that might be another factor in golfers going for it. The back nine begins with the par 5 10th. At less than 500 yards, this is reachable in two for some, especially if they can find the fairway off the tee. 

From there, you come to another tough run of holes. The 11th is more than 410 yards from the tips, while 12 is Stroke Index 1 at Royal Wimbledon. At 450 yards, and playing as a slight dog-leg to the right with the fairway angling away from you diagonally. It must be found if you want to play this in regulation. If not, then you will have to chop out from the thick heather that lines both sides before then playing your third to the green. Some respite comes at 13, with the 160-yard par 3, before you come to three more lengthy holes. 

14 is the last of the par 5s at Royal Wimbledon, and it is another dog-leg right. Most will have to aim straight off the tee, before then turning right with the hole. That might make it a three-shotter, despite being the shortest par 5 on the card. Two more 400+ yard par 4s follow, both encased by trees, before you come to the gentle finish that the course has to offer. The par 3 17th is only 135 yards, but there are seven bunkers surrounding the green that must be missed. The closing hole at Royal Wimbledon is only 325 yards, but it should not be pushed aside. It is a dog-leg left, playing over the corner of the 1st hole, to a fairway that gets narrower the further you hit your tee shot. The green is long and narrow, with three bunkers down the left side of it. Despite the lack of distance, a par is a good score on 18. 

Dan Murphy: Tom Mackenzie’s work here has helped to future-proof Royal Wimbledon. It’s a special course that has been sympathetically restored and improved.

Michael Verity: Really benefitted from recent course works including woodland management, drainage and updated bunkering

Greg Webber: Now fully reopen after a major redevelopment programme. It is a remarkable oasis given that it is just a few miles from the centre of London

Read more about our panellists here.

Where is Royal Wimbledon located?  

Royal Wimbledon is possibly the closest venue on the NCG Top 100s: England list to the centre of England’s capital city. It is less than ten miles away from the centre of London, with the A3 running around the north and west sides of the golf club. The course is in the area of Wimbledon, with London’s ring road – the M25 – around ten miles to the south of the venue. 

Wimbledon is the home of the nearest train station, which sits less than a mile away from the golf club. The station operates trains into London, running out to Dorking, Woking and St Albans among other destinations. London Heathrow Airport – the country’s biggest and busiest international airport – is less than 15 miles to the north west, with the airport offering a vast array of flights to and from the United States, Middle East and the majority of European countries.

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

Royal Wimbledon is one of several golf courses sitting inside the M25 that claim a place on the NCG Top 100s: England list. The Addington and St George’s Hill, along with both the Old and New Courses at Walton Heath, are within that range. The likes of Tandridge, Knole Park and New Zealand are also close by.

What golf facilities does Royal Wimbledon offer?  

Along with the glorious 18-hole golf course, Royal Wimbledon is also the home to a driving range – which sits by the 14th tee and is just a short walk from the clubhouse. There are covered bays, along with grass tees, to allow for year-round practice. There is also a recently renovated short game area, with practice green and bunkers to play from. The club also has an 18-hole putting green, one that is used for the annual National Private Schools Putting Championships.

What are the green fees at Royal Wimbledon?  

The price of a green fee at Royal Wimbledon 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 Wimbledon visit their website here.