Thorndon Park

Thorndon Park is one of, if not the best golf course in Essex. It sits to the northeast of London, with the centre of the capital just 30 miles away.

The history of the hall dates back to the 16th Century, but it was in 1920 that Harry Colt laid this glorious 18-hole golf course.

Tree-lined fairways, firm and crisp turf, and plenty of sand. There is a lot to like about Thorndon Park, and a lot to concentrate on throughout a round.

Visit the Thorndon Park website here.

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The land that the golf course now sits on was originally a deer park, dating all the way back to the 16th Century.

Thorndon Hall, which sits as the backdrop to the closing hole, was opened in 1770. It was converted into apartments, which now overlook the golf course, in the 1970s.

It would be another 150 years before golf came to the estate. The great Harry Colt was the man to design the original layout, much of which remains unchanged to this day.

Thorndon Park is an exceptionally well-presented parkland that has real grandeur in the shape of the stately home that provides the backdrop to the gently rising closing hole. This is a club of great standing in its area. Many of the fairways are lined by ancient oak trees, and both nines here drop gently but continuously away from the clubhouse before climbing back towards the higher ground. It's fair to say that the downhill holes are more fun, while the uphill ones are where you really make your score. Thorndon plays just shy of 6,500 yards from the tips, and with a par 71, featuring a wide range of holes to deal with throughout a round.

The opening hole is a testing start to a round at 420 yards from the tips. Avoid the fairway bunker down the left side and you will have a good chance at finding the green. The first of the par 3s comes early on. The 2nd is 170 yards, anf played to a green protected by three bunkers. The par-4 3rd is quite a sight. The hole curls from right to left and the drive is over a lake. The further left you go, the longer the carry but the shorter the second shot becomes. Play safe and you will have the best part of 200 yards in to a slightly raised green. The 4th is another par 4 where strategy comes into play. Featuring a split fairway, the second part of which is slightly further left than the first, how far down do you hit your tee shot? Too far right and you will be blocked out by the trees, and struggling to avoid the six traps that guard the green.

The shortest hole on the course comes at 5. It is only 140 yards, but it is not an easy hole. Although just a low iron, three bunkers guard what is a narrow putting surface, while the approach is played over thick rough and gorse. A trio of par 4s that get longer as you go come next. 6 is only 330 yards, and a gentle dog-leg left – certainly a hole where you can pull a shot back. The 7th plays 390 yards and as a dog-leg right. There is a bunker at the start of the fairway which should not be in play. Otherwise, this is a pretty straightforward hole. The third of the par 4s is the 8th, and it is the longest of those at 422 yards. It is also the Stroke Index 1 at Thorndon Park. A narrow fairway has trees encroaching on both sides, as well as fairway bunkers. The green is a small target in the distance, with more sand guarding the surface.

Around the turn, you come across two par 5s in three holes. The first of those is at the 9th – a 511-yard par 5. A drive finishing on the right side of the fairway will do you well here, whether you are going for it with your second shot or not. The 11th is the other par 5 in the middle of this layout. It plays as a dog-leg right, and the key is avoiding the three fairway bunkers that sit in the landing zone. Other than that, it is a rather generous fairway. If you are laying up, there is plenty of space to do so, and it might be the safe play considering there are trees and sand all around the green. In between the two par 5s sits the 404-yard, par 4 10th. A tee shot that stays short of the third fairway bunker is the best way to start this hole, before knocking your second on to the putting surface from there.

At 156 yards, the 12th is Thorndon Park’s Stroke Index 18. This par 3 is played to a generous enough green (with a mid-iron at most), though watch out for the three greenside traps. 13 and 14 are par 4s that don’t quite reach 400 yards, but both pack a punch. The former has a run of four cross bunkers that split the fairway in half, so make sure you stay short of those. The green is long and narrow on the 13th, and one where a miss to the left will result in an attempt at a sand save. Avoiding bunkers is also key on 14, but there are only two of them this time, one on either side. The two greenside bunkers are both more at the front than the sides, but there are thick trees to the left and back of this putting surface.

The last of the short holes comes at the 15th. From the darkness and the shadows of the trees, the tee shot is played out into the light, to a green surrounded by sand. The miss, if you are going to miss this putting surface, is back right. 16 is a great birdie chance as long as you can find the fairway. However, this is the narrowest fairway on the golf course. This par 5 is only 485 yards, but the danger lies all round in the form of thick trees on either side. A pair of par 4s bring you home. The 17th plays as a dog-leg right, and although it is 415 yards, there is plenty of space to knock your driver down there. Trees to the front right are the green’s protection. The home hole at Thorndon is a 400-yard par 4, one where two fairway bunkers seem very much in the way. The green is also protected by sand, with a bunker on either side. The miss is to the right if you’re going to, though anything long might find itself bouncing back off the clubhouse windows.

Where is Thorndon Park located?

Thorndon Park Golf Club is to the northeast of London, and it is located inside Thorndon Country Park. The M25 – London's Circular Ring Road – is just a couple of miles to the west of the venue, while the A12 and the A127 also both run close by. The centre of England’s capital city is just 30 miles away by road.

Thanks to its proximity, London City Airport is the closest international airport to Thorndon Park, 25 miles away. London Stansted Airport is also within 30 miles, while London Heathrow and London Gatwick – the two busiest airports in the United Kingdom – are within 50 miles of Thorndon. Brentwood is a stop on the London Underground’s Elizabeth Line, with regular services running between London Paddington and Shenfield, as well as to London Heathrow Airport. Along with being on the Elizabeth Line, Shenfield also operates Greater Anglia rail services, with trains to London Liverpool Street, Southend Victoria and Braintree among its destinations.

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

The NCG Top 100s: England list is vacant when it comes to venues to the northeast of London. The Addington and Knole Park are within 35 miles to the south, while the Centurion Club and The Grove are 40 miles across the north of London on its northwest side.

What golf facilities does Thorndon Park offer?

Along with the stunning golf course, Thorndon Park is also blessed with some great practice facilities. The club is home to a full-length driving range, which sits to the western side of the opening hole. There is also a short game area and a putting green, both of which are by the clubhouse.

What are the green fees at Thorndon Park?

The price of a green fee at Thorndon 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 Thorndon Park, visit their website here.