Royal Winchester

Originally known as ‘The Winchester Golf Club’, this venue received its ‘Royal’ status within five years of its opening, and has been known as Royal Winchester ever since.

With five-time Open Champion JH Taylor as the designer, and the great Harry Colt as another man to have had a hand in the design, it is pretty obvious that quality will ooze out from Royal Winchester.

It is a terrific downland layout, which is situated on the Hampshire Downs, and offers up a great test, while giving its players wonderful views across the county.

Visit the Royal Winchester website here. 

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The Winchester Golf Club was founded in 1888, thanks in part to the ideas of The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Northesk.

The club was originally based on Morn Hill, to the east of Winchester, before it made the move to the west side of the town – its current location – following the turn of the 20th Century.

It received its ‘Royal’ moniker only five years after the foundation of the club, and despite the Home Office removing it for a short time in 1913, it was quickly back in place thanks to King George V.

The great JH Taylor – a five-time winner of the Open Championship – designed the new course, one that has remained much the same to this day. Harry Colt also had a hand in the layout at a later date.

The golf course at Royal Winchester certainly has its challenges. It is an undulating layout, played over the Hampshire Downs and providing its guests with views across the county from its highest points. There are tree-lined fairways at times, but there are also holes where there is plenty of space to attack. At just over 6,300 yards, it is not too long, but don’t think you will be getting off easy around this Hampshire track.

The opener might only be 305 yards, but with two fairway bunkers down the right side, a fairway that slopes from left to right and a two-tiered green to aim at with your approach, there is plenty that can go wrong on the 1st. Out of bounds down the entirety of the left side, along with a blind tee shot, make the 2nd a difficult prospect. Aim just left of the marker post for the perfect line, before hitting your second towards a sunken green. The 3rd is the first of the short holes at Royal Winchester. At 201 yards, it will require a strong shot to a small putting surface. A bunker to the right and mounds to the left make the target feel even smaller than it actually is.

Trees down the left side and a sole bunker down the right make it a narrow drive on 4. However, at just 384 yards, it might not require driver if you are confident in your approach play. The green sits tight to the out of bounds on its left, while another trap front right of the green helps to protect the putting surface. Like the challenges that have gone before it, the 5th also features OOB and thick trees down its left. If you can avoid the two fairway bunkers on the right side, then you should have a clear approach to the green. Make sure you know your distances, as the surface is two-tiered. The first par 5 at Royal Winchester comes at the 6th hole. At 517 yards, this will be a three-shotter for most, and it features a fairway that slopes away to the left. Anything pulled too far off the fairway on that side runs the risk of being OOB.

The par 3 7th is played to a raised green that is protected by bunkers, before you come to the blind tee shot on 8. Aim at the marker post to find the centre of the fairway on the Stroke Index 2 hole. There is a small dip before the green, so your approach will have to carry pretty much all the way to the surface. There are back-to-back par 5s around the turn. The 9th is only 485 yards, but the fairway becomes incredibly narrow halfway down, so it all depends on how confident you are with the driver. Those staying in the wider part of the fairway will make it into a three-shot hole. The 10th is longer and wider, at 515 yards, and has OOB down its left side. The green sits to the right of the fairway, so those playing a fade might fancy their chances of getting home in two.

At 190 yards, the par 3 11th is a tricky hole, but it is played to a large putting surface. Mounds around both sides and the back can keep your ball close to the green if you are slightly offline. The 12th requires another blind tee shot. This time, your aim point should be just to the right of the marker post. By the green, anything slightly offline to the left will find itself off a steep bank, and possibly never to be seen again. 13 is arguably the hardest hole on the course, playing at 450 yards and with OOB down the right side. It plays as a slight dog-leg left due to the angle of the tee boxes, and the aim off the tee is down the left side of the fairway. The green is 30 yards in length, along with a bunker to the front right of the green. The 14th is a great birdie chance. It is only 260 yards, but with OOB to the right and back of the green, is it worth taking it on? The safe play is to hit a long iron to the fairway, before knocking a wedge on to the green.

The closing stretch at Royal Winchester begins with the Stroke Index 1. The 15th is 407 yards from the tips, so it is nowhere near the length of the 13th. However, with a narrow fairway, three fairway bunkers and two more traps by the green – one that is small and circular – add to the difficulty on 15. The 16th is the last of the par 5s, but at 500 yards, this is a good birdie opportunity. If you can avoid the large fairway bunker that sits in the middle of the short stuff, then there is a chance at reaching the green with your second. 17 is the last par 3, and the shortest hole on the course at 144 yards in length. Three bunkers protect the circular surface, but anything less than a par here is a blot on your record. The “bomb-hole” bunker is the thing to avoid on the 18th. The hole is only 355 yards, so driver might not be necessary. That bunker, which is sunken and sits in front of the green, is one of three traps by the green to avoid.

Where is Royal Winchester located?

Royal Winchester Golf Club is situated to the west of the town of Winchester, which is in the county of Hampshire. The city of Southampton is only 12 miles to the south of the entrance. The club sits within just a couple of miles from the M3 Motorway, which runs from Southampton up to Sunbury-on-Thames, crossing the M25 in the process.

Southampton Airport sits just north of the city, and it is around ten miles from the venue. The country’s largest airport – London Heathrow – is just over 60 miles away from Royal Winchester to the northeast of the club. Winchester has its own train station, with regular services running towards London Waterloo, Portsmouth Harbour, Southampton Central and Bournemouth, along with an hourly train to Manchester Piccadilly.

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

Hampshire has plenty of high-quality golf courses, a number of which are on the NCG Top 100s: England list. Stoneham is the closest, ten miles to the south of Royal Winchester. The likes of Hankley Common, Liphook, Blackmoor and Hindhead are all within 35 miles to the east as well.

What golf facilities does Royal Winchester offer?

Royal Winchester also has some great practice facilities along with the 18-hole course. There is a large practice area along with four hitting nets by the clubhouse. A chipping green and two putting greens also provide the ideal space for you to warm up before a round.

What are the green fees at Royal Winchester?

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